Country Club Confuses La Grange On Flooding: Official

LA GRANGE, IL – Little communication on flooding has apparently taken place between the village of La Grange and the La Grange Country Club.

The village wants to build a flood wall along Brainard Avenue. It would be on village property, but would need the club's approval, the village says.

In a letter to the club last year, Village President Mark Kuchler said a flood wall would mean that golfers would have to wait 1½ to 3 hours while water drained from the course after 10-year and 100-year storms.

The alternative, he said, was the continued "devastating" flooding of homes in the neighborhood.

Through a public records request, Patch sought all the correspondence on flooding between the village and the club since last August.

La Grange produced Kuchler's Sept. 2 letter to Christopher McClure, the club's president. Apparently, the village received no written communications from the club.

The club is in an unincorporated area southeast of La Grange. It is nearly surrounded by the village's jurisdiction.

In the letter, Kuchler said he received the "disappointing" news through U.S. Rep. Marie Newman's office that the club opposed the installation of a flood wall, even though it would be at the village's expense.

"The Village is confused by the Country Club's determination that the floodwall is not the best solution for the Club or the Village," Kuchler said. "As the Club is aware, the floodwall is one solution that has been identified to provide meaningful benefits to residents, with minimal impact to the Club."

He noted the village is pursuing other projects, but said the flood wall presents a near-term solution.

"In other words, the Club is preventing the Village from saving residents from devastating flooding," Kuchler said.

An analysis shows the overland flow of water through the club goes into roads, yards and homes east of it, he said.

During the storm last June, a flood wall would have prevented water at the club from overtopping onto Brainard, Kuchler said.

"As a result, flood depths would have been significantly reduced and homes could have been saved," he said.

He said the flood wall project was shovel-ready, fully funded and could be started immediately.

He said Newman, a La Grange Democrat, indicated the club may be willing to consider other alternatives.

"If this is true, we are happy to do so, although it would be helpful to know the reasons why the Club did not approve this project," Kuchler said.

He also invited club representatives to the Sept. 13 Village Board meeting, which was focused on stormwater issues. The club did not participate.

Last July, Village Board Trustee Mike Matteucci resigned after a couple of months in office. He said he had a conflict of interest because he was a member of the country club.

He said he disagreed the country club was among the primary causes of flooding near Spring Avenue and 50th Street and surrounding areas.

Patch has been unable to reach the county club for comment.