Federal Money May Help La Grange With Flooding

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange's village president said this week that the village has gotten word that it may be in line for federal money to deal with its flooding problem.

President Mark Kuchler said he spoke with U.S. Rep. Marie Newman, a Democrat from La Grange, about the money in a phone call Monday. He said she assured him the money was still on track.

None of Newman's funding requests have been struck from a bill that the Senate is expected to vote on, Kuchler said.

"She hopes it'll be done sometime in September," Kuchler told the Village Board. "We appreciate her efforts in that regard."

In late June, Kuchler reported Newman's efforts to get millions of dollars in federal money for flooding problems in her district. He said the congresswoman knew that La Grange has the worst flooding problems in the area.

Around that time, Newman lost the Democratic primary to Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove.

At Monday's meeting, Kuchler said the village continues to work closely with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, which deals with drainage issues.

He said the village and the agency are planning monthly calls, "so that we can talk and do everything possible to reduce flooding in La Grange."