La Grange Flood Dispute High Priority For Judge: Lawyer

LA GRANGE, IL – A decision in La Grange's litigation with a nearby quarry is expected before Christmas, a lawyer said this week.

The trial was slated to end this week in the battle between the village and the Hanson Aggregates quarry in McCook.

La Grange is trying to get the right to build a pipe across the quarry's property. It alleges the company cut the former pipe in 1991 in violation of an easement.

The village proposed the 50th Street sewer project that requires quarry access. This would help the south side, which has suffered from flooding for years.

Cook County Judge Neil Cohen has made the case a high priority, the village's attorney, Dan Stanner, told the Village Board on Monday.

"He has given us access to the court even on Election Day when the courthouse was closed," Stanner said. "Last Tuesday, we had special permission to be in there to try our issues in front of the judge. He has been very attentive."

Stanner said he would return to the board to share the judge's ruling.

After the board's open meeting, it closed its doors to discuss the litigation.

After flooding in June 2021, southside residents denounced the village for waiting on litigation to solve the flooding problem. But officials said the village would be unable to pay for the 50th Street project if it took smaller measures in the meantime.