La Grange Flooding Trial Later Than Planned

LA GRANGE, IL — La Grange's village government is going to trial July 18 in its battle with the Hanson Aggregates quarry, which is blamed for flooding on the village's south side, an official said this week.

Last summer, the village's Chicago-based law firm, Tabet, DiVito & Rothstein, told the Village Board that it aimed to get a trial in the first quarter of the year in Cook County Circuit Court.

In the meantime, it said it would pursue a settlement with the quarry in neighboring McCook.

July 18 is early in the third quarter.

"That's a significant development," Village President Mark Kuchler told the board Monday. "As the residents who have been following this know, we have been pushing to get a trial date."

He said the village fully expects the trial to start July 18.

"As far as litigation goes, that time will be here in no time at all," Kuchler said. "We realize that homeowners that are dealing with flooding issues are very concerned about the spring. We share their concerns. We understand that storms are likely. That causes not only frustration, but sleepless nights."

He promised the village would do what it could to lessen flooding.

In late June, flooding in south La Grange angered residents, who showed up at a Village Board meeting to demand action.

In 2015, the village's voters approved going into debt for the 50th Street storm sewer project, but that hinges on a successful outcome in the litigation. Some residents are upset that the village is relying on the legal matters to solve the flooding problem, contending that officials should consider short-term solutions.

The village is trying to install a drainage pipe across the quarry's property, alleging the quarry cut the former pipe in the early 1990s in violation of an easement. The south side has been suffering major flooding for years.

Hanson Aggregates has not returned messages for comment.