This La Grange Issue Impacts Woman's Vacation Plans

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange resident Jennifer Holt Enriquez is unsure whether her family will take a vacation in June.

The issue – possible flooding.

"We're not really sure whether we should go because we don't want to leave our house," said Enriquez, who lives on South Spring Avenue. "We have fantastic neighbors, but they would also be bailing out their basements."

Last June, flooding caused major damage to homes on the south side. It has been an issue for years. This time, residents were so upset they formed a new group called "Dry Up La Grange!" to push the village to act.

At the time, the village pledged to step up its efforts to combat the problem. It is authorized to borrow millions for a major stormwater project, but it is caught up in litigation with a nearby quarry.

"I feel like not much has happened since the end of June last year," Enriquez told the Village Board on Monday. "I think I can say on behalf of my neighbors that we are really worried and frustrated. If I'm back here next month or in May or in June, having just pumped out my basement, my demeanor will be a lot different."

As he has done before, Village President Mark Kuchler detailed minor projects that the village could undertake to curtail flooding to a degree.

But he said no project would go anywhere near solving the problem as the proposed pipe to the Hanson Aggregates quarry in McCook.

For years, though, the village has been in litigation with Hanson. A trial is set for July 18.

In 2015, La Grange voters approved a sales tax of three-fourths of 1 percent to address flooding on the village's south side. That allowed the village to go $14 million into debt to pay for projects.

The village has yet to undertake a project with that money, which upsets many residents.