La Grange Presses Country Club On Flooding

LA GRANGE, IL — La Grange wants the La Grange Country Club to let the town build a flood wall on village property along Brainard Avenue to keep golf course water from homes in flood-prone neighborhoods. But officials say the club rejected the idea.

According to the village, the flood wall would cost golfers relatively little.

"In heavy rain events, the flood wall will keep stormwater on the golf course and out of people's homes," Village President Mark Kuchler said at Monday's Village Board meeting. "Our engineers have determined that stormwater will only remain on the golf course for an additional 1½ to three hours. That's what we're asking for — 1½ to three hours to hold additional stormwater."

He said he and U.S. Rep. Marie Newman, D-La Grange, recently met with the former president of the La Grange Country Club to try to reach an agreement. But they were told that club was concerned about floodwaters' damage to the turf.

Kuchler said he spoke with a University of Illinois professor and read a book on turf management and found that golf course grass can remain underwater for weeks without causing damage.

Even though the flood wall would be on village property, La Grange needs the club's approval because it is in a floodplain, he said. At this time, Kuchler said, the club would not allow a flood wall to be built.

Kuchler said it was his understanding that the country club recently sent a letter to members indicating the village did not really want a flood wall and its experts did not believe it would help.

"That's not accurate," Kuchler said.

In 2015, the village's engineers from the Baxter & Woodman firm suggested the 50th Street storm sewer would do the greatest amount of good for flood-prone areas in south La Grange, Kuchler said. That proposed project is mired in litigation.

The engineers also recommended a flood wall along Brainard to keep the golf course's floodwater from homes.

That same year, Ryan Gillingham, then the village's public works director, advised that the village focus on the 50th Street project and not spend the village's limited resources on a flood wall, Kuchler said.

"Due to devastating flooding, the Village Board voted back in 2015 to fund both the 50th Street sewer and the flood wall. Both projects were part of the referendum that the residents overwhelmingly passed," Kuchler said. "The board is hopeful that the leadership of the country club will reconsider their decision, and we look forward to working with the country club on this issue and other issues that come before us."

The country club could not be reached for immediate comment.

In April, Mike Matteuci, who was credited with helping get the 2015 referendum passed, was elected to the Village Board. That excited south La Grange residents who appreciated his focus on flooding.

But in July, Matteuci resigned, saying he felt he had a perceived conflict of interest because of his membership in the country club.

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

"This poses a perceived conflict of interest that is not in the best interest of the village or its residents," Matteucci said.