'Light At End Of Tunnel' For La Grange Flood Battle

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange's village president finally got to deliver good news in the town's litigation with a nearby quarry: The trial has begun.

Opening arguments were held Monday in Cook County Court in the years-long battle between the village and Hanson Aggregate's quarry in McCook.

"We're thrilled to say that the trial has started," Village President Mark Kuchler told the Village Board. "There is light at the end of the tunnel."

The village blames the quarry for local flooding.

Village Trustee Peggy Peterson, who attended part of the trial's first day, praised the village's lawyer, Dan Stanner, and the judge, Neil Cohen.

"(Stanner) is very organized. He's very well-prepared. He's very thorough. He's very articulate," Peterson said. "My impression of the judge is that he is very engaged, and he is listening very intently. He is very informed of the issues involved."

The trial is expected to take up to two weeks.

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.

The village is trying to install a drainage pipe across the McCook 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 flooding for years.

The trial had been delayed a few times this year.