Long-Awaited La Grange Flood Work Nears With Litigation Out Of Way

LA GRANGE, IL – For years, La Grange has planned the 50th storm sewer project, which officials say would lessen flooding south of 47th Street.

The proposal is to deposit water into a McCook quarry. In June, a state appeals court sided with the village in long-running litigation, letting La Grange drain water into the quarry. According to the village, the quarry cut a village pipe to the quarry in the early 1990s.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Village President Mark Kuchler said La Grange could go out to bid on the 50th Street project as early as this fall, with La Grange having received major permits.

La Grange resident Laura West, who lives at Sunset and Elm avenues, spoke about flooding in her neighborhood, as she has for years. She said the problem is getting worse.

"It's been a wild summer with terrible weather," West said. "People flooded this summer who have never gotten water before ever. And it's going to continue to get worse if we don't do something about it."

West lives in a low spot north of 47th Street. Village officials are in talks with Lyons Township High School for building a stormwater vault under an athletic field.