Mine Notes Loss To La Grange, Vows Fast Work To Relink Pipe

LA GRANGE, IL – The company that owns a mine that severed a La Grange storm sewer pipe in the early 1990s promises to reconnect it quickly.

On Oct. 8, a corporate lawyer wrote the village in response to La Grange's victory in long-running litigation. A week earlier, the state Supreme Court sided with the village.

The pipe is considered crucial for a planned multimillion-dollar project to prevent flooding in south La Grange.

La Grange pointed to a century-old agreement that it said allowed the village to run a pipe across Heidelberg Materials' quarry in neighboring McCook.

In her letter, Heidelberg attorney Amanda Dinges said the courts didn't give the village the right to store water in the quarry. Instead, the courts allowed the village to have a 54-inch pipe across the mine's property, she said.

"Heidelberg has initiated and continues to advance the actions necessary to reconnect the stormwater conveyance system and intends to proceed without delay," Dinges wrote.

She said the reconnection may affect stormwater interests beyond La Grange. Because of that, she said she sent her letter to the village of McCook and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, which handles stormwater issues in Cook County.

Given the project's implications, Dinges said a meeting with La Grange, McCook, and the district would be prudent. She gave the entities until Oct. 16 to contact her about their willingness to meet.

"Absent such communication, Heidelberg will assume that no such coordination is requested and intends to continue moving forward with the project without further delay," Dinges said.

Village Manager Jack Knight said Thursday a meeting had not yet been scheduled. Patch left a message with Dinges.

The reconnection is part of the village's proposed 50th Street storm sewer project. Estimated to cost $38 million, the project is expected to lessen flooding south of 47th Street.

The village said the work will be broken into phases. More than a decade ago, local voters approved a sales tax to help pay for stormwater projects such as 50th Street.

La Grange also expects to get outside grants, including from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.