No Mention Of Flooding In La Grange Presentation

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange officials detailed the village's capital improvements plan Monday, but did not list those related to stormwater.

Later in the Village Board's meeting, resident Laura West noted the lack of a mention about flood projects. Over the last year, she has repeatedly come before the board to describe flooding in her north La Grange neighborhood.

In response, Rick Colby, the village's public works director, said Rosemont-based Christopher Burke Engineering is in the first phases of a study on stormwater outside of south La Grange.

"We do hope that process will inform future budget developments," Colby said.

Much of the focus on flooding is south of 47th Street. The village is awaiting an expected court ruling next month that officials said will pave the way for the 50th Street storm sewer project.

But West, who lives at Sunset and Elm avenues, has asserted that her neighborhood needs attention as well.

She has identified flooding as a problem in her 70-block area – between 47th, Gilbert Avenue, La Grange Road and the railroad tracks.

At Monday's meeting, West urged the Village Board to create a committee just for flooding.

"It would send a strong message, and it would help push some things forward that we can control outside of what a courtroom is doing," West said. "It seems to make sense to me and would help some of us sleep at night."

However, Village President Mark Kuchler said the village assigned stormwater issues to the existing Environmental Quality Commission in 2021. That followed major flooding in south La Grange.

For years, the village has considered the Maple Avenue Relief Sewer project, or MARS, as the possible solution for north La Grange.

The village said it has delayed the project because the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District won't allow the added flow until 2029.