On June 7, 2023, in an important victory in addressing flooding in the Village of LaGrange, Judge Neil Cohen has issued a written order that allows the Village to proceed with a large-scale capital improvement project aimed at providing significant flooding relief. The order establishes that the quarry, now operated by Hanson Aggregates Midwest, Inc., destroyed a portion of the Village’s 54” sewer during mining operations. The Court reached the “irrefutable conclusion that Hanson’s conduct was intentional and wrongful.” The Court’s ruling establishes the Village’s right to continue using its sewer to discharge water into the quarry.
“We are pleased with the Judge’s order and glad that the residents of La Grange were afforded this victory in pursuing relief from flooding. The Village has been working on next steps and, together with our engineering firms Christopher B. Burke Engineering and Baxter & Woodman, will work with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to coordinate the various agencies that are involved and prepare the necessary bid documents,” said Village President Mark Kuchler.
The judge’s order will allow the Village to proceed with a large, multi-year, construction project to install a sewer system designed to provide flooding relief to the area south of 47th Street. The bidding process will result in the award of the project to a contractor and the development of a construction schedule.
“The significance of this project is well understood and appreciated by myself and other members of the Village Board,” stated President Kuchler, “we have long been seeking a solution to the flooding issues encountered in this area and are pleased to have succeeded in this vital step towards providing much-needed flooding relief.”
He continued, “The Quarry has forced the Village to fight this battle for nearly seven years. The court’s ruling establishes that the Quarry knew about the Village’s easement and intentionally interfered with it. The Village hopes that the Quarry will, at long last, recognize the Village’s easement rights and stop fighting the Village’s efforts to protect its citizens. We thank Attorney Dan Stanner and Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC for their excellent representation in this matter and look forward to working with our partnering agencies on this project.”