'Horribly Failed': La Grange Answers Flooding Concerns

LA GRANGE, IL – A La Grange resident says the village's stormwater system "horribly failed" during heavy rain last week, as evidenced by flooding.

Laura West, who lives at Sunset and Elm avenues, told the Village Board on Monday that the village needs to work quickly.

"No action is just making it worse," said West, who has spoken for years about stormwater issues. "A January flood is unheard of."

But Beth Augustine, a village trustee, said the flooding was compounded by an issue with the leaf collection program.

Like other towns, including Western Springs, La Grange was still collecting curbside leaves in November when the first major snowfall occurred, hindering the effort. So clumps of uncollected leaves blocked storm drains last week.

Flooding was seen near Elm and Sunset avenues last week in La Grange. (Courtesy of Laura West)

"We had heavy rains in January, which no one expected either. That made it very difficult," Augustine said.

She suggested the village revisit its leaf program, so it doesn't cause flooding again.

Public Works Director Tim O'Brien said the village hopes to finish leaf collection in the next week or so. And La Grange aims to get access to a street sweeper in the next couple of days, he said.

Last week's flooding was documented on the Facebook page for Dry Up La Grange.