LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange has been in a dispute over the damage it says was caused by companies that installed a fiber optic conduit.

In late 2019, the village gave right-of-way permission for MCIMetro to install the conduit on Shawmut Avenue from Hazel to Kemman avenues.

In June, the village found out the conduit was misplaced and penetrated the village's 32-inch combined brick sewer. That left a large void under the pavement, creating a big sinkhole that is now protected by a steel plate, according to a village memo.

The village said it demanded DraftPro and Ledcor move the conduit and repair the sewer. The firms are working on behalf of MCImetro and Verizon.

"To date, no repair has been completed despite numerous requests from Village for a repair plan and timeline to rectify the damage caused by careless installation," acting Village Manager Charity Jones said in a memo last week.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Jones said in the last few days the village received a response from the company.

"We are optimistic they will complete the necessary repair," she said.

However, she said the administration still requested the board approve a $77,500 contract with Performance Construction & Engineering to make the repair. That way, she said, the village can ensure the work gets done if the other two companies don't follow through.

Trustee Beth Augustine criticized the work by the fiber optic contractors.

"The pictures of them jamming that pipe through our sewer is disgusting," Augustine said. "I hope it's something they realize it's not going to look good for them. It could have been worse, I guess."

The board approved the contract with Performance Construction as a backup measure.

Patch has filed a public records request for the correspondence between the village and the two companies.

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