The La Grange Village Board recently honored Trustee Glenn Thompson with a Resolution of Appreciation. Thompson resigned on July 31 after accepting a job in Florida. Before his trustee role, he contributed to the village’s Environmental Quality Commission and helped establish Dry Up La Grange, a citizen group formed after severe flooding in 2021.
Thompson shared that the new job offer was unexpected yet irresistible, leading him to relocate rather than commute between La Grange and Florida.
Reflecting on his journey to becoming a trustee, Thompson described how he became engaged during the 2021 floods. His wife noticed discussions on Facebook about local flooding issues, prompting Thompson to attend a crowded board meeting amid the pandemic. Residents were distressed, blaming the quarry for their predicament.
“The room was packed with obviously angry citizens, their homes had been ravaged, and at that point the anger was really aimed at the quarry,” Thompson explained. The legal quarrel with Hansen Quarry over drainage rights intensified community involvement.
In six weeks, about 1,000 families joined the cause, either online or through meetings. The village’s lawsuit against quarry operators eventually succeeded in 2023, a crucial win for the residents.
Dry Up La Grange became politically active, collaborating with Congressman Sean Casten’s staff and county officials to spotlight flooding issues. Village President Mark Kuchler advocated integrating flooding oversight with the Environmental Quality Commission. With Thompson’s expertise in Dry Up La Grange, Kuchler appointed him to the commission.
Thompson recalled advancing the overhead sewer backflow preventer initiative through the Board. His active involvement pushed him to run for a two-year board term following Kuchler’s encouragement.
“We got the village to put that in and that’s when election time was coming up and there was a two-year term left available,” Thompson said. “Mark said ‘why don’t you run for Village Board. You’ve got the connections, and your connections can help us.’”
During Thompson’s tenure, he was proud of the progress made on the 50th Street project. Cooperation with Dry Up La Grange and discussions with MWRD helped advance funding efforts and culminated in the village’s victorious quarry case.
When discussing his departure, Thompson expressed regret about leaving his position. He noted several individuals have volunteered to take over his role, although final decisions rest with President Kuchler.
“They will have to run again right away in ’27,” Thompson remarked regarding ongoing elections.
Reporter Hank Beckman provided this report for Pioneer Press.