La Grange Eyes Westward Expansion

The City of La Grange took a step toward a western expansion.

The City Council voted Monday night to approve a “Municipal Utility Extension Project” sponsored by the La Grange Economic Development Corporation (EDC). The project would extend a sewer line to serve approximately 177 acres of property along SH 71 on the western edge of town with the goal of eventually annexing those properties.

“On Sept. 23, the Economic Development Corporation received a proposal from a property owner that would like to have sewer extend out west on his properties,” said City Manager Jack Thompson.

Thompson said the property owner owns all of the properties under consideration, which are located on the south side of SH 71 from the City Limits to Haworth Roofing.

“In exchange for running the sewer out there, he’s willing to voluntarily be annexed into the city limits,” Thompson said. “This provides us a really good opportunity to develop more commercially out west, particularly as western expansion heads this way.”

Thompson gave a rough cost estimate of $2.5 million to extend the sewer line. The City has not dedicated any funds to the project so far. Thompson said the City and the EDC can begin investigating ways to pay for the project now that Council has authorized staff to move forward.

The City had won a $1.8 million economic development grant in 2021 to extend sewer service west of town. At the time, the City wanted to extend lines almost to Plum after several businesses expressed interest in obtaining city sewer service. The City ultimately passed on the project after estimated expenses ballooned well beyond the award amount.

Monday night, the Council did not discuss how the project would be funded. The only action they took was to pass the first reading of a resolution declaring the Municipal Utility Extension Project as an authorized project. Upon passage of the second and final reading, it will allow the EDC to explore options for planning and developing the project.

The resolution as presented Monday night included language about funding the project. The Council ultimately removed the references to funding since they did not know yet what it would cost.