Airport developers threaten pullout

By Mary Baskerville , The Daily Journal

PEOTONE -- Potential developers of the third metropolitan airport at Peotone say they might be gone if Will County officials get their way in creating a new airport authority.

At the same time, the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission is "in negotiations with the state on the transfer of the land," said Rick Bryant, executive director of the commission and a spokesman for Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., of Chicago.

Four ingredients are needed to get the airport built, Bryant said on Tuesday -- a commission, land, money and developers.

"We have three of the four," he said. "Will County has zero out of four."

The firms -- LCOR of New York and SNC-Lavalin of Canada-- signed a contract in September with the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission, created by Jackson, and chaired by University Park Mayor Al McCowan. The contract is contingent on the land's being made available to the commission for the project.

The commission has released a letter from the firms saying their $200 million commitment to the project will be in jeopardy if the airport's governing board is reconfigured as county officials desire.

Negotiations with the Illinois Department of Transportation on the land transfer include discussions of leasing, buying, or perhaps an arrangement in which "the state would retain ownership and remain as a partner," Bryant said.

Illinois Department of Transportation spokespersons were unavailable for comment this morning.

The state will submit a master plan for facilities "to the FAA on or around April 1," Bryant said. The commission is "urging the state to complete the land acquisitions as quickly as possible."

The discussions also center on whether legislative approval is required for the land transfer, he said.

The letter from the developers is dated Feb. 7 -- three days after Gov. Rod Blagojevich endorsed the public-private partnership's facilities layout plan.

County officials are seeking local control and representation on any governing board, and said the state legislature will create the governing airport authority.

In the letter, Karl Ray of SNC and Kurt Eichler of LCOR, wrote that "...We advised early on that our investment dollar must be supported by a regional organization inclusive of all public sector entities," referring to the municipalities included in Lincoln commission.

The inclusion of Will County officials "is strongly suggested," their letter said, but added that "Will County should enjoy no special status as we understand the state's interest as regional stakeholder can and should trump any interests Will County may have as to the physical development of the airport site.

"The people centers in Will County, such as University Park, should enjoy a larger voice and, as is the case, should be on the Commission's Board."

McCowan says the Lincoln Commission addresses the concern of area towns.

"Will County officials, and particularly my fellow Iron-Ring mayors, have legitimate concerns about planning and off-site infrastructure needs," McCowan, wrote in a just issued Letter to the Editor.

The Iron Ring towns of Beecher, Monee, Peotone, Crete and University Park, along with Will County, will begin meeting in open sessions after the April elections as the Eastern Will County Council of Mayors. In the past, meetings have been closed to the press and public.

In his letter, McCowan commended Iron Ring officials "for beginning to create a regional development district so the communities nearest the airport can control development and enhance quality of life in east Will County and south Cook County."