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* I admit to not following this topic very closely, but it’s generated a lot of heat in my inbox. Here’s a part of a press release from late June…
The Board of Commissioners of the Park District of Tinley Park today joined with elected officials, labor and environmental organizations, community groups, special recreation associations, local officials, and a wide array of supporters to urge Gov. JB Pritzker to sign House Bill 3743 into law. The bill, passed by the Illinois General Assembly in May, would turn over the site of the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center to the Park District to finally begin cleanup and redevelopment of the long-vacant land.
Joining the Park District Board of Commissioners at a press conference today were Sen. Michael Hastings and Reps. Robert Rita, Debbie Meyers-Martin, and Justin Slaughter, as well as representatives of the Cook County Building Trades Council, Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sierra Club, Illinois Environmental Council, South Suburban Special Recreation Association, Lincolnway Special Recreation Association, Tinley Park Bulldogs, Moraine Valley Community College, local youth organizations, south suburban school boards, and south suburban area park districts.
* Jeff Vorva, who writes for the Southland edition of The Times of Northwest Indiana, finally explained it to me…
A bill awaiting the signature of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker would sell 90 acres for $1 to the park district for a mammoth sports complex. […]
[A Pritzker spokesperson] confirmed the governor received a letter from the park district supporting the bill as well as a letter from the village asking that it be killed. […]
[Mayor Michael Glotz ] added that it only wants both parties to agree that neither the village nor the park district should own the land so residents can get a piece of a possible $8 million in real estate tax revenue.
“Without a TIF (tax-increment financing) and the way the bill was written, it can never be used for anything other than public use. It will be a financial disaster,” he said.
The park district isn’t slamming the door on an IGA.
“An IGA was possible and is still possible, but we need leadership on the village’s end to work together, not divide,” Park District Commissioner Lisa O’Donovan said via a public relations firm. O’Donovan did express disappointment that this has not happened up to this point.
So, what seems to be happening is that the legislature weighed in on the side of the park district, and the governor, by all appearances, appears to be waiting to see if the locals can work out a deal.
The mayor is claiming that the area will lose $8 million in property tax revenue if it’s sold for a dollar to the park district because the legislation says the land “shall be used for public purposes only.” If there’s no private ownership, there’s no tax revenues. But if you read the whole thing, the mayor has obviously made some enemies along the way.
…Adding… Heard from some folks involved, and, whew, this mayor has really made a whole lot of hardcore enemies. So, nevermind about the suggestion.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 1:02 pm
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Bears
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 1:10 pm
This was the land the racino was supposed to go on…until names started popping up in federal paper and the G raided some state/local government offices…
https://www.chicagotribune.com/investigations/ct-pritzker-tinley-park-horse-racing-casino-mob-ties-heidner-suspenzi-20191015-jegwp4×7zzgg5il7nqwzz5cvnq-story.html
Comment by George Ryan Reynolds Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 1:13 pm
The site had some heavy duty toxic clean up & remediation to go, or at least it did at the time it was being considered for the racing license.
Unless it’s been cleaned up since then, they need to consider that cost when they’re making rosy financial projections.
Comment by northsider (the original) Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 1:31 pm
Maybe the Bears could buy it…
Comment by The Magnificent Purple Walnut Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 1:33 pm
Sorry Ducky LaMoore, did not see your comment.
Comment by The Magnificent Purple Walnut Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 1:35 pm
If it is going to be sold for private use, the state should sell it directly, not give it away for free.
Comment by DuPage Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 1:52 pm
The Mayor ran a candidate against the Park District commissioners in April. He lost.. elections have consequences.
Comment by NotRich Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 1:53 pm
As far as I can tell, the Village won’t “lose” any tax revenue because the property is not currently generating revenue. He would just prefer that the property be used to make the Village money rather than be used by the Park District for a public purpose.
Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 2:02 pm
== Heard from some folks involved, and, whew, this mayor has really made a whole lot of hardcore enemies. ==
Yeah, instead of trying to work out his differences with Tinley Park’s GA members, he decided to try to take some of those legislators out in the last election cycle. It didn’t work. He’s reaping what he sowed.
Comment by Forward Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 3:18 pm
By the looks of the article and those who were involved, every elected official from the park district to the school board to the state is against him.
The saying live “Life Amplified” may come to reality for the good Mayor of Tinley Park.
Comment by Watchman Friday, Jul 14, 23 @ 4:12 pm