The Rev. Mike Schweifler, a resident of Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County, listens as Bishop J. Peter Sartain speaks during a Polka Mass held at the county-owned facility on Sunday, Jan. 28. Schwifler concelebrated the Mass with the bishop.

Bishop, resident concelebrate Mass at Sunny Hill

County Executive pleased at response to event

     JOLIET – An estimated 250 people worshiped to a different beat at a Mass concelebrated by a Sunny Hill resident and the recently named bishop of the Joliet Diocese.

     The resident, The Rev. Mike Schweifler, joined Bishop J. Peter Sartain in leading the annual Polka Mass on Sunday, Jan. 28.  Polka Mass is a church service set to polka music.

     “The Polka Mass has been an annual tradition here for many years,” said Karen Sorbero, administrator of Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County. “This was the first time Bishop Sartain has participated.”

     Sartain’s participation marked his first Mass at the county-owned nursing home at 421 Doris Ave. since becoming bishop in June and continued a yearly tradition begun by his predecessor.

     Will County Executive Larry Walsh, who oversees the facility, was happy about the turn-out. “Residents, their families and others who wish to worship at the Polka Mass are always welcomed. It’s good to know that so many people chose to attend.”

     The Polka Mass-ters, which travel throughout the area accompanying Masses, provided the music.  “The residents look forward to the annual visit from Polka Mass-ters,” said Sorbero. “The group is wonderful.

     “In addition to the band and the bishop, the day was made even better for many of us by Father Mike’s participation.”

Ten Sunny Hill residents awarded

 honorary diplomas at Joliet Catholic Academy

     JOLIET – They never heard Pomp and Circumstance played in their honor or marched across a stage to receive a hard-earned sheet of parchment.

     But for 10 residents of Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County, their longing for that missed milestone has been met. The three men and seven women were awarded honorary high school diplomas by Joliet Catholic Academy during the school’s Christmas concert on Dec. 7.

     The pursuit of the academic acknowledgment began in June when the nursing home’s community liaison, Mary Behringer, wrote area high schools, asking for help in fulfilling some residents’ dreams of high school diplomas. In September, Behringer heard back from JCA. The 10 became honorary members of the Class of 2006.

     Each was presented the coveted diploma, as well as a JCA T-shirt.

     Will County Executive Larry Walsh, who oversees the county-owned nursing home, lauded the effort. “It’s important that our residents get out into the communities they helped build,” he said. “In this instance, I am sure that some of the young people who were part of the holiday event were touched by it. Even if they don’t realize it now, someday the kindness of this act and the pleasure it brought to the residents will come back to them. Maybe it will even encourage them to do another kind act.”

Meet the grads

     The honorees range in age from 65 to 97. Many had to quit school to help their families. The newest members of the JCA Class of 2006 are:

v     Louise Betti, 83, quit school to care for ill parents. She then went on to care for other homebound people, an experience she found humbling. The trust families had in her caring for their loved ones meant more than any paycheck;

v     Theresa Botka, 92, left formal education to help support her family. Among her jobs was one at the arsenal during World War II, where she would load explosives with powder and bolt together the shipment boxes the explosives were shipped in. She said she was able to help her family and her country at the same time;

v     Martha Centeno, 84, enjoyed school, but it was too expensive and a three-mile walk made it difficult to get there. She helped on the family ranch and later began cleaning houses and apartments;

v     Collis Jones, 65, was forced to quit school because of an illness. When he recuperated he joined the workforce, first at a concrete plant in Lemont and later at Shetfield Steel, previously Phoenix Steel;

v     Lucille Kempke, 97, attended continuation school, which taught job skills. She completed the course, but never received a certificate. She went to work at Republican Printing Press, where she met her future husband. While she does not regret working at the Printing Press, she wishes she would have gotten some documentation from the school because it might have helped her find a better job;

v     Agnes Ludden, 95, was unable to finish her education, but wished she could have. She did secretarial work at a tile store and raised three children. She has no regrets about her life, but still wanted a diploma;

v     Mary Praylor, 65, had to quit school to help support her family. She worked at Folger Adam’s and fruit canning factories. While she speaks of her work experiences fondly, she says her best experience was tending to her children. She says looking at pictures of her grandchildren assures her it was all worthwhile;

v     Art Tarlini, 79, had to leave school and join the workforce. He worked for Material Services and later the Joliet Park District, where he helped maintain many Joliet parks. He enjoyed working outdoors and meeting people;

v     Joe Thurmond, 68, also wishes he had been able to finish his education. The Tennessee-born Thurmond eventually relocated to Illinois, where he found a job with Ceco Steel in Lemont, where he enjoyed working and made a lot of friends;

v     Ethel Vahlkamp, 84, didn’t mind the studying in school. Her problem was the students – and occasionally teachers – who would tease her about speech problems. She left school to go to work, including jobs at factories and as a waitress at the Athletic Club. 

Grateful to JCA

     Sunny Hill Administrator Karen Sorbero is grateful for Joliet Catholic Academy’s response to Behringer’s request. “We know how important it is for our residents to see  that others care about them. I’m sure the students and staff at the Christmas program couldn’t help but feel their gratitude and joy,” said Sorbero. “I have to believe the holidays were enriched for all of the people who participated in or watched this heartwarming event.”

For additional information contact Matt Ryan at (815) 651-6321

Walsh endorses IDOT airport layout plan

Says plan less expensive, more efficient

     JOLIET – Will County Executive Larry Walsh has endorsed the state’s layout plan for an airport in Eastern Will County, calling it less expensive and more efficient than a competing plan.

     In written comments supporting his oral testimony during a public hearing Dec. 19, Walsh supports the Illinois Department of Transportation plan for both the inaugural and ultimate airport. His statement was forwarded to the agency this week prior to the close of public comments on Thursday. These comments will be forwarded along with both Airport Layout Plans to the Federal Aviation Administration for final review. The process could take 18-24 months.

     “The IDOT plan takes the big picture into account, making use of studies that have already been completed – studies that include local input,” said Walsh. “The plan from the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission does not and would set the project back for years by requiring new studies. Between that and the increased costs that would be associated with increasing constructions costs, the ALNAC plan increases the cost of constructing this airport by untold millions.”

     Walsh wrote that the process has been a “tremendous burden” on Will County residents, particularly those who live in or near the footprint of the inaugural airport, and called on the Federal Aviation Administration make its decision soon.

     He commended the IDOT inaugural plan for requiring fewer acres and displacing fewer citizens than the ALNAC plan. The IDOT plan calls for 5,225 acres; the ALNAC plan 7,885 acres. Under the IDOT plan, 82 residences would be displaced for the inaugural airport, almost two-thirds less than the ALNAC plan.

     “Substantial delays in the inaugural project development will likely result as the additional land and residences are required since it is reasonable to assume that many of the residential acquisitions could require some level of condemnation proceedings,” Walsh wrote. “Most certainly, the acquisition of nearly 50 percent more land and nearly three times as many parcels under the ALNAC alternative will result in significant increases for the project.”

   Many aspects of the IDOT plan were analyzed by the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal resource agencies during the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement. Walsh noted that while the environmental impacts of the IDOT plan are measurable, they are less severe than those in the other plan. The IDOT plan would disrupt ½ mile of water resources, less than half that of the other plan, and disturb 31 acres of floodplains, 27 fewer acres than the other proposal.

     “Also, what should not be forgotten here is that the ALNAC alternative will require the FAA to start the environmental process all over gain, rendering the Tier 1 EIS a waste of time and money,” the County Executive pointed out in his statement.

Bult Field

     Walsh reiterated that the state plan to put the inaugural runway 4,300 feet from the already operating Bult Field runway meets Federal Aviation Administration standards designed for efficiency and safety. A further distance, as is proposed by ALNAC, would decrease the usefulness of the airport for general aviation and corporate airport by increasing taxi time and distance from other airport components such as the air traffic control tower, snow removal facilities, and aircraft rescue and firefighting services.

     Air traffic controllers must be able to maintain a visual line of site with the approach end of every runway, meaning at minimum a taller traffic control tower would have to be built at an estimated construction cost of $40,000 per vertical foot. The increased height could also jeopardize the construction of the crosswind aviation runway and be a safety concern for planes utilizing the airport.

Other advantages

     Walsh’s comments also point out that IDOT plan projects four independent parallel runway complexes capable of supporting simultaneous instrument approaches compared to three in the other plan. The IDOT plan, therefore, preserves expansion opportunities, which is good planning practice.

     Returning to his concerns for residents, Walsh endorsed the IDOT plan for creating a lesser impact on the people in Beecher and Peotone. The competing plan’s runway would put the two communities under the runway’s extended centerline, creating additional noise and increasing the residents’ exposure to aircraft emissions. “It is likely that, in anticipated legal challenges, that the airport would be faced with the likelihood of being forced to acquire large sections of developed areas of each of those communities in order to facilitate construction of this proposed runway.”

     In his remarks, he said the IDOT plan puts safety, the environment and the airport’s viability first, as opposed to the competing plan, which appears to be geared toward greater profit for developers ahead of everything else.

     “Airport planning that is willing to sacrifice the long-range viability of this airport simply to ensure the financial success of private developers whose singular motivation is return on investment, runs contrary to every legitimate airport planning exercise.”

###

Here is a copy of the County Executive's written comments:

Written Comments

Proposed Airport Layout Plans

South Suburban Airport

January 16, 2007

Illinois Department of Transportation                            

South Suburban Airport Project Office

5710 West Eagle Lake Road

Peotone, IL  60468

As presented during the Public Hearing and review process held by the Illinois Department of Transportation on December 19, 2006, two conceptual Airport Layout Plans for the proposed South Suburban Airport are currently being considered and are the subject of public review and comment. These two plans, submitted by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission (ALNAC) are intended to illustrate the facilities to be in place at opening as well as the ultimate build – out of the airport and its supporting infrastructure.

As the County Executive for Will County, I provided oral testimony during the -hearing and review process. My written comments submitted herein are intended to support my oral testimony and I would ask that both my testimony and these written remarks be fully considered as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and all other reviewing agencies consider each of the proposed Airport Layout Plan alternatives.

In my oral testimony, I indicated that this entire process has been a tremendous burden on the citizens of Will County, particularly those living in or near the footprint of this proposed airport. I also indicated it is time for these citizens to have a final decision soon from the FAA regarding whether this airport is ever going to happen. While this answer is long overdue, we must continue to make sure that, if the project is to move forward, it is planned and implemented with the best interests of our citizens in mind. We must ensure that, if built, the impacts of both the inaugural facility and the ultimate airport are designed to minimize the detrimental impacts its operation will have on the neighboring communities while planning the most functional and safe operating airport possible. The IDOT–proposed ALP, which has been the subject of study, review and revision for some time now, accomplishes these goals. The late arriving, ill-conceived plan promoted by ALNAC seems to sacrifice these goals almost completely in the name of a layout that would be more “developer-friendly” in an attempt to generate increased income potential for ALNAC and their private developer partners.

Comparing the Inaugural – Build Alternatives

More Citizens Displaced by ALNAC

The differences in the two plans being considered are significant and glaring. The obvious differences in size of the land component needed to support the airport, 5,225 acres for the IDOT plan compared to 7,885 acres for the ALNAC alternative (a nearly 50% increase in land required) is only the beginning. The taking of the additional acreage to support the ALNAC alternative also requires the acquisition and relocation of nearly three times as many residences (82 in the IDOT plan compared to 215 in the ALNAC alternative). While it  would be preferable to have NO residential relocation involved in this process, this is no longer possible or realistic. It is unacceptable to promote a plan that increases the burden of this development on citizens in the surrounding area and uproots families to such a significant degree for no apparent purpose other than to support the potential profit margin of the ALNAC developer.

Substantial delays in the inaugural project development will likely result as the additional land and residences are acquired since it is reasonable to assume that many of the residential acquisitions could require some level of condemnation proceedings. Most certainly, the acquisition of nearly 50% more land and nearly three times as many parcels under the ALNAC alternative will result in significant cost increases for the project.

The ALNAC alternative has a greater detrimental environmental impact

Simply put, the IDOT Airport Layout Plan has had the benefit of being thoroughly analyzed by the EPA as well as other Federal Resource Agencies as part of the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement. This process took over two years to complete. While the impacts of the IDOT plan are measurable, ½ mile of water resources disrupted, 31 acres of floodplains and 38 acres of wetlands disturbed, the potential impact of the ALNAC plan will be far greater. More than double the number of miles of water resources will be diverted or destroyed, and more than 58 acres of floodplains will be disturbed. Also, what should not be forgotten here is that the ALNAC alternative will require the FAA to start the environmental process all over again rendering the Tier 1 EIS a waste of time and money.

The ALNAC alternative is operationally unsound and creates unsafe conditions

While on its face the move of the inaugural air carrier runway over 2,000 feet south of the location proposed in the IDOT ALP would not seem to have any significant impact other than those outlined earlier in these comments. However, a closer examination of the impact of this proposed move reveals some glaring concerns that have the potential to dramatically increase development costs and potentially compromise the safe operation of the airport. ALNAC proposes that the increased separation between the inaugural air carrier runway and the operations at Bult Field from 4,300 feet as proposed under the IDOT ALP to over 6,000 feet will in some way increase the usefulness and longevity of this general aviation component. In fact, we believe this relocation provides great cause for concern.

First, this increased separation is unnecessary under FAA guidelines and appears to serve no purpose other than to potentially increase the development potential around the proposed passenger terminal complex. FAA Airport design criteria as highlighted in FAA Advisory Circular 150/5300-13 indicates that the separation criteria for parallel runways offering simultaneous instrument approaches is in fact 4,300 feet as proposed in the IDOT ALP. The move to increase the separation as proposed in the ALNAC alternative will in fact serve to decrease the overall usefulness of the airport for general aviation and corporate aircraft by increasing taxi time and distance from other important airport components including the Air Traffic Control tower, snow removal facilities and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting services.

Perhaps the most important of these concerns, over and above the significant increase in  construction cost associated with the nearly 2,000 feet of additional taxiway needed to connect the GA component with the balance of the airport, is the potential impact this move will have on Air Traffic Control Tower operations.

The siting criteria for an Air Traffic Control Tower as highlighted in FAA Advisory Circular 150/5300-13, section 202,paragraph F., specifically calls for the Air Traffic Controllers operating from the proposed ATCT to be able to acquire and maintain visual line of site with the approach end of each and every runway on the airport. Although no ATCT siting study has been accomplished for either of the Layout Plan alternatives, it is reasonable to assume that the increased distance from the ATCT to the runway ends of Bult Field in particular will make it difficult if not impossible to achieve this requirement. If in fact this requirement can be met (not taking into account any terrain change), it is likely that it will be achieved only by building a taller ATCT. FAA indicates on their website and in press releases that the cost of ATCT construction averages $40,000.00 per vertical foot.

The increased separation will also serve to make the general aviation component operations more remote from Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) services as well as the airports snow removal operations facilities. While it can be said that ARFF coverage is not required for general aviation operations under FAA Part 139 regulations, common sense would dictate that if ARFF services are required on airport as the result of the presence of air carrier activities, those services should be made available and planned for to benefit all users of the airport.

Snow removal facilities have also been moved south under the ALNAC alternative. While snow removal equipment is mobile, the increased distance to the general aviation component (Bult Field) will result in decreased snow removal efficiency and may in fact necessitate the development of a second SRE facility. FAA Advisory Circular 150/5300-13 recommends that the SRE facilities be located centrally on airport. Obviously this location is to ensure maximum efficiency of snow removal operations throughout the entire airport complex.

The ALNAC alternative will promote general aviation aircraft operations over the Air Carrier Passenger Terminal

Both the ALNAC alternative and the IDOT ALP include the construction of a proposed crosswind runway as a component of the general aviation facilities at Bult Field. General aviation is an important part of the aviation community and will likely experience significant growth in demand at the proposed South Suburban Airport. Will County has encouraged and will continue to encourage and support general aviation activities as an important contributor to the economic health of the area.

Under the ALNAC alternative, the air carrier passenger terminal is located nearly directly under the extended centerline of the crosswind general aviation runway and immediately adjacent to its runway approach surface. On several levels this orientation generates great cause for concern that leads us to believe that the proposed crosswind runway will never be allowed to be constructed under the ALNAC alternative. It is reasonable to assume that significant objections from several stakeholders including the FAA, Transportation Security Administration, and the air carrier community will be received when this runway is proposed for construction.

An additional impediment to the construction of the crosswind general aviation runway under the ALNAC alternative is the proposed location of the Air Traffic Control Tower. Remembering that the proposed tower will likely be constructed at a significant height in order to ensure visual line of sight from the tower to the ends of ALL of the airports runways, the location of the tower under the ALNAC alternative will likely jeopardize the eventual construction of the crosswind general aviation runway. The ALNAC alternative shows the ATCT location immediately next to the approach surface and within the inner approach obstacle free zone of the proposed crosswind GA runway. This location would require that the Tower be constructed to a height that would not create a hazard to the aircraft operations as defined in FAR Part 77. Since the ATCT will be constructed prior to the crosswind GA runway, it is reasonable to assume that the crosswind runway as depicted in the ALNAC alternative will likely never be constructed.

Comparing Ultimate Build- Out Alternatives

It should again be pointed out that the IDOT Airport Layout Plan has been the subject of a significant amount of study, refinement and analysis related to the ultimate airport build – out and meets the purpose and need as authored by the State of Illinois. It also was the subject of the now approved FAA Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement. The same cannot be said for the proposed ALNAC alternative. In fact, the ALNAC alternative will require the Tier 1 EIS to be re-done causing significant project delays and costs.

Additionally, it is important to recognize that many of the long-term deficiencies that would result from the adoption and development of the ALNAC alternative are rooted in the ill-conceived and misguided changes that it proposes to make to the inaugural airport development. That being said, the ultimate build – out proposed by ALNAC offers no improvements to the operational capacity or functionality of the South Suburban Airport that would benefit its users or the citizens surrounding its borders. In fact, it offers less capacity, more disruption (both near term and long term) and the very real possibility of increased concerns related to the safe operation of the airport. What it does offer is the opportunity to sacrifice airfield capacity and operational efficiencies in the name of creating increased ancillary development opportunities designed solely to generate increased revenue opportunities for ALNAC’s private development partners.

Increased land required and project costs

The ALNAC alternative requires nearly 50% more land than the ALP proposed by IDOT. The benefit of this increased land requirement for airport operations is entirely unclear. The immediate impact of this alternative however is increased project costs. The long term and permanent impact of this alternative is the disruption of the lives of nearly three times as many Will County citizens compared to the IDOT ALP.

 It is not unrealistic to project that land costs for the project will increase by at least 50%. Additionally, the time lost to the project as the result of the need to re-start the entire environmental process carries a significant but unknown financial impact. It is also necessary to factor into consideration the simple fact that virtually every study that has been accomplished to date would be rendered obsolete and would need to be reconsidered and redone.

Reduced airfield capacity

The ultimate airfield build – out as proposed under the ALNAC alternative contemplates three independent parallel runway complexes capable of supporting simultaneous instrument approaches compared to the four independent parallel runway complexes proposed under the IDOT ALP. Although no actual activity forecasts are included in either the IDOT or ALNAC plan, it is reasonable to assume that, a twenty – five percent reduction in runway and taxiway capacity will result.

Under FAA Advisory Circular 150/5060-5, criteria are established that clearly dictates the parameters for additional runway construction in response to capacity demand. As highlighted in the AC, it is rare that a new runway is added to satisfy a capacity need when the proposed new runway is not parallel to the primary runway at the airport. In the case of the South Suburban Airport and in both proposed ALP alternatives, the primary runway will be the inaugural air carrier runway. Any additional capacity needed at SSA in the future will need to be accommodated through the construction of new runway complexes that are parallel to the inaugural runway.

The ALNAC – proposed alternative limits the future capacity – related expansion opportunities at South Suburban Airport by eliminating the future addition of a fourth parallel runway. Undertaking this short – sighted plan at a stage when all alternatives remain available would serve to permanently hamstring the long – term viability of the airport. FAA need only to look out the window of its Des Plaines offices to find a prime example of such a short-sighted planning mistake.

Avoidable Impact on two rapidly growing Will County Communities

The ALNAC alternative ALP, while reducing the long – term capacity of the airport, would have a dramatic and permanent impact on two Will County communities; Peotone and Beecher. This direct impact would be caused by the repositioning of the airports southernmost parallel runway approximately 6,000 additional feet south. This proposed location would position the runway so that these two communities would be virtually under its extended centerline.

This runway orientation would create unavoidable serious detrimental impact on the citizens of Peotone and Beecher. The increased noise that would be experienced in each of these communities as well as the increased exposure to aircraft emissions will likely create entire areas that would be affected. It is likely that, in  anticipated legal challenges, that the airport would be faced with the likelihood of being forced to acquire large sections of developed areas of each of these communities in order to facilitate construction of this proposed runway.

It is not unlikely that, faced with significant legal challenges and high acquisition costs, South Suburban Airport would be faced with the real possibility that the southernmost parallel runway proposed under the ALNAC alternative would be difficult if not impossible to construct when needed. This potential eventuality would further limit the future capacity of the airport.

Conclusion: The IDOT ALP is the clear and logical choice

Given the short-sighted nature of the planning and its probable and predictable long-range detrimental impact on the functionality and capacity of the South Suburban Airport coupled with its dramatically increased development cost and negative impact on area citizens both now and in the future, it would only seem logical for FAA to immediately and fully reject the proposed ALNAC alternative once and for all. Airport planning that is willing to sacrifice the long range viability of this airport simply to ensure the financial success of private developers whose singular motivation is return on investment, runs counter to every legitimate airport planning exercise. Not only does such a transparent attempt to ensure the financial success of ALNAC’s private development partners at the expense of the long range viability of the airport give us reason to question ALNAC’s intentions, I believe it calls into direct question ALNAC’s credibility.

Respectfully submitted,

Lawrence M. Walsh

Will County Executive

Walsh Looks to Extend ‘Real Relief’

 to Eastern Will County Residents

JOLIET – County Executive Larry Walsh wants residents to know that he has criticized  the Illinois Department of Transportation for driving across private property earlier this month and that he is working for “real relief” for residents in Eastern Will County.

At its Dec. 14 meeting, members of the County Board’s Executive Committee discussed the Dec. 1 event in which IDOT employees drove across private property to demolish four homes the state owned in the footprint of the proposed third airport. Walsh believes the record should accurately reflect the real substance of the discussion as it pertains to his office.

“My chief of staff, Matt Ryan, was quoted as saying that IDOT plans to start the process of condemnation for properties within the inaugural footprint of the airport.  He may, in fact, be right, but he prefaced those comments with the fact that we are engaged in discussions that would extend real relief to Eastern Will county residents,” Walsh said.

Ryan participated in an extended discussion with the Executive Committee regarding the demolition activities conducted by IDOT.

“While I am not disputing the veracity of the reported comments, I don’t believe they accurately reflect the position of the County Executive’s office.  We were on the phone immediately with IDOT criticizing their disregard for property owners' rights by crossing the private property of an individual to obtain access to property that IDOT controls.  We have since held one face-to-face meeting with IDOT officials and several phone conferences to demand that these types of actions never happen again,” Ryan said.

Walsh and Ryan indicated that they are pursuing significant measures that would extend more rights to property owners within the inaugural footprint of the airport.

Walsh pointed to two specific actions he has taken to advance protections for citizens in the inaugural footprint.

“First, we stopped the burning of the property that IDOT had acquired.  Then, we got the appointment of an ombudsman to assist property owners in the area.  We continue to fight every day for the rights of property owners in Eastern Will County.

“I don’t think we should try to mislead citizens in that area that we can prevent IDOT from certain activities.  We can, however, work with local legislators on measures that might lessen the disruptive impact of their actions until the FAA issues their final record of decision,” Walsh stated.

“I will continue to tell the complete truth regarding this airport project.  IDOT must never trespass on anyone’s private property, no matter what the circumstance.  We are doing our very best to provide substantive relief to affected property owners while recognizing that state law gives IDOT the power to continue with property acquisition.”

Will County Executive Larry Walsh praises new ‘environmentally responsible’ airport layout plan

Asks Jackson to stop pushing ALNAC’s withdrawn plan

JOLIET  -- Will County Executive Larry Walsh today commended Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Tim Martin for revising the preferred layout plan for the proposed airport in Eastern Will County, calling it “a major step forward.”

“This submission of the revised preferred airport layout plan to the Federal Aviation Administration is a huge step in moving the process forward to responsibly build an airport in Eastern Will County.  This plan more adequately protects the Will County environment and reflects the ideas we have had for the layout plan all along,” Walsh stated.

The revised layout plan will be submitted to the FAA soon, said Walsh.

The plan includes a runway that is 9,500 feet long and 150 feet wide. It also includes the privately owned Bult Field as a stand-alone general aviation facility within the airport’s footprint. The location of the Bult Field runway does not conflict with the inaugural commercial runway.

Under the plan, the terminal will be centrally located and designed so that it can be expanded to the north. This is a significant difference from the preferred layout plan submitted in May 2005.  The 2005 submission, which was withdrawn by IDOT, was based on a plan from Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission. It called for the terminal to be built on top of Black Walnut Creek, an existing waterway, and would have been expanded to the west, Walsh explained.

The ALNAC plan clearly violates NEPA, or the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Walsh said. The act requires entities to avoid, minimize and mitigate damage to the environment.

“With the terminal in the middle, as proposed in the new IDOT preferred alternative, the airport will be more efficient and designing it to be expanded north keeps it from running over the creek in the foreseeable future.

“The ALNAC plan might be more convenient for their hand-picked developers, but it totally disregarded the impact on the Will County environment.  That has been our complaint from day one; that the ALNAC plan from layout to governance completely disregards the interests of Will County.  That’s why this is a major step forward,” Walsh said.

IDOT has indicated it will also re-submit the ALNAC plan at Jackson’s request, but will make very clear their preference for the revised submission.

Walsh said he understands IDOT’s position in accommodating the Congressman, but called on Jackson to ask IDOT to withdraw his request. The FAA could then focus on reviewing the preferred alternative.

“The Congressman has always maintained that the main goal of this airport is to provide more economic opportunity for the region.  We agree with him. He has accused us of trying to impede the project while all we have ever sought is to protect Will County’s interests.

“Now with this new submission, we have the chance to show unity in backing this environmentally responsible layout plan and stop the political gamesmanship. He should call Tim Martin today and tell him he is withdrawing the request to submit the ALNAC plan.”

Walsh said that with this submission to the FAA that only a few steps remain to make this project a reality.

“Now that a layout plan that can pass muster with the FAA and protect Will County’s interests will be submitted, two important steps remain.

“First, we should all get behind Senate Majority Leader Sen. Debbie Halvorson and the Business-Labor Coalition and urge the General Assembly to pass legislation creating an airport authority that has regional representation, but with a majority of Will County residents on it.

“Finally, once that authority is in place, they can legally solicit private developers to join us in making this airport a reality.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

Sunny Hill Director of Nursing earns statewide recognition

Annette Etheridge honored for 21-year tenure at end of her career

     JOLIET – Annette Etheridge isn’t looking forward to being honored by her statewide peers later this month. The modest, soft spoken Etheridge doesn’t think there is any reason for it.

     “It’s a job. I (did) it. That’s it,” said Etheridge, who has been named Director of Nursing of the Year by the Illinois Health Care Association. She will be honored Sept. 13 in Springfield.

     But others recognize, when you do the job as well as Etheridge has, there’s a lot to it.

Enjoying a recent visit in the cafeteria at Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County are (from left) Sue Juricic, Annette Etheridge, Clare McGann and Rose Ross. Etheridge, who retired Sept. 1, has been named the Director of Nursing of the Year by the Illinois Health Care Association. She is scheduled to receive the award Sept. 13 in Springfield.

     Will County Executive Larry Walsh says the quality of nursing care under Etheridge’s tutelage has been obvious. “The caring and professionalism of Annette and her staff are unmatched. I congratulate her on this much-deserved recognition.”

     Karen Sorbero, the administrator at Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County, says Etheridge’s 21 years as the Director of Nursing, or DON, is virtually unheard of. “The average tenure of a DON is one year. It’s so high pressure, they burn out. People can’t believe it when I tell them I have a DON who’s been here more than 20 years.”

     But Etheridge, who retired Sept. 1, chocks up the longevity of her tenure to the caring people at Sunny Hill – aided by a little trickery, if you will.

     After 10 years of hospital nursing experience, Etheridge first came to the county-owned Sunny Hill, 402 Doris Ave., as a unit charge nurse in 1976. She left the nursing home in 1981 to return to a hospital setting to brush up on her nursing skills. She only stayed away three years.

     “I missed Sunny Hill. And I decided to come back,” she said. She returned as an RN Supervisor in September 1984. In December 1985, then-Administrator Vickie Tomer asked Etheridge to fill in as the director of nursing for a “few months” while she searched for a replacement.

     “She tricked me,” Etheridge said with a little laugh. “I got so busy doing the job the months just flew by.”

 Residents first

     In nominating Etheridge, Sorbero wrote about the facility’s change to resident-centered care, which puts residents’ wants at the center of decisions, from hospital-centered care, in which daily routines are scheduled around the staff.

      “Sunny Hill became committed to the philosophy of the ‘Pioneer Movement’ or ‘Resident-Centered Care’ in 2003. Every seminar I attended regarding this movement always included a ‘warning comment’ that the nursing staff usually is the most resistant to culture change.”

     After a visit to the Knox County Nursing Home to learn about the changes that facility had made, it struck Sorbero that Etheridge was ahead of her time. “…I immediately realized that Annette had always been a ‘pioneer’ in ‘resident-centered care’ by always placing the resident’s need FIRST – always basing any procedural or program decision on what the resident wants instead of how this will impact staff. She had always preached that we are guests in our residents’ home – this is their home, not ours.”

      Etheridge acknowledges that the switch to resident-centered care can be a challenge. “It’s a hard change, especially for nurses.”

     The old system was more schedule-  and task-oriented, she said. “Resident-centered care is more thinking outside the box, meeting residents’ needs the way they want them met.”

      Sorbero praised Etheridege’s efforts. “Through her example, Sunny Hill has made ‘resident-centered care’ a cornerstone of our facility philosophy. Her commitment to our residents has continually raised the bar for all of us with the result being empowered residents and staff with one goal in common: to create a caring home that our residents and staff can be proud of. … Her commitment and perseverance in the ever-changing world of long-term care is undeniable.”

     Sorbero described Etheridge as a mentor, a teacher and a mother to her staff. “She is a ‘hands-on’ supervisor, making rounds as often as possible, reviewing all 24-hour reports and disseminating that information to the entire interdisciplinary team daily. She is on-call 24/7 and never complains about late night phone calls or calls on her day off.”

    “Those are the responsibilities of the job, and I gladly accepted them,” said Etheridge. But, she conceded as she pondered retirement, “it will be nice not to hear the phone ring in the middle of the night.”

   Or, for that matter, to not hear the alarm clock go off at 4:30 a.m. so she can be at Sunny Hill by 6. Most days, she didn’t leave until 5 p.m.

    The 11-hour days didn’t leave her much time to spend with her two daughters, Elizabeth Etheridge of Wauconda and Cynthia Lilke of St. Charles, and Cynthia’s children, Ava, 4, and Damon, 21 months. Retirement will change that.

Peer recognition

   In May, Sunny Hill held its first Caring Hearts Employee Recognition Banquet. Staff members voted Etheridge their first-ever Employee of the Year.

   The balloting showed Etheridge’s impact on the Sunny Hill staff. Sorbero recalled, “As I was tallying the ballots, I was struck by the number of staff who voted for Annette – even those who have been disciplined by her in the past. I feel that speaks volumes as to the respect that she is accorded by the staff.”

     Etheridge’s importance to Sunny Hill is difficult to explain, said Sorbero.

     “Annette’s contributions to Sunny Hill and to the Will County community cannot be summed up in words,” Sorbero said. “She has always put her residents, their family members and the staff first. She has left a lasting legacy that we will always remember and work hard to uphold. She has given all of us wonderful lessons in caring, compassion and kindness.”

JOLIET – Will County Executive Larry Walsh is always ready to serve his constituency – even if it means "serving time."

Walsh is one of more than 150 people who stole time from their busy schedules to participate in the Muscular Dystrophy Association Lock-up, which was held Aug. 23-24 at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. With pledges still coming in, he has already raised more than $1,300 for the research organization.

"Fortunately, my time in ‘lock-up’ was short. For people who get these diseases, it’s a life sentence," said Walsh.

Donations help MDA research the causes and cures for 40 neuromuscular diseases. It also helps the organization provide wheelchairs, clinic visits and summer camp for people locally.

Walsh reminds everyone that contributions are 100 percent tax deductible and are still being accepted. Donations should be made out to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and can be sent to Walsh’s office at the County Office Building, 302 N. Chicago St., 60432.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh donned "prison garb" for his mug shot during the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Lock-up held Aug. 23-24 at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Walsh was among more than 150 people who stole time from their busy schedules to raise funds for MDA.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JOLIET – Mary Behringer has been named the Community Liaison for Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County.

The Will County native grew up in Rockdale and now lives in Joliet. Most recently, she had been the Remembrance Coordinator for the Alzheimer and Dementia Unit at Sunrise Assisted Living in Highland Park. She had been with the assisted living facility since it opened a little more than a year ago. She started as the Activity Director.

Behringer describes her position at Sunny Hill as a "jack-of-all-trades." She will educate people about Sunny Hill, 421 Doris Ave., as well as visit residents who are hospitalized, and help those who wish to be residents through the admissions process.

The new staff member was a little worried about how she’d feel working at the county-owned facility since her late grandmother, Rose Darguzis, had been a resident. After spending so much time there visiting her grandmother, who died in March, she wasn’t sure if it would be hard to return.

Her fears were quickly allayed. She felt like she was returning home. "There is such a feeling of community here. I love the residents."

Behringer is a 2002 graduate of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Prior to her job in Highland Park, she worked for the Senior Services Center in Joliet for three years. She replaces Mary Sandelski.

JOLIET – Accessibility and accountability were themes in Will County Executive Larry Walsh’s recent State of the County address, which covered items as far-ranging as the proposed third airport and education funding reform.

The Elwood Democrat gave his annual address during the Aug. 17 meeting of the Will County Board. It was his second State of the County address since becoming the County Executive in December 2004.

"We must always remember as elected officials that the government we work in every day is really a government that is, in the words of Illinois’ greatest son, a government of the people, by the people and for the people."

Walsh said, "Nowhere is the concept of accountability more important than the ongoing issue of the proposed airport in Will County. Other parties that have ideas about building and operating this airport have no regard for the challenges that this airport would impose on all of the citizens of Will County. They would like to portray us as obstructionists to building the airport. They have accused us of only seeking ‘control’ to thwart their plans. However, the issue comes down to one of accountability.

"If this airport is going to be built in Will County, then the governing authority must be comprised of a majority of Will County residents. Period," Walsh said to spontaneous applause.

The County Executive outlined some of the airport developments from the last year, including federal legislation shepherded by Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris, and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert that requires any airport governance authority have a majority of its members from the County in which the airport is built.

"We applaud Congressman Weller’s efforts to reinforce the basic concept of local control with a federal law protecting out interests."

He also noted the December 2005 opinion from Attorney General Lisa Madigan that cited several flaws in a competing airport plan from the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission spearheaded by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Chicago. In that opinion, Madigan wrote that procurement methods ALNAC used to get its developers were illegal and that the state could not transfer the land to a private group without authorization from the state General Assembly.

Walsh also heralded the appointment of Crete attorney Ray Feeley as ombudsman for property owners within the airport footprint.

He reminded listeners that the County had partnered with the Will County Center for Economic Development, the Will-Grundy Building Trades Council, the Cook County Building Trades Council, and the Chamber of Commerce from both Joliet and Kankakee in a labor-business coalition to endorse legislation "to establish an airport authority with a majority of Will County residents as members that will design, build and operate the third airport."

"This effort confirms our desire to see this airport build and operated by an authority that is established by state statute with all of the legal powers to responsibly build and operate an airport."

Walsh also highlighted steps the County has taken to supplement its revenues. "First, we retained a federal lobbyist for the first time to identify federal dollars that could be used for important county projects. While we got a late start in terms of the federal budget cycle, to date our partners in Washington, Smith, Dawson and Andrews, have identified more than $2.1 million in federal funds that will be coming to Will County."

In addition, Walsh’s office hired a full-time grant writer that has already paid off with a commitment of $40,000 from the Illinois Department of Human Services to assist with the Children’s Advocacy Center in State’s Attorney James Glasgow’s office. Sixteen other grant applications, with the potential to bring in more than $1 million, have been submitted.

The County Executive lauded efforts by County departments for efforts to be more accessible to taxpayers. Among them:

JOLIET – Checks totaling more than $80,000 were recently sent to 17 taxing units thanks to legislation designed to keep taxes on property purchased for the proposed airport in eastern Will County in local coffers.

The Tax Recovery Fund was created to benefit governmental units which otherwise would have lost all tax dollars once the Illinois Department of Transportation purchased the properties in eastern Will County. This is the third time the governmental units have received the annual payment.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh lauded both the system and the forethought that created it.

"It should be reassuring to residents, especially in the eastern part of the county, to know that their county government is continually looking out for them," said Walsh. "These 17 governmental units are receiving these funds thanks to special legislation created just for this purpose."

Payments ranged from $138.57 to the Will County Building Commission to $43,309.18 for Beecher School District 200-U. The checks were mailed July11, almost a month earlier than in 2005.

Will County Treasurer Karen Callanan was happy her office could get the disbursement checks out so quickly. "We received our check from the state on July 10 and mailed all 17 disbursement checks out on July 11. I’m sure the taxing districts are happy to see this system continue to work so smoothly."

Property owned by governmental units is tax exempt. However, structures on the property which are rented to individuals or private businesses are subject to lease hold taxes. Since land is being held for airport construction, it may be years before there are long-term leases on which to bases taxes.

Will County Supervisor of Assessments Rhonda Novak, whose office must certify in writing to DOT the amount of taxes extended for the 2002 property tax year for those parcels currently being leased, said the effort is well worth it. "Those taxing districts were rightfully concerned about the impact on their budgets by having these properties taken off the tax rolls. I’m glad we found a way to help them."

Novak said since buildings on some of the properties had been taken down, the assessment and, subsequently, the amount reimbursed by the state, was reduced. Last year’s total was $121,484.41.

Through the legislation, the State Finance Act was amended to create the Tax Recovery Fund. All money collected as rent on land, buildings, or improvements on land purchased by the state for the proposed airport must go into the fund.

The fund’s No. 1 priority is to compensate taxing districts for lease-hold taxes. The state’s General Revenue Fund may only keep what’s leftover after the taxing districts are compensated and any maintenance and/or repair costs are paid.

The county will receive the taxes in one installment each year. The legislation will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2010. Any money left in the fund at that time will first go to compensate local taxing bodies for 2010 taxes payable in 2011, and then to the General Revenue fund earmarked for debt service on bonds issued for the land acquisition.

Here is a list of the taxing bodies which received money from the Tax Recovery Fund and the amounts they received:

Will County Forest Preserve District -- $1,736.94;

Will County Building Commission -- $138.37;

Will Township – $2,728,97;

Will Township road fund -- $5,665.05;

Monee Township – $152.04;

Monee Township road fund -- $224.78;

Beecher Fire District -- $4,667.05;

Monee Fire District--$821.25;

Peotone Fire District -- $1,551.80;

Beecher School District -- $43,309.18;

Crete School District -- $4,991.92;

Peotone School District -- $8,816.35;

Prairie State Community College, Chicago Heights -- $3,295.59;

Joliet Junior College, Joliet -- $521.35;

Beecher Library -- $1,173.39;

Peotone Library – $296.09;

Will County -- $6,171.29.

June 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Newcomers have Sunny Hill residents atwitter

JOLIET – Some of Sunny Hill Nursing Home’s newest residents aren’t quite what you would expect.

They’re not in their senior years; in fact, they’re just a few months old. Each moved in with a resident who, with some staff help, will care for the newcomers and maybe even teach the young ones to talk.

Until that happens, they’ll just chirp.

Thanks to donors, six parakeets in various colors have moved in with six residents. By the end of the initial meeting on Tuesday, June 27, five had names.

Genevieve Musson named her bird Louie the 16^{th , and she plans to speak some French to it. Irene Mrumlinski named her new friend Amigo. Ethel Vahlkamp thought Pretty Boy was just right for her new roomie. And, if Pretty Boy turns out to not to be one, she can call it Pretty Girl.}

Jay Grainger decided to name his bird after himself, and called him Jay Jr. Activities Director Larry Lindholm joked that the Cubs fan should have named his new friend Dusty Baker or after some other member of the baseball organization. After all, Junior does have a little Cubbie blue on him.

Dorothy Welp said she’d have to think about what to name her baby. She has had birds before, but had never named them. Within a short while, she was settled on Bluebell. The sixth resident, Ruth Porter, wasn’t there for the introductions. Her feathered friend would have to be named later.Family of bird fans

The birds were donated by Deb Heddins, human resources benefits administrator for Will County, Heddins’ mother, Marilyn McKay, Sharon Lorenz, secretary to Will County Executive Larry Walsh, and Lorenz’s daughter, Margie Campus. The women provided the birds, cages with stands, toys, mirrors, and several months worth of food.

Heddins said her family’s love of birds had stretched across generations. "We all have birds."

Her grandmother, Emily Borges, once had a parakeet named Blue Boy that could say more than 200 words and could even speak some sentences. When she died at age 95 this past December, Borges had a specially bred parakeet that was pink, her favorite color.

Heddins advised the residents the talk to their birds, not just in attempt to teach them to speak, but also to make them calmer. She suggested when they put their hand in the cage, they put out a finger and say, "step up." The birds will learn to do just that and perch on your finger, she said.

"The more you have your hand in there, the tamer they will be," she said.

In addition to the bird seed, the birds can be given little bits of lettuce, apples, oranges and grapes. Don’t put the fresh foot in the food dish, McKay advised. She said the fresh food should be on a little paper plate on the bottom of the cage.

Heddins said the person at the pet store told her the parakeets generally live nine to 12 years.

She explained that in addition to the hanging toys, parakeets love mirrors. "Louis the 16th is already looking in his," she pointed out.Resident-centered care

Becky Haldorson, assistant administrator at the county-owned nursing home at 402 Doris Ave., said having the birds fits in with the center’s shift toward resident-centered care. The philosophy of resident-centered care is that residents get to have more choices about the way they live, including things such as what and when they eat, when they go to bed, and when they get up in the morning.

Now, for six residents, it also includes choosing to have a bird live with them.

County Executive Walsh said he didn’t know that Heddins, Lorenz and the other women were going to make the donation, but was happy to hear it. "I’ve been a big supporter of resident-centered care and the work Administrator Karen Sorbero and her staff do. It doesn’t surprise me that anyone would want to help further the movement along. I’m very proud Sharon, Deb and the others did this."

Haldorson said all of the residents were asked if they would like to have a bird. Each resident who wanted one had to have a staff member volunteer to take responsibility for the bird’s care. "So every single bird has a staff member and a resident to take care of it.

"The residents who got the birds are really excited about it," she said, adding there are already three people on a waiting list who would like to have one if a staff member volunteers to oversee the care.

That sounded good to Heddins, McKay, Lorenz and Campus. When Sunny Hill is ready for more winged residents, they said, just let us know.

CUTLINE:

Genevieve Musson, a resident at Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County, admires her new roommate, Louis the 16th. Six residents received parakeets that will live with them in their rooms at the county-owned nursing home, 402 Doris Ave.

Six residents of Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County received parakeets on Tuesday, June 27. Five of the
six are shown, along with the staff members who have volunteered to oversee the birds' care and the four women, Deb Heddins, Marilyn McKay, Sharon Lorenz and Margie Campus, who donated the birds and everything needed to care for them.

March 20, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Will County Executive Larry Walsh Says New ALNAC Agreement Doesn’t Fix Problems

JOLIET -- Will County Executive Larry Walsh says a new intergovernmental agreement regarding an airport in eastern Will County has many of the same problems as the old one.

In December, Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued an opinion that Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.’s airport group, the Abraham Lincoln Airport Commission, could not enter into a design/build contract with their developers due to limitations created by having non-home rule communities as members.

Jackson responded by reorganizing the group to exclude 17 of its 32 members.

"They can call this a new intergovernmental agreement, but it still has the old problems and added some new ones," said Walsh. "First of all, too much power is still placed with too few people. We have long maintained that Bensenville and Elk Grove Village should have no involvement in this project because their goal is to use Will County to block O’Hare expansion, while the County agrees with the Federal Aviation Administration that both projects are vital to the nation’s air traffic system.

"In the old agreement, those two northern suburbs controlled everything and could force expansion, even if the traffic didn’t warrant it. In this reconstituted ALNAC, Bensenville has been asked to leave because of its non-home rule status. All of the powers now rest entirely with Elk Grove Village.

"All of the other members could want something, and Elk Grove Village could do the opposite," said the County Executive.

According to the agreement, until the airport opens, Elk Grove Village controls decisions regarding airport operations, including choosing the director, amending the by-laws, and expelling members.

After the airport is open, Elk Grove Village will be dropped, and University Park and Park Forest will share those super powers.

Despite its non-member status, Bensenville still retains the right with Elk Grove Village to force development of the airport for 25 years after the airport opens through a development services agreement.

It also includes an obligation to pay Bensenville and Elk Grove Village back with interest that is 2 points above prime for expenses incurred both prior to and after the formation of ALNAC.

"That’s an estimated $4 million in expenses that those communities are responsible for, even though much of that money was spent before they were invited to join," said Walsh. "I would be particularly worried about where that money is to come from if I was considering joining ALNAC. In the old agreement, it said that the funds would come from initial airport financing. The new one says that the Commission must pay even if repayment funds are NOT available through airport financing."

The limitation of ALNAC membership to home-rule units does not solve ALNAC’s structural deficiencies. Home-rule powers may only be exercised within municipal boundaries; the airport does not lie within the municipal boundaries of any ALNAC member, therefore they cannot procure developers for a project that isn’t in their home-rule jurisdiction, nor can they exercise any other home-rule powers with respect to the airport of its environs.

"The obvious problems with the ALNAC structure are perfect examples of why Will County has always said that the General Assembly must grant the necessary powers to a governing entity; you cannot derive the necessary powers by cobbling together existing laws and trying to use them in unintended ways," said the County Executive. "That is the type of thinking that will mire this airport in lawsuits."

Will County has been adamant that if this airport is built entirely within Will County it must be governed by a board made up of a majority of Will County residents. In December, the Weller Amendment was approved as part of the Defense Authorization Act. The measure engineered by Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris, guarantees Will County a majority on any airport governance authority.

The plan the County endorses, which was put forward by the Will County Center for Economic Development's airport task force, calls for a nine-member board with six-year staggered terms. Six members would be from Will County, two from southern Cook County and one from Kankakee County. The governor and state transportation secretary would be ex officio members.

"Congressman Jackson is touting his new nine-member board as having a majority of Will County members. But there is a catch," said Walsh.

The new agreement calls for a nine-member board and assumes all of the former home-rule members will remain with the new ALNAC. The nine members called for in the new agreement are: one each from Elk Grove Village, Park Forest, University Park, South Holland and Calumet Park; and four by the Governor from the Will County home-rule communities of Bolingbrook, Channahon, Elwood, Joliet, Manhattan, Monee, Naperville, Orland Park, Park Forest, Rockdale, Romeoville, Tinley Park, Woodridge and University Park.

Walsh said, "The catch is that to appoint someone to the board, you must be a member of ALNAC. And to be a member of ALNAC, you have to sign the intergovernmental agreement which gives all decision-making power to Elk Grove Village, makes you legally responsible for paying back Bensenville and Elk Grove Village, and puts your community in a position to get sued by Bensenville and Elk Grove Village if you don’t expand the airport according to their timeframe."

Of the current members, only two communities – Park Forest and University Park – are members. If there aren’t enough communities with memberships, the board will choose its own members from Park Forest and University Park. In addition, once the airport opens, Elk Grove Village will be dropped and replaced by someone appointed by Hopkins Park or Kankakee – again, if they join ALNAC.

"Of course, with the super powers given to Elk Grove Village and then University Park and Park Forest, the rest of the members in this proposed board really have no power, anyway," Walsh pointed out.

March 6, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WILL COUNTY – Will County Executive Larry Walsh and four Iron Ring mayors have written a letter urging support of Development District legislation introduced to the Illinois Senate last week by Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete.

The letter is being sent to area news media as well as state legislators. It is signed by Walsh; Beecher Village President Paul Lohmann, Crete Village President Mike Einhorn, Monee Village President Timothy O’Donnell, and Peotone Village President Steve Cross.

In it, the five elected officials write that the district is a road map for smart planning and cooperation that will benefit the airport and communities by creating a multi-jurisdictional land-use plan that promotes on- and off-airport compatability, preserved the ultimate airport footprint and helps communities avoid development competition through revenue-sharing.

The plan has already been praised by Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation. The Federal Aviation Administration has encouraged the Illinois Department of Transportation to work with local officials on the project as this is the type of planning they would like at airports around the nation.

"We believe the Will County plan will be a model for other intergovernmental groups across the nation as they look at major projects in their areas," Walsh and the mayors conclude. "Please join us as we pioneer a better way to plan."

Here is a copy of the letter:

We in Will County have the opportunity to do something unique in the area surrounding the Federal Aviation Administration’s chosen spot for a third suburban airport.

Last week, legislation was put forward by Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, to create a development district. Sen. Halvorson’s proposal reflects 2 ½ years of work by leaders from the county and members of the Iron Ring -- Beecher, Crete, Monee, Peotone and University Park – which surround the airport footprint.

The simple act is designed to promote regional cooperation and land-use compatibility, put all participants on equal footing, and encourage planning that will work best for the region and the airport while eliminating the need for governmental units to compete for development. This is an opportunity to both boost the success of the airport and let the communities determine their future. Other airport communities will wish they had been able to work together in this manner.

The Development District plan has been lauded by Rep. John Mica, (R-Fla.) chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation, and others who recognize its significance. In fact, the FAA has told the Illinois Department of Transportation that the Development District will be critical to the long-term success of the third airport. One only has to visit communities surrounding other airports to see the harsh consequences of traditional "all-for-us" planning. Local governments have competed for businesses, land use concerns are second to profits, and quality of life suffers because of it.

Before any misconceptions can take root in our communities, we want to be clear on what is – and is not -- proposed:

The District does not create a new across-the-board sales tax. The proposed legislation provides that one-half of 1 percent of sales tax from new businesses will go to the District. Second, a technical amendment limits the property tax surcharge on new businesses to .500 and the bond authorization to $50 million.

Any revisions to the land use plan will require approval by the District and each local government. Revisions will be made every five years, in conjunction with updates to the airport master plan, making growth outside the airport compatible to that at the airport.

We ask that all of our legislators support this novel way to promote land-use compatibility and inter-government collaboration. We hope you will follow the lead of the local communities and their leaders to support this legislation. The Development District promotes success of the third airport and the survival of local community character.

We believe the Will County plan will be a model for other intergovernmental groups across the nation as they look at major projects in their areas. Please join us as we pioneer a better way to plan for growth and change.

President Paul Lohmann

Village of Beecher

President Mike Einhorn

Village of Crete

President Timothy O’Donnell

Village of Monee

President Steve Cross

Village of Peotone

County Executive Larry Walsh

County of Will

Feb. 24, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aviation Chairman Praises Will County Airport Plan to Gov. Blagojevich

JOLIET – Will County Executive Larry Walsh today expressed his appreciation for federal support of the county’s airport plan from the chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation.

"When Chairman John Mica was here last month, he was highly complimentary of the work Will County has done in preparation for the airport near Peotone," said Walsh, an Elwood Democrat. "He has followed his visit up with a letter to Gov. Blagojevich, praising a plan that both impressed him and provides what he calls, ‘the necessary foundation."

In a letter sent to the governor earlier in the month, Mica reiterated how impressed he was during the Jan. 17 briefing hosted at the County Office Building by Walsh, Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris, and Jim Roolf from the Will County Center for Economic Development.

"The briefing provided an overview of the plans for the development, construction and governance of the South Suburban Airport set forth by Will County and the coalition of businesses and labor unions in the region," he wrote. "I believe their plans provide the necessary foundation for an airport plan that encompasses strong local support. Their plans provide for an airport authority with local control and regional representation, an important component as it is the lives of the people of Will County who will be affected most from the day-to-day operation of South Suburban Airport."

Walsh said Mica had been impressed by what he heard at the briefing. "The chairman said it was the most comprehensive plan for a greenfield site that he had ever seen. He also said he thought a contribution of $200 million from the airport improvement fund – double what the county had even considered receiving – was a small investment in comparison to the benefit to the national air transportation system."

In remarks at the January briefing, Mica told his hosts his presence was proof that an airport in eastern Will County is a "key project."

"… You’re doing it right," Mica said. He echoed the feelings of others who have praised the proposed development district, which involves the Iron Ring communities and the county. The development district will provide revenue sharing from developments so that communities won’t compete. It also will allow for regional planning, so that development is compatible with airport growth.

"You have no idea of the jobs this (airport) will create," he said. "You have no idea of the potential…

"I see a very well thought-out plan," he said, promising, "I will do anything I can to continue to work with you."

The briefing gave him a clear picture of the groups’ efforts and left him with no questions. "I’ve been trying to find something you haven’t covered, but I’ll be damned if I can think of anything."

In his letter to Blagojevich, Mica again stated the importance of an airport in Will County. "As I have said in the past, with air travel in the Chicagoland area increasing at rapid pace, it is vital that the South Suburban Airport be constructed, in addition to the O’Hare Modernization Plan. This airport project is also needed to ease delays increasingly experienced by travelers in the Nation’s aviation system due to congestion at O’Hare Airport. I believe that the plan set forth by the regional coalition led by Congressman Jerry Weller is a good one."

Walsh, Weller and Roolf, who is also the Will County Airport Coalition chairman, updated about 160 residents on efforts related to the airport, including legislation, at an open forum at Peotone High School on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Walsh reminded those present that planning for an airport if it was to be built was the responsible way for leaders to respond. "Some of us could probably have stuck our heads in the sand and said ‘maybe if we ignore this issue it will go away.’ That would be negligence."

He said leaders from county government, labor and business decided to go forward together. "We recognized that if we worked in unison, we’d all be better off than if we worked alone."

Walsh praised Sen. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, for her work in the state General Assembly. He explained that Halvorson had submitted two shell bills, essentially empty bills waiting for content that act as place holders, while she worked on crafting legislation. "What she puts forward will be the best she can put forward," he said confidently.

Walsh and Weller both told residents that they are pressing the state to allocate more money for land purchases so that sellers would receive a "fair" price for their land.

Walsh, Weller, and other county leaders have traveled to the eastern part of the county to discuss airport issues several times in recent years. New Lenox Mayor Mike Smith moderated the forum.

Jim Roolf, chairman of the Will County Airport Coalition, (from left), Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, and Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris, discuss county plans for a South Suburban Airport at a meeting held at the County Office building last month. Mica has echoed his praises for the plan from that meeting in a letter to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

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