VOTE: Should Will County Have Control Over Possible Third Airport?
Will County Board President Jim Moustis took a hard stand Thursday, saying the county will fight to have control over a possible new airport in Peotone. Do you think that's a good idea?
It's a new year, but the old battle over a proposed third Chicagoland airport to be built in Peotone has started up again.
Will County Board President Jim Moustis (R-Frankfort) took a vocal stand at Thursday's board meeting, insisting the county needs to have control over the airport's operation, according to a report in TribLocal.
I am not going to sit here in silence. I’m not going to let this governor, or past governors … you will not dump on us. We will fight you all the way. If they’re going to force it here, it will be on our terms, not on somebody else’s. Gov. (Pat) Quinn, you will not treat us like somehow we’re second class citizens and we don’t exist. You don’t think you need us. You might find out different later.
Moustis and other county officials, including County Executive Larry Walsh, object to a proposal by U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) that would put the airport's governing in the hands of a special commission, the TribLocal report said.
A decision by Quinn on the airport could come as soon as next month, the report added.
YOUR TURN! Do you think Will County should have full control over how a proposed third airport is run? Or should a special commission be in charge? Take our poll and tell us what you think in the comments section.
Tony
11:32 am on Friday, January 20, 2012
If the airport is going to be in Will County then it should be ran by Will County. We all know how the crook county boys run things, we don't need them in Will County. I think we could use a third airport,the Will county area is getting bigger and bigger as people leave Cook County in search of cheaper housing and taxes and freedom. I remember as a kid that Ohara airport was built in the middle of nowhere, now look at it. If you take a good look at airports, most were built away from cities, but look at them now, I think a 3rd airport will be good for Will county in the years to come.
RobW
7:04 am on Saturday, January 21, 2012
I agree that the Peotone airport should be controlled by the COUNTY in which it is built. Will County doesn't control any portion of O'Hare Airport in Cook County and there is no valid reason for Cook County to control an airport built in Peotone or anywhere else outside of Cook County. Unfortunately or not, it's probably time to get serious about building the Peotone Airport not only for the jobs that will result in building and maintaining it, but for the businesses and companies that will follow which will be very good for the economy.
B.j. Monstovich
12:51 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012
I thought they decided to expand O'Hare instead of building a 3rd airport.
Joe Vince
2:01 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012
@B.j. Mostovich:
I don't think a firm decision has been made either way. Sounds like next month might be when Gov. Quinn chooses which route, expansion or new airport.
Joe Vince
Local editor, Frankfort
Tony
9:09 am on Saturday, January 21, 2012
Expanding O' Hara is a cook county project, Will county needs to push ahead with an airport and let cook county do as they please. What cook county doe's should not have any thing to do with what will county does we have our own future to look forward to.
Tony
11:03 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Most of the major airports are filled to capacity ,now why wouldn't the airlines be interested in another airport, I can't figure out any reason except that it would be in Illinois, that would be enough to scare any business away.
Tracy
10:39 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tony, the biggest reason was always Daley, and his baby O'Hare - no airlines are going to pull out of O'Hare or Midway - nor can they expand to a third airport - airlines are losing money, cutting flights and filing banqruptcy left and right.
Peotone is not for commuter flights, but freight - why Walmart and others set up warehouses in UP near the Monee truck stop. This discussion has been going on for at least 15 years or longer. It wont be like you can go to Monee and hop a flight to Vegas. You're talking semi truck traffic, warehouses, air and noise polution. Ryan was land banking like crazy in Monee and Peotone pre-jail - numerous homes were bought and bulldozed down, and the gov has just been sitting on that land - gee - what a waste of money. This airport is not worth supporting if airlines wont be.
Stan
10:19 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
I think Jesse Jackson Jr. knows what's best for us all and we should just let him decide how to run the airport.
We desperately need another airport, because the 2 (two) International Airports an hour away aren't enough....
Think of all the TSA jobs we could create....
Tracy
10:40 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
Lol - Stan, I am hoping this is sarcasm at it's finest lol.
Tony
11:32 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The only thing Jackson wants to do is keep his pockets full of money, he belongs in crook county with the rest of the crooks.
Tracy
10:19 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
This airport is not to be a passenger airport, but for freight, and no airlines support it, nor will come. Building it is pointless without airline support, and our state is broke, so are you saying Will County needs to flip the bill for it as well. Educate yourselves - http://www.nothirdairport.org/
Quinn needs to pay the public schools before even entertaining building an airport that airlines do not support.
Tracy
10:26 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
Do you know that if the Peotone airport were built it would be almost 3 and one-half times the size of O’Hare?
Do you know that if the Peotone airport was built it would:
Increase property taxes significantly in Will County? Residents of Peotone, Monee, University Park, Crete & Beecher will be subjected to increased taxes, noise, air and water pollution, congestion & crime.
destroy over 1000 single-family homes?
destroy 95 working farms consisting of 23,698 acres of prime & important farmland?
close 7 general aviation fields & 18 businesses?
cause Will Township to lose 59% of its revenue?
cause a 10% to 25% loss of revenue for the Monee, Beecher & Peotone Fire Protection Districts?