Will County leaders will seek support from state and federal officials for their plan to build and operate the Chicago area’s third regional airport near Peotone, officials announced Thursday.
County Executive Larry Walsh said the leaders intend to talk to the Illinois congressional delegation, perhaps in Washington next month.
Walsh, a former state senator, said he also would seek a meeting with the four top legislative leaders in Springfield within a month.
Walsh announced the moves at the first County Board meeting since Gov. Rod Blagojevich expressed support for a competing airport plan proposed by U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), who leads the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission.
Blagojevich has directed Tim Martin, secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, to align Will County officials and the south suburban commission behind a single plan that the state can submit to the Federal Aviation Administration.
On Monday, Martin held a closed meeting with representatives of the county and Jackson’s group.
Walsh said he has accepted an invitation from U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.), whose district includes the Peotone site, to discuss airport issues on Tuesday with legislators who represent parts of Will County.
Walsh told the board that county officials would have more meetings with Martin and Jackson’s group.
Will County now has a “singular voice” on airport issues, including the position that there be local control over the airfield, Walsh said.
“We’re going to put an effort together that is second to none to prove our point,” Walsh said. “Before all is said and done, the governor and the secretary of transportation will know Will County is speaking.”
Using baseball terms, Board Chairman James Moustis said the game is in the third inning and just because Jackson’s group has “hit a home run doesn’t mean it has won.”
On Monday, Martin said the Transportation Department’s staff is focused on the Jackson plan. This month, Blagojevich said he supported Jackson’s plan because it would not require state funding.
