Tinley Park mayor criticizes state officials, suggests possible legal action over safety issues at former mental health hospital site
The SouthtownStarMay 21, 2021
May 20—Tinley Park Mayor
During a news conference near the perimeter of the 280-acre state, village officials said tainted soil, underground storage tanks, asbestos and black mold are among issues at the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center they want to see addressed.
The facility closed in 2012 and the village wants to buy the property from the state, clean it up and offer it for development. The property is northwest of the intersection of
"If they don't take action we are going to be forced to take action ourselves," Glotz said.
The mayor, sworn in earlier this month after serving a term as village trustee, said the village has been stonewalled in trying to get the site maintained properly.
"We have attempted over and over again to get someone, anyone, at the state to talk to us," he said. "We want the state to either bring it up to code or sell the property to be cleaned up."
The village last month issued citations for building code violations, accumulated litter and overgrown grass and weeds on the property, which is patrolled by private security. Buildings are covered in graffiti and valuable metals such as copper pipes have been stripped from buildings, Glotz said.
In a response to the violations last month, the
An estimate made several years ago put the cost at remediating the site's environmental issues and razing dozens of buildings on the property at
The state's Rebuild Illinois capital program has also designated
"No one can tell use if and when these funds will become available," said village manager
In 2015,
"It is an eyesore and an embarrassment to the state," he said.
He said the village was going into any negotiations on a land purchase without truly knowing the site's value. He said the state had two appraisals of the property but has refused to turn them over to the village, and denied a request for the records under the state's Freedom of Information Act, although the village did not appeal the denial.
Village officials earlier this month learned that a water main serving the property was leaking, and, through a water meter that is linked to the site, estimated the spill at more than 2 million gallons.
The water has since been shut off and a contractor has been hired by CMS to determine the source of the leak, Niemeyer said. The line is not looped into the village's municipal water system.
Last month, newly elected state Rep.
Glotz had harsh words for state Sen.
"What has he done, or what will he do?" Glotz said.
Hastings' office said the senator met with village officials and the village's lobbyist in February and April to talk about the state property.
In a statement in response to the news conference, Hastings said he has "worked tirelessly" during his eight years in the
"We have now had four different mayors in
Hastings said he secured the
"I have presented several pieces of legislation and urged the Governor's office to sell the center property, and I call on them to release the funds for the site cleanup," the senator said in the statement.
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