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 OFFLINE | The village of Tinley Park has hired multiple firms regarding the development of land at the site of the old Tinley Park Mental Health Center campus. Taxpayer funds are paying a least 7 different planning firms hundreds of thousands of dollars to look into ways to develop property which the village DOES NOT OWN. At the TAXPAYERS EXPENSE, the village has hired:
- Farr and Associates (land use and development, also operates the website and facebook page regarding the project for the village)
- SB Friedman (market analysis and developer outreach)
- Sam Schwartz (pedestrian and bike planning)
- Hey and Associates (hydrology and ecology analysis)
- Wetlands Research Inc.
- Robinson Engineering (cost estimating)
- Site Design Group (landscape and architecture)
Village Officials believe that if they have a plan on developing this property that they would be able to purchase the land (at the taxpayer's expense) without taxpayer approval. Besides a hefty purchase price, it is estimated to cost over an additional $12 million dollars just to clean the asbestos and contaminants at the site. The Village has indicated that they'd like to find a developer that would cover the cost of land remediation, which we assume was mentioned to diffuse public outrage over the project. Does anyone actually believe that a developer paying for land remediation costs would not pass the expense through to the land parcel purchasers, builders, buyers, etc.?
There are a lot of big ideas that politicians can come up with, but the problem is that TAXPAYERS are the on the hook for the bills and liabilities. Where is the line drawn in a government's role? Is land planning, purchasing and development really a necessary role for a municipality? With property taxes as high as they are, spending more of OUR money is the last thing we want our village doing. The postcards mailed to residents at TAXPAYER cost for a pet project of the Village board is pure WASTE. The Village is spending money discussing land which it does not own. To date, residents have received at least 3 large post cards over a project for STATE OWNED property that the village is interested in buying with TAXPAYER funds. How much taxpayer dollars has the Village spent with planning firms, on the advertising campaign and public meetings regarding this project so far?
Back in 2014 the approved contract for just ONE planning firm was estimated at $105,800, and we count the Village using 7 planning firms, as listed in various reports. This is just the cost of the IDEAS. Notice in the 2014 article above, the Village underestimated the land remediation cost at $6 million - In 2016 the estimated cost is DOUBLE, $12 million estimated land remediation cost. According to articles we found on hospital and other contaminated commercial sites cleanup, costs were in the range of $75 million to $200 million. Community residents must be aware of hazardous waste sites and the threats and costs they present. Even Tinley's retired Mayor considers the Old State Mental Hospital an "Environmental Nightmare". Details on the TPMHC facility/closure can be read here.
As of July 2016, Tinley Park is looking to hire an additional consultant on a sports complex feasibility study.
The Tinley Park village board could determine that any dreamt up use of the land at 183rd and Harlem Avenue could be excellent use of the state owned land. The board can even find and hire multiple planning firms to support the boards' narrow vision. The problem is: a) the village doesn't own this land, b) the taxpayers didn't authorize their money to be spent on land planning, and c) the taxpayers didn't authorize the purchase of this land. The fact is, land at 183rd and Harlem Avenue is valuable commercial land. No matter what is built there, proper code will protect the village. Tax income will be derived. That's what matters! Tinley Park: Zone it, don't own it.
The cost of a land planning endeavor is not beneficial to taxpayers and any return on taxpayer investment would not be realized for many, many years (if at all). Current home and business owners paying the cost of this project are not benefiting. If private industry develops the land there is no cost to us, and the benefits would be received by us immediately. This is a no brainer - let private industry develop the land.
A must read article highlighting the issue of a $49 million dollar publicly funded sports "park" in Westfield Indiana that the residents were not able to use: Click Here to Read. That's a big red flag for Tinley Park taxpayers to be aware of. Also, the profitability of a Lisle "sports complex" hasn't come to fruition, and taxpayers are now on the hook for DEBT! Going back to the Westfield Indiana Grand Park (sports park), it is not comparable to a similar sports park in Tinley Park for multiple reasons...
- Indiana has a more favorable Personal, Property and Business Tax Climate than Illinois. See the report here.
- Indiana has no prevailing wage law. Illinois does, which means labor costs in Illinois are much higher than in Indiana.
- Indiana has lower insurance costs, including workers compensation insurance.
- Westfield Indiana is a more affluent city than Tinley Park. Westfield residents have a higher income, more disposable income and a lower cost of living. See the report here.
- Westfield Indiana did not have to contend with the costs of a hazardous site cleanup before building the 400 acre sports park.
Something more for residents to consider... even as Tinley Park gained businesses, like the shopping area at 191st and Harlem Avenue (Target, Best Buy, PetSmart, Kohls, etc.), our property taxes have NOT gone down! Our property taxes did not go down after the Tinley Park Convention Center was built, and our taxes have not gone down having a Music Venue, hotels and other amenities and industry in our village. Furthermore, our property taxes have not gone down with the expansion of video gambling throughout town. The problem is obviously not in attracting more business to the area, the problem is out of control spending by our Village and Schools. It's also worth noting that even though a building or property is vacant, someone is STILL paying property taxes on that lot. It's not a matter of property or sales tax income being needed on vacant properties. It's a matter of too much spending in local government.
Based on our outrageous property taxes it's apparent that the Village cannot operate a reasonable budget. We certainly don't want this same Village managing OUR money on a large project that we don't need. Just like families in this community have to balance their budgets on the "what do we need vs. what do we want" determination, this village needs to start abiding by the same.
Private industry exists to serve residents with what they want and need. We don't need our "tax dollar managers" using OUR money to figure this out. No private industry would build something a community does not want or need. Private industry does market studies before developing property. The sky will not fall if Tinley relinquishes control or manipulation of this land.
More on the TPMHC Development in the News: |
Tinley Taxpayers Unite
> Village of Tinley Park > Village Planning
STOP Taxpayer funded planning & development of TPMHC property
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