Already over budget....

Tell the CEO of Fifth Third Bank what you think about the loan they are making to village for the McLaughlin Triangle. kevin.kabat@53.com

Andrea, probably a better way to send a message is to withdraw your business with 5/3 Bank if you dont agree with the project. i think that would send a strong message to the bank. Tell the branch manager that you are withdrawing your accounts because of the financing deal. If enough reisdents do this, I am sure it will get attention.

25 million dollars is what Orland Park taxpayers paid for the 159th and La Grange Road intersection rebuild. These are state roads. Zero $ from the state. What moron decided to spend our money this way? 23 million in state funding ? to cross METRA tracks on 143rd St widening project but I see it stops just before the eminent domain railroad property exists. What no 4 lane over the tracks! great place for a bottle neck. 6 lanes to 2. Excellent. What study thought this out? Can't get 200' of 139th street built for any amount. Metra is doing it's own bridge track work over La Grange Rd. At who's expense? This town is drowning in unbridled political ignorance. Why do they have to advertise it twice a month though.

I think I missed something and don't have time to re-read all the documents on the Village website. Can someone explain to me how 5th/3rd Bank suddenly got involved in this project? I thought the whole point of this being financed through the Village, via Bonds, was to prevent a bank from being involved with any decisions should the developers default on their loans. Not trying to be negative...I'm just wondering what I missed that explains why the 5th/3rd bank is suddendly involved. Thanks

Megan,

This is an interim step as the funding need to get the project started is immediate, and the sale of General Obligation Bonds will take time before they are prepared and offered on the open market. The Village is securing a loan with 5th/3rd to be backed and paid off when the GO Bonds have been sold.

@ Paul,

The funding for most of the state roadways improvements Orland has accomplished has been funded by the home rule sales tax. So Orland and non-Orland residents who shop or dine in town are paying for improvements. Most of these roadway improvements would never have been made if it weren't for the home rule tax funding Orland is collecting. These roadway projects are part of a "State and Federal" list; however, securing funding is pretty difficult. The Village set-up the tax so they could complete the required engineering phases and partial funding so the improvements could be made much sooner than the State or Federal governments coming up with all the funding. Because of that the projects are pushed up on the list faster. You are correct, the State may never pay Orland back for all they invested; however, it was a tax designed for this purpose and not borne on just Orland Park residents. I hope that helps clarify things.

My concern is the 9750 project will be tapping into these same home rule sales tax proceeds to pay back the GO Bonds should the project require funding. If that is the case the funding for further road improvements are at risk.

While on my bicycle ride today I talked with engineers at the site... the 143rd roadway crossing the Metra tracks will be done as another project after Metra re-aligns it's tracks over La Grange road and extends the curent double track another 1000+ feet across 143rd St. This will correct the platform single track issue that the station currently deals with loading and unloading passengers on the same track in both directions. Metra is doing all it's own work. When this is completed, 143rd St will be widened. Not sure how this impacts the SW highway interchange. I still think an on ramp to SW highway for westbound traffic needs to be put on La Grange Rd at 135th St. avoiding the intersection at 143rd all together. Along with a toll both of course.

I hope the new apartment building includes the federally mandated 10% low income! Get your waivers ready.