$15 Million For Tinley Park Mental Health Center Cleanup Lost?

TINLEY PARK, IL — We may need to call the Mystery Gang, because, jinkies, $15 million is missing.

The promised $15 million in allocated funds intended to clean up the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center site is nowhere to be found in the senate bill currently on Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk. The $42 billion Illinois 2022 fiscal year budget has passed through both houses and is awaiting Pritzker's signature. But the bill has no mention of the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center property, even though the site was previously slated to receive $15 million in allocated funds in 2020 for cleanup efforts. To date, those funds have not been distributed.

The last legislative mention of the former mental health center property dates back to February of this year, in a Senate bill for capital projects under the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The status of the bill has not changed since the day it was first brought forth. According to that bill, the money would have been included in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

In February, ahead of addressing the fiscal year budget, Pritzker warned that the state is going to have to make "some painful cuts" in order to balance the budget.

The former mental health center property closed in 2012, and was the last of 13 state facilities of its kind built. An inspection of the mental health center took place in early 2020, revealing numerous environmental concerns on site, such as asbestos and black mold. In May, a 2.1 million gallon water leak caused by a water main break poured into the Tinley Park sewer system and Midlothian Creek along Harlem Avenue. The village said the damages equate to $17,000 in water waste.

Patch reached out to Senator Michael Hastings' office for clarification and comment regarding the whereabouts of the funds, and if they will no longer be allocated. Hastings never provided comment. An official who wished not to be named tried to but could not get a clear answer by the time of publication.

First, the official told Patch the Mental Health Center funds were dropped and would not be considered again until the 2023 fiscal year budget comes around. Then Patch received a call back saying that the funds should be included, and that a clear answer will come soon.

Patch reached out to Tinley Park Village Manager David J. Niemeyer to ask if the village has had any recent communication regarding the whereabouts of the funds. Niemeyer said Hastings' office informed him that the funds may be in another bill, but that the senator is unaware of its exact location, if any.

"We have been telling our residents that we are receiving these funds, since the cleanup of this property is critical to us," Niemeyer told Patch. "We will be patiently waiting to see what officials find. We would be sorely disappointed if it's nowhere to be found."

Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz echoed the village manager's sentiment.

"If indeed it turns out that the money is not there, I am not only incredibly disappointed but perplexed on how the state could let this happen," he told Patch. "It certainly doesn’t appear that they are looking out for the residents of Tinley Park."

In May, Hastings sent a statement to Patch regarding a press conference held by village officials on the property. The senator said he has worked for the past eight years on doing what's best for the town and the former property, adding that Tinley Park has had four different mayors in that time.

In the statement, Hastings made note of the funds, along with other efforts he said he has made regarding the property.

"I secured a $15 million appropriation in the 2019 capital bill for environmental cleanup at the site," Hastings said. "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. I ask my fellow legislators who also represent Tinley Park to step up and join me in these efforts."

On Tuesday, the village attended an administrative hearing for nine citations to the state at the former site. Village staff and a resident stood before a hearing officer to provide evidence arguing that the state has been negligent with the property for years. The state may face nine $750 fines, depending on the hearing officer's final order. The village said Thursday the officer's decision would be made in the next week.

"We've decided to move forward with this hearing as a result of the State's lack of action regarding these violations," Mayor Glotz said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. "We can levy a $750 daily fine against each violation for each day they exist, but make no mistake — this isn't about the money. It's about action. We want — no, we need — the State to clean up this property, for the health and safety of the entire region."

When, or if the funds are located, Patch will let you know.

Related:

• Tinley Park Fines State Over Mental Health Center: Hearing
• Tinley Officials Demand Action On Former Mental Health Center
• Water Leak At Tinley Park Mental Health Center Sparks Concern
• Asbestos Found Throughout Tinley Park Mental Health Center Site
• Legislation Introduced To Sell Tinley Park Mental Health Center
• Mental Health Center Site Talks Stall Amid Coronavirus Pandemic