Will County officials keep pushing new airport

JOLIET — Will County officials say they plan to meet later this month with Illinois’ transportation director to talk about the proposed Peotone airport.

Nick Palmer is chief of staff for County Executive Larry Walsh, and he says the meeting with Transportation Director Ann Schneider will take place in Springfield. County officials say the meeting is an indication efforts continue to get the airport built.

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and others have long pushed for the airport.

However, Will County officials contend the plan Jackson and his Abraham Lincoln National Airport Coalition support for the one-terminal, one-runway are flawed. They argue the project should instead be placed in the hands of a governing airport authority that would be led by Will County and approved by Illinois lawmakers.