Court ruling moves village closer to gaining disputed airport land

A state appellate court ruling this week moved Lake in the Hills closer to gaining control of a disputed parcel the village says it needs for a $23 million plan to improve safety at its airport.

The unanimous decision handed down by the Second District Appellate Court of Illinois rejects claims by the property's owner, the Athans Co., that village officials negotiated in bad faith before pursuing condemnation proceedings against the land.

The ruling holds up a McHenry County judge's decision in March permitting the village to go forward with the condemnation.

"This was always a minor issue, but it's good to know that we're progressing to complete the improvements at the airport," Village Administrator Gerald Sagona said Friday.

At issue is a triangular, three-quarter-acre parcel on the north side of the village airport. Officials say they need to land to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements for open space along the airport's single runway.

The village had offered Athans $460,000 for the land, but the company demanded $560,000 along with other concessions.

A representative for Athans and its attorney could not be reached for comment Friday.

Despite the good news about the disputed land, Sagona said, the airport plan could face an even more daunting roadblock: the state of Illinois.

So far, he said, the state has not met its pledge to fund 2.5 percent of the project. Under the plan, the village was to foot another 2.5 percent of the bill with the federal government paying for 95 percent of it.

Sagona said the village is working with local state legislators to secure the promised money.