Tide turning in O'Hare battle?

Compared to the political and financial muscle of Chicago, Bensenville and Elk Grove Village are outnumbered.

But together the two towns formed a powerful team that cost the city millions in legal bills and delays as they fought O'Hare International Airport expansion in court for years.

However, with Elk Grove Village pulling out of the legal fight Thursday some wonder if Bensenville will follow suit, opening the doors for a massive construction project that's been hamstrung by court battles.

Incoming Bensenville Village President Frank Soto, unlike previous administrations, is open to negotiations with the city. "Residents of Bensenville would like to see a resolution that's equitable," he said.

But he added it was unlikely the village would drop any litigation until a "good faith" agreement is reached with Chicago.

Meanwhile, there's friction developing between the two towns.

Since 2001, Elk Grove Village has spent about $7 million on various lawsuits aimed to stop the city's plan to build a western terminal and six parallel runways - intended to reduce delays. Elk Grove Village partnered with Bensenville and its outgoing Village President John Geils, whose community stands to lose about 600 homes and businesses if the airport expands south.

Johnson said it was worth every penny, explaining part of the battle was stopping a state plan to widen Route 83 through the village business park as part of a western bypass linking I-90 and I-294. The proposal was one of several options considered by the Illinois Department of Transportation but was dropped Thursday.

"It's not that we're running away," Johnson said. "... Our efforts have been successful." He added that the village will continue to monitor the airport expansion project.

Ending the litigation and also withdrawing from the anti-airport expansion group the Suburban O'Hare Commission stemmed in part from the new regime in Bensenville, Johnson said.

"Bensenville's new leadership does not want to stand with us," he added, noting that Soto had not returned calls. "I feel sad for the residents of Bensenville - we know the type of destruction that may come."

Soto, who will be sworn in May 5, countered that he only received one call and was concentrating on the transition. Soto said he is worried about documents being removed from village hall and financial irregularities, including recent transfers of $235,000 to the Elk Grove Legal Defense Fund, which pays for O'Hare litigation.

"I'm trying to preserve the financial integrity of the village," Soto said. He wants an audit of money spent on fighting O'Hare and believes Bensenville revenues transferred to the Elk Grove Village Defense Fund should be refunded.

As for Elk Grove's reversal, "I guess I'm a little surprised," Soto said, explaining it seemed premature given that the village had no official agreement with the state transportation department on the Route 83 plan.

Instead of a marathon legal fight, Soto said he seeks a new beginning. Bensenville's focus needs to be improving its schools, infrastructure and recouping tax dollars lost with airport expansion, he said, adding that the long feud with Chicago had drained resources.

O'Hare Modernization Program Executive Director Rosemarie Andolino said she wasn't able to speculate about an end to the legal battles until it became official.

But "the city has always been willing to work with communities surrounding O'Hare," she said. "I look forward to a fresh start.