Court case won't burn your tollway burger

Legal trouble for Wilton Partners, the firm that manages seven Illinois Tollway oases, won't deprive drivers of their coffee, fast food or needed bathroom breaks, officials said.

Lender iStar FM Loans LLC holds the mortgage on construction loans taken out by Wilton to redevelop oasis sites but because the developer is in default, iStar initiated foreclosure proceedings this spring, tollway officials explained.

The brouhaha won't interfere with oasis operations, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority spokeswoman Joelle McGinnis said Friday.

"The tollway still owns the facilities. It is not liable for any of the debt," she said.

Wilton is in the seventh year of a 25-year contract to operate the oases but ran afoul of the tollway in 2007 when it fell behind in rental fees. The company resumed payments in 2008, however, it still owes the tollway $1.3 million.

Wilton is continuing to run the oases for the time being as the foreclosure case works through the courts.

McGinnis said Wilton had performed satisfactorily despite the fact there are some empty retail spots at some oases.

"It's all dependent on the market," she said.

In 2005, Wilton became entangled in the scandal involving Rod Blagojevich because of campaign donations to the indicted former governor and connections to disgraced fundraiser Tony Rezko.