Tollway to study customer service, oases

Tollway officials Thursday announced the creation of two committees to oversee customer service and the oases, just two weeks after state senators laid into them for questionable contracts and late violation collections.

Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Director Bill Morris said the committees came as a result of newly appointed board members trying to catch up on various issues.

"It seemed easier to create two committees so we can look it all up and educate ourselves in the process," said Morris, who will head the newly created customer service committee.

On Nov. 4, Morris, Chairman Paula Wolff and Executive Director Mike King sat in front of the state's Senate Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs to field questions about vendor contracts and the collections.

During that hearing, Sen. Susan Garrett of Lake Forest, and Sen. Jeff Shoenberg of Evanston, grilled officials about Wilton Partners, the politically connected company that once ran the oases and now faces foreclosure proceedings.

As Morris, Chairman Paula Wolff and Director Tom Weisman, all appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn Aug. 6, sought information about the controversies, they decided to create the committees. Weisman will chair the oases committee.

Morris said he hoped to focus the committee on public education and help its customers learn more about possible violations and how to avoid them. He also said the committees will be as open as they can be.

"The governor gave us very specific direction," Morris said. "He wants us to be an open and transparent agency. That's what we're here to do."