A sign welcomes visitors to a University Park municipal center complex at 44 Towncenter Drive Monday, Sept. 27, 2021.
The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin, D-Matteson, and state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, and passed the House 113-0, but wasn’t brought to a vote in the Senate.Meyers-Martin issued a statement stating she didn’t author the bill and declined to comment further. She did vote for it, according to the Illinois General Assembly website.
The board would have jurisdiction within the village and should “make its best effort” to annex land. The board would be able to enter into loans, contracts, agreements and mortgages, according to the bill, as well as issue bonds not to exceed $200 million under the supervision of the Illinois Finance Authority.
Fulcher said she’s concerned about who would be on the board, because the bill does not mention the members have to be University Park residents. The proposed legislation stipulates members of the new board should have experience in promoting development and in assisting in planning, acquisition, construction and marketing of residential, industrial, commercial or freight-oriented projects.