Comments on: Air Quality – Navistar

By: Chariman, Citizens for Healthy Development

Chariman, Citizens for Healthy Development — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:28:46 +0000

I think it is more appropriate to judge a corporation by its actions rather than its words.

Navistar says they intend to be a “Good Neighbor” but when we look at their actions in Chatham, Ontario; Canton IL; Conway, Ark; Indianapolis, IN, Springfield OH – we don’t find Navistar to be a good neighbor at all.

Does a good neighbor intentionally decieve members of the IL General Assembly to obtain their support of tax breaks? Does a good neighbor put greed and profit above the health, safety, and welfare of its neighbors?

The Arboretum’s Board of Directors needs to look beyond personal and professional conflicts of interest and take a position on this issue that is consistent with the mission statment of the Morton Arboretum “..to collect and study trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world, to display them across naturally beautiful landscapes for people to study and enjoy, and to learn how to grow them in ways that enhance our environment.”

A diesel engine, truck and military testing faclity a block away will not help to fulfill the mission statement of the Morton Arboretum. The lack of interest, participation and concern for the environment on the part of the Arboretum leaves us all suspicous and only creates more skeptism in the community.

By: kathleen hansen

kathleen hansen — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:38:48 +0000

I have attended most of the meetings regarding the Navistar issue. I am puzzled as to why the Morton Arboretum has not come forward to oppose this diesel testing facility.
At the past two Village of Lisle board meetings there has not been any representation from the arboretum.

Why is that? I cannot imagine you would think this would be an asset to the community.

My continued membership will depend on the position the Morton Arboretum takes on this issue.

By: Caryn Kerns

Caryn Kerns — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:08:36 +0000

I am a Leask Lane neighbor of Mr. Donelly, and after reading this thread about “Air Quality – Navistar”, I am very saddened and, to be blunt, extremely appalled at the Arboretum’s lack of visibility on this issue. After researching the facts, it has become very clear that Navistar has not been truthful about their true intentions, and has muddied the ‘decisions’ made by Mr. Schillerstrom, Mr. Broda, and, sad to say, also that of Mr. Donelly. Ms. Tedesco, your pat replies smack of a very choreographed (and patronizing) script. I’m sure you’re just being told what to say. Which means that Mr. Donelly doesn’t really care about Joy Morton’s vision.

By: gtedesco

gtedesco — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:31:42 +0000

Julie, We are receiving information from all sources, including the neighborhood residents who have freely shared their views with us and in public. Thanks!

By: Julie Schnell

Julie Schnell — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:07:24 +0000

Ms. Tedesco,

Because I admire and enjoy The Morton Arborteum everyday, I would respectfully like to know how you are getting your information on Navistar’s proposed Heavy Industrial Diesel Testing Facility?

If the Arboretum is relying on the representitives at Navistar you should know that they are notorious for omissions regarding the planned development. If you are getting the bulk of your information from the Village of Lisle then I urge you to consider the source. The Village has definately not been a fair and impartial in presenting the “facts”.

Have I met you at any of the Village of Lisle Planning and Zoning commission meetings? I have been to all of them and I do not remember any representatives of The Morton Arboretum being present?

I have also been attending the DuPage Forest Preserve meetings and the DuPage County board meetings every Tuesday morning. Navistar’s proposed development has been discussed at all of these meetings. Has the Arboretum been represented at any of these meetings?

I urge you to do your own investigation. You can obtain all the information that you will need through the Freedom of Information Act. Send a FOIA over to the Village of Lisle and get the real information. Have you seen the proposed site plan? You should. The scope of this project is appalling.

I invite you to contact Citizens for Healthy Development. We are a local grass roots, not for profit organization and we have already done the difficult and time consuming work to obtain the information that you will need to make an informaed decision. We have contacted multiple representitives of the Arboretum to share our findings and you are the first person to respond.

Thank you for taking the time to respond and to post the concerns of Citizens for Healthy Development.

Please contact us through our website and someone will call you back. http://www.citizensforhealthydevelopment.org

Member and Neighbor since 1999,

Julie Schnell
Citizens for Healthy Development

By: kjaros

kjaros — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:51:40 +0000

Thanks, Gail, for weighing in. As we responded earlier, we are watching the Navistar situation closely and gathering information on how it might affect the Arboretum.

K. Jaros
The Morton Arboretum

By: Gail Coyne

Gail Coyne — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:42:42 +0000

In addition to the “neighbors,” you should also be alerting all Arboretum members letting us know what we can do to avoid this plant being built, and any potential disasters it might pose. 163,000 gallons of fuel located only 2000 ft. from the Arboretum scares me as much as the air quality issues. One random lightning strike or fuel spill could result in the loss of our beloved arboretum. Perhaps if we are un-successful in stopping the building of this plant, Navistar should be forced to implement certain “Green Based” air quality safety measures. This will be very costly to them and may help them re-think where they want to locate this plant. How about Detroit? Perhaps a call to Navistar to inquire about their “Green” program would be in order. Both to learn more about it and how is will reduce potential hazards as well as let them know that you are aware it can be done.

Good luck, I’ll be following your progress.

By: Gina Tedesco

Gina Tedesco — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:22:53 +0000

Hi Julie, it’s Gina Tedesco, Manager of Public Relations at the Arboretum. We’ve been watching the Navistar situation closely and gathering information on how it might affect the Arboretum. We understand the neighbors’ concerns and certainly consider them in our ongoing review.