JOLIET | A Will County judge on Friday scheduled a hearing for January to begin proceedings in the case of a rural family that wants to fight the state government's attempt to take their land by eminent domain to build an airport near Peotone.
Judge Michael J. Powers told attorneys for the family and the state to convene in his courtroom Jan. 4. On that date, the judge is expect to schedule legal arguments for the week of Jan. 7, attorney Bill Ryan said.
At stake is a lawsuit by the Illinois Department of Transportation against the Barbour family. The state wants to acquire the family's land as part of the 5,800 acres needed to develop a new Chicago-area airport.
Ryan, representing the Barbours, said it is premature to be acquiring land because the Federal Aviation Administration has yet to give final approval for an airport's construction.
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