Residents share concerns, voice support for Illiana

CROWN POINT | Hobart resident Scott Ponce and his wife, Brandie, sat in Crown Point High School's auditorium Thursday evening, two of their three children squirming on their laps and their third child sitting next to them, holding an "Illiana Yes" sign.

"He's been out of work at least six months," Brandie Ponce said.

"It's more like eight," Scott Ponce, an ironworker, corrected.

A few rows behind the family sat Jean Hulsey, 84, who lives on her small dairy farm in unincorporated Lake County. The farm was her late husband's dream, and they raised all eight of their children there. Depending on the exact route of the proposed Illiana Expressway, Hulsey could lose her home.

"That's my life. I've told my kids the only way I'm leaving is in a pine box," she said.

Almost the entire first hour of the hearing was devoted to informational speeches about the proposed legislation regarding the road before it opened to public comments.

That was good news for Lowell resident Jan Green, who said she came Thursday because she knows almost nothing about the proposed road, which would connect Interstate 65 in Lake County with Interstate 55 near Joliet, Ill.

"They're talking about it being in my backyard. I don't want it in my backyard," she said.

John Sorensen, spokesman of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 150, said the reason for passing the legislation was a simple four-letter word.

"It can't be any simpler than jobs," he said.

Not everyone agreed.

Lowell resident Ed Linden was one of a couple of speakers who said the road would hurt Gary/Chicago International Airport.

Gary resident Mat McKnight was one of the few neutral speakers of the night. He said the bill passing was a foregone conclusion, but asked that north Lake Country receive some support.

"I've never seen so much support for Gary from south Lake County," he said. "Politics makes some strange bedfellows."