Will County Gazette

The Tinley Park Village Board recently addressed the controversy surrounding the board's decision to move the village's Independence Day celebration, with most agreeing that safety needed to be the primary concern.

During its January meeting, the board decided to change the site of its 4th of July festivities, voting to hold a separate fireworks display on July 3 at the 80th Avenue Metra Station rather than sharing the cost of the event at McCarthy Park with the village Park District. That resulted in the Park Board voting to cancel the event entirely rather than shoulder the cost alone.

Trustee Colleen M. Sullivan said she was surprised by the decision, and the two sides needed to communicate better in the future.

"When this was first brought up, I was thinking we were making it a two-day event, just like we made the Block Party a two-day event," Sullivan said in the Feb. 7 board meeting. "At no point did I ever think that the consequences would be the Park District canceling their event because of it, so I think we all need to work on communication with that, myself included."

In the February meeting, Deputy Chief Thomas Tilton explained that the Village had received complaints from citizens who were upset at the change in location for the annual event. He said the reason for the change was to improve security in light of the shootings in Highland Park last July 4 as well as threats allegedly made by Tinley Park resident Jeanette Larue against the Tinley Park celebration and others. Tilton added he understood that while the train station might be a new venue, the decision was made with safety at the core.

Sullivan noted that while some people didn't like the change in venue, people need to keep safety first in mind, especially after a local woman threatened violence during the village celebration.

"I get that people don’t like change," she said. "But if it’s for the safety of the community, I respect [Tilton’s] expertise on that, and the events that unfolded last year, close to 50 people shot and seven killed and five hours later we’re having an event where someone threatens to shoot it up and someone was arrested and apprehended, so it was a legit threat. [...] I am completely for the venue change."

Trustee Diane Galante spoke against the decision, asking if it was truly safer at the the train station and voicing concerns she had heard from citizens about changes to such public events since Tilton joined the force. Trustee William Brennan said he was disappointed in the change but trusts Tilton’s expertise and decision. Clerk Nancy O’Connor also spoke in favor of the change, adding that she felt well-protected by the police department and trusted them fully with the decision.