LTHS Official Alleges Conspiracy Against School

LA GRANGE, IL – Like most of his colleagues, Lyons Township High School board member Michael Thomas largely remained quiet about the effort to sell the school's land in Willow Springs.

He had a lot more to say in a January closed meeting.

In that session, he spoke about the opposition to the school's plan to sell its 71 acres for industrial development, despite Willow Springs zoning that barred such uses.

He alleged what he referred to as a conspiracy theory that involved the top bidder, Bridge Industrial, and local public bodies.

He noted Bridge triggered the school's interest in selling by coming "out of the blue" to offer $65 million for the land in spring 2022. (The company incorrectly calculated the land as being about 80 acres.)

Based on his theory, Thomas said he would be a "no on Bridge from here (to) eternity." Area officials who Thomas implicated in the conspiracy said his allegations were false.

In the closed session, he pointed to a photo involving a Bridge project in McCook. It included a Bridge executive, McCook Mayor Terry Carr and Lyons Township Supervisor Chris Getty, among others.

Thomas said Carr was dating Willow Springs Village President Melissa Neddermeyer, who, along with village residents, was vocal in her opposition to selling to an industrial developer. And Thomas said Getty is the brother of Ken Getty, treasurer for the Lyons Township Treasurer's Office, which has long feuded with the high school.

Thomas also said Michael Thiessen, then-president of the township treasurer's office, played a role.

During the meeting, officials said Bridge had become "lukewarm" about striking a deal with the high school. But Thomas said that was part of an effort to undercut the school, so Bridge would get a better deal.

"When you look at all of these kinds of pieces together, there could be the possibility that there could be some meddling from the (township treasurer's office's) side as it relates to this deal," Thomas said.

He urged the board to consider the "tightly wound connections" because there is nothing Thiessen would like more than "to gut this board."

"I had to get this off my chest," Thomas said.

Member Dawn Aubert described herself as curious about Thomas' comments. But she said the money from the sale would help the community if Bridge agreed to the minimum price and the terms and conditions.

In an interview, Mayor Carr said that when he first heard the recording of Thomas, he thought it was a joke. He said he dates Willow Springs' Neddermeyer, but that has nothing to do with the Willow Springs issue.

"I don't know where (Thomas) is coming from. I never had anything to do with Bridge and Willow Springs. She does what she does, and I do what I do," Carr said. "These are pretty strong accusations. He'd better be able to prove some facts."

In an email, Neddermeyer said Thomas' lack of professionalism was "astounding" and his accusations were "wildly off base and unfounded."

"As a local leader and a lifelong resident of this community, far more concerning to me is the entirety of these recordings," she said. "These recordings further expose the complete disregard for our community by the Lyons Township Board members, the Superintendent and the Business Director. Illegally they discuss their intentions to proceed in wooing industrial purchasers of their property over the public outcry of the community they serve and over the Village’s consistent message that industry is a prohibited use of the property."

Thiessen, the former treasurer's office official, said he laughed at Thomas' accusations. He said he lives in Willow Springs and is proud of what Neddermeyer did on behalf of residents.

"I don't know the principals at Bridge. That's tin hat kind of stuff," Thiessen said. "I don't know Michael Thomas. I would be happy to meet him."

About the school board in general, he said, "Clearly, they are very cavalier within their own world there."

The school board was under orders by the attorney general's office to release the recording. The office found the board broke the law by closing the doors.

Patch left messages with Thomas and all those he mentioned.

The 71 acres in question are surrounded by houses, a park, a golf course, a school and a UPS facility. Residents protested the school's plan, which the school board abandoned in March.

Although industrial uses are not allowed, the school sought an appraisal for such purposes. It then set a minimum price of $55 million, much higher than it would be for uses such as houses and small retailers.