Mayor should demand cleanup of Andrew site

Recently, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau attacked my suggestion that the former Andrew Corporation site could be used for a Turf Athletic Field Complex for our youth.

He called it reckless and dangerous because, apparently as he said, the site is contaminated to the point that it is not safe for humans.

I had read where CommScope, the company that bought Andrew Corporation had cleaned the site up. Apparently, according to Mayor Pekau the site would need further remediation to make it safe for people.

Mayor Pekau claims that when he recently met with CommScope and that CommScope stated that they would rather sit on the contaminated property located next to housing, a lake and our parks, than transfer the land because of liabilities.

So, if I understand the mayor’s position, he believes it cannot be used as a park because it is too dangerous, but it can sit contaminated in the middle of our town forever.

Where’s the leadership? He should have demanded that CommScope clean the site up immediately and correct it. The site is not fenced-in and kids have access to it every day.

If it is truly too dangerous because of contamination, then it is the mayor who is being reckless. It is his job to force them to clean the site so that residents of our community are safe.

We know there is a contaminated property in town! We know the property is not secured, and it worsens by the day! The only inappropriate action here is the inaction Pekau’s administration has chosen as his priority. Paul O’Grady Orland Park