Residents warn board that Goshen battery facility risks local safety and property values

Several residents raised sharp concerns about a proposed Goshen battery-storage development during public comment at the Manteno Village Board meeting on May 4.

Anne Gates, a frequent attendee who said she does not live in Manteno, told the board she has tracked regional developments for more than a decade and warned that battery-storage facilities can cause large, long-burning fires and widespread evacuations. She cited a Morris fire and said similar incidents could require evacuations of nearby towns and depress property values.

Why it matters: Residents described a potential public-safety and property-value risk tied to large lithium-ion battery facilities and argued the board should not cede local oversight. The comments referenced state-level legislation and code-enforcement concerns that speakers said could limit local authority over siting and safety rules.

Other commenters made related assertions. Sandy Chiss accused Goshen of ties to the Chinese Communist Party and cited out-of-state incidents she said show national-security and biohazard risks; she characterized the company as an environmental threat. Roy Hodges and others pressed the board to hear nonresident speakers, saying people beyond village limits could be affected by an incident at Goshen depending on wind and other factors.

The board did not take a formal vote on Goshen at the meeting. Several trustees said they had recently met with Goshen representatives and are maintaining oversight. Trustee Barry and others said the village has drawn a firm line with the company and is following up on outstanding items. Village Manager Chris Larocque and Trustee Geske pushed back on some accusations that officials had acted improperly in hiring decisions, calling for facts rather than assertions.

Quotations that illustrate the record:

"Your choice, put your town in danger as well as my home," Anne Gates said, referencing the Morris battery fire and evacuation she described. "That's why I'll keep coming."

"We pretty much told Goshen, there's a line drawn in the sand," Trustee Barry said, describing recent meetings between village leaders and company representatives.

What happens next: The board did not adopt any new rules or motions at this meeting regarding Goshen. Trustees said they are meeting with the company regularly and will continue oversight. Public comments, including accusations and safety claims, remain part of the official record of the meeting.

Ending: The public comment segment concluded without formal action; trustees continued with the evening's agenda, including an SBA disaster-loan presentation and several votes on appointments and infrastructure items.