Trustee outlines long-running allegations about Tinley Park Mental Health Center; board takes no formal action

A trustee used the board-comments period at the Tinley Park Village Board’s May 5 meeting to recount an extended timeline of events and level multiple allegations about past dealings connected to the Tinley Park Mental Health Center.

The speaker described a sequence of meetings, proposed developments and legislative actions dating from 2014 through 2021, naming former Mayor Jake Vanderberg, State Senator Michael Hastings, and other local figures and alleging that past actions led to stalled development and improper transfers of property. The trustee said a special meeting in January 2019 transferred the property to a private developer and alleged that incentives and legislative amendments were used to enable proposed projects described as a “racino.” The speaker asserted that at times staff and some board members were not involved or informed about key steps and described efforts they characterized as political pressure and threats related to appraisals, endorsements and bill outcomes.

The trustee told the board they would play additional material at a future meeting and said the claims were supported by meeting notices, sign-in sheets and documents the speaker reviewed. Other trustees responded briefly in the meeting—one thanked the speaker for “laying out the timeline”—but the board did not convene a formal investigation, take a vote, or otherwise adjudicate the assertions during the session.

The allegations involve named public figures and prior legislative actions; in the May 5 meeting they were presented as claims and recollections by the trustee. The board’s formal business that evening proceeded with multiple ordinance and resolution adoptions unrelated to the allegations. The meeting record shows no staff report or board motion to investigate or refer the matter for further review.