Dear Editor,
Concerned Citizens of Manteno, the non-profit group representing Manteno residents battling to protect their community and stop the Gotion Plant, together with a local Manteno resident, took legal action in Kankakee County Circuit Court against Gotion and the Village of Manteno recently. The group filed suit to stop Gotion from pumping highly toxic chemicals into our community, to protect our national security, and to compel Manteno to overturn the illegal rezoning of the Gotion property from I-1 to I-2.
Since we have learned of this dangerous plant, which was kept secret from us by our mayor, we have been leading the fight to protect our children and our homes. We have organized rallies, spoken at public hearings, demanded answers from our representatives, and kept pressure on Gotion. To date, our elected officials and Gotion thought they could ignore us.
Recently, we proved we will not be silent, and we will not be ignored.
Our complaint alleges the rezoning of the Gotion Property from I-1 to I-2 was unconstitutional, arbitrary, capricious, and illegal, and violates the Manteno Village Code and the Manteno Comprehensive Plan. The complaint also asserts claims from the local Manteno resident, alleging a violation of 65 ILCS 5/11-13-15 for Gotion’s intended use of what we believe to be highly toxic chemicals, such as lithium and MP, and allegations the Gotion Plant will be a public and private nuisance. Residents and our lawyer tried to warn the planning commission and the village board the rezoning would be illegal. Those warnings were ignored – but no longer.
The lawsuit asks the court for an order to declare the rezoning illegal, stop Gotion from ever operating its dangerous plant, and more. The legal documents are available upon request.
Our attorneys, Robby Dube, Mark Blando, and Rachel Kurth of Eckland and Blando LLP, have decades of experience fighting illegal government actions and protecting citizens’ rights. They have been fighting to protect citizens from the environmental and security risks posed by these plants across the country. Media can contact them at 612-236-0160.
Eckland and Blando LLP is partnering with former Village of Manteno attorney Dave Bergdahl, who brings decades of municipal experience. They are confident the court will reverse Manteno’s illegal rezoning and grant us the legal relief we seek.
Donation checks to “Concerned Citizens of Manteno” to aid in our legal fight may be sent to P.O. Box 405, Manteno, IL 60950. Online contributions may be made to us at https://www.nogotion-illinois.com/. Concerned Citizens of Manteno’s Facebook page can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1047999116553032/?ref=share group link.