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DOLTON, Ill. — Political dysfunction in Dolton has delayed the suburb’s ability to pay bills, torched trust with residents and led to lawsuits by former village employees. Now, WGN Investigates has learned, it’s also delayed the planned redevelopment of a dilapidated shopping center.
Nicole Scott operates the Free-N-Deed market. It’s a ministry-minded pantry set-up like a grocery store so as to give people in need a sense of dignity. She purchased the dilapidated shopping center that’s home to the pantry with grand plans to expand her offerings to include after-school programs, a banquet hall and thrift store. However, Scott said when she submitted architectural plans, renderings and other documents to the Village of Dolton in July she received no response to repeated inquiries about the status of her application.
“I was told when I purchased this huge property I’m ‘automatically in politics,’” Scott said. “That’s not the goal at all. The goal is to serve the community in a greater capacity.”
Scott kept a log of her visits and calls inquiring about the status of her project. She said she was eventually told her project couldn’t proceed without the blessing of Dolton mayor Tiffany Henyard. The two met and Scott said she left hopeful the project would proceed; but then weeks turned to months.
Scott vented her frustration in a video posted to YouTube in early January. Soon after, she said village administrator Keith Freeman called threatening to take the property and shut the project down. Four days after the alleged phone call, Scott received a letter from an engineering firm that said the plans she submitted in July were insufficient to review.
Dolton officials, through a public relations firm, denied intentionally derailing the shopping center project.
“The Village contracts with a third party agency to review permit applications. Incomplete submission can lead to a decline of permit,” read an emailed statement.
This isn’t the first time the Henyard administration has been accused, even sued, over allegations of political targeting by people inside and outside of local government. This week, former Dolton police chief Robert Collins filed a lawsuit against the village claiming the mayor wrongfully fired him in October.
“Henyard discharged [Chief] Collins simply because his wife is friendly with some individuals who Henyard believes to be political opponents,” the lawsuit claims.
Last fall, WGN Investigates reported on intimidation claims involving residents, elected officials and a business owner.
“The residents are the victims,” Scott said while handing food to a patron of her pantry.
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Ben Bradley
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