New Lenox Mayor to Take Gas 'Gouging' Matter to Attorney General

The gas boycott last week in New Lenox brought prices below Mokena and Frankfort, but Mayor Baldermann isn't satisfied.  

Mayor Tim Baldermann is taking the last few weeks of gas station price gouging to Attorney General Lisa Madigan. At the regular village board meeting Monday, he said he's asking Madigan's office to investigate the matter.

Residents in New Lenox had been subjected to prices between 11 cents and 13 cents higher per gallon than Mokena and Frankfort for "a solid three weeks." After a boycott was called for last week, the price of gas actually went up on May 17 from $4.21 to $425. For at least part of the day, most stations across the Lincoln-Way communities were charging the same.

Since then prices have come dropped to $4.19 throughout New Lenox, and they range from $4.22 to $4.24 in Frankfort.  Two Speedway stations—one at Harlem Avenue and Benton Street and the other at Route 30 and Harlem Avenue—were listed at $4.24, according to a 10 p.m. report May 20 on Gas Buddy.

In Mokena, the BP station, 9545 W. 191st St., was at $4.28; the Shell station, 19100 La Grange Road, was at $4.29, according to Gas Buddy.

Baldermann and Village Attorney Chris Spesia are investigating other alternatives that work to assure New Lenox with gas prices that are in line with the immediately surrounding communities. Neither would reveal the details of their research.

Speaking of the boycott, Baldermann said, "I was glad to see the people aren't going to tolerate that. A free market is one thing, but they're taking advantage and gouging." And there is no gas tax in New Lenox, he said, clarifying a common misconception in town.   

Baldermann said, "I talked to the station owners (about the prices.) They said its' because of the Interstates."

The mayor said that answer is unacceptable.   

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