The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce is no longer staying neutral in the battle about who should govern the proposed south suburban airport.

The group's board of directors last week voted to support Will County in its efforts to gain control of the airport planned by the state near Peotone.

For years, Will County officials have bickered with U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd) and his Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission about who deserves to partner with the Illinois Department of Transportation on the project.

Bill Frank, a past chairman of the chamber and a Homewood businessman, said the organization of south suburban businesses was no longer content to stay silent about which side should be backed. Frank said the members decided an airport with Will County at the helm has the best chance of getting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The vote to back Will County faced no objections, he said.

"It is about time we got off the fence," Frank said. "We were the ones that started lobbying for the airport 20 years ago. We belong in the fight."

The chamber faced heat from some members two years ago when the group refused to endorse Jackson's plans for the airport. Jackson wants the airport built by private developers, with the final product overseen by a board of Cook County and Will County suburbs.

Country Club Hills briefly dropped its membership before returning. Mayor Dwight Welch, a Jackson supporter, said his town is through with the chamber.

"I don't understand it," Welch said. "No one in the Southland Chamber has a clue."

A Jackson spokesman declined to comment on the chamber vote. A representative for Will County Executive Larry Walsh could not be reached for comment.

Guy Tridgell can be reached at gtridgell@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-5970.