Mayor calls for boycott of New Lenox gas stations
By Erin Gallagher For The Herald-News April 24, 2012 3:30PM
Updated: May 26, 2012 8:16AM
NEW LENOX — Mayor Tim Baldermann called for an immediate boycott of all New Lenox gas stations. He told the board Monday that the only way to get skyrocketing gas prices back down is to fill up somewhere else.
“As much as it pains me to say to take your business elsewhere, I encourage you to take your business elsewhere,” he said. “We need to exercise our right not to get gouged.”
Gas prices within the village limits have jumped higher than in neighboring towns in the past couple of weeks. Historically, Frankfort and Manhattan prices are among the highest in Will County. Now, New Lenox tops them at $4.15 to $4.21 for a gallon of regular gas. Frankfort ranges from $4.09 to $4.13, Manhattan is $3.90, and Joliet is averaging about $4.10.
“We are the same price as near Midway Airport,” Trustee Annette Bowden said.
Baldermann said he contacted the gas companies and learned they only compete with other stations within the same municipal limits.
Stations five minutes away are as much as 20 cents cheaper, he said. The station at Route 30 and Wolf Road has been 12 cents lower.
“The only way that these gas companies in town will get the message is if we send them the message,” he said.
