SPRINGFIELD - A proposal to give local Illinois officials control of an eventual Will County airport has stalled this year.

Some state lawmakers wanted to create a seven-member board that would govern the Peotone-area airport once it's built.

The Senate approved the proposal in April, but the House declined to follow suit before lawmakers left Springfield last month.

State Sen. Debbie Halvorson, a Crete Democrat who was leading the push, said not getting the legislation done is a "problem" in the on-going effort to get a third Chicago-area airport off the ground.

Previously, she said the board "absolutely" must be set up this year. Now, Halvorson said it could maybe wait until lawmakers next full-time session in 2009.

"We just wanted to have one thing off the list of things to do," she said.

The future of the airport is up to federal regulators. The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing airport plans now. An Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman said the legislation won't affect their dealings with the FAA.

State Rep. Brent Hassert, a Romeoville Republican, said he thinks House Speaker Michael Madigan is holding up support.

"I think he's the stumbling block," Hassert said.

In the Senate, some Republicans expressed concern that the potential board's eminent domain authority to acquire property was too broad.

The legislation is Senate Bill 2063.