Friday, August 31, 2012
Oak Forest alderman Tuesday signed off an agreement that ensures funds are in place for the construction of a new Metra Station near the corner of 159th and Cicero.
Commuters' dreams of a new Metra station in Oak Forest are closer to becoming reality. Oak Forest officials Tuesday approved an agreement that ensures funding for the nearly $3.3 project is in place, Dotson said. With Metra's approval, construction could begin in November. The groundbreaking on the new station—which will include a warming shelter, restrooms and indoor/outdoor seating—has been delayed multiple times, as the City waits for funding to become accessible. An agreement with the Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, and Metra's approval of the agreement, secures the funding, said Community Development Director Adam Dotson. "We are getting close," Dotson said. "It feels like a marathon, and we're at …
Monday, July 30, 2012
Contractor bids won't be opened until Aug. 7, according to the City of Oak Forest.
Breaking ground on the City's new Metra station could be delayed to the fall, City Administrator Troy Ishler said Friday. The opening on the bids for the project won't be opened until Aug. 7, which is pushing back the expected start date. The City Council would then vote on a bidder, giving the go-ahead for the contractor to begin. Contruction could begin in August or possibly as late as September, Ishler said. "That’s what we’re hoping for," he added. The new $3.4 million Metra station was expected to break ground in July. It is planned for 159th Street and Cicero Avenue and will have several amenities, including a warming shelter, restrooms, indoor and outdoor seated waiting areas and a geothermal heating system. Two grants will help …
Friday, July 13, 2012
Chief Terry Lipinski urges Oak Forest to be careful with grills and other open sources of flames or heat.
Oak Forest's fire chief issued a warning Thursday that the department needs to be called immediately in the case of fires during the current drought conditions. Another hot wave of weather is moving in the area and all residents need to watch out for possible ignition sources, Chief Terry Lipinski writes in a message posted Thursday on the City of Oak Forest website. Please be especially careful when you use your grills and any heat source near dried out grass and shrubs. It is my recommendation that using a fire pit or any open burning at this time is just too dangerous, embers from these fires cannot be controlled. Since the use of mulch has become prevalent, this material in the dry weather is very combustible and care should be taken …
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The dry conditions could lead to small fires, one City of Oak Forest official warns.
The heat and drought-like conditions could lead to small fires if residents aren't careful, City Administrator Troy Ishler said Tuesday. "We'd like to remind residents to be careful. Things are very dry right now," Ishler said. An outdoor watering restriction will remain in effect through next week, Ishler announced Tuesday. Last last month, the City of Oak Forest implemented a measure that limits outdoor water use to from 7 to 11 p.m. for homes on odd or even days, depending on the last number of the street address. If the heat breaks next week, the City will make a decision on whether to return to normal outdoor watering restrictions. "Because of the conditions, the lack of rain, our reserves have been hit pretty well," Ishler said. "…
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Where do you stand? Do video poker machines or other electronic gambling devices boost business or are they no good?
Video gambling could soon be fixture in Oak Forest bars as the City Council examines language that currently prevents establishment owners from obtaining licenses for the amusement devices. On Tuesday, council members approved measures that removed prohibitions from two places in the local ordinances. A third item has yet to be voted it; it was referred to the city's Planning & Zoning Commission. What is evident among many council members is a desire to allow businesses the ability to obtain a license for video gambling. Among residents and readers of Oak Forest Patch, the feelings are a bit more mixed: Oak Forest resident Sandi Czyznikiewicz, who attended Tuesday's council meeting, "I don't know if anyone is sitting back and considering…
Friday, June 15, 2012
The hardware chain wants a store on 159th street. It's just a matter of finding the right spot.
Ace Hardware is looking to put a new location somewhere along 159th Street, a City of Oak Forest official confirmed Friday. The new store isn't locked down yet but they are interested "in the area," said Public Relations Coordinator Chrissy Maher. "They’re still kind of looking in the area for what’s best for them," she said. Ace Hardware wants a 12,000 square-foot store somewhere along the thoroughfare, Maher said. "They see opportunity for growth," she said. Maher couldn't provide a timeline for when Ace Hardware would pull the the trigger. Launching a new store depends on finding a good deal for the space, she added. The city does have parcel of land along 159th that they are looking to sell off. Officials confirmed this week that a …
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
The caterpillars, on the other hand, won't be so lucky.
The chemicals sprayed by low-flying airplanes on Tuesday are harmless to people, officials said Tuesday. Parts of Oak Forest were doused with two chemicals, a pheromone that disrupts moth making and a pesticide called Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki in an effort to battle the European Gypsy Moth. Btk, as the pesticide is commonly called, is actually a naturally occurring biological material. The material doesn’t actually kill fully grown moths. Caterpillars who eat the substance die after about a week. “When the eggs hatch, they feed on this substance … and that kills them,” said Greg Stack, a horticulturist with the University of Illinois. Human and animals aren't affected by the chemicals. "It’s safe to use. It only works against …
41.611247
-87.756273
City of Oak Forest
15440 Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/officials-the-spray-is-nontoxic-to-people
1354162
/locations/7204240
The Oak Forest department has two new lieutenants and a pair of new firefighters.
Two new Oak Forest Fire Department lieutenants and two new firefighters were sworn in during Tuesday night's City Council meeting. David Griffin and Donald Knor were promoted to the rank of lieutenant, effective June 1. The two full-time firefighters have been with the department since 2001. Bill Turner, who is new to the department, and Nick Smith, a part-time Oak Forest firefighter since 2001, have been brought on as full-timers.
41.610244
-87.7569
Oak Forest Fire Department
5620 James Dr, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/gallery-firefighters-sworn-in-before-the-city-council
1353744
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Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The department also hired two new full-timers.
Two Oak Forest firefighters now can put on lieutenant's bars. David Griffin and Donald Knor were promoted to the rank of lieutenant, effective June 1. The two full-time firefighters have been with the department since 2001. "Both of these guys display a great deal of dedication to the job," said Fire Chief Terry Lipinski. "I truly believe they have the leadership and professionalism to excel as lieutenants." On top of the promotions, the Oak Forest Fire Department also announced the hiring of two new full-timers—Bill Turner, who is new to the department, and Nick Smith, a part-time Oak Forest firefighter since 2001. The department was able to make the promotions and hired after the retirements of Lt. Jim Scharnhorst in November and Lt. Tom…
A developer also has expressed interest in building retail on the front portion of the land.
Plans to build a kidney dialysis center on land the city is helping develop appear to be moving along. The back portion of what is known as the "church parcel" on 159th is slated to be used as a kidney dialysis center. The use of the building as a dialysis center was approved by the state this month, said City Administrator Troy Ishler. “The site has been approved for this type of facility,” Ishler said. While the back half continues to progress, the destiny of the front portion of the city-owned property at 5340 W. 159th St. remains up in the air. Mayor Hank Kuspa said at a meeting earlier this month that a developer is interested in leveling the old church at the site and putting in retail. He didn't elaborate on who that developer was …
Lauren Traut
2:34 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
The City was waiting for the allocated funds to become available, Mike. This agreement should guarantee that that will happen. Now, they just need Metra's final approval. It's definitely been a long process, with a few false starts, but hopefully this start date will go as planned. more ›