Friday, February 22, 2013
Metra riders will have to adjust some of their habits, as construction gets underway on Oak Forest's Metra station at 159th and Cicero. Work begins Feb. 25 and is expected to last six months.
Oak Forest commuters, be ready for some changes starting Monday morning. Platform #1 cannot be used during construction, and pedestrians should use the center pedestrian walk located south of 158th, near the station. The two crossings east of the station will be out of service. Parking at the station became a bit trickier in November, as the main lot was shut down. Handicapped spaces were consolidated to the west side of the current station, with a new accessibility ramp near the west stairs. Daily handicapped parking payment can be made at the payment box near the parking area. For all other daily commuters, parking is being moved to lots on Oak Street, 157th Street and Waverly Avenue. The new $3.4 million Metra station was expected to …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Oak Forest aldermen Feb. 12 decided that after 105 days of unpaid water bills, they'll put a lien on the owner's property.
Oak Forest residents with overdue water bills will face harsher repercussions from the city—including possible liens to cover the bills. Under the updated ordinance approved Feb. 12, if a water bill goes unpaid for 105 days, the city can place a lien in the amount of the bill. Previously, the ordinance only accounted for unpaid sewerage bills. The ordinance applies to all properties—even those foreclosed upon. If a lien is placed on a foreclosed home, the bill is paid when the home is sold. Recently, residents saw a water rate increase, set in place to cover an increase in the cost of water from suppliers Oak Lawn and the city of Chicago. The water rate in Oak Forest increased to a volume rate of 63 cents per 1,000 gallons; the average…
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Jim Petkus, who Ald. Chuck Toland called one of the founders of the Oak Forest Park District, died Tuesday, Jan. 8. Toland notified the Oak Forest City Council of Petkus' passing during its meeting, and the council held a moment of silence in his honor.
The Oak Forest Park District lost one of its founding members Jan. 8. Jim Petkus died around 7 p.m. Oak Forest Aldermen Chuck Toland interrupted the city council meeting to share the sad news. “Mr. Petkus died about an hour ago,” Toland said. “He was one of our Park District founders and he's been involved with the city in every aspect: football, flag football, Raiders football, the baseball association and just about every youth organization we've had here in the city.” Toland said he received a text message informing him of the news and felt he should share it with the council during the meeting. “I just wanted to bring this up, right this second, so we can offer up a prayer to him and his family,” Toland said. Mayor Hank Kuspa called it…
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Oak Forest residents will pay $27 more in real estate taxes, and about $13 more per quarter for water, after two recent moves by aldermen. Get the latest here.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Oak Forest residents will pay about $13 more per quarter for water after aldermen approved a rate increase at a Dec. 18 meeting. The increase is a result of a rate increase by the city's water suppliers, Oak Lawn and Chicago.
Oak Forest residents' checkbooks will spring a leak starting Jan. 1, 2013, when the city's new water rate goes into effect. The increase comes after the aldermen approved the motion, set in place to cover an increase in the cost of water from suppliers Oak Lawn and the city of Chicago. “This is strictly a pass-through rate increase,” said Troy Ishler, Oak Forest Public Works Director. “This is no profit to the city of Oak Forest on this.” On Jan. 1, the water rate in Oak Forest will increase to a volume rate of 63 cents per 1,000 gallons. The increase means that the average resident will pay about $13 more per quarter, or $52 more per year. Alderman Rich Simon voiced his displeasure over the increase and questioned if the water system in …
Monday, December 17, 2012
The Stop 'N' Go store was requesting a change in its liquor license and a special use permit to change to a liquor store only. The Oak Forest City Council denied the license change, stalling a potential ownership change and more for the store.
City council members could not swallow plans to convert a convenience store into a liquor store only. Stop 'N' Go Food and Liquor store, 5214 W. 159th Street, was up for a change in ownership and liquor license Dec. 11—but all other changes came to a screeching stop after aldermen unanimously voted down the liquor license changes. The proposed change in licensing would have meant a decrease in the existing one, then granting new one—both standard procedure in a case like this, according to Mayor Hank Kuspa. It's unclear why aldermen decided against the change. Phone calls to Community Development Director Adam Dotson went unreturned. Following the denial of the liquor license decrease, two other related items were struck from the …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
After years without a clear path for pedestrians along Central Avenue, the City of Oak Forest completed a sidewalk construction project early last week. The project cost just over $55,000 and created a continuous walkway from 147th to 159th Street.
Work on the sidewalks along Central Avenue is finished and for the first time ever, Oak Forest residents have an uninterrupted sidewalk path from 147th Street to 159th Street. “I think the project was well worth the endeavor and even moreso that the state kicked in $50,000,” said City Administrator Troy Ishler. The project cost roughly $55,400; $50,000 of which came from a grant from the state of Illinois, with the remaining monies coming from the city's sidewalk escrow fund. The walkway was installed the stretch of James Drive to Independence Drive, and in front of the Jewel Osco property, also on Central Avenue. The completed project created a continuous sidewalk from 147th Street to 159th Street. Residents are already enjoying the new…
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The Oak Forest City Council agreed to a six-month contract with MidAm Development Properties, LLC, to fish for national retailers to bring to the city. The potential retail development would be located in the 5400 block of W. 159th Street.
The City of Oak Forest and MidAm Development Properties, LLC, came to an agreement Nov. 27, that could mean an overhaul for properties in the 5400 block of W. 159th Street. The agreement, which aldermen unanimously approved, sets a six-month timeframe for MidAm to solicit business to the site—which would ideally spark a chain reaction of development. “We're working with an accredited developer like MidAm, with their connections and their experience, I'm hoping they'll be able to market the city of Oak Forest in such a way that will truly bring retail to Oak Forest,” said Mayor Hank Kuspa. “We need retail.” During a brief presentation to the city council, MidAm Development Properties co-founder David Bossy spoke about the company's proven…
The Battle of the Badges Community Blood Drive, hosted by the Oak Forest Rotary and police and fire departments, takes place Saturday, Dec. 8, at Oak Forest Fire Station #1.
An Oak Forest favorite will return Dec. 8—and organizers are hoping to see the community support come pouring in. It's almost time once again for the Oak Forest Rotary’s annual Battle of the Badges Community Blood Drive. The Oak Forest Rotary's Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive takes place Dec. 8. The drive pits the Oak Forest Fire Fighters and Oak Forest Police officers in a contest to see who residents support more by collecting blood donations. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Oak Forest Fire Department #1. The winning side—either Oak Forest's bravest or finest—will take home a coveted trophy and bragging rights for another year. “Every year, the fire department seems to win [the trophy], I guess because people see …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Oak Forest officials will break ground at the site of the new Oak Forest Metra Station on Thursday, Oct. 25. The station is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2013.
The City of Oak Forest is set to break ground on a long-anticipated, brand new Metra station on Thursday, Oct. 25. The new station will be located in nearly the same spot as the current Oak Forest Metra Station, 4850 W. 159th Street, although it will offer substantially more to commuters upon its completion. “The kiss-and-ride area, where there is a looped drive, that is where the new train station will be,” said Oak Forest Community Development Director Adam Dotson. The new station will feature a warming shelter, bike parking and lockers, bathroom facilities, and indoor and outdoor seating areas for commuters. Construction costs for the new station will total more than $3 million, with the city footing $1.07 million of the bill. The …
Rick T
9:49 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
Will there be access from the north lot? more ›