Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Oak Forest Public Works Director Troy Ishler announced that the city removed the final infested Ash tree from city parkways on Tuesday, Feb. 26. The city removed more than 1,800 trees over a two-plus year span.
After more than two years of chopping, cutting and sawing, the Oak Forest Public Works department finished removing every infested Ash tree from Oak Forest parkways Tuesday morning, Feb. 26. In total, the city removed 1,849 trees from city parkways over the two-plus year span, with 500 trees removed by a contractor, said Public Works Director Troy Ishler. “I'd like to personally thank the public works department for the outstanding job they've done on this,” Ishler said. “They've gone above and beyond what they normally do to handle such a huge project and they've done very well.” During the Oak Forest city council meeting, Ishler announced that since all the trees were removed, the next phase of the project—stumping and reforestation—was …
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…
Monday, January 14, 2013
The city council approved $718,000 worth of road work within the city, focusing mainly on neighborhood roads. Stretches of road along Ridgeland Avenue, El Morro Lane, Charleston Drive and Ceder Road will all see work.
Several streets in Oak Forest are set to be reworked in the coming year, thanks to a move by the Oak Forest city council and some funds from the city's Motor Fuel Tax. The council approved the work in a unanimous vote, agreeing to spend $718,000 on work on four roads in the city, with the possibility of work on three other roads, depending on projected costs. The four roads guaranteed to see a facelift in the coming year are: Other streets up for possible work are: Liberty Square, from Terrace Drive to Reynolds Lane, Lockwood Avenue from 163rd Street to 159th Street, and Betty Anne Lane, from 155th Street to Natalie Drive. Work on the roads will be completed by a yet-to-be-named business, with engineering design by Baxter and Woodman. “The…
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 …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Oak Forest and Firefighters Union 3039 agreed to a new four-year contract that includes changes to salary scales and the creation of a new position in the department.
Months after the expiration of a previous contract, Oak Forest firefighters and city officials have inked a fresh agreement. Aldermen on Nov. 27 approved a four-year contract with Local 3039—one that includes adjustments to the salary scales and the creation of a new position within the department. The new contract Oak Forest Firefighters Local 3039 reached a new contract agreement that was approved by the Oak Forest city council on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The four-year contract comes after the previous contract between the city and the union expired on April 30, 2012. “I think we've negotiated a good contract for both sides,” Ishler said. “I think we'll both be happy with this contract.” Under the new contract, probationary firefighters who …
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…
Monday, November 19, 2012
Using a $50,000 grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the city is installing sidewalk along Central Avenue from James to Independence Drive, and also in front of Jewel.
Oak Forest residents looking for a safer, easier path along Central Avenue near Acorn Public Library won't have too long to wait. Work began last week on the installation of sidewalk along Central Avenue from James to Independence Drive. Aldermen approved the project in August. Once the project is completed, there will be continuous sidewalk from 147th Street to 159th Street. The winning bid came in from Lorusso Cement Contractors, at $55,385; the city will apply for an additional grant to cover the difference of the grant. If grant funds are unavailable, the city will make up the difference through its sidewalk escrow fund, according to a release on the city's website. In order to move forward with the project, an easement agreement …
Monday, October 29, 2012
The Oak Forest City Council approved contract with Pizzo & Associates to restore the area around Lake Emily in the Landings Subdivision on Tuesday, Oct. 23. The potential 10-year contract is worth nearly $80,000.
Residents of the Landings subdivision can look forward to a much nicer Lake Emily in the coming years, after the alderman signed off on a new, potential 10-year contract with Pizzo & Associates to conduct maintenance around the lake. “This area has gone—native is not the right term—it has gone wild,” said City Administrator Troy Ishler. “We have sought professional help to guide through a process of stewardship and do maintenance for the pond.” The contract, which can be renewed annually for up to 10 years, calls for the city to pay $10,000 during the first year for labor and the controlled burn. For the first year of service, the contract calls for Oak Forest to pay Pizzo $10,000 for services rendered between November 2012 and October of …
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Oak Forest is one of the latest Illinois municipalities to go with electrical aggregation, and now residents can track how much they are saving, online.
In August, Oak Forest joined many other Illinois municipalities in switching over to electrical aggregation for the city's power needs. The electrical aggregation measure, which passed with 65 percent of the vote on a March 20 referendum, is estimated to save residents $300 per year. Now, the Northern Illinois Municipal Electrical Collaborative (NIMEC) has put out a new website that can show roughly what residents can expect to save per month. The website, www.mycomedbill.com, allows residents to plug in their previous electrical bill, based on kilowatt hours used, and shows how much they can expect to be savewith their respective municipality's chosen electrical aggregation rate. “Personally, I got my last bill and compared it and I was …
chuck toland
9:44 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Nancy, give me a call, and I will make sure your problem is "checked out." My office is 708-671-5400. more ›