From the Office of the Mayor

Halloween is Saturday this year. The City of Oak Forest is allowing Trick or Treating between the hours of 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Please make sure your children wear face coverings and carry out proper social distancing. In the Oak Forest Leaflet, which was recently sent to residents through the mail, you can tear out the center sheet and tape it to your door or window to inform people whether or not you wish to participate in Trick or Treating.

While the City of Oak Forest is remaining vigilant in our efforts to assure resident’s safety by being compliant with the Governor’s Restore Illinois plan, the positivity rate for Region 10 – Southern Cook County – is currently 8.6%. I urge Oak Forest residents to socially-distance, wear face coverings and avoid large gatherings. More information can be found at https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/restore-illinois-phase-4.

Due to the significant increase in positive cases in Region 10, the Illinois Department of Public Health on October 28, issued COVID-19 resurgence mitigations for this area, including Oak Forest. These mitigations will include restaurants and bars being limited to outdoor and carryout service and closure at 11:00 pm. Gatherings are limited to the lesser of 25 people or 25 percent of overall room capacity. These measures do not currently apply to schools.

This weekend remember to "fall behind" and change your clocks by one hour. Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 1, at 2:00 am.

Please contact my office at 708-687-4050, x1005, should you have any questions or concerns relating to our community.

COVID-19 Updates

South Suburban Extends COVID-19 Testing

South Suburban College will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing on its Main Campus located at 15800 S. State Street, in South Holland, Illinois, through December 31, 2020.

Open seven days a week, cars may enter from either 159^th Street or State Street and follow the signage. Daily testing is available from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and a security detail will continue to be in place while testing is open.

COVID-19 symptoms may include fever, sore throat, loss of taste, cough or shortness of breath. Visit CDC.gov for more information regarding symptoms.

Oak Forest COVID-19 Statistics

Here are the current numbers for the city of Oak Forest from the Illinois Department of Public Health website (www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics) as of Friday, October 30, 2020:

813 positive cases
9,638 people tested
8.6% Positivity Rate (Suburban Cook County, Region 10)
10 Covid-19 related deaths in Oak Forest since March 27, 2020 with the most recent one on September 11, 2020.

Early Voting Ends November 2

The last day to cast your vote early for the upcoming November 3, 2020, election at Oak Forest City Hall is Monday, November 2nd. Please remember to wear a mask or facial covering and practice social distancing. Oak Forest City Hall is located at 15440 S. Central Ave.

Mail Ballot Drop Box

If you would like to bring your mail in ballot, there will be a secure mail ballot drop box at City Hall during Early Voting Hours. You do not need to stand in the early voter line. Enter via the Police Department entrance to the City Council Chambers. There is a Cook County election employee who will direct you to where to deposit your ballot. The drop box will be emptied every day.

Early Voting Hours

Friday, October 30
8:30 am - 7:00 pm

Saturday, October 31
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sunday, November 1
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Monday, November 2
8:30 am - 7:00 pm

Please note that the Oak Forest City Hall is NOT an election day polling place on November 3, 2020.

Please refer to your voter's card or the Cook County Board of Elections website to find out your polling place: https://www.cookcountyclerk.com/service/your-voter-information.

Change Your Clock, Change Your Alarms!

New Illinois Smoke Alarm Law

What is the New Illinois Smoke Alarm Law?
- Since 1988, all dwellings in Illinois have been required to have smoke alarms.
- In 2017, Public Act 200 was passed to update the Illinois Smoke Detector Act to reflect advances in technology.
- Come January 1, 2023, single and multi-family homes that are still using smoke alarms with removable batteries are required to install new alarms that feature 10-year sealed battery alarms.

Exemptions*
- Homes built after 1988 that already have hardwired smoke alarms.
- Homes with wireless integrated alarms that use low-power radio frequency communications, WiFi, or other wireless Local Area Networking capability.
- Homes within Chicago city limits.

Are You Protected?
3 of every 5 home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no working smoke alarms!

- Install smoke alarms on every level, outside each sleeping area, and in every bedroom.
- Test smoke alarms monthly.
- Alarms don't last forever - remember to replace your smoke alarms every 10 years.
- Plan and practice your escape route with your family at least twice a year.
- If your smoke alarm does sound, leave the home immediately, and call 9-1-1.

Need Help Installing?
Watch this YouTube video from the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance to learn how to properly install smoke alarms in your home: https://youtu.be/THau716GZRM.

Military and Discount Card

The Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office is now offering all those who served and continue to serve the ability to register online for the Cook County Military and Discount Card at the Recorder of Deeds website at www.cookrecorder.com/veteran-services/. The online registration allows active-duty personnel, veterans, guard members and reservists to register from the comfort of their home.

For more information, contact the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, Veterans Service Office at 312-603-5788.

Halloween Trick or Treat Hours

Halloween is Saturday, October 31, 2020. Trick or Treat hours in the City of Oak Forest are 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

Please keep groups to a minimum and practice social distancing.
Wearing a mask or face covering is required per rules set forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Tape the insert from the Oak Forest Leaflet, recently mailed to you, to your door or window to inform people whether or not your house is participating in handing out treats.

Oak Forest Road Closure Alert

Due to work on the 'culvert' beneath the street, 147th Street between Central Avenue and Ridgeland Avenue is currently closed until Monday, November 9, weather permitting. Motorists will need to use Midlothian Turnpike (143rd Street) as a detour.

2020 Road Program Update!

Concrete has been completed on the first group of streets and our contractor has already started on the second group of streets.

Remember, the contractor will notify all the residents a day before any work will be done to your apron or curb by placing a notice on your door.

This year’s program will include the following eleven street segments to be resurfaced:

1. Willow Lane – Forestview to 151st
2. Condado – 151st to Hillside
3. El Morro Court – El Morro to end
4. Menard – Vine to 147th
5. 149th Street – Laramie to Cicero
6. Essex – Tudor to Reynolds
7. Dolores – Rob Roy to Orogrande
8. Peggy Lane – 159th to Independence
9. Mann – Craig to Blair
10. Newport – Laramie to Bellaire
11. Oakwood Court – Newport to Cul-de-Sac

Next Oak Forest City Council Meeting

The Oak Forest City Council Meeting will be held on November 10, 2020, at 7:30 PM.
To watch the previous meeting from October 27, 2020, please click on the image below.

e-Briefs is a free, voluntary e-mail service, which provides information about government services, activities and events.
On a weekly basis, you can expect to find City Council news and agendas, construction updates, public safety reminders, senior and youth news, and much more! Please forward this e-mail to friends and family and encourage them to sign up
for the weekly e-Briefs by visiting the Notify Me section of our website or contact the City of Oak Forest at 708-687-4050 or cityofoakforest@oak-forest.org.