Message from the Mayor

The last City Council meeting of the year took place this past Tuesday. It has been a challenging year for all of us, but I am so honored to work beside this fine group of people. All of them work tirelessly making decisions that affect the residents and businesses in our city.

Our most important decision was the approval of the 2021 tax levy. Due to the extremely tough year with Coronavirus and weather-related phenomena affecting so many, we could not in good conscience raise taxes, although our operating costs do continue to rise. A 0% tax levy was recommended for 2021, which was passed by a unanimous consent of the City Council. While we have no control over the other taxing bodies, like School Districts, the Park District, County of Cook, etc., we do have control over the City of Oak Forest and decided NOT to raise taxes in 2021.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (708) 687-4050, x1005.

COVID-19 Updates

Illinois is currently at Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations.

FREE COVID-19 Testing at SSC

South Suburban College (SSC) continues to offer free COVID-19 testing on its Main Campus located at 15800 S. State Street, in South Holland, IL, through December 31, 2020.

Daily testing is available from 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., or until tests run out. A security detail is 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

Current numbers for Oak Forest from the Illinois Department of Public Health website (www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics) as of Friday, December 11, 2020:

1,775 positive cases
14,736 people tested
12.7% Positivity Rate (Suburban Cook County, Region 10

Bremen Township Tax Appeals

Bremen Township is currently opening Tax Appeals for the city of Oak Forest from 12/07/2020 until 01/05/2021.

Appeal forms are available in the Clerk's Office at City Hall, 15440 S. Central Avenue, and can be picked up now. These forms MUST be completed and turned in to Guy Gattone, Taxpayer Advocate by 01/02/2021.

If you have any questions on completing an appeal form, contact Guy Gattone, Tax Advocate at (708) 687-4050, EXT. 1031.

South Suburban Cook County Resident Cash Assistance Program

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle announced the reopening of the COVID-19 Resident Cash Assistance Program, which was announced in October 2020 to help residents of suburban Cook County. In order to apply at www.cookcountyil.gov/recovery, the following proofs are needed:

Proof of suburban Cook County residency
One form of government issued identification
Proof of COVID-19 hardship due to unpaid leave, care for vulnerable or infected relatives, or loss of wages due to business or school closures

2020 Trim-A-Tree Winners

Be sure and stop by City Hall to see the trees decorated by local families, businesses, Boy and Girl Scout Troops and organizations. They all did a terrific job trimming their trees for the annual City of Oak Forest Trim-A-Tree Contest.

Congratulations to our 2020 winners. Each group received a certificate and a gift card:

First Place - Mel's Minions
Second Place - Project Fire Buddies
Third Place - Girl Scout Junior & Cadette Troop 65163

Thanks to all our participants:

Holly Jolly House Decorating Contest

The Holly Jolly Holiday House Decorating Contest is presented by the City of Oak Forest. It is open to all Oak Forest residents, businesses and organizations who have let the holiday spirit shine! Complete and submit the entry form below. Entries are due December 25.

All residents or business owners are encouraged to submit an entry. An address must be included on the entry form. Only 1 entry needed per address.

Upload a photo of your Holly Jolly House to the entry form on www.oak-forest.org to be judged and to also feature in future issues of eBriefs, on Facebook, Twitter, and the City of Oak Forest website.

If you want to "invite" others to come look at your display, permission is needed to post your address on the Holly Jolly list.

Complete details are on the Holly Jolly Entry Form.

Holiday Toy Drive

For the past twenty-four years, the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation has pursued its mission of providing comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens fighting cancer by providing toys, gifts and gift cards. When a child must endure the rigors of cancer treatment, there is little anyone can do to take away the pain. However, thanks to the efforts of this unique Foundation, there are treasure chests filled with donated toys, gifts and gift cards at 61 nationwide treatment centers including Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL. Last year more than 14,400 children with cancer benefitted from this vital program every month.

The Foundation needs our help in order to keep the treasure chests full for the brave children and teens fighting cancer. We are asking families to donate a toy, gift for a teen or a gift card to City of Oak Forest Holiday Toy Drive. All donations will be used for the treasure chest program. Toys and gifts in all shapes, sizes and varieties are welcomed, although we do request that no stuffed animals be donated.

Toys, gifts for teens or gift cards in increments of $5.00 may be dropped off at City Hall from December 4 - January 8, 2021.

On behalf of the City of Oak Forest and the children and teens who benefit from the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, we thank you in advance for your generous donation.

Congratulations Oak Forest Police Sergeant Thomas Lynch

The City of Oak Forest is pleased to announce that the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) has honored Sergeant Thomas Lynch by being designated as a Certified Eligible Police Chief through the Association’s Police Chief Certification Program. This designation signifies that Sergeant Lynch has met the highest standards of competency and conduct for his profession.

Illinois is the only state in the US that currently offers a Police Chief Certification Program based on an extensive, legally validated examination process. The program is designed to recognize those law enforcement professionals who excel in all facets of the police chief function.

Read the entire announcement here: Sergeant Thomas Lynch.

Project Fire Buddies tree

Project Fire Buddies in the News

Since its conception four years ago this month, Project Fire Buddies continues to grow and spread their message of joy, hope and cheer bring joy to kids struggling with serious illnesses.

Recently, Founder & Oak Forest Firefighter, Kurt DeGroot was interviewed on the Car Con Carne Podcast. Hosted by Chicago media veteran James Van Osdol, since COVID-19, James has adjusted from conducting interviews in the front seat of his Mazda 3 to video chat and shared on Facebook, YouTube and podcast.

Kurt was also featured on Whip's Good News with Whip from Eric in the Morning with Melissa & Whip.

Project Fire Buddies also recently had their first expansion with the addition of the Oak Lawn Professional Firefighters Local 3405 and the Oak Lawn Fire Department. Congratulations to Kurt and all those helping in this important endeavor!

For more information about Project Fire Buddies, check out their website at www.projectfirebuddies.org.

Part-Time Job Opening at City Hall

The City of Oak Forest is seeking a part-time Code Enforcement Officer / Apartment Inspector who takes a proactive approach to enforcing property maintenance codes. The successful candidate must be able to work independently and communicate effectively while maintaining a professional working relationship with employees, supervisors, and the public.

Schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

For complete details about this employment opportunity, please use this link: https://www.oak-forest.org/jobs.aspx.

Snow Removal Reminders

Winter is just around the corner. Please remember that the city prohibits residents from parking vehicles on city streets after 2 inches of snow has fallen to allow Public Works Department crew members to clear and salt the streets efficiently and effectively and

Vehicles must remain off streets for 12 hours after the end of snowfall or risk being fined and/or towed.

Do not shovel or blow snow from driveways into the streets as this can cause a hazard and is also against city ordinance. When snow is shoveled into the street, the plow is likely to push it right back in front of the driveway. Although the city's plows may leave some snow across driveway entrances, they try to keep it to a minimum. The Public Works Department will not remove snow from driveway entrances.

For more information, please read the Snow and Ice Control article on the city website.

Garbage News

Did you know you can use your blue trash bin -- normally used for for branches and yard waste -- as a garbage can? It's true! From December 1st through March 31, 2021, residents can use the blue yard waste bins as an additional garbage can.

For more information about garbage collection and recycle in Oak Forest, please visit
Garbage & Recycling.

Next Oak Forest City Council Meeting

The next Oak Forest City Council Meeting will be held January 12, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. Residents are invited to attend the meeting (must wear a mask and practice social distancing) or you can watch the meeting live on www.oak-forest.org/live. To watch the most recent meeting from December 8, 2020, please click on the image below.

Everbridge System Replaces Reverse 911 Notifications

In the past, the City of Oak Forest has reached out to citizens via Reverse 911 calls. This has changed to a new system called Everbridge Emergency Alerts.

By going to the Everbridge website, you can sign-up and create an account using this link: https://member.everbridge.net/397890065268844/login . Enter a cell phone number for voice and text, landline phone number for voice, email address for notifications, as well as home address. Entering your home address helps the City of Oak Forest send messages to only certain areas of the town that a particular emergency is taking place, such as a water main break, for example.

Creating an account will also give you access to make future modifications to your account when needed, such as change of phone number, email, and home address.
Additionally, if you ever move and do not want any notifications from the City of Oak Forest, you have the ability to delete account.

Everbridge is a valuable tool for the city and for citizens who want to be informed.

Please sign up today!

Stay Informed!

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