Prescription Drug Take Back Program

The Oak Forest Police Department is pleased to announce the return of the Prescription Drug Take Back Program. Through a partnership with the Cook County Sheriff, a large collection box has been placed in the lobby of the Police Department at 15440 S. Central Ave.

The "container" is available from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily for residents to dispose of approved medications.

Acceptable items include:

Prescription Drugs
Prescription Patches
Prescription Ointments
Prescription samples
Pet Medication
Over-the-counter medications
Vitamins

Unacceptable items include:

Needles
Aerosol cans or inhalers
Bio-hazard or infectious waste
Hydrogen Peroxide or alcohol
Thermometers
Food items
Supplements
Liquids

The goal of the Prescription Drug Take Back Program is to allow Oak Forest residents a convenient and safe disposal alternative by delivering all unused, unwanted, or expired medications to local law enforcement officials who dispose of these substances in a safe, secure and non-hazardous manner.

Why should I properly dispose of unwanted/unused medication?

Keep it out of the Water System

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports thousands of tons of pharmaceutical and personal care products enter the waste stream each year. Several United States Geological Survey studies have found that many pharmaceuticals are surviving water treatment facilities and making their way into drinking water.

The EPA has instructed people to stop discarding unwanted medications down the drain. Unused, expired and unwanted medication is a health and safety risk, as well as a potential threat to waterways and local landfills.

Prescription Drug Abuse

Prescription medication abuse among teens and young adults is a serious and increasing problem in the U.S. The Partnership for a Drug Free America’s annual tracking study recently found:

1 in 5 teens have abused a prescription pain medication
1 in 5 teens report abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers
1 in 10 teens have abused cough medication

Many teens think these drugs are safe because they have legitimate uses. However, taking them without a prescription to "get high" or "self-medicate" can be dangerous and as addicting as using street narcotics and other illicit drugs.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health identifies 4 types of pain medication that are commonly abused:

Pain relievers
Sedatives
Stimulants
Tranquilizers

A total of 11% of teens (ages 12 to 17) reported lifetime non-medical use of pain relievers and 4% reported lifetime non-medical use of stimulants.

Cook County Sheriff Pharmaceutical Take-Back Materials

Oak Forest Receives ITEP Grant

The City of Oak Forest is pleased to announce that it has been selected for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant.

The Department received 270 project applications requesting over $293 million. The ITEP commitment for this project—the installation of sidewalks to fill gaps within the pedestrian system surrounding the Kerkstra Elementary School on Le Claire, Lavergne, Laramie and 149^th—is not to exceed $677,250. The improvements will include the installation of concrete sidewalks that are ADA accessible with detectable warnings and parkway restoration.

This project will encourage students to walk to school and pedestrians in general to walk the neighborhoods by increasing the route walkability by providing a continuous sidewalk path and a safer walk with a consistent sidewalk/roadway separation. The ITEP grant is a federal grant for streetscape that incorporates elements encouraging bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

Veterans Commission to March in Parade June 26

Cheer on the Oak Forest Veterans Commission as they march in the Village of Midlothian's 11th Annual Independence Parade on Saturday, June 26 at 11:00 am.

The parade will step off at 147th Street and Kilpatrick Avenue and head east to Waverly Avenue (Village of Midlothian Green).

Due to the parade, please be aware of traffic delays on 147th Street between Cicero and Pulaski from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm with 147th Street CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC for approximately one hour at 11:00 am. Traffic in the area will be heavy, please plan accordingly.

Book Sale at Acorn Public Library

The Friends of the Acorn Public Library District will be selling newly donated materials, including hard covers, paperbacks, romance novels, and children’s books. The sale will be held in the north parking lot on Saturday, June 26 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

For more information, please call 708-687-3700.

Leave the Fireworks to the Experts

Fireworks are ILLEGAL in Illinois! Please leave the fireworks to the professionals. What goes up always comes down. We do not want to see damage to your home or your neighbors' homes. Plus, we do not want anyone to get physically hurt from amateur and illegal fireworks.

Consider attending a professional display of fireworks in neighboring towns like Crestwood, Mokena, Orland Park or Bridgeview. There are also numerous televised events.

Outdoor Water Restrictions in Effect

Water conservation measures are currently in effect. Outside water use is allowed from 7:00 am to 11:00 am and from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm on odd or even dates based on your property address.

If the last digit in your street address is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) then you may sprinkle only on odd numbered calendar days. If the last digit in your address is even (2, 4, 6, 8, 0) then you are restricted to sprinkling on even numbered calendar days.

If drought conditions occur or the Village of Oak Lawn's water distribution center encounters mechanical trouble, more stringent restrictions could be implemented.

Water conservation is required for suburban communities using water from Lake Michigan. These rules apply regardless of rainfall trends and are intended to keep Great Lakes water sustainable to serve the millions of residents that rely upon this natural resource.

2021 Forest In Bloom Award Nominations End July 7th

If you notice a home or business where pride of ownership really shines through, be sure to submit a nomination form.

Click here to fill out the form online to enter your nomination for this year's award consideration.

Purchase Vehicle Stickers Through July 31, 2021

The 2021-2022 Vehicle Stickers are on currently on sale through July 31st. The link to purchase is: Oak Forest Vehicle Sticker V-Pay. Please reference the "VEHICLE ID" number on your pre-printed application when purchasing a vehicle sticker(s) online at www.oak-forest.org.

City Hall is open to the public, but we encourage people to wear face coverings while interacting with city employees. Thank you!

City of Oak Forest is Hiring!

The City of Oak Forest is looking to fill the following positions:

Part Time Firefighter / Paramedics

The Oak Forest Fire Department is actively looking to hire Part Time Firefighter / Paramedics! OFFD provides 24-hour fire protection, paramedic service, and emergency response to the residents and businesses of Oak Forest.

The department was founded in 1945 and has provided excellent public services through its existence. The Fire Department responds to approximately 3,700 calls/year out of 2 staffed stations and is an active member of MABAS 24 in mutual/auto aid responses.

Human Resources Manager

Responsible for developing, organizing, planning, and implementing the city’s comprehensive human resources program.

The Human Resources Manager is a department head level position responsible for leadership, management and supervision of Human Resources related programs. The Human Resources Manager reports to the City Administrator.

For complete listing and instructions on how to apply, please go to the Employment Opportunities Page on www.oak-forest.org.

Oak Forest City Council Meeting

The next Oak Forest City Council Meeting will be held on July 13, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Click on the image below to view the previous City Council Meeting from June 22, 2021.

OAK FOREST BROADCAST NETWORK AIRS MEETINGS LIVE

Residents are invited to attend the meeting (must wear a mask and practice social distancing) or you can watch live on CIC-TV at www.oak-forest.org/live or on one of the following television channels:

AT&T U-verse - Channel 99
Comcast Xfinity - Channel 4
Wide Open West - Channel 6

If you do not subscribe to cable television, visit oak-forest.org/broadcast to learn more about the Oak Forest Broadcast Network.

CITIZENS PARTICIPATION

The Oak Forest City Council invites public comment at its meetings, but it generally does not have the ability to provide an immediate response to some questions raised during the Citizens Participation portion of a council meeting without some reasonable opportunity to review them. Therefore, the City Council encourages questions to also be submitted in writing in the event that they need to be referred to City staff to help assure a more thoughtful and informed response. The Council Chambers is open for the public to attend. Social distancing must be maintained by attendees.

Here is the link to the most recent meeting: June 22, 2021 City Council Meeting