Denise Danihel, Alderman (Ward 7) | City Of Oak Forest Website
Denise Danihel, Alderman (Ward 7) | City Of Oak Forest Website
City of Oak Forest City Council met Jan. 23.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor Henry Kuspa called the City Council meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Roll Call as follows:
Present:
Alderman Keeler
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Wolf
Alderman Selman
Alderman Emmett
Also Present.
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Danihel
City Clerk Nicole Tormey Treasurer Ericka Vetter
City Administrator Timothy Kristin
3. Announcements
➤ A public hearing will be held on February 13 at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers regarding updates to the city's ward map. Residents can view the updated map on our website at www.oak-forest.org. Residents who have questions about the changes are encouraged to attend the public hearing or contact the Community Development Department at (708) 444-4848.
➤ As part of the State of Illinois Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act, we are urging residents to complete the lead service line questionnaire on our website. The information provided will be used to create a material inventory for all properties supplied with water in the community. Water service lines are the pipes along your property that run from the city's water main to the water meter inside your home. Common water service line materials found in homes include copper, lead, galvanized steel and plastic. For more information or to complete the survey, visit our website at www.oak-forest.org. Mayor Kuspa stated the staff is looking into issues with completing the questionnaire from your phone.
The 15th Annual Oak Forest Fleadh is on Saturday, March 2. The celebration includes a neighborhood 5K race at 8:30 a.m. and a family parade on Central Avenue at 11 a.m. After the parade, be sure to stop by one of our local restaurants or bars to enjoy food and drink specials and entertainment. For more information, visit the city's website.
➤ Mayor Kuspa thanked the Public Works Department. He stated this time of year is a difficult time of year for them. The extreme temperatures with snow and ice make it very hard. There have been 11 water main breaks. They are called out in the middle of the night to make sure everyone has running water. There has been 4 sewer blockages and 2 lift station issues in the first three weeks of January. Kudos to the Public Works Department. Mayor Kuspa thanked them for everything they do.
➤ Alderman Emmett echoed Mayor Kuspa's remarks and thanked the Public Works
Department.
4. Motion to Establish Consent Agenda
Alderman Danihel made the motion. Alderman McCarthy seconded.
Roll call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Keeler
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Wolf
Alderman Selman
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
The motion carried 7/0.
5. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of minutes:
1. City Council December 12, 2023
(there was a typo on the agenda)
B. Consideration of the following list of bills dated:
1. Regular bills FY 2023-2024
C. Consideration of the following minutes:
1. Veterans Commission November 16, 2023
2. Cable Commission January 11, 2024
3. Emergency Telephone System Board
Alderman Emmett made the motion. Alderman Selman seconded.
Mayor Kuspa asked for any questions or comments. Seeing none.
Roll call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Keeler
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Wolf
Alderman Selman
The motion carried 7/0.
6. Administration
A. Approval of Ordinance 2024-01-10140 approving a third amended and restated water sale, purchase and service agreement by and among the Village of Oak Lawn, Cook County, Illinois, and other municipalities, and authorizing the execution and delivery of said amended agreement.
Alderman Danihel made the motion. Alderman Wolf seconded.
Mayor Kuspa reported back in 2014 the City of Oak Forest joined with Mokena, New Lenox, Orland and Tinley Park to start a water group to create a new redundant water main from the city of Oak Lawn. This agreement will allow the city of Matteson, Country Club Hills and Olympia Fields to join this group. They will pick up some of the cost.
City Administrator Tim Kristin stated the City of Oak Forest will receive a refund of approximately $497,000.00. He recommended moving forward.
Alderman Selman inquired whether the refund is for work already done or from them joining the group going forward. Tim Kristin stated it is debt service.
Alderman Hortsman asked about bonding for the payments to Oak Lawn. Tim Kristin stated he believes it is not going to change that much. He can check with the Finance Director. Alderman Hortsman replied he remembers talking about bonding that could save the city some money. Tim Kristin stated the Regional Water System applied for those funds and is currently working with the IEPA to procure those grants and bonding.
Alderman Emmett asked if the refund is going back in the general fund or the water fund. Tim Kristin stated back in the water fund.
Mayor Kuspa asked for questions or comments from the aldermen. Seeing none.
Roll call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Keeler
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Wolf
Alderman Selman
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
The motion carried 7/0.
1. Public Works
A. Approval of Pay Estimate No. 4 to M&J Underground in the budgeted amount of $834,290.24 for the 2022 Water Main Improvement Project.
Alderman Selman made the motion. Alderman Emmett seconded.
Mayor Kuspa stated M&J went back after the city asked for some additional clean up. He believes they did a good job considering the stage of the project. There is a lot more work to be done. It has been verified that this payment is for work already completed.
City Administrator Tim Kristin stated he has been out there several times inspecting and met with the general foreman and expressed concerns. The project is coming to an end.
Mayor Kuspa asked for questions or comments. Seeing none.
Roll call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Selman
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Keeler
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Wolf
The motion carried 7/0.
B. Approval of proposal from Beary Landscaping for 159th Street & Long Avenue sanitary lift station retaining wall construction in the budgeted amount of $14,875.00.
Alderman Emmett made the motion. Alderman McCarthy seconded.
Mayor Kuspa reported this for landscaping work by Culvers. This is work the city planned on doing and it is a budgeted amount. He asked for questions or comments. Seeing none.
Roll call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Keeler
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Wolf
Alderman Selman
The motion carried 7/0.
8. Finance
A. Approval of budget adjustment 2 for FY24.
Alderman Wolf made the motion. Alderman Danihel seconded.
Mayor Kuspa reported this adjustment is for the Fire Department emergency boiler replacement that the Council approved previously. With some of the extra money the city is going to pay down the line of credit in TIF 4 and 6. Tim Kristin added this will pay off the line of credit.
Mayor Kuspa asked for questions or comments. Seeing none.
Roll call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Wolf
Alderman Selman
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Keeler
Alderman McCarthy
The motion carried 7/0.
9. Citizen Participation
Bob Merckle approached the podium. He inquired about how to get a meeting with his alderman. Alderman Selman stated they discussed a meeting and there was an illness and the parties could not meet. Since then he has reached out to Mr. Merckle's attorney and have not heard back from him. Mr. Merckle stated he does not need his attorney and just wants to meet with his alderman. Mayor Kuspa stated there was a meeting previously where Mr. Merckle's attorney stated he was going to sue the city. All communications stopped and there will be no communication unless the city attorney is present. Mr. Merckle stated he just wants to meet with his alderman and his alderman said no. Alderman Selman replied that he did not say no, a lawsuit has been threatened and it is in the city's best interest to have their attorney present. A meeting was scheduled but could not happen because of illness. Since then, they have tried to reschedule.
Matt Wydra, 15435 Ann Marie Drive, approached the podium. He expressed a safety concern regarding key sidewalks and Central Park multi-use path not being cleared of snow. He asked if the city could make an effort to clear the sidewalks especially Central from 155th to 159th and on 159th from Cicero to Central.
10. Old Business
None.
11. New Business
None.
12. Executive Session
The purpose of executive session is for the discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act, whether for purpose of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated.
Alderman Danihel made the motion to go into executive session. Alderman Keeler seconded.
Roll call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Keeler
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Wolf
Alderman Selman
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
The motion carried 7/0.
Executive Session started at 7:51 p.m.
Alderman Danihel made the motion to go back into open session. Alderman Hortsman seconded.
All ayes from aldermen. Open session began at 7:58 p.m. Mayor Kuspa stated that no further action will be taken by Council after executive session.
13. Adjournment
Alderman Danihel made the motion to adjourn. Alderman Hortsman seconded.
Ayes from all aldermen.
Meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
https://www.oak-forest.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01232024-1850
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