South Cook News

City of Oak Forest City Council met April 9

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: Mayor Henry Kuspa

Alderman Keeler

Alderman Wolf

Alderman Selman

Alderman Emmett

Alderman Hortsman

Alderman Danihel

Absent: Alderman McCarthy

Also Present City Clerk Nicole Tormey

Treasurer Ericka Vetter

City Administrator Timothy Kristin

Police Chief Jason Reid

Deputy Police Chief Scott Durano

Public Works Dir. Mike Salamowicz

3. Swearing in of Probationary Police Officer Nicolas Santos

Police Chief Jason Reid introduced Nicolas Santos.

City Clerk Nicole Tormey swore in Nicolas Santos as a Probationary Police Officer.

Mayor Kuspa welcomed him aboard.

4. Announcements

➢ The Oak Forest Broadcast Network: The 15th Annual Fleadh can be seen on the city' s website by clicking on CIC- TV Programming or can be viewed on cable TV Comcast channel 4, Astound/ RCN channel 6, AT& T channel 99.

➢ The Public Works Department is hiring seasonal maintenance workers to perform manual labor, general unskilled and semi- skilled work. You must be at least 17 years old to apply. For more details, visit www. oak-forest. org.

➢ Spring Cleanup Week is April 22- 26. Residents of single family homes may dispose of multiple bulk items at the curb on their regular pickup day. Public Works chipping crews will be following Homewood Disposal pickup schedule. Please leave all branches at the curb by 7: 00 a. m. on your pickup day.

➢ Join the Oak Forest Rotary Club for Game Night at Gaelic Park on Friday, April 26 from 6 to 10 p. m. The cost is $ 60. 00 and includes dinner and three hours of open bar.

➢ The Oak Forest Rotary Club will be holding a blood drive at City Hall on Saturday, April 27 from 9: 00 a. m. until 1: 15 p. m. You can schedule your donation or walk- ins are welcome.

➢ Vehicle stickers go on sale on May 1 through the online portal. Residents can purchase stickers through the mail, the drop box outside City Hall or in the City Clerk' s Office during normal business hours. Seniors who have information on file will automatically receive their stickers in the mail. If you have any questions, please contact the Clerk' s Office at ( 708) 687- 4050.

➢ Alderman Selman announced the Oak Forest Hometown Heroes Banner Program is starting up again. The banner program honors current or former residents who have served or are currently serving in any branch of the United States Armed Forces. Each banner includes name, rank, photo and branch of the military served. The banner costs $ 75. 00 each and will be displayed on Cicero Avenue and 159th Street. Applications are available in City Hall or at www. oak-forest. org. April 22 is the deadline. It is a great way to honor someone who has served or is serving.

5. Motion to Establish Consent Agenda

Alderman Emmett made the motion. Alderman Danihel seconded.

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 6/ 0, 1 absent.

6. Consent Agenda

A. Approval of minutes:

1. City Council March 26, 2024

B. Consideration of the following list of bills dated:

1. Regular bills FY 2023- 2024

2. Supplemental bills FY 2023- 2024

C. Consideration of the following minutes:

1. Emergency Telephone System Board February 6, 2024

2. Emergency Telephone System Board March 12, 2024

D. Proclamation No. 2024- 04- 0303 P celebrating the dedication of the Laura Gray Animal Control & Care Center

E. Proclamation No. 2024- 03- 0302P recognizing National Public Safety

Telecommunications Week April 14- 20, 2024

Alderman Danihel 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 Danihel

Alderman Keeler

Alderman McCarthy

Alderman Wolf

Alderman Selman

Alderman Emmett

Alderman Hortsman

The motion carried 5/ 0/ 1 abstain, 1 absent.

Alderman Selman read Proclamation 2024- 04- 0303P celebrating the dedication of the Laura Gray Animal Control and Care Center into the record.

Mayor Kuspa invited Terry to come up to the dais and accept the Proclamation. They unveiled the plaque to be mounted at the Animal Control Center. Mayor Kuspa reminisced on his meetings with Laura Gray regarding Gigi' s Playhouse.

Mayor Kuspa invited a few people to come up and say a few words. Laura Brady Aye, Linda Shute and Dawn Eisenhower Koop approached the podium and said a few words in remembrance of Laura Gray.

Alderman Emmett read Proclamation No. 2024- 03- 0302P recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunications Week April 14- 20, 2024 into the record.

7. Administration

A. Approval of collective bargaining agreement between the City of Oak Forest and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 700, Oak Forest Clerical and Secretarial Employees Union.

Alderman Emmett made the motion. Alderman Hortsman seconded.

City Administrator Tim Kristin reported negotiations went well with the union. There were modest changes to the very mature contract. It took some time because there were two labor unions going at one time. The contract will be for four year. They are already two years into it. He recommends approving the contract.

Alderman Wolf inquired as to why it took two years into a four year contract. City Administrator Kristin answered that he would have to ask them.

Mayor Kuspa asked for any other 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 6/ 0, 1 absent.

8. Police Department

A. Approval of purchase of 15 Taser 10s and associated equipment from Axon Enterprises, Inc. in the amount of$ 123, 819. 78.

Alderman Emmett made the motion. Alderman Keeler seconded.

Police Chief Jason Reid advised the purchase of the tasers would include holsters for each of the sworn officers, training cartridges, certifications for five of the officers to be certified as a taser instructors on the Taser lOs and various cartridges they would need in the field over the course of a five year period. Originally the contract was for over 130, 000. 00. He negotiated with Axon and they brought it down to the $ 123, 819. 78 if they were purchased upfront. The cost will be split between the general fund money and asset forfeiture funds to lessen the burden on the tax payers.

Mayor Kuspa stated Colleen did a great job of explaining how this purchase will be funded. He asked for any questions or comments from the aldermen. 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 6/ 0, 1 absent.

B. Approval of 3 year contract for evidence storage with Fortress Plus Solutions in the amount of$ 20,000. 00.

Alderman Emmett made the motion. Alderman Danihel seconded.

Police Chief Jason Reid reported the city' s evidence room is becoming clustered with evidence that must be retained for an indefinite period of time under the law. Regular access is not needed for this evidence. This is a secure facility and has 24 hour security and surveillance. It is run and operated by numerous retired police officers from the state police. They are knowledgeable in all the areas they need to be to manage evidence storage. It relieves the city of the burden of the evidence room becoming too cumbersome to store the evidence taken in on a regular basis. This will give them a three year period to come up with a more long term solution on evidence storage. The money being utilized for this will be out of asset forfeiture funds. It will be a neutral cost to the taxpayers.

Alderman Emmett asked how the evidence will be transported. Chief Reid stated they will transfer custody to Fortress Plus Solutions at the Oak Forest Police Station. Fortress Plus Solutions will transport it to their facility and it will be logged so the chain of custody is retained throughout the process. They will still have access to the evidence at the facility. They have a private secure area that they can review their own evidence.

Mayor Kuspa clarified that the space that will be rented was referred to as two condos.

Chief Reid confirmed. Mayor Kuspa reported the contract allows us to acquire more space if needed. He thanked the Chief for coming up with an affordable solution and funding it at no taxpayer cost.

Mayor Kuspa asked for questions or comments from the aldermen. 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 6/ 0, 1 absent.

9. Public Works

A. Approval of contracts with Dutch Valley Landscaping for the 2024 Planter Box Plantings and Maintenance, City Hall Flower Pots and Metra Lots & City Entry Way Signs in the budgeted amount of$ 41, 943.40.

Alderman Selman made the motion. Alderman Emmett seconded.

Public Works Director Michael Salamowicz reported this contract is going back to the Streetscape Program. The original contract was awarded in 2015 following two separate bidding processes. The original contract included provisions for annual extensions with a price increase of CIP or 5%, whichever was lower. Over the time period, the prices have not jumped that much with Dutch Valley. The overall increase for the last six years equates to less than 1%.

Mayor Kuspa reported 15 years ago 32 planter boxes were put on Cicero Avenue. Now, we are proposing 120 planter boxes on Cicero. They are very attractive. He has received many compliments. Dutch Valley does a good job maintaining them. He thanked Mike for bringing it back to the council.

Alderman Emmett asked if other parts of the town can be decorated. Such as the business corridor on 159th. City Administrator Kristin stated that is a significant budget consideration. He said he would look into it and get a cost for it.

Alderman Selman stated for several years the Veterans Commission has been seeking volunteers to help place American flags around Oak Forest for Memorial Day weekend.

For the last couple of years they did not have the planters on Cicero to put American flags in. He asked if planters could be put out before May 25. Public Works Director Salamowicz replied he will do the best he can. It is weather permitting. He will work with Dutch Valley. Mayor Kuspa stated that was an excellent point. In years past, the boxes were out there.

Mayor Kuspa asked for any questions or comments from the aldermen. 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 6/ 0, 1 absent.

10. Citizen Participation

Stan Butner, Shadow Creek Drive approached the podium. He represents the condo association. He inquired again regarding the status of the infrastructure around the condo area and communications box. He asked if the council knows who owns the communications box. Mayor Kuspa stated it is not the city. Mr. Butner stated the paving around his area is getting worse. Mayor Kuspa asked Mike if they can get some patching done. Mike Salamowicz stated there are crews going out all over the city. Mayor Kuspa asked for this to be a priority.

Mayor Kuspa asked if anyone else would like to address the council. Seeing none.

11. Old Business

Alderman Emmett asked about 147th Street and the ditch becoming more crowded with auto parts. He asked if Public Works could pick up the debris. He also asked about the electronic signage regarding the curve. Mayor Kuspa asked Mike about the curve being unsafe and unsightly. He reiterated that it is Cook County Forest Preserve property. He asked Mike who he has contacted regarding getting a culvert tube in there. Mike stated HR Green completed the engineering plan for widening the lanes on the shoulder. The plan was forwarded to the Cook County Forest Preserve who took it before their committee. They have asked for easement plats which were prepared and submitted to them. The Cook County Forest Preserve stated it was a favorable response from their committee but they are still looking to determine whether or not they are going to need an intergovernmental agreement with the city.

Alderman Emmett inquired about the sign at 147th and 66th Court, it was a left hand sign if you were going west to turn south, the State never put back up. It laid on the lady' s lawn for two years. At least the State could put up a sign that states you are coming up to a left hand turn.

Alderman Emmett stated he is getting phone calls regarding residents on Colina, Rob Roy, Chaucer who are upset that they are going to get grass seed. They want their sod back. Alderman Selman received calls as well. Mayor Kuspa asked Mike if there is any chance of getting them to do sod. Mike stated sod is more expensive. Ultimately seed is heartier in the long run. It will end up being stronger. Mayor Kuspa asked if it is feasible that just the residents' front lawns that were damaged, not city parkway, be sod.

Alderman Emmett stated the tractors were by their front windows when they were digging up the water mains. Mike stated he will talk to the contractor because anything that was outside of the right- of-way is actually not part of the project. That was on the contract. He will talk to the contractor about restoring those areas. Mike stated the contractor is responsible.

12. New Business

None.

13. Executive Session

None.

14. Adjournment

Alderman Danihel made the motion to adjourn. Alderman Hortsman 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 6/ 0, 1 absent.

Mayor Kuspa thanked the aldermen for allowing the visitors that came to honor Laura an opportunity to address the council.

Meeting adjourned at 8: 21 p. m.

https://www.oak-forest.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_04092024-1894