South Cook News

City of Oak Forest City Council met Sept. 10

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 McCarthy 

Alderman Wolf 

Alderman Selman 

Alderman Emmett 

Alderman Hortsman 

Absent: Alderman Danihel 

Also Present: City Clerk Nicole Tormey 

Treasurer Ericka Vetter

Fire Chief Gary Kasper

3. Announcements 

➢ The Village of Oak Lawn Regional Water System will begin installation of a 36" transmission main in Oak Forest this week. Construction will begin near the intersection of 157th and Oak Park Avenue and primarily be heading west on 157th but mostly north on Oak Park Avenue. This work will be going on until the end of the year. 

➢ Check out the city's employment page at www.oak-forest.org for current job openings such as IT Desk Manager, Fire Department Secretary, Animal Control Supervisor and others. Please check out the city's website. 

➢ The Senior Commission Luncheon returns on September 26 with singer/songwriter Mark Dvorak. Doors open at 10:00 a.m. The program begins at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $7.00 each and are on sale at City Hall. 

➢ Chicago Gaelic Park will host Heritage and Harvest Fest. It is a free family event on Sunday, September 15 at noon. There will be live music, games for kids, sports demonstrations and more. 

➢ Save the date for the Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce's Community Expo on Saturday, October 19 from 9:00 a.m. until noon at Arbor Park Middle School. The free expo includes exhibitors, crafts, DJ, games, raffles and giveaways and kids costume parade at 10:00 a.m. For details visit the chamber website at www.oc-chamber.org. 

➢ Don't miss the Bremen Township Women's Wellness Walk on Saturday, October 19 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at 15350 S. Oak Park Avenue. All donations support the Crisis Center for South Suburbia. Enjoy vendors, food trucks, raffles, giveaways and more. 

➢ The Oak Forest Broadcast Network National Night Out 2024 can be seen streaming on the city's website by clicking on CIC-TV programming or can be viewed on cable TV Comcast channel 4, Astound channel 6 and AT&T channel 99.

4. Motion to Establish Consent Agenda 

Alderman Hortsman made the motion. Alderman Emmett seconded. 

Roll call vote was taken as follows: 

AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT 

Alderman Hortsman

Alderman Danihel 

Alderman Keeler 

Alderman McCarthy 

Alderman Wolf 

Alderman Selman 

Alderman Emmett 

The motion carried 6/0, 1 absent. 

5. Consent Agenda 

A. Approval of minutes: 

1. City Council - August 13, 2024 

B. Consideration of the following list of bills dated: 

1. Regular bills - FY 2023-2024 

2. Supplemental bills - FY 2024-2025

C. Consideration of the following minutes: 

1. Consumer Protection Commission - August 14, 2024

2. Emergency Telephone System Board - August 6, 2024 

3. Civil Service Commission - July 16, 2024 

4. Planning and Zoning Commission - July 3, 2024 

5. Economic Advisory Council - June 19, 2024

6. Economic Advisory Council - August 7, 2024

D. Proclamation No. 2024-09-0308P recognizing constitution week in the City of Oak Forest

Alderman Selman made the motion. Alderman McCarthy seconded. 

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

Alderman Selman read Proclamation No. 2024-09-0308P recognizing constitution week in the City of Oak Forest into the record. 

6. Fire Department 

A. Approval for acceptance of assistance to Firefighters Grant Award and the purchase of LUCAS devices. 

Alderman Emmett made the motion. Alderman Keeler seconded. 

Fire Chief Gary Kasper reported the Fire Department put into for the device back in July of this year. They were awarded $73,200.00 by the Department of Homeland Security. The devices are replacing a little over 16 year old devices. Mayor Kuspa reported these devices are chest compression devices. Fire Chief Kasper added the device will take one person off doing chest compressions and allows them to do other jobs and tasks. Currently they have three devices, with this grant they will get four. There will be one on each ambulance and one on each front line engine. 

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 6/0, 1 absent. 

B. Approval for emergency repair to Engine 39 transmission through Interstate Power. 

Alderman Keeler made the motion. Alderman Hortsman seconded. 

Fire Chief Gary Kasper reported there is an amendment. He spoke with the City Administrator. He was informed when they dropped the transmission, they found two more parts that were broken. He asked if it needed to be a separate motion. Mayor Kuspa replied it can be incorporated but asked that he elaborate on what is being added. Fire Chief Kasper stated he will be adding $4,225.33 to replace a hydraulic pump, $3,011.29 for the PTO, and $250.00 parts freight charge. No additional labor charges. The grand total is $30,634.55. Mayor Kuspa clarified the motion will include a total cost of $30,634.55. He asked Alderman Keeler if he will modify his motion to accept the additional expense. Alderman Keeler replied yes. Alderman Hortsman modified is second. Chief Kasper stated they do their best to maintain the vehicles. They have been on a steady rotation for vehicle maintenance. Unfortunately, this issue is not something that could have been caught by regular PMs. 

Alderman Hortsman asked how long it will take and what he is doing to cover. Chief Kasper replied they are borrowing a piece of equipment from Orland Fire Protection District. The reserve engine, engine 139, is still waiting to get their emergency lights. He hopes this rig will be out 10 days to two weeks at the most. The transmission will come with a two year warranty. 

Mayor Kuspa asked for any questions or comments. Seeing none. 

Roll call vote was taken as follows: 

AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT

Alderman Keeler 

Alderman McCarthy 

Alderman Wolf 

Alderman Selman 

Alderman Emmett 

Alderman Hortsman

Alderman Danihel

The motion carried 6/0, 1 absent. 

7. Citizen Participation 

Ruby Wilson, Scott Street in Fieldcrest, approached the podium. She reported that she had emailed about a dog that has been a problem in the neighborhood. She received an email response from Bridget stating they were finalizing the animal control officer. She works for Cook County and there is an animal control vehicle in her driveway. She has residents coming to her house with stray animals. Last Sunday she woke up at 4 a.m. and the same dog was in her living room. She called the Police Department and received no assistance. Mayor Kuspa asked how the dog got in her living room. Ms. Wilson answered that it caused property damage, broke her gate that has a padlock on it, and came in through her dog door which he also broke. Mayor Kuspa asked if she is reporting that she did not assistance from police. Ms. Wilson replied she is concerned about why the city does not have an animal control officer yet. She emailed, did not get a reply from Bridget, left a message for the Mayor's assistant, did not get a return call. Called Mr. Keeler and he said he was going to call her back, she did not get a return call. Alderman Keeler stated he talked to Tim Kristin about the incident. They ticketed the owner of the dog. Mr. Kristin said he is working on it. Ms. Ruby stated she left a message for Nicole Tormey the day after Labor Day. She has no problem assisting Oak Forest. She donated a scanner to the Police Department six weeks ago. The Police Department is telling citizens the scanner is broken. Mayor Kuspa appreciates Ms. Wilson bringing the issue to the council. 

8. Old Business 

Alderman Emmett remarked they asked County to cut 151st Street with school starting. You cannot see that stop and go light at the entrance of Hille School if you are going westbound on 151st. The bike path that the Park District has cut is not being done. They came out and did from Oak Park Avenue up to Hillside behind people's houses. He offered to ride with the street superintendent and show them the problems within the community. 

Alderman Hortsman has been made aware of some sidewalk issues between Alameda between 

Victoria and Boca Rio. This is not a recent issue. It has been probably a year or two now that these particular sidewalks, especially on the east side of the street, where marked by Public Works and were supposed to be repaired. Because of something that happened with the contractor, it never got looked at. In the past, he has asked Mike about some of the sidewalks that have been marked but have not been looked at. He will call him again. It has almost been two years now. Mayor Kuspa clarified that they were looked at and earmarked for repair. Alderman Hortsman replied yes, almost two years ago. 

9. New Business 

None. 

10. Executive Session 

None. 

11. Adjournment 

Alderman Hortsman made the motion to adjourn. Alderman Wolf seconded. 

Roll call vote was taken as follows: 

AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT

Alderman Hortsman

Alderman Danihel

Alderman Keeler 

Alderman McCarthy 

Alderman Wolf 

Alderman Selman 

Alderman Emmett 

The motion carried 6/0, 1 absent. 

Meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m. 

https://www.oak-forest.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09102024-1985