South Cook News

City of Oak Forest City Council met Sept. 9

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

MAYOR: Jim Hortsman ALDERPERSONS: 

CLERK: Nicole Tormey 1st Ward - Kenneth Keeler 

TREASURER: JoAnn Kelly 2nd Ward - Joe McCarthy

TAXPAYER ADVOCATE: Grace Bardusk 3rd Ward - Chuck Wolf

CITY ADMINISTRATOR: Moses Amidei  4th Ward Curt Kunz

FINANCE DIRECTOR: Colleen Julian 5th Ward - Jim Emmett

FIRE CHIEF: Garrick Kasper 6th Ward - Jim Stuewe 

POLICE CHIEF: Scott Durano 7th Ward - Denise Danihel 

BUILDING COMMISSIONER: Michael Forbes 

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR: Michael Salamowicz 

ASST. COMM. DEV DIRECTOR: Paul Ruane 

EMA DIRECTOR: David Rana

CITY ATTORNEY: Klein, Thorpe and Jenkins, Ltd. 

The meeting was called to order at 7:31 p.m. by Mayor Hortsman. 

1. Pledge of Allegiance: All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. 

2. Roll Call: Present — Mayor Hortsman, Alderman Keeler, Alderman Emmett, Alderman Stuewe and Alderman Danihel; Absent - Alderman McCarthy, Alderman Wolf, Alderman Kunz and Clerk Tormey. Also present were Administrator Amidei, Police Chief Durano, Public Works Director Salamowicz and Assistant Community Development Director Ruane. 

3. Moment of Silence: Mayor Hortsman asked for a Moment of Silence for all who died and for those families who were impacted during the September 11, 2001 attacks. 

4. Announcements: Mayor Hortsman read his announcements aloud: 

- State Representative Bob Rita is hosting an ice cream meet and greet on Thursday, September 11 at the Oak Forest Park District; 

- Acorn Public Library is hosting a Halloween Costume Swap on September 18 and 19;

- The senior luncheon season begins on Thursday, September 25; 

- A community tree planting event will take place on Saturday, September 27 near South Suburban College's Oak Forest campus; 

- Bremen High School District will host a community wellness clinic on October 10 at Oak Forest High School; 

- The Oak Forest-Crestwood Chamber will host a community expo on Saturday, October 18 at Arbor Park Middle School.

5. Citizen Participation: None this evening. 

6. Motion to establish Consent Agenda: Motion by Daniel, Second by Emmett to establish Consent Agenda for the following items noted below. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) – motion carried. 

A. Consideration of the following list of bills dated: 

1. Regular Bills - FY 2025-2026 

2. Supplemental Bills - FY 2025-2026

B. Consideration of the following minutes: 

1. Fire and Police Commission - July 24 & August 5, 2025

2. Civil Service Commission - July 22, 2025 

3. Emerg. Telephone System Board - July 1 & August 5, 2025

C. Approval of the establishment of 2025 Halloween Trick or Treat Date and Time of  Friday, October 31, 2025 from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. 

Motion to approve Consent Agenda Items: Motion by Danihel, Second by Stuewe to approve said Consent Agenda Items. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) - motion carried.

7. Police 

A. Approval of Resolution 2025-09-0498R, Authorizing Acceptance of an Office of the Illinois Attorney General Grant in the Amount of $20,000. The grant will cover half of the City's annual fee for its Flock Safety Cameras. Motion by Danihel, Second by Stuewe to approve said Resolution. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) - motion carried. 

B. Approval of authorizing contract award to McWilliams Electric Co., Inc. in the amount of $456,470.00 for a natural gas generator for the Police Department and 911 Operations Center. Motion by Emmett, Second by Danihel to authorize contract award. The Mayor noted that the City is looking into grant funding (at the federal and state levels) to assist with the unbudgeted portion ($256,470) of contract amount. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) - motion carried.

8. Public Works 

A. Approval of Pay Estimate Number 2 in the amount of $446,509.33 payable to M&J Asphalt Paving Co. related to the 2025 MFT Road Program. Motion by Danihel, Second by Stuewe to approve said Pay Estimate Number 2. Director Salamowicz noted that final inspections and creation of project punch list will commence soon. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) - motion carried. 

B. Approval of a Revised Intergovernmental Agreement with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Regarding Temporary and Permanent Easements to Construct Roadway Improvements at 147th Street and Oak Park Avenue. Motion by Emmett, Second by Danihel to approve said revised Intergovernmental Agreement with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. Director Salamowicz discussed updates to agreement, including the change where the City does not have to pay for required easements. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none - motion carried. 

C. Approval of the purchase of equipment to upfit the Department's new 2025 Western Star Vactor Truck in the budgeted amount of $18,690.79. Motion by Danihel, Second by Stuewe, to approve purchase of Vactor Truck equipment. Director Salamowicz noted that that these attachments did not come with truck purchase and clarified that purchase (funds) are included within the truck's overall budget amount. No additional equipment is needed at this time, aside from normal (wear and tear) attachment replacements. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) - motion carried.

9. Administration 

A. Approval of Ordinance 2025-09-11120, Amending the Code of Oak Forest Regarding 

the Establishment of a Quality Based Selection (QBS) Policy and Procedure. Motion by Stuewe, Second by Keeler to approve adoption of QBS Policy and Procedure. The City will be receiving federal funding to repave Oak Park Avenue from 147th to 159th Street. Further, the City will also be receiving federal funding related to the Central Avenue path construction project. In light of same, the City is in need to adopt a QBS policy that will guide its selection of a consulting engineering for said projects. Alderman Emmett and Alderman Danihel commented about the flooding that takes place on Oak Park Avenue and expressed hope that the flooding issue can be rectified as part of said project - which is tentatively scheduled for 2027. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) - motion carried. 

B. Approval of comprehensive health benefits renewal contracts with Blue Cross Blue 

Shield of Illinois for employee and retiree health insurance, dental, vision and life insurance. Motion by Emmett, Second by Stuewe to authorize health benefits renewal contracts, with all plans (health, dental, vision, life) under the Blue Cross Blue Shield umbrella. Following the discussion that took place at the August 26 Committee of the Whole Meeting, City Administrator Amidei solicited feedback from the City's five employee unions related to moving all insurance plans under the Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS) umbrella (note: no changes to the City's health insurance plans are being considered due to contractual reasons). Amidei reported that he did not receive any major comments and that staff recommends that the dental, life and vision plans be transitioned to the BCBS umbrella in efforts to achieve some costs savings with the City's health insurance premiums. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) – motion carried. 

C. Approval of Legal Representation Engagement with Dwight Pancottine, Esq. in conjunction with upcoming negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement between the City of Oak Forest and its Firefighters' Union, IAFF Local 3039. Motion by Danihel, Second by Stuewe, to approve engagement with Mr. Pancottine. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) - motion carried. 

D. Approval of Special Event Permit - Oak Forest High School Cross Town Mad Dash – October 11, 2025. Motion by Danihel, Second by Keeler to approve Special Event Permit for said event. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) - motion carried. 

E. Approval of Special Event/Parade Permit - Oak Forest High School Homecoming Parade - September 19, 2025. Motion by Danihel, Second by Stuewe to approve Special Event/Parade Permit for said event. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) – motion carried.

10. Community Development 

A. Approval of Agreement 2025-09-0312A - Approving an Intergovernmental 

Agreement with Illinois Department of Transportation for an Invest in Cook application for Natalie Creek Trail along the east side of Central Avenue from 159th Street to 151st Street. Motion by Emmett, Second by Danihel to approve Intergovernmental Agreement with IDOT. Assistant Community Development Director Ruane provided the Council with an overview of the project - a new ten-foot trail will be installed along the east side of Central Avenue from 151st Street to 159th Street. Following installation, the City will be required to maintain said trail. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) – motion carried. 

B. Approval of authorizing execution of a Letter of Intent from EM8 Properties, 

LLC to purchase city-owned property at 5100 West 159th Street. Motion by Danihel, Second by Emmett to approve said LOI with EM8 Properties. A potential developer of the property, EM8, and the City have negotiated a letter of intent to allow said developer to perform additional due diligence to determine the total economics in developing the site to include two residential buildings as well as business use out-lots. Currently, project is estimated to cost approximately $38M. The zoning entitlement process for the property has not commenced as of yet; economic review of the site must take place first. Roll Call: Ayes all, Nays none (4-0) - motion carried.

11. Old Business: Discussion ensued regarding the use of e-bikes/e-scooters in town. A public communication regarding the City's policies was posted on the City's e-briefs and notice will also be going out to all water billing customers. Staff is currently monitoring actions of other communities as well as potential updates from the State. The notion of parental responsibility is important at this time in terms of communicating rules to the community's youth; it was also suggested that the City engage with the school districts. As it stands now, e-scooters are not permitted in town except upon one's private property. 

12. New Business 

13. Executive Session: Not needed this evening. 

14. Adjournment: Motion by Danihel, Second by Stuewe to adjourn the meeting. Ayes all, nays none (4-0) - motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.

http://www.oak-forest.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09092025-2196