Oak Forest is Open for Businesses

Since the arrival of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the City of Oak Forest, under the direction of the Mayor and the City Council, has followed Governor Pritzker’s Restore Illinois Guidelines to reopen Illinois in a safe and timely manner.

As we enter Phase 3, we look forward to more of our Oak Forest businesses opening, as well as restaurants and bars offering outdoor dining. Even Oak Forest City Hall will open for business on June 1st.

For the safety of our clerks and the public, we will not be processing transactions at the front office. Residents will be required to drop off payments for water bills, tickets, vehicle stickers, etc. Documents will be mailed to them. The city strongly encourages residents to pay on-line or use the day and night deposit drop.

As a community, we need to continue to do our best to make sure people remain healthy and safe, which is why social distancing and the use of facemasks are still required at this time. These remain very difficult times socially and economically, so we need to remain vigilant and do our part to help beat this crisis

Vehicle Stickers – On Sale June 1^st

Vehicle stickers will go on sale Monday, June 1, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City encourages people purchasing stickers to go online at www.oak-forest.org or use the mail. Senior citizens who have information on file and the same vehicle as last year will automatically receive a vehicle sticker in the mail so there is no need to visit City Hall.

Contact the City of Oak Forest

City Hall and other buildings: Open June 1, with restrictions. We encourage residents to drop off payments or other items in the night depository at City Hall, call us at 708-687-4050, or visit the City website at www.oak-forest.org.
Police Department: OFPD patrol activities and investigations continue as usual, but requests for assistance are being prioritized. Unless a 911 emergency, residents should call the OFPD’s non-emergency number at 708-687-1376 if no one is in danger. A Police Officer will be dispatched if a crime is in progress or a serious offense was committed.
Fire Department: Fire protection and emergency medical services also continue as usual. Call 911 in an emergency; otherwise call 708-687-6050 for OFFD assistance.
Public Works: Department employees are mainly working on water breaks, sewer maintenance and other emergencies. Senior Bus services remain limited to essential trips only. If you need assistance, call 708-535-4090.
Building Department: Permits are being issued electronically and outdoor inspections are being made. Questions can be answered by calling 708-444-4819.
Mayor’s Office: Questions and concerns relating to the Coronavirus pandemic or other matters can be directed to the Mayor’s Office at 708-444-4805.

Congratulations to all our Oak Forest Graduates.

Event Cancellations Due to the Outbreak of Coronavirus

Due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus and the necessity for social distancing, the following events held in Oak Forest have been cancelled:

City Wide Garage Sale – normally held in late May / early June
Oak Forest Community Pool – normally open in summer
Oak Fest – normally held in late June / early July
National Night Out – normally held in early August

Outdoor dining available at various Oak Forest Restaurants

Oak Forest Restaurant Guide

Open for takeout, delivery and possibly outdoor dining.
Please call each place for hours and reservations.
Current as of May 29th

Collectively small, local businesses are the Illinois’ largest employer. During these difficult and uncertain economic times, the City encourages residents to support our local businesses. While continuing to shop local is important, there are ways to support our businesses even if you don’t have the ability to spend money. The OC-Chamber has put together a great list below:

Join the #keepitlocal Facebook group. This page allows businesses to add daily specials, offers, new hours.
Order take-out & delivery & be sure to tip
Like & review a business on Google & all social platforms they are on
Like & Share business’ social media posts. If you purchase a gift card or meal, take a picture and share it on your social media and use #keepitlocal or #IllinoisStrong
Buy a gift card for future use
Take online virtual classes from your favorite local business
Like the Oak Forest-Crestwood Area FB Page

Homewood Disposal
New & Important Information

The following is a link to important information from Homewood Disposal as it strives to provide its services to Oak Forest residents during the Coronavirus crisis:

Homewood Disposal Letter

Community Alert

The Oak Forest Police Department and other south suburban police agencies are experiencing higher than normal number of auto thefts in the area. The offender(s) in these cases are taking advantage of residents who leave their unattended running cars at gas stations and other places of business. In addition, offenders(s) have been known to target residential areas where key fobs are left in unlocked automobiles or in open residential garages.

If you should encounter any offenders engaged in this type of criminal activity, please do not attempt to intercede and immediately call 911.

Building Department Update

The Building Department is still allowing work to occur and continues to issue permits electronically. You can email mpeters@oak-forest.org with permit applications or contractor registration applications. Payments can be made by mailing a check or via credit card electronically.

We continue to conduct inspections if outdoors or in vacant homes - please call Melissa at (708) 444-4819 to schedule. Solar panel inspections are on hold as of right now (we often need to get into the house). As for other inspections needed inside the house, contractors or homeowners will need to coordinate with Melissa at (708) 444-4819, so we can arrange for photos.

Park District Playgrounds are Closed

Abide by Social Distancing Rules in Parks

Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order includes a provision that playground equipment in local parks is off limits to the public to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Signs have been placed in parks instructing residents not to use this equipment and to maintain proper social distancing. Working closely with the Park District, the Oak Forest Police Department is assisting in their efforts to assure compliance.

Public Works needs your help!

Please STOP putting “flushable” wipes, disinfecting wipes, and paper towels in your toilets.

They are touted as disposable and even flushable, but wipes are causing serious and costly problems relating to the city’s sewer system.

These products appeal to consumers in part because of manufacturers' claims that they can be conveniently flushed down the toilet. But their cloth-like material doesn't break down in the sanitary sewer system like toilet paper and can block sewer lines, clog pumps and increase maintenance and repair costs.

Only human waste and toilet paper should be flushed. Flushing other products down your toilets can create blockages and sewer backups in your home. These backups could mean expensive repairs to fix damage to your home or to unclog your pipes.

Protect your pipes! Never flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper.

Nicor Gas Main and

Service & Meter Replacement

2nd and 3rd Wards

Nicor Gas is starting work on a project to replace aging gas mains and install new service lines & gas meters to homes and businesses in Oak Forest. The project extends from 157^th Street on the north to 160^th Street on the south, and from Cicero Ave on the east to Laramie Ave on the west. NPL is the contractor that will be doing the work for Nicor Gas. This link will take you to a newsletter explaining the project from Nicor Gas to affected customers.

Nicor Gas, or their contractor NPL, will contact property owners to schedule an appointment to locate the existing natural gas service line and gas meter. Nicor will identify where the new meter(s) will be placed outside of each property and work with each property owner to complete the installation. Property owners are responsible for removing obstructions such as drywall, furniture, and other enclosures so Nicor can access the building’s natural gas piping.

Public Works will monitor Nicor’s work and facilitate communications with Nicor and our residents when the residents have questions or concerns.

IDOT 159^th Street Resurfacing Continues

Depending upon the weather, the Illinois Department of Transportation will be resurfacing 159^th Street (U.S. Route 6) and constructing ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps from 94^th Avenue in Orland Park to Cicero Avenue in Oak Forest. This will require daily lane closures. Motorists can expect delays in travel time when traveling through this area. Completion of this work is expected in July.

Next Scheduled City Council Meeting will be Teleconferenced on Tuesday, June 9, 2020

City Hall Council Chambers - TIME: 7:30 PM

Click the image above to watch full coverage of the City Council meeting from
Tuesday, May 26, 2020, produced by the Oak Forest Broadcast Network.

United States Census 2020

By April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your home in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. This will mark the first time that you will be able to respond
to the census online.

The Census has been a cornerstone of our democracy since the first national count in 1790. It is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency.

The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Watch the video above or click below to learn more:
What is the Census? What is the 2020 Census?

Join the Oak Forest Senior Commission!

The Oak Forest Senior Commission is looking for senior citizens who might like to serve as members of this commission, which meets in City Hall on every second Wednesday of the month at 1:00 PM.

The Senior Commission gets involved in various community events, such as the annual Health Fair at the Oak Forest Park District and sponsors the monthly senior lunches at the Oak Forest Park District's new Community Center at Central Park.

Should you wish to join this commission, please contact the Mayor’s Office at 708-687-4050, extension 1005.

Click here to watch live stream of CIC-TV.

CIC-TV Programming Schedule

If you do not subscribe to cable television, visit oak-forest.org/broadcast to learn more about the Oak Forest Broadcast Network. Click here to watch special coverage of community events, Committee of the Whole and City Council meetings. DVD archives are also available at Acorn Public Library.

If you have any issues with or do not get satisfaction from your cable company representatives, contact the Oak Forest Cable Commission at ofcable@oak-forest.org or call 708-687-4050 x 1600.

e-Briefs is a free, voluntary e-mail service, which provides information about government services, activities and events.
On a weekly basis, you can expect to find City Council news and agendas, construction updates, public safety reminders, senior and youth news, and much more! Please forward this e-mail to friends and family and encourage them to sign up
for the weekly e-Briefs by visiting the Notify Me section of our website. Contact the City of Oak Forest at 708-687-4050 or cityofoakforest@oak-forest.org.