Mayor Henry L. Kuspa

From the Office of the Mayor

The City of Oak Forest was named after a grove of Oak trees near the railroad tracks north and west of 159th Street and Cicero Avenue. Our community is surrounded by forest preserves and serve as a reminder of our connection with nature. Residents have long identified with the beauty of our surroundings and work very hard to make their own property as attractive as possible.

In view of this, the City of Oak Forest has long recognized the exemplary efforts of citizens and business people within our community who have beautified their own residence or place of business. We understand the hard work that goes into improving their property and appreciate these efforts that, in totality, help make Oak Forest a more attractive place to live and work.

Therefore, it is my honor to recognize all the Forest in Bloom Award Winners for 2020. Your hard work and dedication to improve our community does not go unnoticed. The City Council and I applaud your efforts and congratulate you for being an award winner.

Take a look at the complete list of winners here: 2020 Forest In Bloom Award Winners.

COVID-19 Updates

Positivity Rate Increases for 8 days in a Row

Illinois is currently facing a positivity rate increase for the 8th straight day with more than 1,000 new cases. On Thursday, July 30, there were 1,772 positive Covid-19 tests in Illinois. As of today, Oak Forest has had 4,102 people tested and 317 positive cases.

Governor J.B. Pritzker has warned that Illinois may be headed in the wrong direction as the state continues to see a resurgence in case numbers and regions see positivity rates of coronavirus tests creeping up.

All of use need to do our part by wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing; not only to keep ourselves safe, but also for the safety of others.

Travel Guidance

To limit potential spread of COVID-19, Cook County Department of Public Health is recommending quarantine measures for persons entering the region from states around the country where the incidence of COVID-19 infection is high.

A 14-day quarantine is recommended for persons entering suburban Cook County, from states with high incidence of COVID-19 infections.

Find out more about the Suburban Cook County Travel Quarantine List.

Census Takers Will Visit Homes

Census takers will visit homes that haven't yet responded to the 2020 Census. Census takers will wear masks and follow local public health guidelines when they visit your home. All census takers complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing and other health and safety protocols before beginning their work in neighborhoods.

Census takers are hired from your area, and their goal is to help you and everyone in your home be counted in the 2020 Census.

If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail.

If you respond online or by phone today, a census taker is less likely to have to visit your home to collect your response.

How Can You Verify That Someone Is a Census Taker?

Check to make sure they have a valid ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. Census workers may also carry Census Bureau bags and other equipment with the Census Bureau logo.

A census taker may carry a laptop, laptop bag, confidentiality notices, and an "Official Business" notice for their vehicle.

Census takers may also deliver a paper questionnaire by hanging it on the front door in a water-resistant plastic bag.

If you still have questions about their identity, you can contact your regional census center at 312-579-1500 to speak with a Census Bureau representative.

Complete Your Census Questionnaire

As of this week, at least 74% of Oak Forest residents have submitted their 2020 questionnaires. Let's make sure everyone is counted! Complete the 2020 Census Questionnaire at www.2020census.gov and submit your answers today.

The results of the 2020 Census will help determine the amount of federal funding for Oak Forest which will help us improve our services to residents and businesses.

OFPD Joins Neighbors App by Ring

The Oak Forest Police Department recently joined the Neighbors APP by Ring which gives the members of the Investigations Division and the Crime Prevention Officer the ability to participate in the Neighbors portal.

Neighbors is a neighborhood watch app that provides real-time, local crime and safety information. Residents can download the free Neighbors app on iOS or Android and join your neighborhood.

Residents who do not own Ring products can still utilize the app and receive information from the OFPD and your neighbors.

Review the complete notification from the Police Department, by clicking here:
http://www.oak-forest.org/DocumentCenter/View/3403/Oak-Forest-Press-Release-Neighbors-App-by-Ring.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Detective Sergeant Ryan Burnett at 708-687-1376 or RBurnett@oak-forest.org.

Maple Tree Removal Continues

Due to a decline of the Maple Tree species in Oak Forest, the City has retained the services of Homer Tree Care for stump removals and restoration on larger dead and hazardous maple trees. This work began on Monday, July 13, 2020.

Please stay clear of the workers for their safety and yours. If any resident would like to have a tree removed on their private property, please call the Homer Tree Care main office at 815-838-0320.

If you have any questions, please call Public Works at 708-535-4090.

2020 Road Program

The Oak Forest City Council approved an award of contract to Iroquois Paving Corporation for the 2020 Road Program. This work will begin the week of July 20th.

The contractor will notify all the residents a day before any work will be done to your apron or curb with a notice on your door.

Work will begin on Willow Lane and will proceed in order below. This year’s program will include the following eleven street segments to be resurfaced:

1. Willow Lane – Forestview to 151st
2. Condado – 151st to Hillside
3. El Morro Court – El Morro to end
4. Menard – Vine to 147th
5. 149th Street – Laramie to Cicero
6. Essex – Tudor to Reynolds
7. Dolores – Rob Roy to Orogrande
8. Peggy Lane – 159th to Independence
9. Mann – Craig to Blair
10. Newport – Laramie to Bellaire
11. Oakwood Court – Newport to Cul-de-Sac

Forklift Operator Training

South Suburban College’s Business & Career Institute is offering Forklift Operator Training on three separate sessions in August at the Oak Forest Center. This certification course covers the basic fork lift driving skills needed to obtain a Fork Lift Operator Certification. A Certification Card from the National Safety Council will be issued upon successful completion of the program.

For more information, please contact Gervaise Edwards at (708) 225-6032 or email gedwards@ssc.edu. SSC’s Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 S. Kilbourn, Oak Forest, Illinois, with convenient access from I-57, I-80, and I-294.

City Commission Meetings Update

The Senior Commission has cancelled its luncheon and other business until 2021. Some other City commissions are holding essential meetings with social distancing being practiced at all of them.

Next Oak Forest City Council Meeting

The next Oak Forest City Council Meeting will be held on August 11, 2020, at 7:30 PM. To watch the previous meeting held on July 14, 2020, please click on the image below.

CIC-TV & OFC-TV Programming

CIC-TV - Community Information Channel

Government access television is a resource of the city to address local municipal programming needs. The city uses this channel to cablecast City Council meetings, election programming, local emergency announcements, and other events and programs. The CIC-TV and OFC-TV studio is located at City Hall.

If you have any issues with or do not receive satisfaction from your cable company representatives, contact the Oak Forest Cable Commission at ofcable@oak-forest.org or call 708-687-4050 x1600. When contacting the Commission, the subscriber needs to provide the following: name, address phone, email and issue description.

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.