Mayor Henry L. Kuspa

From the Office of the Mayor

August is here and COVID-19 is still here, too. The number of cases in Illinois and, in particular, Cook County have increased significantly since early July. The positivity rate is also increasing. The numbers are important because we all want to move toward restoring Illinois and Oak Forest back to the days prior to this pandemic.

To help lower these numbers, all of us need to do our part to keep them down by wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing; not only to keep ourselves safe, but also for the safety of others.

Schools are starting to release their plans for autumn that may include learning in class, at home or both. Let us remember that school administrators are doing their best to keep our children, teachers and school workers safe and healthy.

Important decisions about schools, sports and events cancelled are never easy decisions to make. There is not always a clear solution, especially during this pandemic. Many factors are involved, but not always apparent. The number one priority will always be the well-being and safety for all those who live in Oak Forest.

Be well Oak Forest!

COVID-19 Updates

Restore Illinois Mitigation Plan

Just as Illinois took a gradual and regional approach to safely reopen our state, Governor Pritzer and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) have put forward a deliberate plan that will utilize several layers of mitigations to combat a resurgence of COVID-19 and prevent uncontrollable spread.

Mitigations will be applied on a regional basis based on the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Regions that have traditionally guided the IDPH in its statewide public helaht work. Expanding to 11 regions allows for a more granular approach in this phase of the response to COVID-19. The City of Oak Forest is in Suburban Cook - Region 10.

Read more about the coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/restore-illinois-mitigation-plan.

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.

Forest In Bloom 2020 Winners

Thank you to all our residents whose front yeard continue to add beauty and style to our City. Congratulations to all our 2020 Forest In Bloom Award Winners! Click on the picture below to see a list of all the winners and take a stroll past them this weekend.

Census Takers in Oak Forest

Census takers will visit homes in Oak Forest 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 our 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.

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 82% 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.

Review the complete notification from the Police Department, by clicking the photo above.

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. Download the free Neighbors app 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.

For questions or concerns, 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

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.