Flag Day June 14, 2021

On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14. Many Americans celebrate Flag Day by displaying the Red, White and Blue in front of homes and businesses. The day commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States.

When to Dispose of an American Flag

The U.S. Flag Code says, "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." When an American flag is worn beyond repair, it should be retired in a respectful manner.

The Oak Forest Veterans Commission properly disposes flags. Simply drop your flags in the box outside Oak Forest Fire Station #1 at 5620 James Drive, Oak Forest, IL 60452.

Welcome to Phase 5

It was March 2020 when Governor Pritzker's first Executive Order closing the State of Illinois due to the Coronavirus known as COVID-19 was issued. In the past 16 months, we have watched our numbers go up and down and back up again. Now that they are finally down again, the State of Illinois moving to Phase 5.

Here are some highlights from the Phase 5 Guidance for Businesses and Venues:

For businesses and venues where everyone present is fully vaccinated, the state does not require face coverings and social distancing in both indoor and outdoor settings. Businesses and municipalities are permitted to continue requiring face coverings and social distancing as they deem appropriate.
For indoor businesses and venues where everyone present is not fully vaccinated, unvaccinated persons should wear a face covering and maintain six feet social distance. Businesses and venues may continue to require face coverings and/or social distancing. At outdoor businesses and venues, unvaccinated persons may choose not to wear a face covering when able to maintain a six-foot social distance while outdoors, unless required to do so by a business or municipality.
Although people who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear a face covering under state guidance, businesses and venues should be supportive of customers and employees who choose to wear a face covering.

To review the entire guidance list, please click here: Phase 5 Guidance for Businesses and Venues.

2021 Forest In Bloom Award Nominations Now Open

The Forest In Bloom Beautification Awards are presented annually by the City of Oak Forest Streetscape Commission to Oak Forest residents, businesses and organizations who take the extra steps necessary to beautify their homes and properties through exceptional landscaping. If you notice a home or business where pride of ownership really shines through, be sure to submit a nomination form.

Click here to fill out the form online to enter your nomination for this year's award consideration.

Click here to enter your nomination via paper form for this year's award consideration.

About the Awards Process

All residents or business owners are eligible to nominate themselves or another home, business or organization. An address must be included on the application form.

A nominee must earn 25 points to receive a Forest In Bloom Award. When awarding points, judges consider the visual appeal of the front yard landscaping; the maintenance of lawn, bushes, shrubs, and flower beds; and the use of accessories (gazing balls, fountains, statues, etc.). Back yards will not be considered as part of the award selection.

The selection committee is comprised of seven judges—one for each ward. In order to remain impartial, judges do not live in the wards they are critiquing. Also, a new judging panel is chosen each year. A nomination form must be submitted on behalf of a home or property in order to be considered for an award.

2020 Water Quality Report

The City of Oak Forest 2020 Water Quality Report is intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts made by the Oak Forest water system to provide safe drinking water.

The source of drinking water used by Oak Forest is Purchased Surface Water. The City of Oak Forest purchased Chicago water from the Village of Oak Lawn. This water is received into our reservoirs and pumped to the City’s local and retail customer base. The water is chlorinated and sampled to maintain the quality as required. We do not supplement or mix our water with any other source.

For more information regarding this report, contact: Oak Forest Water Department 708-535-4090.

Purchase Vehicle Stickers Through July 31, 2021

The 2021-2022 Vehicle Stickers are on sale now through July 31st. The link to purchase is: Oak Forest Vehicle Sticker V-Pay

People turning 65 during 2021:

Mail your application, a copy of your driver's license and vehicle registration(s) to City Hall, or drop them in an envelope in the night depository at City Hall. The vehicle sticker(s) will be mailed to you.

All others:

Mail your application and a check to City Hall, or drop them in an envelope in the night depository. The vehicle sticker(s) will be mailed to you.

Online:

Please reference the "VEHICLE ID" number on your pre-printed application when purchasing a vehicle sticker(s) online at www.oak-forest.org.

City Hall is open to the public, but we encourage people to wear face coverings while interfacing with city employees. Thank you!

GARAGE SALE SIGNS

Residents have garage sales and wish to advertise them. However, signs cannot be located on public property. The following indicate how signs must be located on private property:

i. All exempt signs shall be non-illuminated unless otherwise stated.

ii. All exempt ground signs shall be no closer than five (5) feet from the paved portion of any street or back of curb where no sidewalk is present, no closer than two (2) feet from a sidewalk, and shall be on private property.

iii. All exempt ground signs shall not be allowed within any sight triangle, as defined in Section 12-206(S) of this Code.

SIGHT TRIANGLE (definition). A triangular area, described by the edge of pavement lines of two intersecting streets and a line connecting said edge of pavement lines, in which the height of structures and landscaping regulation is limited to a maximum of two and one-half feet above grade in order to promote visibility at street intersections. Any leg of such triangle lying along any street in a residential district or any street forming part of an intersection that is not controlled by a traffic signal or a stop sign shall be a minimum of 45 feet in length.

Here are a few pictures of how NOT to post your garage sale signs:

Human Resources Manager Position

The Human Resources Manager is responsible for developing, organizing, planning, and implementing the city’s comprehensive human resources program.

The Human Resources Manager is a department head level position responsible for leadership, management and supervision of Human Resources related programs. The Human Resources Manager reports to the City Administrator.

The work involves a variety of tasks associated with the city’s Human Resources function. The position takes responsibility for management of the worker’s compensation insurance program, property and casualty insurance program, health insurance program, training programs, city safety program and works closely with the City Administrator on the city’s risk management portfolio.

For complete listing and instructions on how to apply, please go to the Employment Opportunities Page on www.oak-forest.org.

Metra Plans Service Enhancements as Ridership Returns from Pandemic

With ridership steadily increasing from pandemic lows, Metra will be adding service to all of its lines starting in July and will introduce enhanced pilot schedules on four lines with more off-peak options to meet the post-COVID needs of riders.

From a pandemic low of 3 percent of normal ridership in April 2020 and a plateau of around 10 percent for much of 2020, Metra ridership has been steadily rising since January 2021 and this week reached 17 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

New pilot schedules will start July 12 on the UP North, BNSF and Metra Electric lines and July 19 on the Rock Island Line. In response to riders’ evolving needs and global best practices, the pilot schedules step away from pre-pandemic schedules that prioritized peak rush-hour service in favor of a more balanced approach that spreads out the service to offer better off-peak options. The schedules also have been reimagined with more memorable timetables and service patterns.

The pilot schedules for the four lines can be viewed now at metrarail.com. On the remaining seven lines, Metra will be enhancing rush-hour service; those schedules will be posted over the next several weeks. On some of those lines – where the infrastructure allows it – Metra may introduce similar pilot schedules in the future.

The guiding principles for Metra’s service restoration are to provide consistent and frequent service throughout the day; create easily understandable and memorable service patterns; implement new express service when possible in the peak travel periods; explore reverse-commute and new ridership markets; promote regional equity and create transfer opportunities within Metra and with other transit services.

Oak Forest City Council Meeting

The next Oak Forest City Council Meeting will be held on June 22, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Click on the image below to view the previous City Council Meeting from June 8, 2021.

OAK FOREST BROADCAST NETWORK AIRS MEETINGS LIVE

Residents are invited to attend the meeting (must wear a mask and practice social distancing) or you can watch live on CIC-TV at www.oak-forest.org/live or on one of the following television channels:

AT&T U-verse - Channel 99
Comcast Xfinity - Channel 4
Wide Open West - Channel 6

If you do not subscribe to cable television, visit oak-forest.org/broadcast to learn more about the Oak Forest Broadcast Network.

CITIZENS PARTICIPATION

The Oak Forest City Council invites public comment at its meetings, but it generally does not have the ability to provide an immediate response to some questions raised during the Citizens Participation portion of a council meeting without some reasonable opportunity to review them. Therefore, the City Council encourages questions to also be submitted in writing in the event that they need to be referred to City staff to help assure a more thoughtful and informed response. The Council Chambers is open for the public to attend. Social distancing must be maintained by attendees.

Here is the link to the most recent meeting: June 8, 2021 City Council Meeting