New Public Records Center

The City of Oak Forest has a new Public Records Center. This can be found on the City website: Oak Forest IL | Public Records Center (govqa.us). It replaces and improves upon our former FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) process and provides archives for commonly searched information. Your requests can be submitted on-line directly to the department you need via a personal account or anonymously.

Oak Forest Chamber of Commerce Community Expo

Looking for more customers? Need to hire more employees? Want an inexpensive way to promote your company or organization?

Register as an exhibitor for our annual Community Expo on Saturday October 16^th. It's a great way to meet our local residents and potential new clients.

If you've already registered as an exhibitor, thank you! Please make sure to promote the event on your social media, invite your customers to attend and visit you at the Expo. The more people who attend helps us all.

During the Expo the Oak Forest Rotary will be having their blood drive. You can schedule your donation appointment at: https://donate.illinois.versiti.org/donor/schedule/drive_schedule/5586196 or call Rotarian Jody Robinson at 630-297-1902.

We are excited to have our long standing community tradition back again this year! See you at the Expo.

Oak Forest Rotary Club Blood Drive October 16.

Fire Pits – Safety First!

During this time of the year, residents frequently use Fire Pits. Please note the following general guidelines before using a Fire Pit.

A Fire Pit cannot exceed three feet in diameter.
It must be at least four inches below ground.
It also must be surrounded by a non-combustible steel or brick wall.
The fire pile cannot exceed two feet in height.
Only natural firewood / commercial logs may be burned.
All Fire Pits must be located away from structures or combustible material.
The fire must be constantly attended and supervised until its’ extinguished.
A portable extinguisher or garden hose must be readily available.
As information, the Fire Chief may invoke a “fire ban” at anytime, if he deems it necessary.

Safety comes first, not only to protect your family, but neighboring families.

10-Digit Dialing

Beginning October 24, 2021, all of us must dial 10-digits (area code + telephone number) for all local calls. On and after this date, local calls dialed with only 7-digits may not be completed and a recording will inform you that your call cannot be completed as dialed. You must hang up and dial again using the area code and the 7-digit number.

Illinois Fall Colors

Autumn is a beautiful time of year in Illinois. The red, purple, orange, yellow, brown and bronze shades of the leaves reflect the great diversity of more than 250 tree species in our state. Our fall color season lasts for several weeks. The peak of fall color in Illinois normally occurs by mid-October in northern and central Illinois and by late October or early November in the southern third of the state.

Courtesy: Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources

Testing and Changing Your Smoke Alarm Battery

It is recommended you test your alarms at least once a month to ensure they are working properly. If your smoke alarms are powered by a nine-volt battery, the battery should be replaced every 6 months, while the detector itself should be replaced once every 10 years. For 10-year lithium-powered smoke alarms, you won’t need to replace the battery. Instead, replace the entire alarm after 10 years from the manufacture date on the back of the alarm. If your alarm is hardwired into your home’s electrical system, replace the backup battery at least every 6 months and replace the smoke detector itself once every 10 years.

Yard Waste Collection Ends Soon

Yard waste pick-up began April 1st and will continue through November 30, 2021. More information can be found at www.oak-forest.org, in eBriefs or by calling City Hall.

Cook County Assessor Appeals Open Now

Cook County Assessor appeals for Bremen Township are now open. Appeals for the Cook County Assessor will close on October 18, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.

To appeal at the Assessor's office, please call 708-333-1591, Option #2, to schedule an appointment. Masks are required to enter the building.

Willie A. Jones, Assessor, C.I.A.O.
Bremen Township Assessor
16361 Kedzie Parkway
Markham, IL

Tax payers who are not able to make it to the Bremen Township Assessor's office before the deadline for in person appeals, may file online at www.cookcountyassessor.com.

You may also contact the Oak Forest Taxpayer Advocate, Guy Gattone at 708-687-4050, x1031or email him at ggattone@oak-forest.org.

Indoor Water Use Suggestions

Water can be costly and a family of four may use 400 gallons of water a day and, on average, about 70 percent of that water is used indoors. The bathroom is the largest consumer of indoor water:

A toilet alone can use 27 percent of household water.
Older toilets use between 3.5 and 7 gallons of water per flush.
Ignoring a leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water every day.
Turning off the water while brushing teeth or shaving can save 200 gallons a month.
Washing the dishes with an open tap can use up to 20 gallons of water.

Courtesy: Village of Matteson, Illinois

Acorn Public Library

Halloween Activities

View the Library Calendar of Events

Senior Commission October Luncheon with Pete & Joe

Next Senior Commission Luncheon is October 28!

Come join the fun and see Pete & Joe perform at the next Senior Commission Luncheon on October 28, 2021. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at City Hall.

Peter C. Budd has traveled throughout Europe playing music. Joe Krowka has toured Asia performing music and has appeared in many movies and TV commercials.

Senior Commission Luncheon
October 28 at 11 a.m.
Park Place at Central
15601 S. Central Avenue
Oak Forest, IL 60452

Please note that current IDPH and CDC Guidelines for Covid-19 will apply.

Oak Forest City Council Meeting

The next City Council Meeting will be held on October 26, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

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 and masks must also be worn.

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.

To watch the most recent City Council Meeting from September 28, 2021, use this link: City Council Meeting.