MOKENA, Ill. — When it comes to Alan Zordan’s impact on Mokena, one needs to just step outside and look at the quality of their home or drive past one of the many businesses along Wolf Road, Route 30, 191^st Street or LaGrange Road.

Zordan, 64, who spent nearly three decades in public service to the Village of Mokena helping to change the landscape of the south suburban community from small town to a vibrant residential and commercial area, died on June 9. He is survived by his wife of more than 40 years, Nancy, and his daughters Lisa and Julie.

“People have no idea how much time that man put into the job,” Mokena Mayor Frank Fleischer said of Zordan during an interview in late June. “The number of hours that guy put in was unbelievable.”

And Zordan “always had a smile on his face,” the mayor said — even when working long hours or dealing with problems from residents or developers.

“Some of us just have to open our mouths and say, ‘hello,’ and we sound confrontational,” Fleischer said. “But Alan never sounded confrontational with people. He’d sit and talk, and I don’t think I ever heard him get into an argument with a resident. He just told them what was going on, the facts, what could be done — and then he’d try to help them.

“He was a very easy guy to work with.”

When former Mokena Village Administrator John Downs hired Zordan in 1989, he knew the Village was “just starting to roll into what was going to become a very busy decade.” Downs needed someone in the building department that had experience in systems that could help in the management of inspections and oversight — things that would be critical to Mokena as it started to grow as a community.

“[Zordan] was the perfect candidate for that position, and he turned out to be one of the best decisions the community leaders ever made by bringing him into the fold,” Downs said. “He was incredible.”

Zordan came to Mokena as a teenager, when his family moved from the southside of Chicago to the south suburb in 1971. At the time, the community’s population was just about 2,000 people. While he soon left the area to attend college after graduating from Lincoln-Way Community High School, he eventually made his way back when the building and zoning administrator position opened.

Zordan — who ultimately was promoted to economic and community development director — helped with the approval of 45 residential subdivisions and saw a population that boomed to approximately 20,000 people.

“We were so busy,” Fleischer said of that period when Zordan was hired.

Downs said Zordan developed excellent oversight systems to manage building permits and inspections, and he cultivated a talented team. It was needed as a home could get around 15 inspections, and when Mokena was in its growth spurt, there were times when 300 homes being constructed at one time.

“The system he had in place was exceptional at keeping things in order,” Downs said. “He was so good at it, and the people he worked with were so good at it, you often overlooked it because nothing ever went wrong.

“But the outcome of all that is one the best housing stocks in the Chicago suburbs over the last 25 to 30 years. The homes keep their value because they are built well and last. They function great for the families who live in them.

“I think that was one of the things he was most proud of.”

Downs said he believed the builders respected Zordan, because they knew they had to follow the guidelines and rules set by Zordan and his team or they would hear about it from him in short order.

But while developers may have known to toe the line with Zordan, Downs said Zordan’s colleagues knew they had in him a trusted and supportive colleague.

“He was the kind of person who whenever I personally and professionally got flustered, I’d go and talk to him,” Downs said of Zordan. “He always had a way of calming me down and others around him on our team and other employees. I think that was an invaluable asset to our organization.”

Downs said he admired Zordan’s ability to never take critical feedback on presentations or decisions personally.

“Alan was a very balanced person,” Downs said. “He wanted and always tried his very best to do the best job he possible could do. He worked extremely hard — but also kept it in perspective, in terms of what was happening around him that he couldn’t control, like the political environment or the different things that affect employees in the public arena. He kept a positive approach. He always saw the good sides in everything.

“He understood all sides but gravitated to the positive.”

Former Assistant Village Administrator Kirk Zoellner said Zordan was a “great team player.”

“He was always engaged and sought input from other department heads on development issues,” Zoellner said. “[He] jointly found consensus solutions that successfully meshed overall community goals with the needs of the individual developer.

“He had great camaraderie with his staff and always supported their professional development.”

He also said Zordan had a commonsense knack for balancing the community’s need for economic development and growth with his responsibility to ensure numerous Village ordinances and codes were respected and enforced.

During his time with the Village, Zordan oversaw major developments — from the Mokena Marketplace shopping mall (with stores such as JCPenney and Meijer) to Schillings and Altorfer CAT, from Accelerate Indoor Speedway and Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park to the Range USA Mokena indoor shooting range.

“That list goes on and on,” said Mokena Village Administrator John Tomasoski. “For that 28-year period, Alan played a significant role in what Mokena looks like today from a housing and economic development standpoint.”

Tomasoski, who worked with Zordan from 2015 to 2021, called him “a pro’s pro.”

“He was a very good department head who cared about the community and other staff members and working with the elected officials,” Tomasoski said. “He was a strong communicator and excellent team player.”

Downs said he believed Zordan was proud of being able to help add to the community in which he grew up and lived.

Zordan retired from the Village in September 2021 — capping a career in public service that spanned 40 years — allowing him to spend more time with his family.

“The most important thing to him was his family — his wife, Nancy, and his daughters Julie and Lisa, and his parents and siblings,” Downs said. “That is what he cared about the most.

“I always admired him for that so much. He kept such a great balance. We talked a lot about not letting work get ahead of what was most important — your family.”

Fleischer, whose time with Zordan overlapped during two separate stints with the Village Board, said Zordan was private.

“But I know how much he loved Nancy,” Fleischer said. “He always cared about his family. That’s what I feel bad for. This was his time to be with his family.”

Zordan also was a great friend.

“Alan was a good and reliable friend and Village teammate,” Zoellner said. “He was an honorable man that committed his life to serving his hometown, raising his family, and making life better for many. He will be greatly missed.”

Downs said Zordan was “someone you could always go to and talk to if you needed to about almost anything.”

“He was always there to support you,” Downs said. “He could pretty much power through any adversity there was.

“Alan Zordan was a great man. I admired and respected him as much as anybody I ever worked with.”

And while Zordan’s impact on the community may be seen mostly in the housing stock and bustling commercial activity, those who knew him and worked with him — like Fleischer — may point to something else.

“He just had that damn smile,” Fleischer said.

Per Zordan’s tribute page, “family and friends are invited to join in celebrating Alan’s life at an open house” from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, at Enrico’s Italian Restaurant (20535 S. LaGrange Road) in Frankfort. Memorials also may be made in his name to the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center “where he received excellent care.”

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — A 5-year-old girl died after being pulled from a pool at a Tinley Park water park on Friday, June 30.

The Tinley Park Fire Department responded to the incident at the White Water Canyon Water Park (8221 W. 171^st St.) at around 3:53 p.m. and life-saving efforts were made by members of fire department. It is unclear how long the girl was underwater, according to officials.

The girl was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, where she was later pronounced dead.

“Lifeguards with the Tinley Park-Park District initiated a water rescue Friday afternoon at White Water Canyon Water Park,” read a statement provided by the Tinley Park-Park District. “Emergency authorities responded, provided additional emergency assistance, and transported the individual to a hospital. No further information is being released at this time out of respect for the family. Our thoughts are with the individual’s family and loved ones.”

The water park was closed Saturday, July 1.

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — In May, Tinley Park-Park District officials received a pleasant surprise when Illinois lawmakers passed a bill that would sell the long vacant Tinley Park Mental Health Center property to the park district for just $1.

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TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Despite an at-times fractious relationship, members of the Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees wished outgoing Trustee Diane Galante well in what was her final meeting before the newly elected Village Board members take their seats in May.

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ORLAND PARK, Ill. — Construction may hamper the 2023 Centennial Park West Concert Series, but the show must go on.

The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees voted 7-0 Monday, April 17, to enter a contract with Sound Works Productions to provide stage, sound, lights, labor and other services for the three-concert series. The contract is at a cost of $24,950 — with a 10% contingency for a total not to exceed $27,445 — and was planned for in the Village’s budget.

Village contacted three companies for concert support services, and Sound Works Productions was the lowest bidder.

Mayor Keith Pekau said the concerts will be held in the Centennial Park West parking lot due to the anticipated construction at the site later this summer. Improvements to the park are planned, including the construction of a performance stage.

“Next year, [the concerts] will be on the permanent stage, which will be fantastic,” Pekau said. “We are really looking forward to that.”

The concert dates — which will feature three bands each — are scheduled for June 10, July 15 and Aug. 19.

“I think we have some really good acts lined up this year,” Pekau said. “They are all cover bands, but they are all going to be great, and I think a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone out there.”

Frankfort enters into IGA with county sheriff for gang suppression unit training

FRANKFORT, Ill. — The Village of Frankfort has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with Will County and the Will County Sheriff’s Office to receive training from the county gang suppression unit.

The Village Board of Trustees voted 6-0 Monday, April 17, as part of the Consent Agenda to approve the agreement.

“The Frankfort Police Department has participated in the Will County Sheriff’s Gang Suppression Unit for many years,” Trustee Margaret Farina said during the meeting. “This unit provides additional training and experience for officers, assistance for the department when serving high-risk warrants, and additional resources and support for large community events.”

Farina said that in the past, officers have participated in a “part-time assignment” with the gang suppression unit through a verbal agreement.

“This year, the Will County Sheriff’s Office identified part-time and full-time task force assignments, which would require an intergovernmental agreement for participation,” she noted.

In Section 1 of the agreement, it notes that “the parties wish to enter into an agreement of cooperation and establish the framework for carrying out gang suppression and other related law enforcement through ride along and in-person training programs coordinated by the [sheriff’s office].”

“It is evident that there is a shared problem of illegal use and trafficking of narcotics and other illegal drugs which is not confined to isolated areas and has extended to the County of Will as a whole,” the agreement reads. “It is agreed and understood that there is a need for training and other assistance in drug-related policing activities throughout the County of Will. It is also agreed and understood that a coordinated training effort between the [sheriff’s office] and other agencies will increase productivity, provide a framework for sharing information, and assist in preserving the safety and welfare of the agency as well as the County of Will.”

Tinley Park Village Board approves annual fiscal year budget

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — The Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees adopted its fiscal year 2024 budget by a 6-0 vote Tuesday, April 18.

The budget — which has been posted on the Village’s website since April 7 — projects general fund revenues to be $71.46 million and expenditures to be $66.07 million. The Village anticipates opening the fiscal year with a general fund cash balance of $37.02 million and ending with a balance of $42.40 million.

A public hearing on the budget was held on April 11. The budget as adopted may be viewed online at https://www.tinleypark.org/government/departments/finance_department/financial_reports/annual_village_budget.php.

ICYMI:

Tinley Park trustees OK sidewalk improvements on Oak Park Avenue

Orland Park officials OK inducement agreement with Barraco’s to fill vacant Traverso’s building

Frankfort officials OK continuing water, sewer fee waiver for residents on active military deployment

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Tinley Park officials have given the green light for installing sidewalk and other improvements on parts of Oak Park Avenue.

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ORLAND PARK, Ill. — Another vacant space in town is set to be filled after the Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees voted 7-0 Monday, April 17, to approve a tax-sharing agreement with Barraco’s Pizza to occupy the old Traverso’s restaurant building.

As part of the agreement to move into the space at 15601 Harlem Ave., Barraco’s will receive 50% of the sales tax generated at the location for 10 years up to a maximum amount of $125,000 — approximately 25% of the certified project costs estimated to be about $500,000.

“It’s great to see Barraco’s open a second location and to see [the old Traverso’s site] being used,” Mayor Keith Pekau said prior to the vote.

He added that the program has been beneficial for Orland Park since its inception.

“This inducement agreement has actually worked really well,” he said. “We have very few restaurant [spaces] that still need to be backfilled. Just a couple. We’ve really filled a bunch of [vacant spaces] with this inducement agreement. Job well done by everyone for putting this together.”

Later in the meeting, the board members also unanimously approved an amendment to the Village Code to add a new class of liquor license that will be for events on Village property that are hosted or produced by private entities.

“This is being done so that we can accommodate those people who want to come to use our venues for events,” Pekau said prior to the 7-0 vote. “We can have a separate liquor license established for them to be used that is in compliance with the liquor codes.”

The fee for the temporary liquor license is set at $275.

Per the ordinance, the new Class G-10 license allows for the purveyors of the event to sell, serve or consume alcohol on Village property. However, eligible locations will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the mayor, who serves as the liquor commissioner, factoring in things such as event size, date, and security.

Other particulars of the amendment include that the hosts must get a special event permit, provide comprehensive general liability insurance coverage no less than “$2 million per occurrence and liquor liability insurance in accordance with the Dram Shop Act of the State of Illinois with minimum limits of $2 million so as to save and hold harmless the Village from financial loss, damage or harm arising from the activities pursuant to a Class G-10 Temporary Village Property license,” and provide an indemnification and hold harmless agreement to the Village.

FRANKFORT, Ill. — The Village of Frankfort is continuing a tradition of recognizing the service of local active military members by waiving certain fees while they are on deployment.

The Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday, April 17, to extend the practice of temporarily waiving water and sewer fees for Frankfort residents who are deployed for a minimum of six months.

“As a sign of support for our residents serving in the military and their families, the Village Board deems it appropriate and fitting to extend the temporary waiver of sewer and water fees for qualified residents or utility customers of the Village of Frankfort who are on deployment for a minimum of six months duration,” Mayor Keith Ogle said during the mayor’s report portion of the meeting. “Once approved, the waiver of fees shall remain in effect for a period of six months, after which time if the qualifying resident remains on active duty, the waiver may be renewed upon completion and submittal of another application and updated military documentation.”

Also during the mayor’s report, Ogle mentioned that with the election of Maura Rigoni to the Village Board, there is an opening on the Village’s Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Rigoni had previously served on the Plan Commission for nearly eight years — most recently as the chairperson.

Ogle encouraged residents to apply for the remainder of Rigoni’s term, which ends April 30, 2024. Applications are available at the Village Administration Building or online at www.frankfortil.org. They are due Friday, April 21.

Other notes of interest from the meeting:

• The Village’s Earth Day/Arbor Day celebration is April 22. Volunteers interested in helping clean areas of the Village are encouraged to be at Village Hall, 432 W. Nebraska St., at 8 a.m. to pick up a free T-shirt, gloves and garbage bags. After the event, a luncheon will be held for the volunteers at 11:30 a.m. at the public works facility (524 Center Road). More information may be found at www.frankfortil.org or by contacting Event Coordinator Sue Lynchey at 815-469-2177.

• Frankfort was named a 2022 Tree City USA and given a Tree City USA Growth Award by the Arbor Day Foundation.

• The Frankfort Country Market opens from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, in downtown Frankfort. More information may be found online at https://www.frankfortil.org/residents/special_events/frankfort_country_market.php.

FRANKFORT, Ill. – Maura Rigoni’s first experience with the Village of Frankfort was as an intern in the Community Development Department in 2002.

She had recently graduated from Illinois State University after growing up on the south side of Chicago. But she wound up staying on as a full-time planer for several years and moved to the community.

Now, two decades later, she appears to have won a seat on the Village Board of Trustees.

Rigoni received 2,263 votes on Tuesday, April 4, to finish third in the five-person race for three open seats on the board, according to unofficial results from the Will County Clerk’s Office. Trustees Jessica Petrow (2,304 votes) and Adam Borrelli (2,303) finished first and second in the Consolidated Election to win second terms on the board.

“I never would have thought that starting my internship after just graduating college that I would be sitting here today as a trustee-elect for this Village that I did not grow up in but have grown to become very passionate about,” Rigoni told Richard Free Press in an interview on Friday, April 7. “[It’s] overwhelming — in a positive sense. The outpouring of support was just magnificent. There were people who [have been] my great cheerleaders the entire way, who I have known for many years. But there also was a great opportunity of [meeting] people in the community — through word of mouth or my website or just meeting me for a couple of minutes — who quickly became a great positive voice for me in the community. It was quite exceptional.”

Rigoni has been on the Village’ Plan Commission for nearly eight years, including as chairman the past three years. She said her top priority is to continue fostering development that meets the quality and standards that exist in Frankfort.

“We are Frankfort,” Rigoni said. “We are really good at being Frankfort. So, it is continuing to ensure that we do that from the top down — whether it is through development or services to our residents, or connections to our business owners, or utilities, or just conducting ourselves on the Village Board.”

She said she is a “get-things-done kind of person” and wants to collaborate with the board members to accomplish things for the Village.

Meanwhile, also in an interview on April 7, Borrelli said he was grateful to the community members for re-electing him to the Village Board.

“It’s my hometown, and where I grew up,” he said. “I never take it for granted. I love being here. It’s a true honor to serve the people here.”

Borrelli said there are two developments in the works for downtown Frankfort that are “exciting,” and he hopes will help “round out” that area. He also pointed to extending Pfeiffer Road.

“That’s going to be a huge benefit to all of our residents and should help provide a catalyst for development along the Route 30 corridor,” he said.

Borrelli said he also wants to focus on filling vacant properties, such as the former sites of the Butera and the Sports Authority.

“We don’t like vacancies here, so whatever we can do to help kind of push that along, I’m all for,” he said.

However, he said his most important issue is public safety and he intends to support “whatever initiatives our police chief comes up with to help continue to enhance [that].”

Rounding out the election results, Hillary E. Kurzawa and Marc Dabaco — who were both endorsed by Mayor Keith Ogle in a press release earlier this year — finished fourth and fifth. Kurzawa received 1,027 votes, while Dabaco received 997 votes.

TINLEY PARK, Ill. – The One Tinley Park team coasted to victory in the Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees and clerk races Tuesday, April 4.

Village Clerk Nancy O’Connor, the incumbent, defeated challenger Ahleah Balawender 4,306 to 1,812, according to unofficial results from the Cook and Will county clerks’ offices.

Trustees William Brennan (4,498) and Michael Mueller (4,283) were re-elected to the board, and One Tinley Park running mate Ken Shaw (4,105) also was elected to the board.

“We are just so grateful to the voters of Tinley Park that they have given us more time to keep moving forward with what we are doing,” O’Connor told Richard Free Press on behalf of the entire One Tinley Park Team. “We appreciate them and their confidence in us.”

O’Connor, who was appointed to the clerk position by Mayor Michael Glotz after former Clerk Kristin Thirion resigned in January 2022, will serve the final two years of the unexpired term.

“It truly is humbling,” O’Connor said of the support she received from the community. “My whole goal always has been to represent all of the residents and do the best I can to represent them – and to keep it as smooth a process as possible for the clerk’s office.

“I’m thrilled that I get to continue to serve. I just want to try to help make our little corner of the world a better place.”

Looking ahead, O’Connor said she hopes the Village will soon see progress made toward cleaning up the former site of the Tinley Park Mental Health Center. She also said she believes the strong turnout for the One Tinley Park team “reaffirms that we are on the right path.”

“This is all about what is best for Tinley Park, and I think we’ve proven that that is what we want and that is where we are moving,” she said.

Meanwhile, Trustee Diane Galante lost her re-election bid by finishing fourth *in the trustees race with 2,427 votes. Galante – who was elected to the Village Board in 2019 as part of the One Tinley Park team before running as an independent this election cycle – wished the new board luck.

“The people of Tinley have spoken,” Galante said. “I wish the new board great success.”

The three candidates running for re-election on the Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees coasted to second terms in an uncontested race Tuesday, April 4, in the 2023 Consolidated Election.

Cynthia Nelson Katsenes led the People Over Politics trio with 6,336 votes, while fellow incumbents William Healy and Michael Milani followed with 6,280 and 6,132 votes, respectively, according to unofficial results from the Cook and Will county clerks’ offices.

Elsewhere in Orland Park, incumbent Linda Peckham Dodge was re-elected to the Orland School District 135 Board of Education by amassing 4,446 votes. One of her running mates, Alan Kastengren, appears to have secured the third and final open seat on the board with 4,174 votes. Dodge and Kastengren’s running mate, Francis Lattyak, finished fourth.

Placing second and earning a seat on the board was Patricia Thanos, a candidate backed by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau. Thanos received 4,213 votes. However, Thanos’ running mates, Iwona Piwowarczyk and Ryan J. Valan, finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

In the eight-person field for the two open seats on the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees, Tina M. Zekich and Angela M. Greenfield appeared to emerge victorious with 3,496 and 3,276 votes, respectively.

People Over Politics candidate Richard M. Miller, who was supported by Pekau, received just 62 fewer votes in third place. Miller’s running mate, Eric E. Vates, received 2,932 votes to place fourth.

Craig F. Schmidt, the only incumbent seeking re-election in the race, finished a distant eighth, with just 830 votes.

Meanwhile, in Mokena, incumbent Village Trustee Debbie Engler was re-elected in an uncontested race along with newcomers Terry G. Germany and Terence J. Smith. Engler amassed the most votes with 1,456, while Germany had 1,329 and Smith netted 1,274.

ORLAND PARK – The people of Orland Park have spoken, and their choice is to keep the professional managerial style of government that has been in place for 40 years.

Residents retained their current form of government Tuesday, April 4, by voting 6,405 to 3,325 in a binding referendum placed on the Consolidated Election ballot, according to unofficial results from the Cook and Will county clerks’ offices. It was put to the voters after the Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees voted unanimously in January to place the question on the ballot.

“Tonight is a good night for democracy in Orland Park,” said Karie Friling, former Orland Park Assistant Village Manager, a resident of the community, and a member of the Vote Yes Orland Park group that campaigned for voters to vote yes on the referendum.

Friling said the Vote Yes group was optimistic that they held the edge in votes headed into Election Day, but they did not know just how large of a lead they had amassed until right after the polls closed and the first returns came back.

“We were thrilled tonight,” she said. “I think that [voters] saw the information we were putting out there was backed up by sources, by facts, by studies, by research, and by independent associations like [International City/County Management Association] and the [Illinois City/County Management Association].”

Friling also pointed to the grassroots effort and coalition that formed for Vote Yes, which included former Village Manager Paul Grimes, former Tribune journalist Phil Kadner, members of the late Mayor Frederick Owens’ family, and people on both sides of the political spectrum.

“I really think that is why we had such a huge spread in the vote tonight, because we were speaking as a unified group, together, saying, ‘Hey, stop, timeout,’” Friling said. “‘Orland Park is a great community. We all love Orland Park. Why is this necessary? What is not working that we need to make this huge change now?’ Mayor [Keith] Pekau could never answer that fundamental question. I think that is why we won.”

Friling said she hopes residents realize that the current form of government in Orland Park is “a good thing.”

“We recognize that village managers come and go,” she said. “I worked for the Village for 13 years. Mayors come and go, too. But having an elected board whose job is to set up policy and having a professional staff who is trained, experienced, and educated to do the day-to-day operations works.

“Both sides of the aisle need to honor each of those roles. I may not always agree with the mayor, but I honor that he is our mayor. I honor what his role is. He needs to also honor the role of the village manager and the role of professional staff. I think we need to make sure that it is happening.”

She also said that Orland Park’s elected officials need to “remember that they work for the residents.”

“They tried to slide one in on this,” Friling said. “They didn’t hold any informational meetings. They waited until the very last minute. They had no communication with the residents who vote. We stepped in and filled that void. That was a critical error on the mayor and board’s part. They should learn from this. Engage the community before you decide to make such huge changes in our town. They did not do that. We did.”

UPDATE: 3 p.m. April 5

Pekau — who spoke with Richard Free Press on Wednesday, April 5 — said he put the referendum question out to the public because he felt it was “the right thing for the Village.” Despite it failing to pass on Election Day, Pekau said he still believes that.

“At the end of the day, the vote doesn’t impact me or the current administration in any way,” Pekau said. “I do think a no vote for the people of Orland Park would have been better for the long term. Everything I’ve done since I’ve been here has been to try and rid the Village of patronage and nepotism and the things that were going on before.”

Pekau said one of the goals of changing the form of government was to make personnel hiring decisions transparent.

“Currently, we, as a board, make our village manager transparent — and he thinks it is good government, [too] — but it is not required, and in the past, it was not done,” he said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think people understood [the referendum]. People who were pushing [residents] to vote yes gave a bunch of misinformation.”

He also said he was not going to spend a lot of personal money campaigning for a change that would not greatly impact his time in office.

“We put all of the information on the Village [website], and that is factual information, because that is all the Village can do is be factual,” he said. “If people didn’t go there to learn about the issue, there is really not much we can do. Unfortunately, money and misinformation often work in elections.”

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Election Day is Tuesday, April 4. To help voters learn a little more about the candidates running for the three open Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees seats, Richard Free Press sent out candidate profiles to those running. The profiles have been edited slightly for spelling and grammar.

The candidates are incumbent trustees William Brennan, Diane Galante and Michael Mueller, and newcomer Ken Shaw.

William Brennan

Age: 37

Previous Political Experience: Village of Tinley Park Trustee (2019-Present)

Occupation: State Farm Agency Owner/Rocket Mortgage Loan Officer

Political Affiliation: One Tinley Park

What is your vision for Tinley Park, and how do you plan to work toward making that vision a reality?

My vision for Tinley Park is one that makes Tinley Park the pride of the southwest side. A best-in-class community where people travel to live, work and play. A family community where our residents feel safe and supported. A community that is a destination for employers, visitors, and residents. The One Tinley Park team has done this through a balanced approach, and I believe we have seen record growth in business licenses applied for and record recruitment of our public safety teams while also keeping taxes low for our residents. We have committed to prioritizing these issues and will continue to work hard to streamline and create efficiencies where possible.

What are the three biggest issues or problems you want to work toward solving or fixing in Tinley Park if elected to the Village Board in April?

As the Public Safety chair, I have always believed that the top priority for our Village is to never take our eye off of public safety. That is why we have committed to adding police officers and public safety personnel. Currently, we have the most sworn officers in department history. We also recently added two K-9 units to the street, as well – one that was purchased through a grant. Secondly, I believe in order to be able to afford these new personnel, we have to continue to drive economic growth and business development to broaden the tax base and generate revenue to pay for the quality services our public safety and public works teams provide. Thirdly, I believe in evaluating and examining every dollar the Village spends. We must be diligent and purposeful with spending and cutting any excess costs to keep our taxes as low as possible. Most recently, we were able to do so by examining insurance costs that saved the Village over $1 million last fiscal year.

The abandoned Tinley Park Mental Health Center has been an issue for more than a decade. How do you believe the Village can work with the State to get the property sold, and what types of uses do you believe the site should house once it is remediated?

The Village has been working to acquire this property for many years. We have been responsible with our funds and are ready and willing to consummate a deal to acquire this property. I believe the best way to get this done is through working with our state legislators and negotiating this long overdue project. I firmly believe the list of demands to the State are simple: the land is entirely cleaned up; the land is sold in its entirety to ensure proper cleanup; and the cost of cleanup is not placed on the taxpayers of Tinley Park.

The possibilities on this land are endless as we are talking 280 acres. I believe it will be a nice mix of retail, restaurants, [entertainment], transit-oriented development, open space with parks and lakes, a sports complex with indoor field houses, baseball and soccer fields, and an ice arena.

How do you plan to reach out to, hear from and work with residents regarding concerns or issues in the Village?

I think the best way to stay connected to the community is by being visible, approachable, and entrenched in the community. I am a firm believer in building relationships and trust, and talking to residents is my favorite part of the position. Since being elected in 2019, I have always been available by phone, email, social media, Village meetings, and most importantly by being present at Village events and community gatherings. I also believe the best leaders I have ever worked with in my professional life have always uncoincidentally been the best listeners. I am committed to always being present and available for all residents of Tinley Park.

What attributes do you possess that you believe will benefit the Village Board in decision-making that will benefit the residents?

I believe I have demonstrated over the last four years that I bring a levelheaded approach with strong logical decision-making. As a born and raised Tinley Park resident, I have an in-depth understanding of the Village’s history and what makes it special, which has been invaluable when making decisions that impact the entire community. My background is also unique, as I have experience in public safety (previously a paramedic) and the financial field (business owner for 11 years). This broad range of experience has given me the necessary tools to be a successful contributor to the Village Board for the benefit of all Tinley Park residents.

Diane Galante

Age: 58

Previous Political Experience: Village of Tinley Park Trustee (2019-Present)

Occupation: Senior Accountant, BorgWarner Automotive’s Frankfort-based plant, for 30 years. The last few years, I was part of the team to shut down the plant, but I assisted with transitioning the product lines to other BorgWarner facilities.

Political Affiliation: Independent

What is your vision for Tinley Park, and how do you plan to work toward making that vision a reality?

I believe Tinley Park has made its mark as a strong family community; we earned the honor of being named the best place to raise a family. You can see the strong community bond if you watch how many neighbors pile into the Oak Park Avenue train station to listen to music on a Saturday night, or how many families line the streets of Oak Park Avenue for a communitywide parade. I believe our strong community was made because of all the pieces in our community working together, and not separately, over many years.

My vision as a Village trustee is to work toward mending the current relationships and damage that exists within the Village and build back the trust within the community to ensure we are working together for the people we were elected to represent. I worked 30 years for a company whose motto was, “find a way.” I believe we can build back trust and respect with our community members, and work to find the best solutions for the Village of Tinley Park and its residents.

What are the three biggest issues or problems you want to work toward solving or fixing in Tinley Park if elected to the Village Board in April?

No. 1, the cleanup of the mental health property is a priority. I believe that every day that this issue is ignored or not resolved is another day that our community members are put at risk.

No. 2, work to ensure all members of the Village, including board members and community members, are being heard and that their issues are being addressed instead of disregarded because of personal opinions/beliefs.

No. 3, the transparency and the public’s access to information needs to be improved. The current policy in place forces our own citizens to jump through hoops to obtain information and find out what is being done with their tax money. This information should not be held amongst the members of the board and should be readily available to all community members and the public.

The abandoned Tinley Park Mental Health Center has been an issue for more than a decade. How do you believe the Village can work with the State to get the property sold, and what types of uses do you believe the site should house once it is remediated?

The first step would be to stop the negative press campaigns that have taken place to point blame and disrespect those we need to be working with, not against. Unfortunately, personal feelings of decision makers seem to get lost in the midst of what is best for the Village and its residents.

I believe that the Tinley Park-Park District has proposed a wonderful idea with respect to the use of this property that can support a need in our family focused community. I believe the idea of an indoor facility and additional outdoor fields, that will allow Tinley Park organizations and community members to host additional sporting events and tournaments is a perfect use of that property – and is something the people have been asking for.

How do you plan to reach out to, hear from and work with residents regarding concerns or issues in the Village?

I am a regular attendant at most Village and chamber events. I regularly talk to residents to get feedback on how they feel about what is happening in the Village. I have had residents reach out on concerns, and I have always accepted to meet with them to discuss their concerns and look for a reasonable solution.

I plan to continue to be actively involved in the community by attending events, listening to the concerns of the Village members, and encourage them to be a part of resolutions to their concerns.

What attributes do you possess that you believe will benefit the Village Board in decision-making that will benefit the residents?

I believe that my 30 years of accounting experience in the automotive industry, working in many different environments with a variety of individuals to help find the best solutions for the company, is a positive attribute that I possess that can benefit the community when it comes to decision making for our Village. I understand the need to question issues and ideas that are not clear, request additional information in order to make informed decisions before voting on a topic, and I will not simply follow the crowd if I do not believe a decision is in the best interest of the Tinley Park community as a whole.

My belief is that there is always a way if you don’t stop looking for the solution. I will follow through with my promises to the Village and ensure that I do my part in keeping Tinley Park the best place to raise a family.

Michael Mueller

Age: 43

Previous Political Experience: Village of Tinley Park Trustee (2019-Present)

Occupation: Principal Software Architect for a BSS/OSS software company in the telecommunications industry.

Political Affiliation: One Tinley Park

What is your vision for Tinley Park, and how do you plan to work toward making that vision a reality?

My vision for Tinley Park is that it is a first-class community for residents, businesses, and visitors. To do this, we need to continue the great strides that we have taken as a One Tinley Park team, and each of these groups has a unique set of needs. For our residents, we need to ensure we continue our best-in-class services, continue investment in public safety, and ensure that our taxes remain as low as possible. For our businesses, we need to have programs and incentives for them to come and stay in Tinley Park and have a partnership with the Village to ensure their sustained success. And, finally, for our visitors, we need to ensure we are a safe community to visit while providing all the accommodations, restaurants and venues that make any visit enjoyable.

What are the three biggest issues or problems you want to work toward solving or fixing in Tinley Park if elected to the Village Board in April?

The three biggest issues in Tinley Park that I am focused on as a trustee are continuing sustainable economic growth, public safety, and keeping taxes low with rising inflation.

I believe that continuing the sustainable economic growth is critical to ensuring that Tinley Park remains a thriving community for many years to come. I have worked to attract new businesses to Tinley Park using all the tools that can, including incentives, grants, and outreach to businesses in neighboring communities. This hard work has paid off, and we are seeing growth now in corners of Tinley Park where there was only promises before.

I also believe that public safety is paramount to our resident; and, as trustee, I will continue to work hard to ensure residents feel safe in their homes, their neighborhoods, and when they are enjoying our businesses and venues. One Tinley Park has worked hard to increase our police force, add K-9 units, and advocate for outreach programs from our Public Safety department to all of our businesses and residents.

Finally, I understand the importance of keeping taxes low for Tinley Park residents, especially in the face of rising inflation. I have done this by ensuring the Village cuts spending in times of uncertain revenues and by working hard to increase our tax base, specifically by increasing the numbers of businesses here in Tinley Park.

The abandoned Tinley Park Mental Health Center has been an issue for more than a decade. How do you believe the Village can work with the State to get the property sold, and what types of uses do you believe the site should house once it is remediated?

The Village has been working with the State for a number of years to acquire this hugely important piece of property. But there are important things that need to take place with that deal. First, we need to ensure that the property is sold entirely, so that the remediation of that property can also be completed in its entirety. Second, we need to ensure that the tax burden on the Village of Tinley Park is protected from such a purchase. The Village has done this by having money put aside for years to make sure that can purchase this property, without asking for additional money from our residents and businesses.

As for uses, we only have to use our imagination to see all the possibilities: an ice arena; tree-lined walking and bike paths; a multi-use, domed sports complex (baseball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, wrestling, and other activities or sports); transit-oriented residential near the train tracks; several lakes; a golfing facility; an interactive and innovative playground; great stores and restaurants; a hotel with banquet facilities; and plenty of other imaginative possibilities.

How do you plan to reach out to, hear from and work with residents regarding concerns or issues in the Village?

One of the best parts of local government is that you always get to hear from the residents.  Since taking office in 2019, I have heard from residents via email, phone calls, at board and committee meetings, at events and festivities around the Village, and even when at events for my kids. The key aspect to all of this is to listen to exactly what is being said and work with those residents on solutions. Outcomes from these sessions with residents have led to changes in our ordinances and policies, letters or phone calls to other government agencies, and bringing developers and residents to meetings to work out issues.

What attributes do you possess that you believe will benefit the Village Board in decision-making that will benefit the residents?

I believe that over the last four years I have demonstrated my strong rational decision-making ability that has benefited all the resident of Tinley Park. This didn’t happen by accident. I have a degree in economics that helps with financial decisions. I have worked in the software industry for the last 20 years, which has helped drive technology initiatives within the Village. And I have family (a wife and two sons) that have lived in Tinley Park for the last 14 years, and they keep me grounded and are always pushing me to keep Tinley Park a safe place to live.

Ken Shaw

Age: 55

Previous Political Experience: Village of Tinley Park Plan Commissioner (2021-Present); Tinley Park Brand Leadership Team (2017-2018); Plan Commission Chairman (2016-2019); Lockport Zoning Board of Appeals (2004-2005); Bolingbrook Zoning Board of Appeals (1999-2001); Bolingbrook Neighborhood Preservation Commission (1993-1995)

Occupation: Internal Audit Director for 22 years

Political Affiliation: One Tinley Park

What is your vision for Tinley Park, and how do you plan to work toward making that vision a reality?

As a One Tinley Park team member, I’m proud to state that due to their hard work and leadership, the Village has reached a level of stability and effectiveness it hasn’t seen in years. I sincerely believe that we are at the beginning of a great transformation that the people of Tinley Park have been reluctant to consider possible. Their skepticism is understandable, because they have been let down and misled enough that they have trouble recognizing and believing the positive signs and successes that already exist. There will be many accomplishments continuing on the current path, from delivering Harmony Square to securing the Tinley Park Mental Health Center as a valued asset and economic engine for the community. But, for me, the greatest accomplishment will be restoring the people’s faith and optimism so that they are once again willing to believe what they see without skepticism. 

What are the three biggest issues or problems you want to work toward solving or fixing in Tinley Park if elected to the Village Board in April?

Continuing to strengthen and expand Tinley Park’s business community is a top priority for me and the One Tinley Park team. Breaking down barriers to new business and supporting existing business will continue to be an area of focus. A healthy and business-friendly environment is essential to ensuring that the Village remains capable of delivering essential services to the people and protects their property and personal interests. This includes continuing to invest in public safety equipment, personnel and training. Further advancing the Village’s ongoing branding and marketing efforts will additionally contribute to increasing Tinley Park’s stature as both a great place to visit and a great place to live. Tinley Park is a genuinely unique community with a rich history and vibrant present. I believe the role of elected leaders is to fiercely preserve and protect the interests of its citizens, current and future.  

I’m a fiscal conservative and believe in limited government. I have publicly spoken and written about my belief in the proper role of government. Municipal government must be primarily focused on delivering essential services, including public safety, and promoting a healthy environment within which private businesses can thrive. The challenge facing this Village Board is striking the right balance. 

The abandoned Tinley Park Mental Health Center has been an issue for more than a decade. How do you believe the Village can work with the State to get the property sold, and what types of uses do you believe the site should house once it is remediated?

See Trustee Michael Mueller’s submission for One Tinley Park response.

How do you plan to reach out to, hear from and work with residents regarding concerns or issues in the Village?

Although this is my first campaign for elected office, I have a very public record of service and history of stating my positions on important issues facing the Village of Tinley Park. I have been a vocal and visible public advocate online and in-person at Village Board, committee, and commission meetings as both a private citizen and an appointed official. I strive to be accessible and approachable both in-person and through various communication channels. I enjoy meeting new people and am excited to continue making myself available and engaging with the wonderful people of Tinley Park.

What attributes do you possess that you believe will benefit the Village Board in decision-making that will benefit the residents?

As a member of the One Tinley Park team, I’m proud to highlight the many strengths that we share, including our dedication to our community, our families, and our faith. Our common goal of continually building a stronger Tinley Park is a driving force for our team. As much as we have in common, our differences make us even stronger. Our broad professional experiences bring the most complete and diverse Board of Trustees that Tinley Park has had in recent memory.

First and foremost, I understand how municipal government works and sometimes doesn’t work. I have over 25 years of experience in local government in appointed roles across three separate local municipalities – Bolingbrook, Lockport, and Tinley Park. I was a Code Enforcement Officer for the Bolingbrook Police Department dealing primarily in building and housing code compliance. 

Second, I’m prepared to serve from Day 1. I have significant experience conducting public meetings and a thorough understanding of the inner workings of municipal government. As chairman of Tinley Park’s Plan Commission, I lead the public hearings and meetings for major developments, including The Boulevard in downtown. I have never shied from the challenges these responsibilities presented.

Third, I’m a stable and well-rounded leader. My experience in corporate and nonprofit business help me bring a balanced perspective to the Village Board. My experience across many industries helps ensure I’m not hyper-focused on one area of Village operations at the expense of all the rest. Beyond my professional experience, I have worked in construction, food service, and 10 years in retail from entry level to upper management. I enjoy problem-solving and consensus-building.

Deciding when or when not to spend the public’s money is a great responsibility. Under-investing in critical infrastructure may seem prudent and applauded in the short-term, but incurring excessive replacement costs down the line can prove the short-term decision to be quite foolish in the end. My experience as a Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Fraud Examiner will help me relate to the Village’s professional staff without getting in their way. I can perform my oversight role as a Trustee without second-guessing their work.

Finally, I’m committed to public service in all forms. I have worked with many nonprofits and charitable organizations as both volunteer and board member. My military experience early in life gave me exposure to and appreciation for people of many different cultures and backgrounds. My diverse experiences working at all levels with a wonderful cross-section of the public have kept me grounded and sincerely rooted in public service.

MOKENA, Ill. – A rise in vehicle thefts statewide has the Mokena Police Department proactively seeking solutions for residents.

Mokena Police Chief Brian Benton told the Village Board of Trustees on Monday, March 27, that police have seen an increase in stolen vehicles, particularly Kia and Hyundai models. To combat that, he said law enforcement has partnered with the auto manufacturers to try to prevent the thefts – including giving out steering wheel locks to better secure vehicles.

“I won’t get into how [thieves] are stealing them, but it is fairly easy,” Benton said. “What Kia has offered to do is send the Mokena Police Department a number of steering wheel locks, so that we can help our residents secure their vehicles.”

Benton said he also reached out to Hyundai and was told the company is looking into sending locks. On Wednesday, March 29, Benton confirmed to Richard Free Press that Hyundai would be sending police steering wheel locks.

Benton said any interested residents should reach out to the police department. To be eligible to receive a steering wheel lock free of charge, a resident must show proof of:

• Mokena residency

• Ownership of the vehicle (Kia model years between 2010 to 2021, Hyundai model years between 2012 to 2022)

Also discussed at the March 27 meeting:

• Free spring leaf and branch pickup dates are scheduled for April 10 and May 15. To schedule a pickup, call the Village at 708-479-3900 or visit www.mokena.org.

• The Village of Mokena’s Clean-Up Day is scheduled for April 22. Interested volunteers should plan to arrive at Village Hall, located at 11004 Carpenter St., at 9 a.m. The event will run until approximately noon, with an hourlong lunch (hotdog, chips and soda) to follow. For more information, call 708-479-3900 or visit www.mokena.org. Students may receive community service hours by participating in the event.

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ORLAND PARK, Ill. – The 2023 Consolidated Election is set for Tuesday, April 4, in Illinois. On the ballot in Orland Park is a referendum asking voters to decide whether to keep the current form of municipal government that has been in place since 1983.

The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Jan. 16 to put the referendum question on the ballot. The question will read:

“Shall the Village of Orland Park retain the managerial form of municipal government?”

Proponents on both sides of the issue have hotly discussed what it could mean for Orland Park if the other side wins.

To assist voters in their decision-making process as they head to the polls, Richard Free Press asked a key figure from each side to answer questions about the referendum. Their responses have been edited minimally and only for reader clarity.

Why should voters vote yes or no on the referendum?

Mayor Keith Pekau, who is in favor of residents voting no to the question: Currently, an unelected official, [the Village manager], gets to hire all the department heads, the attorney, the treasurer. They get to do that with no approval required from the board. There is no public meeting required or anything like that. I don’t think that is what the people want. I think they want their elected officials to make those decisions transparently.

I don’t have carte blanche [if the Vote No side wins]. The board would have to approve [hires]. It requires me to appoint, and the board to approve those people.

Also, currently, the Village manager is hired by the board, and it can be for any length of time. They can do what was done to me. The board can always do that to a future mayor and hire somebody before [the mayor-elect] is sworn in and give that [Village manager] a contract and extend it longer than [the mayor’s] term in office. I think that is inappropriate.

The Village manager and the mayor have to work closely together. If voters vote no, the mayor would appoint the Village manager — with approval by the board — but [the contract] could not be longer than [the mayor’s] term. [Right now], the Village manager can basically hire the police chief with no approval, hire an attorney with no approval, and can conduct investigations on elected officials to try and get elected officials out that [the manager] doesn’t like.

People want their elected officials to be accountable.

You can have elected officials who live here and who are invested in this community making these choices, or you can have someone who is a hired employee who only lives here because we make them live here — and won’t live here after they change jobs — making these decisions.

Karie Friling, former Orland Park Assistant Village Manager, a resident of the community, and a member of the Vote Yes Orland Park group that is advocating for voters to vote yes to the question: The Orland voters approved the council-manager form of government in 1983, and it has served Orland Park well for over 40 years. The council-manager form of government combines the leadership of diverse policy makers elected by the community (the board) with the experience of a highly qualified professional Village manager. The board sets the policy direction of the community, and the Village manager is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of such policy.

Our form of local government is the most popular structure of government in the United States among municipalities with populations of 2,500 or more and was created to combat corruption and unethical activity at the local level. It promotes nonpolitical management of the day-to-day operations. The Village manager is accountable to the board and can be terminated at any time the board believes he/she is not doing as directed by the elected board.

It works and is not broken.

What do you think will happen if the voters decide to abandon the current form of government?

Pekau (Vote No): Once the vote is certified, at the next board meeting, the board would approve the ordinance that we’ve already drafted and approved at the Committee of the Whole. It would go to the full board at a regular board meeting. When we approve the ordinance, it creates the Village manager position and delegates the list of authorities we’ve [chosen]. Essentially, nothing really changes as far as the day-to-day operations or the business of the Village.

Friling (Vote Yes): We believe a change in government will allow any mayor (present or future) to bring partisan politics into the day-to-day operations of the village. It will also directly impact our ability to retain and recruit professional staff. It will increase pay-to-play politics into every component of the village. If the no vote prevails, there will no longer be any legal requirement to hire a professional Village manager or any other professional leadership position. These positions require highly trained, educated and professional people to keep Orland Park the great community that it is.

What went into the decision to put this on the ballot?

Pekau (Vote No): [In December], the attorneys answered the question about this form of government, and that is when it was shared with the trustees. We were actually going to do it at the first meeting of January, but [the meeting] was canceled because it would have been the only thing on the agenda. So, we put it on the next meeting. We did it in the legally required timeframe. We did it so it could be put on the ballot.

How can you have any more choice than to actually be voting on this? We are putting a referendum on the ballot so you can vote. That’s certainly way more voice than you have anywhere else.

What have you heard from residents about the referendum?

Friling (Vote Yes): Most of our residents [that we spoke to] did not know this was even placed on the ballot, because the mayor waited until the last possible date to file it with the county clerks. We believe this was intentional.

The Vote Yes group invited ICMA to come to Orland Park to talk about the different types of local governance and to answer any questions. The information was well-received, and we believe that we helped our fellow neighbors to educate themselves on this important issue. We have shared factual information, studies, and examples of other towns in Illinois that also have our current form of government. We did what our elected board should have done prior to making the decision to place this on the ballot. The response has been one of appreciation and concern about what this would mean for our hometown.

There have been accusations by both sides of misinformation being spread about this referendum. Is there anything about this issue that you want to clarify or correct?

Pekau (Vote No): The idea that we are going to be a strong mayor form of government is absolutely false. That would require another referendum in the future to change to that form. We are choosing between the current form of government, which is a statutory council-manager form of government and a village trustee form of government that can have a manager. It’s council-manager, but it’s just not by statute. That’s the difference.

My pay is not going to go up. It’s not going to happen. This vote has absolutely no bearing on whether or not the pay can be raised. It’s the same process under either form of government — as we saw six years ago, when [the Village Board members at that time voted to increase the mayoral] pay in our current form of government. It requires the same process by a future board.

I’m not going to be the Village manager and the mayor. I cannot do both by statute. It’s a conflict of interest. By state law, that is impossible.

The latest thing is that we are going to be eliminating the manager. That’s just not true. There are no plans for any changes [to staff].

Friling (Vote Yes): Mayor Pekau has claimed that this is not a big change for Orland Park; however, it most certainly is. There are many studies done throughout the U.S. that show that the council-manager form of government is the best. It has been proven to reduce corruption, improve quality of life, and strengthen financial health of communities. There are no studies done that show the village-trustee/council-mayor form is better. The National Civic League, America’s oldest advocate for community democracy, has endorsed council-manager government through its Model City Charter since 1915. So, yes, there is a real difference, contrary to what the mayor has stated.

Mayor Pekau also has stated he will hire a Village manager anyway – however, there is nothing that will legally require this if the form of government changes. Additionally, this makes no sense. Why change the form of government only to keep it the same? It doesn’t add up.

This will shift more power and control to the mayoral position – forever.

Additionally, rather than addressing the concerns that have been shared, Mayor Pekau has tried to characterize the Vote Yes group as dark money, responsible for the robocalls and other false and desperate accusations. This is troubling for our participatory democratic process.

If you came across a voter who was undecided on this issue, what would you want them to know prior to casting a ballot on Election Day?

Pekau (Vote No): The trustees, the clerk, and I have all lived this form of government, and we all think it’s horrible. That’s why it is on as a referendum and why we are voting no. The overwhelming majority of Orland Park residents voted us in, and we have run the town well and told them the truth. We’re the ones that are saying that this is a bad form of government and that you should vote no. The other side is the Chicago Federation of Labor and outside union groups. You have to question what their motives are.

Friling (Vote Yes): We would encourage them to do their homework/research and reflect on our past, present and future. What has caused this need to change Orland Park now? Who does it really benefit? Orland Park has been a leader in the Chicago region for many decades. We are among the best of the best. Why change it now? There better be a really good reason for us, the residents – not for just the politicians.

For more information about the referendum, visit:

• The Village of Orland Park website: https://www.orlandpark.org/government/election-voter-information/referendum-information

• Vote Yes Orland Park’s website: https://voteyesorland.com/

What you need to know: The Village of Mokena Board of Trustees unanimously approved two parking lot repaving projects totaling at least $544,000 that will take place mostly in April, May and June.

MOKENA, Ill. – Village of Mokena officials approved two parking lot repaving projects Monday, March 27, during the Village Board of Trustees meeting.

The first project, approved by a 5-0 vote, pertained to the east side of the Hickory Creek Metra parking lot.

“[The project] will consist of some curb repairs and replacement, as well as asphalt repaving,” said Dan Peloquin, the Village’s assistant public works director.

He said 10 bids were received by the Village, and Gallagher Asphalt, based in Thornton, was the lowest.

While the company’s bid was $394,426, Peloquin said staff recommended approving the contract in an amount up to the originally budgeted for amount of $425,000 to account for any ancillary curb work that may be needed.

“Gallagher has done similar work for the Village before and is quite well known in the industry,” Peloquin said. “The contractor anticipates the work to mainly occur in the month of June. Staff is going to work to communicate a lot of the shutdowns or any of the impacts from the construction to all the commuters.”

Trustees also voted 5-0 to approve a repaving project at the Therafin parking lot. The project includes drainage improvements, temporary asphalt paving, and parking lot striping.

Peloquin said the Village received 10 bids for the project, and D Construction, of Coal City, was the lowest at $149,817.50.

“This is lower than the engineers’ original estimate of approximately $210,000,” Peloquin said. “D Construction has also done a lot of work with the Village before and similar paving projects.”

Peloquin said staff recommending doing the project in two phases to limit the impact on commuters. The project is expected to start in April and be completed by the end of May.

What you need to know: The Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees voted 5-1 Tuesday, Feb. 21, to eliminate the vehicle sticker fee program that has been in place for decades.

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Residents will no longer be required to purchase vehicle stickers after the Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees voted 5-1 Tuesday, Feb. 21, to eliminate the program.

Trustee Diane Galante cast the dissenting ballot.

The stickers had been required to be displayed on any vehicle operated or parked by a Tinley Park resident on a public street. According to the Village’s website, the sticker cost $25 for most vehicles — while motorcycles cost $10, trucks weighing 1 ton or less cost $35, trucks weighing more than 1 ton cost $55, and bus or taxi stickers cost $40.

“Free stickers will be available for residents who would like to continue displaying the sticker on their vehicle,” Clerk Nancy O’Connor said during the meeting. “These free stickers can be picked up at Village Hall during regular business hours starting April 1.”

Assistant Village Manager Hannah Lipman said staff reviewed the sticker program in 2017. Back then, revenue for the program was about $700,000. Today, however, it is just $309,000.

“This has been a revenue source that has been struggling for quite some time now,” Lipman said during a Committee of the Whole discussion that preceded the official vote. “Historically speaking, we used this revenue source for our pavement management program (PMP). We aim to have that be at about $1 million with this revenue source. Looking back at those numbers, it hasn’t reached those figures in quite some time.”

Lipman said there were several reasons for the decline in revenue, pointing to residents not purchasing the vehicle stickers as much as they used to and a growing senior population. Lipman added that in-house engineers have offset some of the costs for the PMP, and the vehicle sticker program itself costs about $75,000 to administer.

“We’ve been offsetting our PMP with other general fund revenues from new development and businesses that have come to town over the years,” Lipman said. “So, we’re not necessarily worried by any means that we’ll be unable to make up for this revenue source. Our revenues remain strong.”

Tinley Park Police Chief Matthew Walsh also said enforcement of the sticker program was difficult, as officers could only do so on public property.

“We cannot go onto your driveway and look and see if you have a sticker,” he said. “We can’t go into apartment complexes.

“The enforcement is difficult. We rely on good citizens paying for their stickers. That has gone down recently, so that’s why the revenue has gone down.”

Galante, however, asked staff how the revenue would be made up to pay for the PMP — asking if by the general fund covering the loss, it would mean the residents had their taxes increased elsewhere.

Before the official vote, she asked to table the item so staff could further investigate the costs and savings being proposed, but no other board member seconded the motion.

“We’ve been moving capital funds to cover this, so it doesn’t pay for itself,” Galante said. “It’s going to have to be covered somewhere else in addition to that amount.

“To remove this fee, most likely it is going to add to the taxes in the general fund, because it is going to have to be covered. We’ve been covering this by capital funds, so we’re going to have to continue to cover it. I just think that we could have looked for a better way.”

O’Connor accused Galante of bringing politics into the discussion.

“This is an ordinance that is [55] years old and far outlived its time,” she said. “To say that it is going to be taxed someplace else is utterly ridiculous and grandstanding on the dais.”

O’Connor said she and others on the Village Board want to save taxpayers some money.

“It’s a small amount,” she said. “But, more than that, it is the gesture of doing the right thing.”

Trustee Colleen Sullivan, who voted in favor of eliminating the sticker fee, said the discussion was getting overcomplicated.

“It is simply eliminating a Village sticker — a fee that a lot of people don’t pay,” she said.

Sullivan added that the free stickers are being offered so Tinley Park residents do not get ticketed in other towns for not having one. Those stickers will be good for a period of two years.

What you need to know: The Tinley Park-Park District Board of Commissioners sent a letter to the Village of Tinley Park earlier this month stating the park district will not partner with the Village on any Independence Day event because of the Village’s “unwillingness to work with us in good faith.” The letter was sent after comments were made during the Feb. 7 Village Board of Trustees meeting that park district officials felt “mischaracterized” the efforts being made by both governmental entities to work together on Fourth of July activities.

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — After months of back and forth between representatives of the Tinley Park-Park District and the Village of Tinley Park, there appears to be no path forward for the two governmental bodies to work together on town’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display.

On Feb. 13, a letter from the park district’s Board of Commissioners was sent to the Village stating that recent comments by officials during a Village Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 7 made “numerous untruths” that “alarmed” the park district.

Richard Free Press

Tinley Park officials stress safety aspects as reason for Fourth of July venue change during Feb. 7 meeting

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — While the tenor of the conversation has been greatly reduced, issues clearly remain between the Village of Tinley Park and the Tinley Park-Park District regarding the 2023 Fourth of July fireworks display. But the message from Tinley Park officials during a recent Village Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, was that better c…

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3 years ago · Jon DePaolis

“Even though you had already planned your event, signed a contract, and announced it to the public — all without informing or working with the Park District — Executive Director [Shawn] Roby and our Board remained willing to work together toward a solution,” the letter read. “Please note, former mayors and trustees have always worked in unison with the Park Board to provide a wonderful July 4th show.”

The letter further stated that park district officials felt that comments made during the Feb. 7 Village Board meeting “mischaracterized” the efforts that were ongoing to work together.

“It is now abundantly clear that you never intended to work together in earnest,” the letter read. “This July 4th isolation of the Park District, as well as other measures you have taken (i.e., cancelling the Park's joint purchasing of fuel and salt, charging the Park District to staff community events, and creating identical, duplicate events the Park District has long held) are exactly what they appear to be — retaliation and punishment of the Park District because we bid on the Tinley Park Mental Health [Center] property.

“We are dismayed at your decisions and your unwillingness to work with us in good faith for the benefit of the people of Tinley Park and their tax dollars. It is simply not feasible to work with you on any event when the Village is engaged in this kind of behavior.”

Roby spoke to Richard Free Press on Feb. 16 to expand on some of the points made in the park district’s letter to the Village.

He said that earlier in the month, the relationship with the Village appeared to be improving — with Village Manager Pat Carr attending the park district’s Feb. 1 Board of Commissioners meeting.

“[Carr] came to the meeting and admitted that [he] was sick to his stomach by the way this has played out,” Roby said. “He kind of offered an olive branch to meet. We ended up taking it, and I met with him the very next night.”

The recently approved minutes of the park district’s board meeting showed that Carr, Assistant Village Manager Hannah Lipman and Marketing Director Donna Framke attended the Feb. 1 Board of Commissioners meeting. The minutes — which are not verbatim but rather summaries of what occurs during a meeting — state that Carr spoke to the park board and asked for a “do-over.”

“[Carr] stated he is committed to work with [Roby] and this town doesn’t need to be split over this silliness,” the minutes read.

Roby said he met with Carr for 90 minutes on Feb. 2, during which they discussed how they might move forward. Then, Roby took the ideas back to his park board members.

“Those things kind of changed,” Roby said. “Our board wanted an opportunity to hear the safety concerns [the police had]. We offered twice, ultimately. We wanted safety briefings for the park district board [about] McCarthy Park and what the problems were. Those were offered to be done in executive session, because of course they are safety issues. We wouldn’t want to give a roadmap to somebody. The park board had some questions that they would have liked to ask about both locations just to kind of understand.”

As the two were still going back and forth on the Fourth of July, Roby said the park district received an email from the Village stating the park district was going to be charged for police staffing at some upcoming park district events — such as the Running o’ the Green 8K, which the park district had to change from its original date due to issues obtaining a permit from the Village.

“Take in total all the other things that are going on,” Roby said. “[Carr] comes to our meeting [on Feb. 1], — but the day before, we get an email from [the Village] charging us for a race that we’ve never been charged for to my knowledge for an event that they wouldn’t even allow us to run on the date we’ve been running it for years, the same day as their Irish parade. Where is the good faith effort in all of that?”

Richard Free Press

RFP Investigates: Records show monthslong communication gap between Tinley Park, park district over mental health center, Fourth of July fireworks

What you need to know: Records obtained by Richard Free Press via Freedom of Information Act requests show a monthslong disconnect between the Village of Tinley Park and Tinley Park-Park District over changes being considered for the 2023 Fourth of July event and the park district’s interest in the abandoned Tinley Park Mental Health Center site…

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3 years ago · Jon DePaolis

Roby said park district officials are being told they will need 16 officers and two public works officials. He said he also has seen comments made that the park district changed its race route and that is what led to the issue, but he said the race route is professionally certified and has not been changed for years because of that.

Park district officials estimate they will have to pay the Village nearly $2,000 for the police and public works staff.

Later, Roby said he found out that the Village is charging the park district for an event, Art Show and Sale, while the Village intends to duplicate the event three weeks earlier on same side of town.

“They’ve never had [an event like that], and it wasn’t in their marketing tools,” Roby said. “It has suddenly shown up, and it is almost identical to ours — three weeks before [our] event. Where is all this ‘community working together’ stuff that the park board and I keep hearing about? It’s not very evident.”

Park district officials estimate they will have to pay around $1,400 in staffing costs to the Village for the Art Show and Sale event.

Factoring in everything, Roby said the park district decided to not partner with the Village on Fourth of July activities.

“The park board does not feel that they are working with us, and they are not being honest with us nor the public,” Roby said.

Further, he said conversations with Village have stalled because of the recent developments.

“It’s just unfortunate where we’ve ended up,” Roby said. “We thought we were going to find ways to work together. At least, that’s how I left the meeting with Carr [on Feb. 2]. Then, to have what happened [at the Feb. 7 Village Board meeting], it kind of put a complete roadblock on the entire thing. It is just unfortunate. It’s stopped everything.”

What you need to know: The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees approved an expenditure of $1.21 million to install a 195,010-square-foot artificial turf field at Schussler Park. The field will have an eight-year warranty, according to a board member, but staff believe the Village can get 10 to 12 years of use out of the field with proper maintenance.

ORLAND PARK, Ill. – Artificial turf is coming to Schussler Park.

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What you need to know: During the Feb. 20 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees discussed the possible new role and responsibilities of the village manager position should voters decide on April 4 to abandon the current managerial form of government that has been in place since 1983. Mayor Keith Pekau also spoke to Richard Free Press about why the discussion took place prior to the election and responded to recent news articles suggesting he wanted to be named village manager.

ORLAND PARK, Ill. — If this April, the voters of Orland Park decide to abandon the managerial form of government that has been in place since 1983, the Village Board of Trustees is ready to hit the ground running by deciding the new role and responsibilities of the Village manager position.

The board members unveiled an ordinance that would create a new village manager position during the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Feb. 20. The ordinance — which was recommended for future board approval by a 7-0 vote — will only come up again if the voters decide on April 4 that the Village should not retain the managerial form of municipal government.

“This was always the intent,” Mayor Keith Pekau said during the meeting. “We were waiting [to talk about it] … because we wanted [all the board members] to be here for this. There is a lot of misinformation out there, and obviously our job here on the board is to give you accurate information so you can vote the way you choose.”

Pekau said the ordinance will go to the Village Board for approval at the first meeting after the April election if the voters decide to abandon the managerial form of government.

“[It will] create a manager position and create all of the associated authorities that the manager would have, created by ordinance by the board,” he said.

Trustee Michael Milani also clarified — in his view — what the ordinance entails.

“This isn’t about making a full-time mayor position,” he said. “This isn’t about raising a salary. This is not about getting rid of a village manager position. It’s not about taking away the professionalism of the position nor is it discrediting the work that the village manager does. What this is doing is taking the locus of control and putting it back where it belongs — in the hands of the voters. If they see something they don’t like, they can vote us out and rectify the situation.”

Section 2 of the proposed ordinance lists the new responsibilities and role of the village manager position, though most of the job description would mirror what is currently in place. The proposed ordinance states:

• The village manager would be appointed by the mayor, but with the advice and consent of the Village Board members — meaning a vote would have to occur to approve any appointment.

• The village manager would be involved in the process for making hiring recommendations to the Village Board regarding staff leadership positions, such as department heads — but the ultimate hiring authority would rest with the Village Board members.

• The contract length of the village manager cannot exceed the length of the mayor’s term.

In a follow-up interview with Richard Free Press on Tuesday, Feb. 21, Pekau said the decision to tie the village manager’s term to the mayor’s “makes sense and is pretty logical.”

“Whereas, under the current form, if we wanted to extend [the village manager’s] contract six years through [the next mayoral term] … we could do that,” Pekau said.

The proposed ordinance also states that the village manager “shall not be otherwise employed in any capacity, or hold any other office, whether on a full or part-time basis, by any other person, firm or corporation, nor shall he perform any work, consult or otherwise be engaged by any unit of local government other than the Village.”

When asked if this meant the village manager could be an elected official, Pekau said he believed that would be illegal.

“I don’t know of any other place that does that,” Pekau said. “I’m pretty sure that is against the law. It never crossed my mind.”

Pekau also responded to recent news articles suggesting he wants to be named village manager.

“I have no interest in being the village manager,” he said. “I don’t believe legally that is possible. I think it is against state law.”

Pekau also addressed the criticism on the timing of the ordinance discussion, considering that the referendum is more than a month away. He said the item will not be brought up for an official vote at a future Village Board meeting until after the April election — and only if the voters were to side in favor of abandoning the manager form of government.

“We already stated publicly multiple times that we were going to create a village manager position, so why not show people exactly what we were going to create at the Committee of the Whole?” Pekau responded.