Update, 10 p.m., Monday, Jan. 21, 2013

Orland Park trustees voted in favor of an increase in water rates Monday night, to defray rising costs from Chicago and Oak Lawn and to maintain Orland's local infrastructure.

Rates for properties using 9,000 gallons per month or less will be $4.65 per 1,000 gallons, between 9,000 and 18,000 gallons costs $5.62 and greater than 18,000 gallons costs $6.59. The new rates begin immediately and will include water use back to Jan. 1.

The increase is expected to cost an average Orland Park household an additional $64.26 per year.

Reasons behind the increase were discussed at the Jan. 7 meeting. No further discussion took place on the rates Monday night.

View attached documents for rates for unincorporated areas, as well as comparisons to other nearby towns' water rates. 

The Orland Park Public Safety Committee also approved sending a proposal to the full board for a vote that would make citations local for driving while texting and sending other electronic messages, such as email.

Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy said the ticket cost will remain about $60, as has been the case since Orland Park officers began citing for the act in summer 2012. 

If the village board votes in favor of making texting while driving a locally-prohibited ordinance, costs will not change. Those cited will have the option to attend a hearing at the Orland Park Civic Center or pay the fine locally. 

People cited with texting while driving in Orland Park now are required to attend traffic court at the Bridgeview Courthouse to challenge the ticket, since the tickets were written under state law.

If the board approves the measure, ticket proceeds would be kept locally, once costs for the Civic Center hearings are met, McCarthy said. 

Original Post, 5:47 p.m., Monday, Jan, 21, 2013

Orland Park trustees will discuss making it a ticketable offense in town for people to text while driving, by adopting a section of state driving code as a local law.

The state statute, to be discussed during the public safety committee meeting Monday night, prohibits sending electronic messages while driving except for six situations, including:

• using hands free or voice-operated modes
• parked on a roadway shoulder
• communicating with emergency personnel in an emergency
• while the car is in park or neutral when stopped in traffic

Trustees will discuss a new restaurant called Indra's Thai Restaurant during the development services committee meeting. The owners are looking to take over the former Chicago Taste Gyros space at 159^th Street and Wolf Road.

Also up during development services is a proposal to build three new single-family house lots at 9855 W. 144th St.

Look at the attached meeting media packets for more information.

Orland Park Patch’s live blog through Cover It Live will provide minute-by-minute updates from the meeting on this page starting at 6 p.m. Look in the Cover It Live window above, and you’ll see an area where you can join in and offer your comments and questions. The same rules apply as on finished articles on the site.

Looking for more government stories?

• Cook County Seniors Urged to File for Property Tax Breaks
• Gov Can't Keep Track of All His Boards and Commissions
• Scam: Assessor's Office Impostors Calling Residents

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