Thursday, March 21, 2013
Orland Park Patch's guide to the April 2013 Orland Park Village Board race, where four candidates are going after three open seats.
Three current Orland Park village trustees and one challenger are running for three open seats on the Orland Park Village Board on April 9. Incumbents James Dodge, Kathy Fenton and Brad O'Halloran are looking to continue serving on the board for another four years, while challenger John Fotopoulos is campaigning to take one of those open seats. Mayor Dan McLaughlin is running unopposed for what will be his sixth term. Newcomer John Mehalek is running unopposed for village clerk, after David Maher announced he would not be running for re-election. Early voting begins March 25. Election Day is April 9. When we get closer to the days when you can cast a ballot, we'll post links to biographical and issue-based information about the trustee …
Friday, March 8, 2013
The Orland Park Village Board will vote on their next meeting to tear down the middle of the former Orland Plaza building, making way for further work on the Main Street Triangle.
The next phase of demolition on the former Orland Plaza building is slated to begin later in March, pending a final approval from the Orland Park Village Board. Bechstein Construction Corporation of Tinley Park is the village staff’s recommended choice for the demolition work, with the lowest offer out of 10 total bids. For $106,900, the company offered to tear down the structure from where the Plaza Café used to reside up to the Gee-Schussler Insurance office, which will remain for the time being along with the Marquette Bank office. No plans have been decided upon for what will be built in that space once the structure section is removed, said Orland Park Village Manager Paul Grimes. “”We’re still working on that,” Grimes said. “We’re …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Orland Park trustees also discussed further Orland Plaza demolition during Monday night's meeting. Read our live blog transcript for more information from the meeting.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Orland Park trustees also discussed further Orland Plaza demolition during Monday night's meeting. Read our live blog transcript for more information from the meeting.
Orland Park Village Board trustees will talk fees for using a new dog park scheduled to open within Centennial Park later in the year, during Monday night's village board meeting. The village's Parks Department has proposed charging Orland Park and Orland Township residents $25 per year for park use, and $50 for non residents. The initial fee will be for one dog. Residents who want to bring multiple dogs to the park would pay an additional $10 per dog, while non-residents would pay $20 per added dog, if the board approves the rates. Bids for demolishing another portion of the former Orland Plaza will also be up for discussion Monday night. This contract would cover demolition of the remaining structures down to the basement and/or slab, …
James Dodge is running for the Orland Park Village Board in the April 2013 election.
Why are you seeking office? I care about Orland Park and the people that live here. We have built a great place to live. I enjoy public service and I want to see Orland Park remain a financially strong, responsive local government. What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? The most important priority will be to continue to meet the special responsibility we have to being fiscally responsible and accountable to you, the village taxpayers, in an open and transparent way. We manage your tax dollars wisely; we are doing more with less and providing you with real value. We are finding new ways to listen and the input from Orland residents on our priorities. What sets you apart from other candidates? We are a strong …
Kathy Fenton is running for the Orland Park Village Board in the April 2013 election.
Why are you seeking office? I am seeking re-election because I can offer firsthand municipal government experience and years of knowing what people want in their community. I have greatly enjoyed being able to serve and help the people of Orland Park. I have a great appreciation for the wonderful sense of community that we enjoy and it has been my honor to serve the residents who call Orland Park home. I welcome an opportunity to continue the work that we've started as we continue to carefully guide Orland Park to its very exciting future. What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? My single most important priority will be to continue to meet the special responsibility we have to being fiscally responsible and …
Brad O'Halloran is running for the Orland Park Village Board in the April 2013 election.
Why are you seeking office? To continue to keep Orland Park the premier community of the Chicagoland area. To keep it a place we can be proud to live in and raise our families in. What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? Continuing to keep Orland Park a fiscally strong, safe community that people want to move to and raise their families. What sets you apart from other candidates? I think I bring a unique mix of business expertise and long time community service. I enjoy representing the citizens of Orland Park and have felt that I have been able to make a difference in the community I love. Mayor Dan McLaughlin has spoken previously on the importance of fostering Orland Park as a retail hub. Should the village …
John Fotopoulos is running for the Orland Park Village Board in the April 2013 election.
Why are you seeking office? As a father of four young children, I want to make Orland Park the best place to raise a family. What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? Reduce taxes. What sets you apart from other candidates? Not only do I live in Orland Park, but my law practice is located in town. That allows me to stay in touch with the needs of our community at any given moment. Mayor Dan McLaughlin has spoken previously on the importance of fostering Orland Park as a retail hub. Should the village also work to diversify its tax base through other types of businesses, and what types would you suggest? Why or why not? I will concentrate my efforts on developing the I-80 corridor and create new jobs. It is …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Orland Park trustees voted Monday night on a slew of items that have passed committee. Finance, technology and parks and recreation committees also met. Read our live blog transcript for a full recap of the meeting.
Update, 10 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 Mercedes Benz of Orland Park could get some additional money in their tax share agreement with the village, to account for furniture, fixtures and other equipment in their new properties. The Orland Park dealership will be opening a Smart Car dealer and Mercedes commercial van dealer in an adjacent space, formerly occupied by BMW before they moved further west on 159th Street. In November, the village approved a 50 percent tax share agreement for five years or until the dealership has collected $453,690. With added costs for the furniture, fixtures and equipment, the new maximum unanimously approved by the board Monday night is $574,424. "It’s based on the amount of incremental sales increase, so they …
Monday, January 21, 2013
Orland Park trustees also discussed adding space for two new houses in the Old Orland area and a new Thai restaurant at Wolf Road and 159th Street. Read our live blog transcript for a recap of the meeting.
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 …
laura
1:28 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Current OP Board members, candidates and Mayor: OP taxpayers would LOVE a thorough accounting thus far of the lease rates, demand/interest and future "contingency" plans for the 9750 project. Why hasn't the Village provided more transparency around this $65 million, TAXPAYER-funded construction project? Minus the rhetoric, please; just a serving of actual data. We are intelligent, educated adults… more ›