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Week In Review: Robo Call Response and Naked Man Spotting

In the past week, you may have missed stories about election opinions, a murder suspect held without bail, fake credit cards, fire tax levy abatement, a new library system and others in Orland Park and nearby.

MONDAY District 230 School Board: A Pair of Incumbents Face 6 Challengers for 4 Seats A guide to the April 2013 District 230 school board race, pitting eight candidates for four seats. Man Uses Bogus Credit Cards to Buy Apple Products: Blotter Orland Park police reports, Feb. 13-25. TUESDAY Moraine Candidate Responds to Robo Call Describing Arrest Record Last week, a call went out to Orland Park residents denouncing Moraine Valley board candidate John Schiera for arrests, as well as Brad O’Halloran for endorsing him. Schiera said the call was “unfair” and all charges against him were dropped. Markham Teen Charged in Tinley Park 7-Eleven Murder Held Without Bond The alleged triggerman jailed in connection with last week's 7-Eleven parking …

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Orland Fire Reduces Tax Levy by $1.3 Million

The Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to abate about $1.3 million from their property tax levy for the current fiscal year, keeping the requested levy similar to last year.

The Orland Fire Protection District will be requesting a similar amount of property tax money compared to last year, after trustees voted unanimously to abate $1,321,600 from the upcoming property tax levy. The board approved the abatement with a 3-0 vote. Trustees Blair Rhode and Chris Evoy were not at Tuesday’s meeting. In December, district trustees passed a tax levy of about $28.4 million total, which included about $1.1 million to cover debt service. The abatement brings the total requested levy to about $27.1 million, which is closer to Orland Fire District Finance Director Kerry Sullivan’s levy estimate back in November 2012.   “The district has now elected to say we don’t need the amount we needed in December,” Sullivan said. …

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iPads on the Way to D135 After $18,000 Private Donation and More (Live Blog Transcript)

Orland School District 135 also adopted their tax levy for 2013 during Monday night’s school board meeting. Read our transcript from the meeting.

iPads on the Way to D135 After $18,000 Private Donation and More (Live Blog Transcript)

Orland School District 135 also adopted their tax levy for 2013 during Monday night’s school board meeting. Read our transcript from the meeting.

Update, 5:58 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 Schools within Orland School District 135 will soon be getting a technological boost, thanks to an anonymous private donation of $18,000. The money will go toward adding 40 new iPad Minis and 40 Apple TV units to be used by teachers in lessons. Apple TVs allow images on iPad screens to be projected for all students and participants to see. “It is a more accessible and portable system to use than other projection tools,” said Dan Doogan, the district’s technology coordinator and supervisor. “Both the iPads and Apple TVs can all be used in every one of our buildings.” The district will put four iPads and Apple TVs in each school, with one pairing set aside for special education use, said D135 Asst. …

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Orland Park Trustees Approve $19.2 Million Tax Levy for 2013 and More (Live Blog Transcript)

Trustees also discussed lowering rates for non-residents at the Sportsplex. Join us at 6 p.m. Read our transcript from the meeting.

The Orland Park Village Board will be voting on the tax levy for 2013 during the Monday night meeting. The total tax levy will be for $19,287,256, according to village documents. The operating levy, which accounts for taxes other than the Orland Park Public Library   A public hearing will be held for the 2013 budget at 6:45 p.m. The village's parks and recreation, finance and technology committees will meet before the full board at 6 p.m. Look at the media packets for each of the committee meetings, as well as the village board meeting, 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 …

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D135 Board Member Calls for President to Step Down

Orland School District 135 board member Mary Bragg called for president John Carmody to leave the board, citing a violation of board policy about conversations between board members.

Orland School District 135 Board Member Mary Bragg called for Board President John Carmody to resign at the Nov. 12 meeting, claiming he violated a board policy about communication between board members. The District 135 board narrowed down its list of candidates for a permanent superintendent after a series of interviews recently. Though not all members have been included on conversations about the candidates, according to Bragg. “Too many times we have walked into public meetings without the proper information to be prepared for the meeting discussion,” Bragg said. “The board president is responsible for making sure all members are all informed. He doesn’t keep all board members informed. He calls his quorum buddies on the board and …

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In the Rear View: Election Night and Meat Grinder Save

In the past week, you may have missed stories about a tax levy, pornography charges, leery suggestions to two girls, holiday fun, Carlton Fisk and more Orland Park news.

MONDAY Former Orland Firefighter Now Facing Pornography Charges Prosecutors filed new charges of aggravated possession of child porn against former Orland Fire Protection District firefighter Dean Milenkovic, 46, in October, according to court records. D135 to Request 3 Percent Higher Tax Levy (Live Blog Transcript) Orland School District 135 will ask for a slightly higher figure than in 2011 to offset costs built into to the latest teacher contract, which is tied to a figure that caps what school districts can request in tax money. Read our meeting transcript. TUESDAY 2012 Election Results: How Orland Park Voted Find out latest results for the races in county, state and congressional contests and other elections that affect Orland Park. …

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D135 to Request 3 Percent Higher Tax Levy (Live Blog Transcript)

Orland School District 135 will ask for a slightly higher figure than in 2011 to offset costs built into to the latest teacher contract, which is tied to a figure that caps what school districts can request in tax money. Read our meeting transcript.

District 230 Proposes No Increase in Upcoming Tax Levy Over Last Year

D230 will not ask for an increase in the 2011 tax levy, and plan on working with the same amount, $97.1 million, they received last year.

Consolidated High School District 230 is proposing a zero percent increase in its 2011 tax levy, keeping with the $97.2 million the district received in its 2010 extension, according to district staff. District 230 Assistant Superintendent for Business Steve Langert recapped the levy during the Thursday night's school board meeting. Langert said any potential “loss and cost” from certificate of errors, tax payment defaults, tax objections and property tax appeals will be covered by an estimated 1.7 percent increase in Cook Country taxes, in accordance with the county’s tax capped extension procedures. “This is the stage we’re at now. Even without a tax levy increase, there is still a fair chance to come up with a balanced budget next year…

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Lone Orland Resident Speaks Out On Lack of Teacher Contract, Walsh Demotion at D135 Meeting

The board also approved a tax levy with no increase over the last fiscal year.

Orland Park resident Jean Corridon had some thoughts to share on Melanie Walsh's employment and the lack of a new teacher contract at the Orland School District 135 Board of Education meeting Monday night. While she didn't sign in to speak, the board opted to give her a few minutes after Superintendent Paul Howell's report during the meeting held at Center School. "Excuse me," she said. "I don't know how this goes, but I have some comments to make." First she spoke about the "lack of contract" for teachers in the district. With about a week until the winter holidays begin, D135 teachers are still without a new contract. "How discouraging for them," Corridon said, reading from prepared remarks. "What better way to negatively impact the …

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