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Week Ending - November 4, 2022

Welcome to the weekend and the latest edition of the Village of Forest Park's weekly e-newsletter! Please use this e-newsletter as a resource to provide you with the latest news, events and resources in and around Forest Park!

In this edition, please find updates from the Village Council, Public Works, the Forest Park Police, and Community Center, community news, job opportunities and more!

We want to hear from you! If you have news or events that you would like to include in future editions, please let us know. Have a wonderful weekend!

Village Council News

Village Council Meeting Information

The next meeting of the Forest Park Village Council will be held on Monday, November 14, 2022 at 7pm in the lower level of Village Hall.

Can't make the meeting in person? Village Council meetings are streamed live and recordings are published to the Village website within a few days after the meeting.

To view the meetings live via Zoom, click here and then click on the Zoom link for the current meeting. Meetings will start at 7pm.

To view recordings of the Village Council meetings, click here, then click on the date you would like to view.

News from the Village Clerk's Office

Election Day- Tuesday, November 8, 2022

The Illinois General Election will take place on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. For information on voter registration or to locate your polling place, click here.

Village Hall Closed - Veterans Day

Friday, November 11th, Village Hall will be closed in recognition of Veterans Day.

At 11am, the American Legion will honor Armed Forces Veterans with a ceremony at Popelka Park (Adams St. and Thomas Ave.) All are welcome to join.

Employment Opportunities

The Village of Forest Park has the following employment opportunities available:

Police Desk Clerk

Part-Time Parking Enforcement Officer

Bus Driver

Childcare Worker

Crossing Guard

Click here for more information

News from the Department of Public Health & Safety

The Department of Public Health and Safety is researching code in nearby towns that allow a limited number of backyard hens. Click here for more information.

News from the Public Works Department

Leaf Removal Program

The Village of Forest Park offers an opportunity for residents to dispose of leaves during the fall season. There is no added cost for this service. Leaves should be raked curbside into the street gutters and will later be removed by the Village's Public Works Department. The Public Works Department Leaf Removal Program spans from October 1 – December 1 each year. The leaf pick-up schedule follows the street sweeper daily schedule, which is available by clicking here. Residents shall rake their leaves curbside a day before their scheduled pickup day. No grass clippings, bags or tree limbs are allowed. Contractors illegally dumping leaves (from other sites) will be cited.

Residents are also encouraged to bag their leaves and place them by their trash receptacles. Unlimited yard waste removal is included during spring, summer, and fall, in the Village’s refuse contract.

Upcoming Sidewalk Improvements

Sidewalk replacement will take place this Fall. For a list of sidewalks that will be replaced, click here.

Please be cautious when travelling in and around theses areas as large trucks and machinery will be present.

News from the Community Center

Senior Newsletter

The October/November/December Senior Newsletter is now available! Click here for information on senior movies, trips and more!

News from the Fire Department

Daylight Savings Time Ends - Check Your Smoke Detector!

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 6th. "Fall back" an hour and also remember to check your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries. When replacing batteries, hit the "test" button to ensure the detector is in good working condition. Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years and carbon monoxide detectors every 5 to 10 years (check the packaging for details).

News from the Police Department

Neighborhood Watch Meeting

The November Neighborhood Watch meeting we will be on Tuesday, November 15 at 7pm at Village Hall. Forest Park residents and business owners are welcome to join.

Overnight On Street Parking Restrictions

Just a friendly reminder that there is no parking on any street in the Village between the hours of 2am – 5am. If overnight parking is needed, please call 708-366-7272 between the hours of 8 PM & 2 AM or click here to obtain a parking pass. Only five passes can be issued per month. You will need the license plate number, make of vehicle and where the vehicle is parked.

This parking restriction is in place for street sweeping and the safety of our residents. Please obey the restrictions. Violators will be ticketed and possibly towed.

Attention Vehicle Owners

Owners of some 2011 - 2021 Kia models and some 2016-2021 Hyundai models should be aware that there is a keying issue with these autos that make them easy to steal and vulnerable to theft especially with information being put forth on social media showing the glitch that makes certain autos easy to steal. Owners of Kia and Hyundai autos are encouraged to lock their autos and park in well-lit areas in an effort to curtail thefts. Owners are also encouraged to purchase and utilize auto theft prevention devices such as "The Club" to help discourage thieves from stealing Kias and Hyundais in our community.

Community News

Happy 45th Anniversary Starship!

Congratulations to Starship Subs on celebrating their 45th Anniversary today! The Village of Forest Park is proud to have you call us your home!

Electric Vehicle Rebate Program - Round 2

Applications for the second funding round for the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program are being accepted starting November 1, 2022 and must be postmarked on or before January 31, 2023.

To be eligible for a rebate, the vehicle must be exclusively powered and refueled by electricity, plugged in to charge, and licensed to drive on public roadways.

Eligibility requirements for an EV rebate in Illinois include, but are not limited to:

The purchaser must reside in Illinois at time of vehicle purchase and at the time the rebate is issued.
The vehicle must be purchased from a dealer located in Illinois and licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State.
Rented or leased vehicles do not qualify for the rebate.
The vehicle cannot have been the subject of a previous EV rebate under this new program in Illinois.
Only individuals can receive a rebate and can only receive one rebate. Businesses, government units, organizations, and other entities that are not individuals will be denied a rebate. Applicants must ensure that all documentation is in the name of the individual applying for the rebate and do not include or list an entity (i.e., LLC, Inc., Corp.) as the purchaser or co-purchaser of the vehicle or the vehicle registrant.
The rebate amount cannot exceed the purchase price of the vehicle.
The purchaser must retain ownership of the vehicle for a minimum of 12 consecutive months immediately after the vehicle purchase date.
The purchaser must apply for the rebate within 90-days of the vehicle purchase date.
Along with the application form, an applicant must submit FOUR types of documentation as listed in Section 4 on the second page of the form:
Copy of the bill of sale, purchase invoice, or purchase agreement from an Illinois dealership;
Documentation of proof of purchase, such as a copy of a canceled check, an invoice or bill showing that the applicable amount has been paid or that no remaining balance exists, or loan documents (depending on the type of sales document used by the dealership, the proof of purchase could be shown on the invoice or agreement, such as a $0 balance owed to the dealer; separate proof of purchase documentation will be needed if the invoice shows that an amount is owed to the dealer and the payment documentation amount(s) will need to match the "owed amount" on the invoice);
Copy of the Illinois vehicle registration or temporary permit provided by the dealership at the time of sale/delivery; and
IRS W-9 or W-8 form (substitutions for these forms using other government documents or financial statements are not acceptable).

As required under CEJA, Illinois EPA will prioritize the review of applications from low-income purchasers and award rebates to purchasers accordingly.

Full details including the Application and Instructions are found

here.

CTA Notice of Public Hearing

November 10, 2022

CTA Train Service Changes

Cook County Promise Pilot Program

Cook County’s Promise Pilot is the nation’s largest publicly funded guaranteed income pilot. The $42 million program will provide $500 monthly payments—no strings attached—to 3,250 Cook County families for two years to improve the economic stability, health, and independence of our residents and communities.

More than one-third of all Cook County households are eligible to apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of Cook County, and meet income eligibility. For more information here.

Des Plaines River Trail Central Feasibility Study

Help make Forest Park a better place to walk and bike! The Des Plaines River Trail Central Feasibility Study is exploring how the Des Plaines River Trail can be extended from the CTA Forest Park Blue Line Station and Illinois Prairie Path to the Salt Creek Trail near 26th Street. The study will consider both on-street and off-street routes and guide improvements to sidewalks, paths, intersections, and streets to make it easier to bike and walk through Forest Park, Maywood, Broadview, or North Riverside. Take our short survey to provide your input! Click here to take the survey!