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Week Ending - June 17th, 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 on the volunteer opportunities, brush pick up, storm drains, Juneteenth events, Pride Celebration, Groovin' in the Grove, animal control, the Proviso Handyman Department, 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 Seeking Volunteers
The Village of Forest Park has several open positions on committees and boards, including the Recreation Board, Safety & Traffic Commission and several more. If you are interested in serving on one of these volunteer committees, please click here for information and to fill out an application.
Community Notice: Brush Pick Up Delayed
Due to recent severe storms in the area, the Village’s Brush Chipper has been loaned out to neighboring communities through our mutual aid agreement. There will not be brush pick up this Friday, June 17 or Tuesday, June 21. We hope to be able to return to brush pick up on Friday, June 23.
Community Notice: Storm Drains
The Village street sweeper should be back in operation soon. In the meantime, we ask that you please do your part in keeping storm drains free of debris. When storm drains become clogged with debris, water can no longer drain from the street during heavy rains. Storm water will pool along the street and can flood streets and properties. The storm drains are located along the curb line on every street, except brick streets. You might want to use these tools for cleaning the drain closest to your home: a broom, a rake, a trash grabber, leaf claws, work gloves, and/or safety vest, a dustpan, and a pail or yard waste bag. Debris should be swept away from storm drain and disposed of with lawn/yard waste that is picked up by the refuse company at no additional charge.

Any assistance from our community in keeping the Village streets clean is greatly appreciated.
Inugural West Villages Juneteenth Parade - June 18
The Inaugural West Villages Juneteenth Parade, parade begins at 11am on Saturday, June 18th at Randolph and Circle Ave in Forest Park and will go west through River Forest and Maywood to Proviso East High School. The parade will conclude with a post-parade event which will include food vendors and entertainment at Proviso East High School. Please join the villages of Forest Park, Oak Park, River Forest and Maywood in celebrating this special day!


Interested in marching in the parade? Click here to email and sign up to march or call 708-450-6366 for more information.

For Juneteenth Parade Sponsorship Opportunities, click here.
Juneteenth Parade Route Street Closures
The West Villages Juneteenth Parade will begin in Forest Park. The parade will run from Circle Ave and Randolph Street west towards River Forest and then along Washington Blvd through River Forest and Maywood, ending with a expo at the historic Proviso East High School. Staging for the parade will take place on Circle Ave from Randolph to Harlem Ave. There will be no parking along the route and staging area for several hours on June 18. Please obey the "NO PARKING" signs to avoid being towed and be prepared for street closures in the area before, during and for a brief time after the parade.
Juneteenth Pool Party
Celebrate opportunity, diversity and unity by joining the Illinois Juneteenth Committee and the Forest Park Juneteenth Committee for a Family Pool Celebration and Movie Night at the Park District of Forest Park. Registration is required as capacity is limited. Click here to register.
Village Hall Closed- Monday, June 20
In recognition of the Juneteenth holiday, Village Offices will be closed on Monday, June 20, 2022. We will reopen for normal business hours at 8am on Tuesday, June 21.
Groovin' in the Grove is Back!
Groov'n In the Grove is back for the summer! Grab your friends and join us for these FREE concerts!
Forest Park Pride Event
Community Notice: Animal Safety
Summer heat affects our pets and animals too. Be sure to take proper precautions during the summer months. Cook County offers information on summer safety tips for pets, rabies shots and animal control and can be found by clicking here.
Community Info: Proviso Handyman Department Offerings
Input Wanted: Public Right-of-Ways ADA Transition Plan
The Village of Forest Park is seeking public input on the Village’s draft Public Right-of-Ways ADA Transition Plan. The Transition Plan addresses the public right-of-ways portion of the ADA requirements and not the public facilities portion (Village buildings and other facilities and village owned parking lots.) The draft of the plan can be found here.
 
Public comments on the draft plan can be emailed to mamidei@forestpark.net . Please put “ADA Transition Plan” in the subject line. You may also call 708-615-6201.
Local Hiring Opportunities
The Village of Forest Park and a number of community partners are hiring! Please see the links below for more information and to apply:


Forest Park Police Department
The Board of Police and Fire Commissioners of the Village of Forest Park, Illinois is accepting applications for the position of police officer with the Forest Park Police Department. More information can be found here.

Parking Enforcement Officer
The Forest Park Police Department is seeking Part-Time Parking Enforcement Officer(s); Shifts to be filled are 8:00pm – Midnight or Midnight – 6:00am. The position is a rotating schedule assigned by the Supervisor – 4 days on and 4 days off which includes weekends and some holidays. Eligible candidates will be required to pass an aptitude test and an extensive background check. Qualifications include high school diploma (or equivalent), a valid driver’s license, knowledge of basic parking regulations, and good verbal and written skills.
Open until filled. Applications are available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave. or at www.forestpark.net and should be returned Attn: Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk, Village of Forest Park, 517 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130. Email: vmoritz@forestpark.net.

Public Works- Seasonal
The Forest Park Public Works Department is seeking a motivated and outgoing individual to fill the role of seasonal laborer. This individual will work under the supervision of the Director of Public works on their daily tasks.
Job duties include:
• Operating and competently using a variety of hand tools and power equipment, such as hammer, saw, screwdriver, lawn mowers, weed trimmers and hand tools
• Watering and maintaining landscape areas & public parks, and trimming shrubbery
• Performing all other aesthetic maintenance upon the city parks & buildings
• Cleaning, painting, and performing routine maintenance to public areas and equipment.
• Performing all types of landscape maintenance, installations, and mowing.
• Moving debris, dirt, or other material using a shovel, rake, or other tools
• Have the physical ability to walk long areas, picking up litter
Experience in any/all construction related fields and disciplines are welcomed. Position requires a valid driver’s license. The interested candidate must also be a minimum of 18 years of age and enrolled in a community college or university. The ability to work the entire summer without taking long periods of time off is necessary. $12.00/hour - 40 hours/week.
Position will be open until filled, however submittal by May 15, 2022 is encouraged. EOE. Employment application form can be found here.
Qualified individuals interested in being considered for the position should email the application form and resume if desired to: vmoritz@forestpark.net with Public Works in the subject field.

Utility Billing Clerk
The Village of Forest Park seeks candidates for the union position of Full-Time Administration Utility Billing Clerk. Experience with data entry, customer service, administrative assistant skills, bookkeeping or accounting is highly desired. Must be flexible with work assignments and comfortable working with numbers and the public. Other qualifications include computer skills, the ability to meet deadlines, good knowledge of English language, general office skills, including handling of non-emergency calls and walk-up customer service, and good verbal and written skills.

Starting salary $32,487 annually. Generous Benefits Package, IMRF Pension and 10 Paid Holidays. Open until filled. Eligible candidates will be required to pass pre-employment ability testing and an extensive background check. Applications are available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave. or at www.forestpark.net and should be returned Attn: Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk, Village of Forest Park, 517 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130. Email: vmoritz@forestpark.net.   
Community Notice: Water Rate Increase Effective June 1st
Effective June 1, water rates for all Forest Park customers will increase by 5%. Please plan accordingly this summer when watering your lawn or garden, filling your pool, doing laundry or dishes, and other daily activities that use larger amounts of water. Be sure to check your toilet and sinks for any leaks that may unknowingly add to an increase in water consumption. This increase reflects an increase in water rates passed along from the City of Chicago from whom the Village of Forest Park buys water from.
Community Notice: Parkway Planting
As warmer weather is upon us and gardens and landscapes begin to grow, the Village would like to remind residents that if you are planning on placing plantings other than grass on your parkway (the area between the sidewalk and the street), you must submit an Application For Private Parkway Plantings in addition to a waiver. Applications must be notarized and can be mailed or dropped off at Village Hall.
Community Notice: Lawn Maintenance
Spring time and rain mean grasses and weeds grow quickly. As a reminder, the Village of Forest Park requires property owners and occupants to maintain growth of any grasses, thistles, ragweed, and other weeds at a height below 10 inches. Failure to do so can result in a citation.

For more information on trees, shrubs and vegetation within the village, click here.
Community Notice: Public Works Announcement
Yard Waste Disposal
Please be advised that home owners are responsible for disposal of all yard waste and leaves, unless it is during the village’s leaf removal program from October 1st – December 1st. Residents shall not put any debris into the street that can hinder water flow and cause flooding and blockage of catch basin lids. Spring is here and the threat for heavy rain fall is upon us. Please do your part in helping keep our streets clean. Thank you.
Reminder: Village of Forest Park - Utility Payment System Change (Effective Immediately)
Take care of your water and sewer bill quickly and efficiently by paying online.

Beginning in January 2022, the Village of Forest Park began phasing out use of the e-Pay portal and is asking customers to use the Springbrook Civic Pay portal to pay water bills online.

Springbrook Civic Pay portal allows water customers the ability to view and download their water account activity, including usage, billing, and payment history. The portal enables 24/7 access to accounts, with the option for safe collection of payments commonly made in person. Payments are posted in real time. Users can make one time payments or create an online profile, choose paperless billing as an option, and sign up for auto pay.

When you pay your next water bill, please click here to create a new account in Springbrook Civic Pay and have access to bill payment and account history. You will need you water account number when creating your account.

Customers will still be able to use the Village's Automatic Debit Program. This free and convenient method pays your water bill from your checking or savings accounts. For information on the automatic debit program, contact us at 708-366-2323.


*Special Note* – If you sign up for auto pay after the invoice has been generated, it will not go into effect until the next billing cycle.
Free White Sox Tickets for Veterans
Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough is teaming up with the Chicago White Sox to offer game tickets to Veterans, Active-Duty Military, National Guard and Reserves. See the flyer below for more information.
Forest Park Senior News and Resources
The newest edition (April/May/June) of the Forest Park Senior News is now available. Please click here to read more.