Community Email
November 13, 2020
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For the Record
with Dave Niemeyer
I’d like to take this opportunity to update you on the Oak Lawn Water Infrastructure Improvement project, which began in 2013 and is on-track to be completed by 2023.

As you may know, Tinley Park purchases its water from Oak Lawn, which in turn gets it from Chicago. Once complete, the infrastructure improvements to the Oak Lawn water system will benefit all of its customer communities, including Tinley Park, by meeting the future water demands of the region’s growing population.

The new system will have dual, redundant feeds; more modern and efficient pump stations; and significantly larger capacity. It will also provide backup power at pumping stations and address safety concerns and fire flow deficiencies. These are all improvements that will make the system better and more reliable not just for Tinley Park residents, but the tens of thousands of other customers served by the system.

So far, $143 million of the total project has been completed or is under contract. Completed portions include the addition of new pump stations and additional capacity and reliability. To be completed over the next few years is the addition of transmission mains with interconnects for additional capacity and redundancy between existing and new systems.

There has been a lot of really great intergovernmental cooperation with this project. In addition to working with the other customer communities to protect the interests of our respective communities, we also worked with ComEd to save about $2 million on soil re-spreading, negotiated a land-use license with the Forest Preserve District, and worked with IDOT to expedite some of the reviews, which can often be a delay on projects of this size.

The customer communities, including Tinley Park, also brought on a third-party engineer to review and work alongside the Oak Lawn engineer. We hired Christopher Burke Engineering for this task, and this addition has helped us realize more efficiencies and save a lot more money than we would have otherwise.

As the project has progressed, there have been a few cost increases. Because costs aren’t equally distributed to all customers, we aren’t necessarily going to pay the same rates as other customer communities. For example, a portion of the project in Orland Park needed a pipe diameter increase, but since the change benefited Orland Park, they covered a portion of the pipe re-alignment costs.

You’re probably wondering how this is going to impact your water bill. Keep in mind that the Oak Lawn system is just one part of our water rate cost, and we’ll likely still need to increase rates due to capital expenditures for the Tinley Park portion of the system, increased operating costs, as well as what Chicago charges for the cost of water. We’ll have a clearer picture of the rate increases needed as the project nears completion.

Ultimately, these improvements will help Tinley Park residents now and into the future as we continue to grow. Water is our most precious commodity, and we need to make sure we’re doing everything to ensure the Village has a clean, safe, steady supply for years to come.
Cook County issues stay-at-home advisory
Due to increased rates of COVID-19 transmission, and to prevent having to implement more restrictive mitigation measures, the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) is issuing a stay-at-home advisory for all suburban Cook County residents and visitors. The advisory will take effect at 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16 and will last at least 30 days.

The CCDPH is advising that residents stay home, limit gatherings and travel, and work from home if possible. Learn more on the CCDPH website.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is also recommending that residents stay at home as much as possible for the next three weeks to help combat the spread of COVID-19. The IDPH suggests that residents plan to work from home unless it is necessary for them to be in the workplace, and is asking employers to make accommodations for this. The department also recommends that residents only leave their home for necessary and essential activities such as COVID-19 testing, visiting the pharmacy and buying groceries.

For health questions about COVID-19, call the IDPH hotline at (800) 889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.

The Village also has a dedicated COVID-19 page on its website that is updated regularly. Check back often to stay up to date on all the latest COVID-19 information.
Village to host Holiday House Decorating Contest this season
Help light up Tinley Park by participating in the Village’s inaugural Holiday House Decorating Contest!

To enter your home into the contest, visit TinleyPark.org/HolidayShine and fill out the provided form. Be sure to attach a photo of your house, too! If you would also like to submit a five-second video of your home’s decorations in action, you can text it to (708) 927-5232 with your name and address. The deadline to submit your entry form is Sunday, Dec. 6.

Judging will take place from Dec. 7 to 10, and winners will be announced Dec. 11. Lights, music, animations and decorations must be activated during judging, which will take place at dusk. Houses will be judged in three categories: Best Use of Music, Best Animations and Best Overall Theme.

Winners in each category will receive bragging rights and a $100 gift card to the Tinley Park business of their choice. Addresses will be shared on a map so residents can drive around and enjoy the beautifully decorated homes. If you have any questions, email mktg@tinleypark.org.

Make your neighborhood shine!
Veterans Day Ceremony now showing
Click the image below to watch the Village of Tinley Park's and the Tinley Park Veterans Commission's 2020 Veterans Day Ceremony, which was held virtually Nov. 11 at the 80th Avenue train station.

The ceremony featured remarks by Veterans Commission Chairperson Dr. W. Douglas Rasmussen III, D.C., Tinley Park Mayor Jacob Vandenberg and former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who also received the Col. David G. Seaman Volunteer Veterans Recognition Award. The video also features a short musical performance by the Central Middle School Eighth-Grade Band Ensemble.

The video is also showing on the Village's YouTube channel and on Tinley TV, which broadcasts on Comcast Channel 4 and U-verse Channel 99.
Village of Tinley Park
16250 S. Oak Park Avenue Tinley Park, IL 60477
(708) 444-5000