Orland Mayor Dan McLaughlin details village Greening Initiative and Open Lands strategies

Interview this morning (Friday August 28, 2009) with Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin on WJJG 1530 AM Radio.

Click here to listen to the Podcast or download it from iTunes.com or RadioChicagoland.com.

McLaughlin details the Village of Orland Park's Greening Initiative and discusses how residents can participate and help not only improve the environment but also save money by reducing costs on energy and more.

The mayor also said that he uses a Push mower to cut his lawn, like I do, most of the time. Sometimes you have to still use a lawnmower if it gets too high and can't be cut with the push lawn mower but it is an energy-saving environment saving option that he says will be included in the village Greening Initiative if it is already not on the list.

Go to the Village's Web site at

www.orland-park.il.us

or the special Greening Initiative web site at

www.SmartLivingOP.com

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Mayor McLaughlin's "State of the Village Address"

Mayor McLaughlin provided me with a copy of his State of the Village address to the Orland Park Chamber of Commerce and I offer it here intact for your review. I'd love to hear your feedback:

Ray Hanania
===== ========== ===========
Mayor Daniel J. McLaughlin
State of the Village 2009
Orland Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast
February 25, 2009

Good morning. I want to thank the Chamber for again inviting me to report on the state of the village. I also want to thank the Chamber for inviting me to be a part of their recent installation of officers.

(Mayor introduces Village Board members and Department Heads in attendance.)

Today’s headlines are scary: “Stock Market Down, State and Federal Budgets Tank, Foreclosures Up, Consumer Confidence Shaken, and Almost 8% Unemployed.”

Did you ever wonder what the level of consumer confidence would be if the headlines read: “92% Employed, Consumer Buying Power Best in Years, and Gasoline Prices at 10 Month Low?”

Well, I am going to tell you that Orland Park is not immune to problems facing the nation. When the national economy is struggling and the State of Illinois is worse, it’s no surprise that we, like every community, will have some problems.

We receive income from four main sources:
Sales tax revenue was 6.8% under budget in 2008, which was 5% less than Fiscal Year 2007;
Motor fuel tax in 2008 was 7.5% under budget in part because the state changed the distribution rate;

Real estate tax was relatively unchanged;

Income tax was actually up 6.8% over budget.

In addition, impact fees, which are part of the permit fees, were down considerably because so few new homes were built in 2008. Only 44 permits were issued for new construction of single family residences or townhomes. And like every town in America we have some residential foreclosures. However, we are working to identify families having problems before they reach foreclosure to try to help. Right now, we don’t find out until it’s too late.

However, I am here today to give you the confidence building headlines. One of our best decisions of 2008 was hiring Paul Grimes. I have repeatedly stated that we have the best municipal staff in Illinois. Well it just got considerably better. Paul’s background and experience and the way he works with people make him a great asset to the village. And the fact that he is still here after six months shows he has a great sense of humor.

Since I started talking about finances, let me continue there. We maintain an Aa2 bond rating from Moody’s and an AA+ rating from Standard and Poor’s. These are some of the best bond ratings in the suburbs and a very positive position to be in.

A few years ago we adopted financial policies to maintain very strong fund balances which today are proving to be critical and one more area that will help Orland Park weather the storm.

Because our budget year ended in October when most projects were winding down and looking for final payouts we found ourselves constantly carrying funds into the next budget year which was burdensome and at times confusing.

Last October we took on the extra task of planning and approving a 15 month budget. It was once again balanced but it involved trimming in some areas, cutting in other areas and pushing back some projects in light of our projected revenue being lower.

In addition, I directed the village manager to put a freeze on hiring full time positions unless public safety was an issue -- in my office as well. I know some of you came to know Jack Knight. Jack moved to a different position in another community and we are happy for him. That position and others will not be filled until it is appropriate.

While the village is a large operation, in many ways it’s no different than your small business or your home budget. If there is less money coming in you spend less.

We are very happy to have been able to continue rebating homeowners their Orland Park property taxes. We began a different procedure to help us in planning our balanced budget, and homeowners will still receive 80% to 85% of their real estate taxes paid to the Village of Orland Park.

The Village has always applied for the various grants that are available and last year was no different, also the results of a Special Census conducted last year will provide us with an additional $350,000.

I will tell you that our staff and I have been in constant contact with all of our representatives in Congress to make sure Orland Park is considered in the Federal Stimulus Package.

With new leadership in the State, I feel confident that we will finally see a Capital Bill which will help on several projects that we have been working on.

Our Recreation Department was busy in 2008 building four new parks and a disc golf course. I have gone frolfing myself several times at the new course and it is becoming very popular.

The 159th and LaGrange Road intersection improvement was finally completed and I think you will agree that it was a great improvement to our traffic flow in that area. We are now looking at some utility relocation in the spring and going out to bid with a fall start to the improvement of the 143rd and LaGrange Rd. intersection. These were the two biggest bottlenecks on LaGrange Rd. and I am looking forward to having both completed.

This might be the time to mention (as I touched on last year) the amount of public improvement projects done in the last 15 years and I mention this, so you know, that this board recognizes the need for infrastructure improvements and works hard to provide those improvements. $270 million dollars was spent in water main, sanitary sewer, storm water, road projects and building construction projects. Of that $270 million dollars the Village of Orland Park paid $161 million dollars towards those projects.

In 2008 we began the construction of a new 7.5 million gallon reservoir which will increase our storage capacity by 40%. This project will add another $9.1 million to that already impressive list.

Continuing in the spirit of providing some positive headlines, I believe you will find these numbers rather interesting. A retail vacancy rate under 10% for a community has always been considered positive. The national average for vacancy rates available from the beginning of the fourth quarter were at 13.4%. The vacancy rate in Orland Park is 7.36%. This continues to be a very strong retail market. We have over 8.5 million square feet of retail space and we continue to be in the top ten largest revenue producers in the state.

There is a certain amount of retail projects that were started a year or two before the economy hit the brick wall. Those projects were completed but never occupied. If you took that square foot figure out because we didn’t lose businesses at those locations, our vacancy rate would be 5.56%.

The National Average for office space vacancy is at 9.8% and Orland Park’s rate is 3.75%. Taking out the space that was never occupied and we are at 2.31%.
I have a list here with the names of 83 businesses that opened in Orland Park in 2008.

There were 18 new commercial construction projects in 2008 with a value of more than $20 million. There were also 226 businesses that took out remodeling permits, continuing to invest in their property.

Marcus Theaters expanded and we had several new restaurants including Fat Burger, Longhorn Steakhouse, Red Robin and Ottimo’s. A couple of side notes worth mentioning, the general manager of Red Robin said that this store’s opening week was the best opening week they have had in forty years. Plus, after six weeks, it is still the busiest in their national chain.

Ottimo’s was written up in the March edition of Chicago Magazine as one of the top ten new restaurants in the entire Chicago area.

American Technical Publishers built a green building in the I-80 corridor and are already employing more than 50 people.

Cooper’s Hawk opened a new winery in the Orland Park Business Center and expanded their restaurant on Harlem. They were recently invited to provide the wine for the Illinois Ball at President Obama’s Inauguration.

Speaking of the Presidential Inauguration wasn’t it great for Orland Park that Sandburg’s Band participated in the inaugural parade! I want to thank all of the businesses in Orland Park that helped sponsor their trip.

2009 already looks promising. Nordstrom Rack will be opening in April. Staybridge Suites Hotel at Southmoor Country Club will begin construction in spring. BMW is expanding. Terry’s Lincoln Mercury was just awarded a Subaru Dealership and they will begin their expansion project this year. Five Guys Burgers will fill the old Einstein Bagel location, and Culver’s Restaurant will be opening on 159th street. A new Sushi Bar is coming to 131st and LaGrange Road.

There are several retail developers talking with our planning department on specific properties and we are looking forward to those plans coming to fruition in 2009.

I mentioned earlier the small number of new residential permits issued in 2008, however it is a very good sign that 1,500 permits were issued last year for residential remodeling and/or additions. Fourteen hundred new families moved into Orland Park over the last two years which means homes in Orland Park are still selling and people still want to move here in spite of the economy.

We are proud that Orland Park received several honors in 2008. Money Magazine once again named Orland Park as one of the top 100 Best Places to Live in America.

The Orland Park Civic Center was named one of Illinois 150 Best Places by the American Institute of Architects.

The Government Finance Officer’s Association honored the village for its budget, and Orland Park received the Clean Air Counts Award for climate protection issues, our community tree ordinances, and development review process encouraging conservation.

The Orland Park Police Station received first place in the 2008 Merit Award Program for Rehab Construction from the Chicago Building Congress, along with having received LEED Gold certification for being the first “green” police station in the country.

Speaking of the Police, we continue to be a very safe community and can boast of having what I think is the best police department in the state.

The Public Works Department keeps us safe in a different way and they have been tested in December and January like never before. The amount of effort this season on snow removal and salting our streets was record setting.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give you an update on our downtown, Main Street Triangle project. While we continue to negotiate with the property owners, several retailers as well as developers have continued talking with our staff and have shown a great deal of confidence in this project. But as they say, timing is everything and even those businesses with a strong interest, need financing. Until the financial institutions begin to open up we will have to be patient. But keep in mind that the Board’s vision is to create a downtown district, and that vision has to be longer and more resilient than a short-term economic cycle.

I know there are many people here today, including myself, that shop at any number of the stores in the Plaza. And while some people like to create or spread rumors, I want you to know that every effort will be made to work with and assist those retailers in the Plaza with the sincere intentions that they stay in the project or very close by in Orland Park.

With all of the effort we make to attract retailers to Orland Park, we certainly wouldn't want to lose the good longstanding businesses we have.

Our numerous community events in 2008 provided the opportunities for activities that any great city would be proud of and which enhance our quality of life.

I know that I mentioned last year that in addition to the many areas of green construction, open space, energy conservation and recycling that we already lead the way on, I was going to introduce a major Green Initiative. We are working on some additional details and we look forward to rolling it out very soon.

Recently, Orland Park was selected as one of only 12 communities in the Chicago area to participate in the Commonwealth Edison Energy Challenge.

This is a challenge that we will need the help of the Chamber, along with other agencies and businesses in the community, to be successful.

As you can see we have a lot to be proud of, and a lot to be thankful for. But, we don’t take any of it for granted. We have tried to make tough decisions keeping the village moving forward with a keen eye on what’s going on around us. Decisions that I feel are appropriate and in the long-term, best interest of Orland Park.

I appreciate your patience once again as I try to bring you critical information about the village without sounding too much like an accountant explaining an audit.

We have once again provided a handout with some additional information. Have a great day!
end

Although Orland Park Village is hurting for money, its elected officials are not

Orland Park may be facing the toughest economic times, but the people who run the village are swimming in funds.

The village's problems have a lot to do with the poor planning of the Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin and his down-the-line domino trustees who nary challenge him, and do what they are told.

Orland Park has raised its property taxes and even gerrymandered the "fiscal year" from 12 to 15 months because they couldn't meet their expenses. They said they were changing the fiscal year in order to re-align it with the annual calendar. But many suspect the real reason is they just don't have the funds to pay all the bills in the 12 month budget and use a cute trick to turn the budget period to 15 months to cover 12 months of expenses. It's typical bad management to delay troubles until after the election April 7, 2009.

• Property taxes have skyrocketed.
• Fees continue to climb.
  Once free programs now cost money.
• The Tax Rebate program has been gutted to barely nothing.
• Millions have been wasted in poorly managed projects.

But that's the problem of the village and the taxpayers -- you and me, pal -- will be made to pay out of our hard earned tax dollars.

That's not the problem of Mayor McLaughlin and his running mates this year, trustees Brad O'Halloran, the Orland Park ambassador from the banana Republic of the Chicago 19th Ward; Kathy Fenton, and former Republican Committeeman Jim Dodge.

When you look at their campaign finance reports, you discover a whopping cumulative total of more than $275,000 in their combined campaign war chests. That is one of the largest gross campaign funds available to any local election outside of the Chicago Machine. And that assumes, of course, that this election has nothing to do with the Chicago Machine. (And I wouldn't assume that at all.)

That $275,000 breaks down as follows, based on the campaign disclosure filings this past month by all of the McLaughlin Machine candidates:

• Citizens for O'Halloran, $12,000
• Jim Dodge for Trustee, $20,000
• Citizens for Kathy Fenton, $13,000
• Orland Park First Party, $5,000 (all loans from Dodge, O'Halloran, McLaughlin and clerk David Maher)
• Citizens for Daniel J. McLaughlin, $61, 905
• Citizens for Daniel J. McLaughlin investments, $163,239 (up $6,000 which McLaughlin amended since my first report).

Every penny can be spent on inundating you with crafty spin, double-talk, happy talk, misleading campaign advertisements on issues like property taxes, fees and the tax rebate int he form of direct mail pieces.

They also have access to the very costly and slick regular village newsletter in which McLaughlin, like former Jane. M. Byrne 30 years ago, fills with references to his great achievements. The newsletter includes "reports" from O'Halloran, Dodge and Fenton, too.

And, they are regularly the stars of the Village's rerun self-promotional videos, paid for by the village taxpayers, of course, on Comcast Channel 4. Over and over and over again, ad nauseum.

Yet in the face of these overwhelming odds, one brave soul in the village has the guts to say that our elected officials must be accountable. They must be forced to explain why they raised property taxes, gutted the rebate program and increased fees, and cut back programs.

That one man is Gerald F. Maher and his slate of candidates who recently formed their committee, but have yet to report one dollar raised in their campaign.

That's why the local newspapers -- that feed on McLaughlin's good will and press releases -- keep hammering home that the last time Gerald Maher ran against McLaughlin, he got less than 30 percent of the vote.

Yet, that was 8 years ago when the economy was at its best.

Retail stores keep closing and vacancies fill strip malls like this was a neighborhood in a New York Ghetto. And if you think the tax increases they have approved are it, you are wrong.

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.orlandparker.com/

Didn't know I was "needed" at Orland tree lighting

I usually go every year to the tree lighting ceremony that Orland Park has. It's usually packed with parents and especially with the children.

But this year, I had too many things I had to finish and my wife and son went. They came back with a discouraging report. Like many of the events in Orland Park, fewer and fewer citizens are attending. This was the lowest turnout of any prior year, they said. And, the village offered far less for the kids. There was so much more to do last year and the years before. But this time, it reflects the times.

Now, I think it reflects the deteriorating leadership of the Village Mayor Dan McLaughlin and the village board, which is unaccountable to the public.

Yes, there is a small clique of pals and friends and their family who show up for everything to put on the happy face to give the impression to the local news media that everything is fine. But it's not fine. The majority of Orland Park residents are not engaging in the system and what it has to offer, because the system is set up to benefit the Mayor and his pals and their friends.

Everything has a political ring and purpose to it in Orland Park. From the theater group all the way down to the public events. It's all about getting re-elected. Meanwhile, the village is going to hell in a handbasket and taxes and fees are increasing. The worst part about it is that not one -- NOT ONE -- of our elected officials has the courage to be a leader and admit that things are tough. They want to pretend everything is fine while the real people out here are struggling to make ends meet.

Mayor Dan doesn't have to worry about anything. He has this great cushy union job downtown. None of the village trustees have to worry about anything.

Do you EVER hear anything of SUBSTANCE from the village trustees? Ever? Seriously? Forget about the Happy Talk they mumble about how great things are here and how great they will be. (I cal them the STEPFORD TRUSTEES.) I am a big booster too, but I also know the truth is more important and recognizing and addressing problems is more important than pretending the King is wearing clothes when this village is naked. Everyone knows it.

Turnout to village events has been DOWN but the department heads and their bosses who feed on the public taxpayer trough pretend everything is fine because they get a paycheck that comes out of our taxes. When you even DARE to raise a question about, say, Orland Days, which was far less in quality than it has been in past years, everyone who is involved takes it so personally AS IF IT IS ABOUT THEM. It's NOT about them. It is about US. It is about leadership. If you can't take the criticism then you ARE NOT A GOOD LEADER.

Leaders are people who listen to the public, not their own egos and their pride or are quick to rip open the pay check enevlope to see their reward. Good leaders are those who really care about what people feel in Orland Park and the truth is there are very few really Good Leaders in Orland Park these days. Just a lot of greedy, selfish people more concerned with how they look than with how the village is running.

Our taxes could jump 100 percent and the Mayor Happy Talk and his Happy Talk Village Board would be out there saying the village should be grateful for what it has and that everything is fine.

It's not fine. And the low turnouts at public events is PROOF.

So many village employees email me saying that what I write is true but fear the political vindictiveness of Mayor Happy Talk because when it comes to criticism, he is far from happy and far from accountavle or responsible.

I am glad we had the tree lighting and the wonderful lights that line the streets around the Village Hall. But how about some community accountability and honesty for once, Mayor Happy Talk. How about a real admission that things are tough and that as good leaders, you had to take tough decisions innstead of always worrying about the spin?

I met the mayor when he first started. Years ago. I was a big fan. I understand that friendships between journalists and politicians are doomed. They rarely last. But I had so much hope for this one. Like he was going to be different. Turns out he's no different than the rest of the politicians out there, more concerned about themselves and how they look than the truth.

Then again, maybe that's what unaccountable politicians want? A public that doesn't care and stays home and is afraid to question their poor leadership and their lack of accountability?

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

Property taxes skyrocket -- local fees quietly increase too

After months of backdoor tax increases from the Village of Orland Park, my actual Water Rate did go up this last bill, 19 cents per unit of water I consume every two months, or about $1.61.

But the bulk of the increases reflect backdoor tax increases (fees) quietly approved by the Village of Orland Park while they have been telling the sympathetic local news media that they are not increasing taxes and are rebating our village taxes -- well, not all of it. But according to one paper, that's "good news."

No. It's mnot good news, especially when the other fees in our water bill, for example, increase quietly, too, with noe xplanation from Mayor McLaughlin, or, as I will be calling him from now on, King Dan. Under King Dan's Chicago Machine Manual of Politics, you don't explain anything. You just keep putting out press releases showcasing the positive news, and avoid any accountability or explanation on the bad news. And, when the media does hold his royal feet to the political fire, no wonder he is so arrogant and believes he can do whatever he wants.

Storm water and sewer service also went up. The others, went up already months ago.

On top of it all, it's just a drop int he bucket of how you, the naive sheep-like taxpayers, are being screwed. But that's the way you like, it right. Rough. And without warning or consent. Because in this Chicago Machine town, which is a satellite of the bigger Machine in Chicago and Cook County, raising taxes is just a part of the blame-game.

Have you looked at the letter from Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan this week, announcing a major increase in your property assessed valuation?

Oh yea. While your property values are dropping like federal indictments in a typical Chicago City Council year, your property assessments are skyrocketing. Most homes will increase about 15 percent in assessments, even though the actual value of the homes has dropped by as much as 30 percent and more in some regions.

Nayor Daley, Kig Dan's sponsor, says it is because of Houlihan. Daley -- I have to laugh every time I hear him speak -- says (that's being generous) that Houlihan is responsible because he is the "Assessor."

No, Mayor. The Assessor does not determine the assessments. The assessor basically translates the tax increases divide up based on the number of homes and properties being taxed, and that's how your assessment increases.

But Daley knows the blame game better than most. In reality, the reason for your property tax hike -- which will equal as much as $1,000 to $2,500 for many homes in Orland Park and across Cook County -- is that Mayor Daley has increased his budget and it is the increase in government spending that is driving up taxes. Daley's pal, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, also jacked up his own budget spending, and part of that spending will be covered by the humongous increase in the sales tax -- which combined with the King Dan .75 sales tax increase of 2001 (which King Dan said would be off-set by the village tax rebate, which is being off-set this year by his political arrogance and poor budget management to just over half of what it was promised to be) -- is making your depressed property on the free market look like a worthless piece of junk. But on the Chicago and county and Orland Park tax rolls, it looks like a mansion that has increased significantly in value.

The value of your home goes down. But not Mayor Daley's salary or Todd Stroger's salary. You pay more. And Daly and Stroger know of stupid you really are, so gullible you will believe anything they say and still vote for them in exchange for a new garbage can lid -- the bartering system set up when the Chicago Machine was first built by slaves in the 1950s.

And the taxes on your home go up.

And the lies and twist, and turns, and spin from the elected officials, including King Dan, continue. No accountability at all. They just decide they will break their promise to off-set the Orland Park home rule sales tax increase of .75 percent by rebating our full property tax. They did it just long enough to win your votes. Gain your confidence. And then. WHAM!

They shove it up your tax bill.

Merry Christmas everyone.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Okay, here's a simple question for Mayor McLaughlin

If you gave us the property tax rebate as a way of off-setting the .75 home rule sales tax you imposed -- telling us that by returning the property tax through rebate it would compensate for the sales tax increase (and keep it focused on non-residents who come to orland Park to shop.)

Well, now, you'r trimming the property tax rebate, but you're kepping all of the .75 sales tax. It sounds like an election gimmick?

Bet that's a question you won't read in the local newspapers :)

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Trying to be something Orland Park is not

There are some people who are never happy with what they are or what they have. They're always looking elsewhere for the "big ideas" instead of right in their back yards. Take Orland Park's "leadership," for example -- I use the term liberally, of course.

The Village has been purchasing land bordering LaGrange Road, 143rd Street and Southwest Highway -- the triangle -- to develop a mixed-use, Old Town-like downtown area adjacent to the newly remodeled Metra train stop. The last hurdle is the purchase of Orland Plaza, which has been all over the news.

The idea is this "down town" will be like Frankfort's downtown. A place that has a look and feel from the past when people would sit on the edge of the wood planked sidewalks (after the mud dried), watched the horse and buggies klop-klop by, kicking up mini-dust storms, and eat homemade pie.

I admit the idea has some merit. When I want to lazily walk in a turn-of-the-century like downtown center, I drive to Frankfort, spend a few hours there, and then never go back, except maybe for their annual Labor Day weekend arts, craft and food fest, which is one of the region's best.

If I want to spend more than a few hours at a place like that, I've traveled to Narbonne in France and walked around Carcassone, between Toulous and Narbonne in France, not too far from Perpignon on the Cout d Azure, which was Salvador Dali's favorite place to paint. I'll spend a few days walking around there among its olden days store fronts, shops and streets filled with circus-like minstrels. Or, maybe, you might travel to Palestinian East Jerusalem, and visit the Souq and spend hours walking from one tiny shop to another taking in the aromatic orchestra of incense. (In fact, at the end of this column, you can watch my July 2007 Comcast Cable TV program "TV Chicagoland/30 Minutes" and my video tour of the Souq of East Jerusalem.) Or, maybe, go to the old city in Barcelona and take in breathtaking ancient churches and structures from real Medieval times.

But does Orland Park really need an "Old Town?"

I don't think so. I know they keep telling us it's to broaden the "ambiance" of our little village. Well, Orland Park is no "little village." With better management, it could be the economic engine driving the Southwest Suburbs. Instead, we're slumped by a poor economy like everyone else and that's surprising because we have so many retail shops our sales tax revenues should be shooting through the roof and they are not. We have so many store fronts that are vacant, a trashy look that reminds people of a future ghetto -- it's happened to places. I've seen it.

Mayor Dan McLaughlin fashions himself off to be some mini-me Mayor Daley. We'll call him "da boss," because behind his unpresuming smile is one tough politician who gets angry over any resistance from people around him.

(That's how he was to me when I told him that instead of automatically appointing his nominee for a certain high-paying village position, we should at least open the job up to the village residences to see if anyone else was interested in qualifying for it -- I quit the commission when he told me it was either his way or the highway and now he goes around telling people he doesn't understand why I am so critical of him -- you're no different than the other two-faced politicians, Dan!)

It's that 19th Ward fever that has been sweeping through our community over the past few years. There's no immunity for it, yet.

So, how about we drop this stupid idea of some turn-of-the-century old town atmosphere and instead build something really remarkable, like a community theater (that isn't political like the one we have today), or a museum campus, or some place where people can go to have real enjoyment, arts, entertainment and fun?

Secrets of the Souq of East Jerusalem Video
Click the PLAY button to watch
or THIS LINK IF THAT DOESN'T WORK ON YOUR COMPUTER:

Campaign Election Disclosure Notes for Orland Park

This past week, all candidates and their political campaign funds were required to file disclosures on their fundraising activities for the past six months between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2008.

Here some notes about who has what money:

I - Regular Democratic Org for Orland Twp:
Purpose: Support of the Democratic Party in Orland Twp

Daniel J McLaughlin, Chairman; Paul M Aubin, Treasurer.

Available funds: $12,263.47

Paid phone bills, Aubin and hosted golf outing

II - Citizens For Daniel J McLaughlin:
Purpose: Support Daniel J. Mclaughlin For Elective Office

Created in 1993

Available funds: $36,185.45
Invested funds: $157,083.62

Biggest expenditure: Computer Bits Inc. 7805 Palm DriveOrland Park, IL 60462
$1,864.35 , 3/28/2008 and previously on $329.00 , 1/11/2008

III - Orland Trustees:

Bernard Muprhy $2,670.59

Kathy Fenton $15,409.37
Contributions from the usual suspects: Klein Thorpe and Jenkins, Ed Mulcahy, Edward, McDonough & Assc., and also McLaughlin, Kevin Joyce (19th Ward) and State Rep Kevin McCarthy.

Brad O’Halloran $14,236.70
Gave money to Pat Maher and Kathy Fenton
Owes himself $5,500

Patricia Gira $2,793.53
No activity in the past six months

Ed Schussler $4,713.74
No activity in past six months

Jim Dodge $21,026.47
No activity in past six months

IV - The Gorman Good Government Group
Purpose: To elect Elizabeth Ann Doody Gorman to public office.

Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth Doody Gorman
That's an understatement. Gorman, the replaced Cook County GOP Committeeman, did nothing for Republican candidates except try to sabotage one Republican who has a shot at winning the state's attorneys race, Tony Peraica. The new chairman is Lee Roupas, GOP Committeeman from Palos Township. He had Gorman's backing.

Available funds: $20,471.05
Owes Gerald Gorman: $255,145.00

Biggest receipt so far: has Season Tickets for the White Sox which cost $8,142 … that she shares with Odelson & Sterk (Todd Stroger’s Lawyers), Elgin’s Tim Schneider, and County Commissioner Pete Silvestri. Each, including the Commissioner, has a ¼ share in the season tickets at $2,714

V - Friends of Patrick M Maher
Purpose: To support Patrick Maher for political office.
13637 Cherry Ln, Orland Park, IL 60462-1621

Created March 24, 2008

Funds available: $12,917.13

Biggest contributors: Village Clerk David Maher, Deputy Clerk, Joe Lemargo, and attorneys Klein Thorpe and Jenkins, who do work in the village.

Officers: Paul M Aubin Treasurer, McLaughlin’s treasurer, and Patrick M Maher Chairman

McLaughlin gave him money ($500) as did some 19th Ward big shots like Dan Hynes ($1,500), as well as several unions close to McLaughlin.

Maher is the President of the Orland Fire Protection District. The current board consists of President Patrick Maher (2011), Treasurer Marty McGill (2013), Secretary Patricia Corcoran (2009), Trustee Salvatore "Bob" Cacciato (2011) and Trustee Glenn Michalek (2013).

So why did he create this campaign fund in March?

END

Village Clerk David Maher misleads public on letter from the Illinois Attorney General

As much as I try to give public officials who work on our dime the benefit of the doubt, I have to say I am shocked and dismayed over the conduct of Orland Park Village Clerk David Maher.

As you have read below in earlier postings, Mr. Maher asserts that he received a letter from the Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan stating, and quoting his letter,

"The Illinois Attorney General has exonerated the Village of Orland Park and in its letter to Mr. Hanania wrote, 'While general public notice is the underlying purpose of the Act’s notice requirements, there is no evidence that the conduct of the Village in this case violates any of the Act’s provisions.' "

No, Mr. Maher, it turns out you took that sentence out of context. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office didn't "exonerate" you at all. In fact, they never used that word. What they said was there was NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE of a violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act by your office.

In fact, the main part of that statement IN CONTEXT relate to another part of the letter and the remainder of that paragraph that you intentionally excluded, which states clearly:

"While the Act does describe certain information that must be contained in a public notice of a special meeting of a public body, it is silent with respect to any additional language or information a public body might include in its posted notices. It is unclear from the information you provided why the Village included such a statement on the posted notice and we would certainly advise that the Village avoid such language in the future, in order to prevent confusion."

The Village is only required to post the notice and THAT WAS NEVER AN ISSUE in my expressed concern regarding this matter. My sole concern is and remains that the village may have intentionally added the language "NOT FOR PUBLICATION" to discourage the media from posting it immediately on their web sites so that the PUBLIC (not the media) would be able to attend. As it turns out, no media published any information prior to this unprecedented special meeting which was of significant importance to the citizens of Orland Park.

The Letter from the Illinois Attorney General, which I received the DAY AFTER the village allegedly received a letter (my letter has no notation that a copy was sent anywhere), emphasizes that ONLY because there is not more information about why the village did what it did, the Illinois Attorney General concluded it was NOT a violation of the Open Meetings Act.

But I will repeat what the letter did say that Mr. Maher conveniently excluded from his letter to me, we reached me the day before the Illinois ATtorney General's Letter:

"we would certainly advise that the Village avoid such language in the future, in order to prevent confusion."

Mr. Maher gave this ridiculousa explatation (see earlier posting below) that the intent of the phrase "NOT FOR PUBLICATION" was:

"This phrase is used to let the media know that paid space is not being purchased for publishing the notice."

Normally, a village will state at the bottom of a letter or posting "Not paid for by public funds." And the purpose of the phrase "NOT FOR PUBLICATION" is clearly to discourage the media from pre-publicizing the event so that members of the public who are not in the media -- and the Illinois Open Meetiings Act is, according to the Illinois Attorney General, designed to inform the media AND the public of public meetings -- could attend the meeting.

No one in the public knew.

Who is playing a game here?

Ray Hanania
http://www.orlandparker.com/

Here's the link to the letter sent to me by the Illinois Attorney General:

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's Letter to me dated July 9, 2008 and received July 12, 2008, the day after Mr. Maher received his letter: View Letter?

Controlling the air pollutants in Orland Park ...

Click image to view larger image

Ray Hanania's World comic strip
Orland Park Village Board Meeting
News media covers how great Mayor McLaughlin is ... village wins award for controlling air pollutants ... but not a blowhard politician ...

July 8, 2008

It's not illegal, but contractors and business pour money into Mayor McLaughlin's campaign warchest

So you want to run for Mayor of Orland Park? Anyone can. But, if you do decide to run for office, you might want to get to know many of the village contractors who do business with Orland Park. Because they make a lot of contributions, including to Mayor McLaughlin.

Orland Park is a "play-and-pay" system where contractors get business from the village and don’t hesitate to make contributions to the elected officials who approve their contracts. The test of whether a contractor is making a donation to reward the receipt of a major contract would come in whether they also make donations to other candidates running against the incumbents they support.

A review of Mayor McLaughlin’s campaign contribution disclosures, the last one filed for the last half of 2008, which reported more than $37,000 in contributions in it’s annual filing that was due Jan. 22, 2008. The new Campaign Disclosure D-2 Report representing contributions received during the first six months of 2008 is to be filed July 21, 2008.

Almost one-third of the donations made to Mayor McLaughlin during the reporting period (June 1, 2007-Dec. 31, 2007) came from contributors who do or have done business with the Village of Orland Park, or that are existing village businesses.

It’s all legal. Some argue convincingly that government officials should not be taking donations from companies who do business with their village, and that officials who do take donations should not be voting on the approval of those contracts. Right now, there is legislation (HB0824) to tighten the restrictions on statewide policies involving contributions, mainly targeting Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Here’s an overview of donations from Orland Park Village contractors and village businesses, including the date when the contract awards or extensions were approved, and also when the donations were made:

(Information obtained from "Citizens for Daniel J. McLaughlin," last report filed Jan. 2008.)

Alpha Construction Company, Hazel Crest
CONTRACT: Bid opened April 4, 2007; awarded contract April 9, 2007.
DONATION: Oct. 26, 2007 donated $1,000 to McLaughlin’s campaign

(From the Village Board Minutes, April 9, 2007)
Four companies remitted a bid proposal. Sealed bids were opened by the Clerk's Office on Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Bid proposals were received from: Alpha Construction Co. of Hazel Crest, Illinois; Central Blacktop Co., Inc. of LaGrange, Illinois; Crowley-Sheppard Asphalt, Inc. of Chicago Ridge, Illinois and K-Five Construction Corp. of
Lemont Illinois. Alpha Construction Co. was the low bidder at $2,477,178.80. Therefore, it is recommended that Alpha Construction Company be awarded the bid. I move to recommend to the Board of Trustees to approve awarding the bid for the 2007 Road. Improvement Program and miscellaneous pavement patching to Alpha Construction Co. of Hazel Crest, Illinois, for an amount not to exceed $2,778,165.31;

Blackwater Construction & Development
CONTRACT: Petitioned the Planning Commission for a new development. Approved Oct. 9, 22, and Nov. 5, 2007 with no opposition on board
DONATION: Oct. 26, 2007 donated $250 to McLaughlin’s Campaign

Contract Info:
Orland Park: Biltmore Towers Mixed-Use Development, Ravinia Ave. and 144th Street, 39,930 mixed-use development, July 2008, $3 million.

Blackwater donated more than $23,000 to elected officials during the same period, and McLaughlin’s donation was the smallest amount given. Most were above $500 or more.

Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd.
CONTRACT: $56,000 in legal work Submitted March 2007, Approved by the Village July 2007
DONATION: $1,000 on Oct. 26, 2007

(From Village Board Minutes July 2, 2007)
The Spring Creek Agreement obligates Gallagher & Henry to turn over Doctor Marsh to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. Cook County has still not taken this property so the Village can hold it until the County accepts it. This property includes Doctor Marsh and Spring Creek, both of which need restoration. The Army Corps of Engineer has agreed to this area being designated a wetland mitigation bank. This allows mitigation dollars from developers and projects to be funneled into this site for restoration, keeping the funds in Orland Park and reimbursing the Village for its costs. Currently, the Village is involved with two projects that require wetland mitigation. One is 156th Street between LaGrange Road and Ravinia Avenue. The other is the bikepath along the ComEd easement near 139th Street. A suitable site and a restoration plan for that site are required. The Doctor property is a suitable site and Christopher Burke has prepared a scope of work not to exceed $56,600. The scope of work specifically addresses the 156th Street project but included identification of other potential restoration on the site. The idea is that this will draw other mitigation funds required by the Army Corps and the Village can get reimbursed. The scope of work includes topographical survey, wetland field reconnaissance, assessment report, conceptual wetland mitigation plan, agency coordination and final engineering plans for a wetland mitigation/restoration project on the Doctor property.
Christopher Burke, an engineer from Rosemont, has donated $13,400 in his name personally to an assortment of candidates. But under the company name, through which McLaughlin received his contribution, Christopher B. Burke Engineering donated over $400,000 to candidates, including McLaughlin, according to state disclosure records.

McDonough Associates Inc.
CONTRACT: Requested approval for $10,000 in additional fees for construction work at 159th and Ravinia on April 2, 2007, approved by village April 16, 2007.
DONATION: $1,000 made on Oct. 19, 2007
McDonough has sponsored many Orland Park events going back several years.

MCZ Development Corp.
CONTRACT: $6.4 million land development in Orland Park planned in 2007, dropped in March 2008 (according to Crain’s Chicago Business, June 9, 2008).
DONATION: $1,000 Oct. 18, 2007

(From Crains Chicago Business June 9, 2008:)
Just across 153rd Street from that site, two deals to buy 73 acres where Andrew had its headquarters have failed to materialize. Last May, Kimball Hill pulled out of a deal to pay $16.5 million for the property, which is zoned for 172 housing units. In March, Chicago-based MCZ Development Corp. failed to pull the trigger on buying the property for $6.4 million, says Len Caldeira, managing principal with the Chicago office of Staubach Co., who is marketing the property.

MCZ also hosts a golf outing for the Crisis Center.

Mid America Tree & Landscape Inc.
CONTRACT: Low bidder for three-year contract for 50-50 tree planting program, July 23, 2007
DONATION: $500, Nov. 3, 3007

(From the Village Board Minutes, July 23, 2007:)
The three (3) year 50/50 Tree Purchase and Planting Bid was opened on July 11, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Three (3) bid specifications were sent out and two bids were returned. Mid-America Tree and Landscape, Inc., was low bid at $250 per tree for three years. With the 50/50 split, the cost to the homeowner will be $125.00 per tree and the cost to the Village will be $125.00 per tree. Last years' prices were $300.00 per tree. This is a great savings not only to the homeowner, but to the Village as well. 3" caliber tree planted: $250 per tree each year for three (3) years 2008, 2009 and 2010. I move to recommend to the Board to approve accepting the 50/50 Tree Purchase and Planting Bid amount for a three (3) year contract as stated in the specifications from Mid-America Tree & Landscape, Inc., at a cost not to exceed $250.00 per tree for three (3) years 2008, 2009 and 2010;

Mulcahy, Pauritsch, Salvador & Co., Ltd.
CONTRACT: Conducts village’s annual audit, accepted April 9, 2007
DONATION: $800, Oct. 19, 2007

(Salvador, Philip, donated $300, Oct. 19, 2007. Mulcahy, Edward W, donated $500, Oct. 19, 2007.)

The Horton Group Inc.
CONTRACT: Provides Insurance for the Village. Liability Insurance renewal for 2008 approved unanimously by the Village Board Sept. 4, 2007
DONATION: $500. Donated Oct. 26, 2007

(Brad O’Halloran abstained from vote.)

Waste Management
CONTRACT: Provides waste removal for the village, awarded 3 year contract extension July 16, 2007
DONATION: $500, Nov. 2, 2007

(From Village Minutes July 16, 2007:)
The Board of Trustees approved entering into a five (5) year contract with Waste Management of Illinois for the collection and removal of garbage, refuse, yard waste and recycling throughout the Village beginning November 1, 2002. Article Six (6) of the Agreement includes language which allows for a three (3) year extension to be negotiated after the initial term of the Agreement. Waste Management has provided continued exemplary service for the entire time that they have been under contract with the Village of Orland Park. Therefore, it is
recommended that Waste Management of Illinois be awarded a three (3) year extension to its existing contract starting on November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2010. Staff recommends Option "C" for the length of the extension for the following reasons: Every other week pickup for recycling service reduces fuel consumption, reduces loading on the Village streets and encourages co-mingling of recyclables. The 96 gallon container seems more than ample for storage volume for a two-week period of time. It has been suggested that Waste Management provide a sticker showing the dates of recycle pickup with the container. [Trustee moved] approve the extension of the Waste Management of Illinois contract for a three-year period beginning November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2010; And Approve authorizing the Village Manager to execute the contract.

OTHER MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS AND BACKGROUND

MPI MEDIA GROUP
CONTRACT: None.
DONATION: $1,000, Pct. 29, 2007
Principals involved in the building of the Orland Park Mosque also known as the Orland Park Prayer Center in 2005.
Co-sponsors the Orland Lands Garden Walk

Other ongoing contractors or businesses located in Orland Park who have donated to McLaughlin:

Comcast: $500
Community Honda, $500
Bell Boyd & Lloyd $1,000
Klein Thorpe & Jenkins, $1,000

(Note. I have done my best to track contributions based on what is available for the State, and to research awards and extensions for those companies. If any information is inaccurate, please email me at rayhanania@comcast.net and I would be happy to correct or clarify it.)

Ray Hanania
www.OrlandParker.com

Orland Park officials fight the use of the word "deficit"

Get ready to have sugar sprinkled all over your heads by Mayor Dan McLaughlin.

The Southtown/Star changed their headline to remove the word "deficit." Mayor McLaughlin, who only four months ago painted a rosey future of Orland Park's development for the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce, told members of a Village Board at a meeting that was intentionally not publicized Monday, that the village is about $4.8 million short. The village fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and during this next budget session, the village will expand the budget year by three months to carry it through all of 2009 and re-align the new fiscal year to begin Jan. 2010, village officials told the OrlandParker.com.

Officials insist that they have a "hole" or a "gap," and they desperately don't want to call it a "deficit" or a "shortfall," even though that is exactly what it means to have a budget that is short on revenues to pay for programs that are ongoing.

Either the village can find new monies or can trim existing programs.

The budget "shortfall" is no small amount. For example, $4.8 million represents about 4 percent of the village's estimated $127 million budget -- McLaughlin told the Chamber it was $127 and Grimes says it is $129. There's $2 million gine right there, or $2 million more. Who knows?

Imagine the impact on the city of Chicago with it's budget of $3.2 billion (for the corporate budget only) if they had a 4 percent deficit or a shortfall -- and Chicago City Hall reporters would use exactly those terms to describe the budget "hole."

The budget shortfall would be the equivalent of $128 million, and that would be a huge tax hole to fill.

The only way to fill deficits and shortfalls is to raise new revenues. In this economy, which was bad when McLaughlin addressed the Chamber of Commerce and sugar-coated them to applause and absolutely no critical challenge (who wantsto be on the bad side of a vengeful mayor?), it is going to be tough to raise any new revenues.

County Board dictator, er President Todd Stroger's repressive 1 percent sales tax hike slammed Cook County this week, forcing everyone to drive from the Southwest suburbs to Will County where the sales tax is far lower to save huge costs. The last thing we need is a tax increase in Orland Park.

You may not have noticed but home after home in Orland Park is being confiscated by the demons who work for the local banks, who donate huge monies to the political coffers of our elected officials. People can't pay their mortgages and it's not just that many had those rip-off balloon mortgages that exploded with increases. Gasoline prices are sky-high, thanks to President George W. Bush and a phoney war on terrorism he ordered to that Vice President Dick Cheney's company, Halliburton, can make billions in profits from the war profiteering and the crappy equipment they provide to our soldiers.

It's all tied together. No taxpayer is an island!

In the next few weeks, I'll start posting the forms and information about the procedures you will need to run for office in Orland Park and in the Southwest Suburbs. We need new faces, new ideas and a new enthusiasm if we are going to survive. There are some great leaders in office in Orland Park and other government offices, but there are far too many incompetents who think that doing what they are supposed to do is enough to earn your accolades. It's not!

Ray Hanania
www.OrlandParker.com

An Orland Park official I trust insists there will be no property tax increase

An Orland Park official who will remain nameless, who I trust, told me that the Village of Orland Park has no plans to increase taxes in Orland Park to address the projected budget "shortfall."

I normally do not trust elected officials given the past history of dishonesty I've encountered in 32 years of covering Chicago and suburban politics, but this one official I do trust.

The official also said that they may have to trim some programs back that have not received the kind of public buy-in that other more popular programs have received, in order to save money.

The economy has not been good for anyone, including in Orland Park, so these kinds of challenges, the official said, should be expected. The official said it isn't a "deficit," although my experience as a government reporter tells me a "shortfall" in any antiicpated budget is a deficit until it is filled.

As for the Public Notice, maybe saying "Not for Publication" was not a smart thing.

But, if this was the first budget meeting for the village, Mayor McLaughlin sure didn't start on the right foot of building public confidence by calling it in such short notice (Friday, June 27, for Monday, June 30 meeting). It made it seem like it is an emergency rather than "a normal process of reviewing the budget challenges" that face Orland Park, as the official, whom I respect, insisted.

More to follow (see other related stories below):

Ray Hanania
http://www.orlandparker.com/

Orland Park has a What? Budget deficit? Since when? TAX Increase on the way!

Mayor McLaughlin broke the bad news to the Village Board Monday night, June 30, at a special meeting of the Village Board called by Clerk David Maher on June 27. The Village of Orland Park has a "budget deficit" of $4.8 Million. Considering the village budget is only $127 million, that's a huge deficit of about 4 percent. Huge!

Here is my prediction: Mayor McLaughlin is setting the stage to RAISE ORLAND PARK TAXES BIG TIME!

Here are some issues I have with the announcement:

I -- The first is a possible violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act:

Maher may have violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act in posting the notice of the meeting: The notices are supposed to be posted publicly at least 48 hours in advance. But, in posting the notice of the Special Meeting, called on Friday June 27 for 6 PM Monday June 30 (the Open Meetings Act requires that notices be posted publicly at least 48 hours in advance ) , Maher added a little provision on his own to the top of the notice:

Posting publicly 48 hours ina dvance means posting it "publicly." But you can read the posting of the notice for the special meeting yourself and see that the Special Meeting Notice posted by Maher begins at the very top by stating "NOT FOR PUBLICATION."

What does that mean? Well, it means the Village thinks it can get away with calling a special meeting 48 hours in advance, without letting the public know. (They probably just let the media know so theyc ould be at the meeting and report it afterwards.) But, clearly, the Village Board and Mayor McLaughlin DID NOT WANT THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND TO ASK QUESTIONS.

II -- But the second issue has to do with the deficit itself:

What did Mayor McLaughlin know and when did he know it?

Every year McLaughlin gives a very glossy, shinny "State of the Village" speech to the members of the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce. Usually, McLaughlin brags about how great he is doing as Village President/Mayor.

In 2005, for example, McLaughlin told OPACC members:

"The Village has maintained its AA bond rating with both Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s. This is important and a big benefit when we sell bonds. The better bond rating allows us a better interest rate. Our budget for Fiscal Year 2005 was more than $131 million dollars and we are the seventh largest revenue producer in the State. We abated almost $1.5 million in property taxes which is a benefit to all property owners."

And it has been as cheery, and optimistic every year since.

Just four months ago, Mayor McLaughlin gave his most recent State of the Village Speech (February 27, 2008) at the OPACC's Installation Dinner for new officers. It was, once again, boring and very self-congratulating.

"There is a lot to go over in a short period of time. We have again prepared a handout that will be available that summarizes some of the things that have been done over the past year. I think you’ll be impressed."

The president of the OPACC thanked McLaughlin for his comments, saying:

"Thank you again to Mayor Dan McLaughlin for taking time from his busy schedule on Wednesday February 27th to address our Chamber members with his annual "State of the Village" message at Silver Lake Country Club. As always the event was well attended with over 130 chamber members on hand. We believe it is critical for our members to hear from the Mayor and other Village Officials about past accomplishments as well as any upcoming challenges, projects and goals that could impact the local business community."

"Upcoming challenges?" … What "upcoming challenges?"

McLaughlin noted that single-family "new starts" were down (new residential homes), there was an additional investment of $100 million in business investment, mainly many new restaurants in Orland Park …

He said there is still investment taking place and "confidence" in the community.

"The Finance Department received the Government Finance Officers Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting and was awarded the Government Finance Officers Distinguished Budget Award for fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. We continued to rebate the property taxes to the residents. This year we will be rebating over $5 million. We also are continuing to abate property taxes, which is beneficial to businesses.

"This year over $2.5 million in property taxes will be abated in addition to the mount that’s being rebated to the homeowners. The village continues to be ranked eventh in the State in terms of sales taxes and holding strong. This might be the time to mention that we just passed our 2008 budget. The budget is about $127 million. I found in my collection something that might interest you. This is the reasurer Report for the State of Illinois. It says that the amount of all funds in the State Treasury as of this date is $2.4 million. Of course, that was 1878."

No. What would interests us, Mayor McLaughlin, is how in three months, the Village of Orland Park's financial situation went from such a rosey and cheery picture that you painted to one that is bleak and disconcerting?

Coincidentally, our former Village Manager Robert J. Zeder resigned his post on November 5, 2007. What did he know and when did he know it?

He was just replaced by Paul Grimes, who bragged that one of his specialities was dealing with a budget deficits. Grimes, a U.S. Navy veteran, worked in the private and public sectors. He was last a business development executive with United Healthcare in Warwick, R.I. And before thatm he was director of administration for Cranston, Rhode Island, a city of 80,000 where he helped close an $11 million deficit by both cutting services and raising taxes.

The talk now is that McLaughlin says he can cut expenses that he detailed at the SECRET SPECIAL BOARD MEETING where the notice was NOT FOR PUBLICATION.

But not $4.8 million. So it turns out that Paul Grimes is not just the new Village Manager. He's our new Village Political Grim Reaper!

I've emailed questions to McLaughlin, Grimes, Maher and some members of the village board. We'll see how they respond.

Ray Hanania
http://www.orlandparker.com/

Award winning Police Department needs grass mowed -- badly

I am a big fan of the Orland Park Police Department and its chief Tim McCarthy. We're lucky to have him. And I thinkt he village of Orland Park should feel the same way.

But, according to a few sources in the village's tight little political system, you have to wonder.

For example, last week, the Village of Orland Park Police won a prestigious award, taking first place in the Chicago Building Congress (CBC) 2008 Merit Award Program for Rehab Construction.

Orland Park was one of four finalists in the rehab category, including the Peoria Civic Center, Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Powerhouse and the Metropolitan Tower on the Park, a high rise condo conversion project on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The award was accepted by Trustee Patricia Gira, who I also admire for having an openness that is a bit rare among some of the village officials, Chief McCarthy and Deputy Chief Jerry Hughes. The award was presented at the Chicago Building Congress Award Program at the Union League Club.

The Village boasts the award, too, bragging deservedly, "The award celebrates the collaborative effort required by the building process and the impact upon the community at large. Judging was based upon the distinctiveness of design, quality of construction, positive impact on the surrounding community and safety record."

And, it's the Police department's second award. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded the Police Department with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification last November. Orland Park is the only police facility in the country and the first project of this kind in the south suburbs to achieve the LEED Gold Certificate.

Well, if the village thinks so highly of the Police Department and its police chief, why is the village Public Works Department allowing the grass to grow so wildly around the building. It really looks unkempt. It certainly does not reflect pride in the Police Department and their new building to keep the property so disheveled.
















Come on people. It looks like the Police Department is abandoned property, not award winning property. (Maybe the Police Department is just on a long list to receive sod and no one cares? So they're not cutting the weeds knowing they will eventually replace it with sod. Still, not good enough an excuse.)

McCarthy is well thought off not just in Orland Park but in the entire state of Illinois. Many insiders believe he still has an excellent future in regional politics (he could run for the U.S. Senate to succeed Barack Obama and do very well given his police credentials which are tops and his highly publicized bravery in defending President Ronald Reagan from an assassin's bullet -- which McCarthy took.

Actually, McCarthy is more thought of than Mayor McLaughlin, who rumors have it plans to not seek re-election. I newver believe rumors about Mayor's-for-Life like McLaughlin. They said the same thing about Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley before the last election, and of course, he did run for re-election and won handily.

Well, if McCarthy doesn't run for U.S. Senate, he can always fill McLaughlin's shoes if the rumors are right.

Ray Hanania
http://www.orlandparker.com/