Will County Gazette

The Village of Park Forest is set to hold its first Rules Meeting of the month at Village Hall on May 5 at 7 p.m. The session will kick off with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. A key highlight will be the swearing-in of Trustees Theresa Settles, Maya Hardy, and Erin Slone, who have been re-elected for four-year terms. The ceremony will be followed by a break for photographs and refreshments.

The meeting's agenda features three primary topics, with the introduction of the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 budget as the first item. Finance Director Mark Pries, in a memo to the Park Forest Board of Trustees, indicated that the proposed budget is balanced and includes a general fund surplus. The budget aims to tackle various financial challenges through measures such as service prioritization, cost control, and infrastructure management. Pries invited board members to annotate draft copies for correction and announced that budgets could be accessed at the Village website, Village Hall, and the Park Forest Public Library. Review sessions are scheduled for May 6, 7, and 8 at 6 p.m.

Other agenda items concern the Department of Public Works. Public Works Assistant Director Nick Christie shared details of the bidding process for the FY 2026 Motor Fuel Tax Street Sweeping Maintenance Contract. Lakeshore Recycling Systems LLC of West Chicago, Illinois, submitted the lowest bid at $37,420. The contract covers multiple street, parking lot, and bike trail sweeps. Christie will propose that the Board award this contract to Lakeshore Recycling Systems, with a stipulatory contingency, seeking authorization for the village manager to finalize the contract.

In addition, Christie conveyed that the Village is required to submit documentation to the Illinois Department of Transportation, establishing a funding allocation of $311,536.50 in Motor Fuel Tax funds for FY 2026. These funds are earmarked for snow and ice control, street maintenance, and other infrastructure work. Christie recommends the Board approve the necessary IDOT forms to access these MFT funds.

The meeting will provide an overview of financial plans and departmental activities, ensuring transparency and clarity in the management of village resources.