Last Monday at the village board meeting the board passed several resolutions and took a few actions of note.
The board unanimously passed the Summer Shop Orland Park Incentive Rebate Program and the Summer Orland Park Autos Shopping Incentive Program. Both programs go from July 6 to August 2, 2020. The former provides a $10 gift certificate for anyone spending $300 to $500 and $30 if more than $500 or more is spent. The latter provides a gift certificate of $75 to $525 depending on the value of the car purchased. For both programs, residents and non-residents are eligible. Additionally, the spending must be at Orland Park businesses and certain spending is not eligible (e.g. grocery stores). Please encourage your friends to come shop Orland. This program will help our businesses and residents alike.
We also unanimously passed a resolution declaring this month the Orland Park Police Department appreciation month. The courage and efforts the men and women of our police force in recent months has been amazing. First during COVID-19 and then the protecting Orland Park while rioters and looters were crushing the city and many suburbs was phenomenal. I suggest watching the board meeting and hearing everyone’s comments plus a reading of the resolution. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr8uJajkERA – it starts at about 16:30 mark)
The board also unanimously passed a resolution opening the Sportsplex, our playgrounds and our sports field with social distancing guidance and protocols. It is important for healthy activities to be allowed so people can stay active and fit. Centennial pool will be open to the extent allowed. IDPH can strip the pool of their licensing, so we could not go any further with the pool. Additionally, Orland Health and Fitness is a private contractor that is unwilling to completely open any of their locations in the state. We continue to work with them to try to get them to re-consider their position.
Lastly, we passed a resolution to conduct our July 3rd Liberty Fun Run and July 4th Fireworks and concert. There will be some modifications to allow for social distancing. There was discussion and concern raised about the concert as I expected. These concerns were not unreasonable and that is why it was put on the board floor to discuss, as it should be (not some backroom deal). In the end it was a 5 to 2 vote with Trustees Fenton and Calandriello voting against it. Unfortunately, Trustee Calandriello questioned why this was even put on the board floor and said it was done for political reasons. It was a 5 to 2 vote, so why wouldn’t it be put on the board floor? However, it is very unfortunate that he decided to say celebrating Independence Day was political. It used to be that supporting our country was something we all could agree on. Now, however, it is labeled as political – how unfortunate … and sad.
As you also are now aware, we also approved the filing of a lawsuit against Governor Pritzker which was filed on Tuesday. The vote was not unanimous, but it was not 4-3 either. I will leave it at that. Surprisingly the discussion wasn’t about the merits of the case, but mostly around the fear of retaliation from the governor. That fear is real, and not unfounded as he has threatened the Village, citizens of Illinois and businesses several times in the last few months. In my opinion, this strengthened my decision to vote for this lawsuit. The fact that we are “afraid” of what our governor might do and of our government is very scary to me. This is not supposed to happen in America. The government works for the people, not the other way around. (Watch this link for a full explanation of the rationale behind this lawsuit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iobyk_RGMLo.)
After the fact, Trustee Calandriello talked to a newspaper and said that he was a no vote – which is true. He also said that this too was political. This seems to be the new mantra for machine politicians. Every time you disagree with someone over policy, it is political. For too many years the machine demanded that everyone fall in line – and they did. Those days are over in Orland Park. We will have discussions about policy because people deserve to hear those discussions.
I don’t believe not wanting a concert on July 4th is political, it was a difference of opinion. Similarly, for the lawsuit. It is quite legitimate to fear retaliation. However, I don’t think that is a reason to back down when we are right on the merits. I, for one, am sick of machine politics that result in appointments of trustees who then become beholden to their masters. Trustees work for the people of Orland Park. Too bad Trustee Calandriello has forgotten that – or maybe because he was first appointed on the board, he never knew it.
Last week, we also announced a change to our concert lineups due to the COVID-19 situation. We will now host only 2 concerts with Tommy James and the Shondells and the remainder of the lineup moving to August 22nd and Blue Oyster Cult, The American Band with Mark Farner, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds moved to September 12th. Scott Stapp has been moved to next summer. Please get your tickets as they are available.
I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming events in Orland Park. Hopefully, at a minimum, we move to Phase 4 this upcoming week. I look forward to seeing you at our Independence Day events.
Have a great 4th of July weekend!
Keith
