1/31/2008
VOTE Gordon back in office?
This
time around I would vote for Gordon. He may have make some misstakes and learned from
them like all Mayors do, they're
are as human as you and I. But what he didn't do is LIE. What
he did have was a strong council. He had the Oak Forest
residents best interest at heart,
He didn't annex un-wanted resdients, or hike up our taxes and hire family members
for
un-qualified postions. Gordon was at every event held by the community as a whole, because
he wanted to be there,
not because he was Mayor and was obligated to make an appearance.
Been to a City Holiday Party in the past few years,
it's pathetic, there are maybe a few handful
city employees the rest are Kelly's family and the few friends that
she may have. Not like
when Godon was in office the house was always packed, because he was liked and well supported
It's obvious Gordon didn't serve two terms because he was a bad mayor he served two terms because
he did his
job as a mayor should.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/31/2008
To the resident's that were forcibly annexed on 167th.
It is very unfortunate that you folks were/are in this terrible situation,
having to fight for what is rightfully
yours. This is America The Land of
the FREE - Not the land that Kelly want's to take control of. I'd say fight
for your right and help get Kelly her side kick and her seven bobble heads
out of office. I think Ms Pepper should
run for Mayor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/31/2008
On the Oak Forest website, you can download the meeting minutes/ agenda for all
previous meetings. This was very important to me, being a newly annexed resident. When I showed up to city meetings
and asked questions to Mayor Kelley, her answers would change or she wouldn't answer me. Therefore, I'd print
out the details of the meeting minutes & point out what she had said, or put her on the spot about what she had said.
As a person in her political position, she should be capable of answering questions to her residents. It is very clever
of her to now have eliminated the details of the citizen participation meeting minutes from the website. Now we can't
print out what she has said at previous meetings. Her management & conduct is useless to the City of Oak Forest.
Everyone needs to start showing up to City meetings & voice there opinion. Meetings are Second & Fourth Tuesday
of the month. See you there!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/31/2008
I don't think we should bash all of the aldermen. I think the Toland guy is kinda cute, and Simon,
huba buba. They seem to have our best interests in mind. Am I wrong?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/31/2008
Wow, have I been out of the loop! I am a young widowed mom with a house
(and mortgage) in Oak Forest. I have a full time and a part time job, and I'm just barely making it. With not alot
of free time on my hands, I just pay the utility/phone bills and don't notice all of the extra taxes, and how much they
have went up. Until I read this forum.
I stopped getting the newspaper a few years ago
after my husband died to cut down on spending (along with other things) and I was going to say that maybe I should start getting
it again...until I read that the newspapers have backed off on reporting what the Mayor does.
OMG
the lawyers fees that we are paying! I had no idea.
One poster commented that he can't
get trees cut down on his parkway because the City won't do it. I have 2 trees on my parkway that are 2/3 dead that
I have been complaining about for 3 years. It's the City's property, but they won't cut it down. HUGE
branches fall down during every wind storm. Maybe it will take someone getting hurt before they are taken down.
I am glad I found this website. I happened on it when someone posted it in another forum. How many people
know about this website, and can you get the word out about it to more people?
I will surely
sign a petition to oust the current Mayor. I'll say a prayer for the person that comes in and has to clean up the
mess that she made. Maybe she is a shop-aholic and likes to spend our money as freely as she spends hers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/31/08
Another good site to read and leave comments on is www.topix.com. Type in "Oak Forest, IL" in the browse or search tab, and you can read current issues there,
or start your own thread about issues that concern you in Oak Forest. You could also post this sites address so other
people know that this is here. I am so glad I found both of these sites! They are both very informative.
GOOD JOB!!!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/31/2008
I am a property owner at 167th and cicero affected by the backdoor annexation
of our property without notifiction.
I know some of the aldermen felt we should have been notified, but did'nt do
the right thing by standing up for what they thought was right.
I talked to one of the aldermen and they told me "they
have to back the mayor".
Then could someone tell me why we have aldermen at all?
None of them have the b---s
to vote against her.
All they do is sit there patting themselves on the back at the meetings.
I think when we get
our new mayor in the next election we should replace the whole council.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/31/2008
Lets see if we can get this right. If all of the taxpayers knew how much money the X fire Chief took you'd
be on her like a bee on honey. It was more than $1000.00. Why is it that so many of you let this pass you by.
Lets
set the record straight. Mayor Gordon didn't bring in the F.B.I. He had to help them once they came in. But he didn't
bring them in. He would have loved to have let it go. Now what he needs to do is help the F.B.I go after the X Fire
Chief as he appointed him. Didn't he?????
So much is missing. In the Case of Don Hall
why didn't we give him his pension, he took nothing. also I believe his name is John K also worked for P.W., he took nothing
also. Why can't he get his pension. Something smells here and those that will help those two men need to step up to the
plate and help them get their money. She gave it to the X Fire Chief. Someone needs to get a good attorney and have a fund
raiser for those two to fight and get what is coming to them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/31/2008
I agree with the last posting. It is funny how the Queen doesn't think she is accountable to anyone.
She doesn't like to address how many of her campaign promises she broke. Does anyone know what the total is for
all the salaries for the positions she has created for all of her buddies. This was her number one campaign promise
and was the first one she broke. Then the increase in the legal fees, but wait, she saved us money on our property taxes,
didn't she? Big economic development, another bank, a drug store and a dollar store. (Which was requested by residents?)
How much has it cost the taxpayers due to the city not negotiating with the unions in a timely manner?
Will be interesting to see who is selected to be the new fire chief, anyone care to wager that there is some tie
with Jones?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/28/2008
I agree you can't complain about the City if you don't have someone to
run against the Queen. I say lets bring back Mayor Gordon. He at least had the City in his mind when you got the
FBI involved in Feeley's thefts. He lost the election because he wouldn't hid the truth. Maybe the Queen
could learn something from him. Is she not going after Chief Laycoax because of the lies she told about Mayor Gordon
during the election and they may come back to haunt her or was she and Jones maybe getting something from the theft.
They must not of been watching the orders well he the Chief could order the things he did and then keep them. Maybe
Jones and the Queen should retire.
My vote is to bring Gordon back and get these leaches out
of City Hall. Like Burkhardt, who is double and even triple dipping in the well. With two paychecks for him and
paychecks for his family members they are really making out.
VOTE Gordon back in office
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/28/2008
It's great to see all the intelligent comments being submitted.
If the
city wants to control the newspapers, so be it, let's just move to the "Real Deal" for the truth.
As far
as complaints about no positive comments about the "Queen" let's just remember the city council meeting announcements.
When was the last time she read a complaint there? But realistically, there are no positive comments that can be said
about her administration.
Totors? I think I'll leave mine in the front too, where there is hard pavement.
Wouldn't want to install a hard surface for it in the back yard like what's required for trailers now.
Who knows,
it might sink into the ground back there.
Once every two weeks? I used to be a dedicated recycler, but now I'm
going to be an apathetic trash dumper.
I was never on the sticker program and am really sorry to see those folks have
to subsidize the rest of us.
It's not surprising the city's legal fees are out of control. They break all
the laws and then have to defend themselves.
Nobody should be forced annexed like the folks south of 167th street.
I think the right thing for Oak Forest residents to do is rise up against this and choose who they want to belong to.
Even if it requires replacement of the Mayor and entire city council.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/28/2008
Well if that compliment to the police chief wasn't obviously from his mother-in-law, Verla Clevenger.
No one else would compliment him, spells that badly, or would give their location. You should have just signed it, Verla,
or used one of your aliases, Judy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/27/2008
IS THIS GATEWAY TO HELL PROJECT GOING TO BE PREFORMED BY QUALIFIED UNION CONTRACTORS?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/27/2008
Just discovered your site and think it is great.(whadda country!)
As a resident who
has taken full advantage of the use of garbage stickers over the years, I am of course not happy about being handed this new
bill from the city -especially after hearing about these newly created "payback" positions down at the Hall.
By the way, I saw the mayor on OFTV telling a quaint gathering of residents that she just received her property tax
bill, and it went down! If MINE is lower, I hope it covers the cost of this new garbage bill.
This
new "toter" is going to be a very unwelcome addition to MY home. And I assume many residents like myself will have
it prominently displayed out front -because I sure don't have room for it in back!
(Nice curb appeal)
-DC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/27/2008
A FEW FACTS YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF
The City's
current attorneys, Ancel, Glink et.al., were hired, or appointed, on a "retainer" to save the City money.
According to information on the City's old web site, legal fees in 2004-2005 (last year of Gordon's administration)
totaled $230,627. In Kelly's first year, 2005-2006, they totaled $378,042. On Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008
the bills presented by and paid to Ancel, Glink totaled in excess of $104,000 for December and part of January. (This
included $8,000 for the "retainer" for December and January.) If they save us any more money the Queen will
have to find another thing to tax us on!!!
Anyone drive by the new commuter lot in the morning?
A quick count of the empty spaces at 8:10AM on 1/16/08 was approximately 200, give or take a few, out of a total of 481 (which
was downsized from the previous lot). Let's see, at $1.00 per space per day, if this continues, that's over
$50,000 of lost revenue in a year! At that rate it's really going to take a long time to justify that $4,500,000
cost of moving the lot. Guess we'll need another new tax!! Maybe we got that much from the developer of the
old lot when we "transferred ownership." Guess again!! Transferring ownership means Oak Forest didn't
get a dime for that piece of property!! It was GIVEN to the developer! Maybe we'll make up for it in sales
tax! Nope!!! Banks don't generate sales tax, coffee shops don't generate much, and how many will be shopping
at a CVS with difficult ingress and egress when you can easily run to Walgreen's or Osco!
Then
we have the waste hauler fiasco. Anyone see the COW meeting?? We certainly have done everything possible to make
the waste hauler's job easier (and more profitable). The toters will be picked up mechanically, saving on manpower.
Recycleables will only be picked up every 2 weeks, saving on manpower and fuel. The City won't have to pay for "Clean
Up Week" which cost $25,000, because now they'll pick up everything, included in our fees of course. The City
won't have to pay for their dumpster pick up either, that's included in our fees too. And those "free"
toters? Right, included in our fees, too. So the City saves, and we get to pay more. Jones said only 25%
of the homes used stickers. Well, that's approximately 2,000 folks they just really p****d off! But the City
needed to save their money (our tax money). Remember, they've got a lot of legal fees to pay and lost parking revenue
to make up for.
We're stuck, we chose to live here, we elected her and the 7 dweebs.
The ones I really feel sorry for are the folks at 167th, who, through no fault of their own, are now stuck in this situation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/27/2008
I am one of the residents forcefully annexed without the courtesy of a notice by the city of Oak Forest. The entire
annexation rings of back door deals. The city originally approached one of my neighbors hoping they could sway him to sell
his property to them. This would make it possible for the city to annex the entire area on the eastern side of Cicero Ave.
including Kilpatrick. When our neighbor refused to sell to them they sought someone else that might possibly be willing to
annex. They approached Joe LoBianco owner of J & L Landscaping at 14905 Cicero Ave. He owns a home, which he rents out,
and a parcel of property on the western side of Cicero. He agreed to annex to the city. When I asked Mayor Kelly why he would
annex, unless of course he enjoyed paying higher taxes, she told me it was because his daughter had been in her girl scout
troop and she supposed that they just liked Oak Forest. I guess I have some threads showing around my neck because she apparently
thought I'd buy that. Anyway, it has recently come to our attention that the city has offered Mr. LoBianco some sort of
"Special considerations." Right now we're not quite sure what they may include but are of the mind that they
are probably tax breaks. One theory is that when Oak Forest does start doing any of its landscape projects J&L will be
top of the list to get the deal. This will all require further investigation but we'll eventually get to the bottom of
it. I'm also hoping that this website gets more and more visitors. There must be a way to advertise this site..full-page
ad in the Southtown...t-shirts...how about the ads that you read on placemats while at one of the many fine dining establishments
in our area? I'm so glad this website is available. Thanks!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/27/2008
I am so Glad that our Police Department has a good leader. He has done more than
any other Chief since he was appointed.
We tryed to tell the Mayor that The now X Fir Chief was doing things but
she wouldn't listen. Look at all the new Ordiances the Police Chief has put into plac. Midlothiaan nopw ants to become
HOme Ruls so they can also so spome of the things he has done.
Fix the renters the apartments . what a great Idea that
was. Fix the trailers ,the Boats etcf.
Now Chief let senforce then. I have a boat next to
me and I look out every morning at it. Tell the man at La Palm and Parkside to put it on his side of the house.Let him look
out his window while eating. So please can you have it moved. It says side yard,BACK.
We'll
where it is is my Yard. We are all greatful to you but plase fix it. you or the aldermen passed it now tell the officers to
fix it. look at all the money you can get, Take a ride. so many sitting all over. Junk cars also. I had to look at one for
awhile but then I ask them to move it,mad then mad so you do it,,,,,,Thanks! a lover of the Dept's that do a good job.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/27/2008
To the person who wrote:
".....C.A.N. Should
be able to decide what to and NOT to post.....C.A.N. could really care less what you think or like or dislike about our site.
"DIDO" This also goes for the Oak Forest Resident's We could give a rat's A** what you think, as your A**'s
should be CANNED"
You are right C.A.N. has the right to publish what they want and don't want.
However, if they don't publish it all there is really no "public" about it. Just that this site is for
only Anti-Kelly et. al. information / comments. In addition, if all you want to do is sit in front of the computer and
b**ch about what is wrong with the government, you are part of the problem not the solution to a better government for the
people. Get off you *ss and do something, like start politicing for Mayor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/27/2008
Want to know why you don't read much about Oak Forest in the paper? Heard from a reporter that King Jones
threatened that if there were any negative articles or any kind, the paper would receive NO information whatsoever.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/22/08
In Regard's to neutral comment, First of all there is no such thing as
a neutral here in Oak Forest.
It is The Queen Kelly/ King Jones way or the high way, Why should this site be any different.
C.A.N. Should be able to decide what to and NOT to post. If there are any neutral or so called positive comment's
it would only come from The King or Queen as C.A.N. Stated " Queen Kelly - C.A.N. could really care less what you think
or like or dislike about our site. "DIDO" This also goes for the Oak Forest Resident's
We could give a
rat's A** what you think, as your A**'s should be CANNED
Thank you - Have a nice day!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
I am guessing you guys are only publishing the negative comments since you have not published my last neutral comment
about a week ago. Nice open comment board.
C.A.N - We try to post the comments as quick
as we can. Sometimes it's a day, sometimes it's 3 days or even 5 days. If that's unsatisfactory then please feel
free to exercise your right not to visit this site.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
A COUPLE OF THINGS....MY CITY OF OAK FOREST REFUSE BILL GOES UP 250% NEXT MONTH
!!! OUR PRESENT REFUSE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED BY OAK FOREST RESIDENTS (ENVIRONTMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTE DID THE WORK IN THE
EARLY 90's , AND MAYOR DISSOLVED COMMITTEE IN LATE 2007 AS PART OF SETTING THE STAGE FOR A BIG NEW CONTRACT! THE PRESENT
REFUSE CONTRACT WAS NOT OPTIMUM PROFITABILITY FOR REFUSE HAULER BUT WAS OPTIMUM EASE AND SAVING$ FOR OAK FOREST RESIDENTS!!!
THE TAXPAYING RESIDENT (ESPECIALLY SENIORS & DISABLED) HAD AN OPTION TO SAVE MONEY IF THEY DESIRED TO DO SO ! THE PROGRAM
WAS GIVEN COUNTRY WIDE PUBLICITY AND WAS WIDLY ACCLAIMED....THERE WAS NO CHARGE FOR RECYCLING, AND YOU WOULD ONLY PAY FOR
WHAT YOU THROW AWAY, NOT SUBSIDISE LARGER PILES OF STUFF OTHERS THROW AWAY !!! YOU DON'T GO TO THE STORE AND PAY FOR 1
POUND OF HAMBURGER AND WALK OUT WITH 3/4 OF A POUND WHILE THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU PAYS THE SAME PRICE AND GETS 1 1/4 POUNDS
FOR THE SAME PRICE DO YOU ? IF YOU WANTED TO SAVE MONEY AND BE HANDS ON YOU HAD THE OPTION OF USING STICKERS ! BESIDE THE
$AVINGS, THE STATE LAWS REQUIRING MINIMUM RECYCLING PERCENTAGES OF MUNICIPAL WASTE AND RECYCLING EDUCATION OF POPULACE WERE
BEING MET...IN CASE EVERYONE DOESN'T KNOW, EVERY POUND OF REFUSE IS TAXED AT THE LANDFILL BY THE STATE TO PAY FOR STUDENT
RECYCLING EDUCATION AMONGST OTHER THINGS. SOME OF OTHER THINGS WILL BE THE NEW BLUE TOTER YOU WILL RECIEVE WITH THE NEW REFUSE
CONTRACT THAT YOU THINK YOU ARE GETTING FOR FREE. THE CURRENT CONTRACT ALSO HAD A PROVISION THAT THE CITY RECIEVE $10,000
A YEAR FROM REFUSE HAULER FOR RECYCLING EDUCATION IN OUR CITY. WONDER IF THAT'S STILL IN CONTRACT ? WE SAW A WHOLE LOT
OF THAT OVER THE YEARS HAVN'T WE ? I'M SURE THE MAYOR REMEMBERS THAT DUE TO THE FACT SHE WAS ON COUNCIL AT TIME
OF PASSAGE ALONG WITH ALD. WECHET WHO WAS LIASON TO THE FORMER "ENVIORMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE" ! NOW CITY HALL
MAY ARGUE THAT THE REFUSE CONTRACT NEEDED UPDATE / OVERHAUL. WHO DECIDED IT WAS BROKE AND NEEDED FIXING ? DID THE 22% OR SO
OF THE TAXPAYERS THAT CHOSE PAY FOR VOLUME COMPLAIN VEHEMENTLY TO THEIR ALDERMANIC REP OR MAYOR THAT THEY WERE NOT PAYING
ENOUGH ? THE SYSTEM IS STILL AHEAD OF IT'S TIME. ASK THE WASTE HAULER, OTHER THAN YOU AND ME, ALL OF HIS COMMERCIAL/BUSINESS
ACCOUNTS PAY BY VOLUME, NOT BULK (CUBIC VOLUME OR WEIGHT) ! OUR TOWN WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT, BE ACTIVE
AND NOT RE-ACTIVE TO A WASTE DISPOSAL SOLUTIONS OR INOVATIONS ! I HAVE TO WONDER, WHAT KIND OF REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS WERE
SENT OUT THAT ONLY 2 HAULERS RESPONDED ? WHAT DID WE BASE OUT REQUESTS ON ? INFORMATION FROM OTHER TOWNS ? THEY DO EXACTLY
AS THE WASTE INDUSTRY DICTATES ! DID WE ASK WASTE EXECS FOR R.F.P.INPUT TO SHORTCUT OUR DECISION PROCESS (COMMONLY REFERED
TO AS CAT IN WITH THE CANARY SYNDROME)? SO IF I GOT THIS RIGHT, WE HAVE RETAINED THE BEST WASTE HAULER IN THE AREA. (LEAST
WE GOT THAT ONE RIGHT !) THE WASTER HAULER ONLY PICKS UP 1 BLUE RECYCLE TOTER ONCE EVERY 2 WEEKS, NO EXTRA BLUE BAGS IN CASE
YOU WANT TO DO OR HAVE MORE, WASTE HAULER DOESN'T HAVE TO ACQUIRE BLUE BAGS OR STICKERS AND DISTRIBUTION,
DOES CUT HIS RECYCLE ROUTE$ AND VOLUME BY 50%, AND TAXPAYER PRICE INCREASE ACCROSS THE BOARD.....BY THE WAY, WE GOT RID OF
CITY BILLING GARBAGE ON WATER BILL ABOUT 20 YRS. AGO BUT YOU CAN STILL SCREW US ON THAT TOO !!....AND I PAY 250% MORE A MONTH
!!! THANK YOU CITY HALL FOR ANOTHER SHOT IN THE WAR ON OAK FOREST TAXPAYERS !!! YOU HAVE FINALLY TAXED ME OUT OF THE
CITY, AND I BET I'M NOT ALONE ! DO YOU GUYS THINK BEFORE I LEAVE YOU COULD FIND A TAX OR PRICE INCREASE YOU DON'T
LIKE?
BY THE WAY CITY HALL, ONE OTHER MINOR QUESTION, DID YOU MAKE SURE ALL THE ASBESTOS WAS REMOVED FROM BUILDING
BEFORE YOU KNOCKED DOWN ARBOR PARK SCHOOL? THE WAY I REMEMBER IT, I HOPE SOMEONE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS LEGAL TO DEEL WITH
SCHOOL ASBESTOS BY COVERING AND SEALING WITH CARPET AND NEW MATERIAL OVER OLD, ETC. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO REMOVE IT
ALL TILL SOMEONE KNOCKED THE BUILDING DOWN...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
IS THE QUEEN REALLY STEVE JONES ?????
ONE
MAY ASK, BUT IS THIS TRUTH ?
ANOTHER PERSON HAS BEEN FIRED FROM PUBLIC WORK FOR STEALING !!
YES IT IS TRUE..STEALING TIME !!
ONE MAY ASK...HOW MAY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN THE PUBLIC WORKS
DIRECTORS CITY PAYED VEHICLE ON DIFFERENT LOCATIONS OTHER THAN "CITY" PROPERTY ? YOU HAVE GUESSED..BARS,MOTELS,SPORTING
EVENTS, IT CAN GO ON !!
HAS ANYONE ASKED HOW THE TRUE MAYOR STEVE JONES HAS CARTE BLANCHE
WITH GAS AND CITY TIME?
WHERE ARE OUR ELECTED OFFICALS? ARE
THEY AFRAID OF THE JONES FACTOR ?
HE (JONES) IS A VERY GIFTED PERSON WHOM KNOWS VILLAGE IDIOTS
FROM HIS PAST, PLEASE LET SOME ELECTED PERSON PLEASE FILE SOME COMPLIANT ABOUT THIS PERSON. WILL SOMEONE STEP UP !!
HARDLY....SADLY WE AS RESIDENTS ARE STUCK...STUCK WITH IMPERIALISTIC PEOPLE LIKE JONES. A MAN, WHO DOES NOT CARE FOR
THE WELL BEING, ONLY FOR HIMSELF.
GETTING BACK TO THE PERSON WHO WAS FIRED. IF
HE WAS STEALING TIME FROM THE CITY IS THERE ANY ACCOUNT OF ALL THE TIME MR. ISHLER HAS LOST? WE ASK ALL OF YOU...EVERYTIME
YOU SEE ISHLER'S CITY PAYED TRUCK AT SOME SALOON, GOLF COURSE, OR FAST FOOD JOINT, IS THAT WHAT WE WHAT IN A PUBLIC WORKS
HEAD?
WE HOPE THAT C.A.N. WILL BRING TO LIGHT THE NON-JUSTICE THESE PEOPLE SEEM TO
HAVE IN AN EVERYDAY MANNER. YES JONES IS TRUELY THE MAYOR AND DON'T LET ANYONE FORGET IT !!!
FROM ONE FED UP/PO.D RESIDENT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
REGUARDING THE QUEEN HAS SPOKEN
MAYBE
THE MAYOR SHOULD LOOK AROUND CITY HALL AND SPEAK TO THE REAL "QUEEN" STEVEY JONES !!
THERE
IS A SMUCK THAT IS LINING HIS POCKETS WITH OUR TAX MONEY AND MAKING MOST OF OUR CITY PROBLEMS. HE SEEMS LIKE A CONTROL
FREAK THAT MUST HAVE HIS WAY. HE EVEN CONTROLS OUR ELECTED OFFICALS !!! WHY DO YOU THINK OTHER COMMUNTIES GOT
RID OF THIS MONSTER. HE COULD NOT CARE LESS IF THE MAYOR WINS OR LOSES THE NEXT ELECTION. HE IS A BORN KILLER OF PEOPLES
CAREERS !!!
PERHAPS THAT IS WHY HE LIVES OUT OF TOWN !!!
TO
OUR ELECTED OFFICALS......CHECK THIS MONSTERS ETHICS. FOR EVERYDAY THAT HE IS HERE...HIS POWER GETS STRONGER AND STRONGER.
PLEASE DO SOMETHING !!!
FROM ONE VERY ANGRY RESIDENT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
The Mayor has said that the X Fire Chief only has taken a thousand dollars[1000.00] but there is more she can't
talk about. So does that mean that I also can take a Thousand dollars when I leave ? with what she can't talk about?
So we all walk away with a 1000.00 dollars and all we can get in our pockets is tht what she is saying???? no ? Well then
what is she saying?????????? Take don't tell ,Don't get caught. Blame the Dailysouthtown for printing the truth.
Was is the shoe? the Camera? the Uniforms? what really was it????? as I know it wasn't the commerical Power washer
nor the gas tanks. Maybe it was the 400.00 dollar ladder that he had shipped to his house????????Maybe the Katrina money
or the Burn Money. Which was it?????????? So many things was taken but will never know. Oh he brought the cameras back the
ladder paid for the shoes what else di he pay for then get in our white s.u.v drice home and it to sat by the house for a
month but agin it to shall pass. along with many other things but it to shall pass
What is she hiding?
Is it because his name is Laycoax??????? Wake up Oak Forest demand
that she along with the seven aldermen that sit on the dias along with that Jone's guy tell us. By the way wasn't
he in some kind of trouble in one of the town's he came from????????????? Just checking as I had heard that from one of
those Officials. But then it to shall pass.
Taxes are great in Oak forest. Come join us.come
join us. Oh! are they going to tax the garbage?????????????? Just thought I would ask.
But,
then I don't live in Oak Forest. the towm with a Million Dollar Mayor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
Here are some fantastic examples of how the so called "development" at 159 has missed the mark:
1) Eight years or so ago someone, I cant remember who, ran for an alderman spot,and actually looked into developing
159th, there could be federal grant money to be applied to tapping into the water supply in Markham. Think of the $ that this
would have saved Oak Forest residents, both in the short term and in the long haul.
2) Any
mention be made of Metra rebuilding the train station as they have done in other areas? The current station resembles a bomb
shelter.
3) Someone please check the crime stats for the parking lots, and I believe you will
see that car break ins are up, from previous years. With the lots being less cetralized, what are the OFPD plans for increasing
security? Or havent we got to that just yet? I'll bet if you check the city budget there is still an officer and a car
being written off to that areas income.
4) With all the construction both being carried out
and proposed, has a legit engineering firm done any sort of a traffic study on the area?
5)
Ok, fine, we have three new stores moving in, how many condos or whatever have had interest in them? Is this phase going to
be speculative or are the developers going to have firm commitments before the "housing" goes up. There is a distinct
chance of the properties being vacant, or atleast below 50% occupied, a great look for the gateway to our city.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
In regards to the upcoming election, I dont think the question is "who will"
but "who in their right mind"
Imagine the mess that would have to be cleaned up
before you could institute any new positive measures. The ongoing contract disputes, departmental issues, rising tax rates,
would all have to be put to rest before anyone could make a dent in the continuing city issues.
The
job would become a full time position and I dont think anyone wants to spend 8 to 10 hours a day attending to some one elses
trash.....oh wait that right maybe the garbage pick up provider could help seeing as he just got a raise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
So as I was paying my cell phone bill - I noticed a nice $4.00 a month tax on
the bill called "Oak Forest MTT". So an extra $48 a year from me and everyone else who has a cell phone that
lives in Oak Forest. As our pockets thin out - Mayor Kelly's pockets are filling up!!! We need to get her
out of office prior to her term ending.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
Hey, what's this I hear. Another Public Works Employee fired while
on workers compensation. I guess it doesn't pay to work hard for your money for the City of Joke Forest. Be
careful boys and girls, if you get hurt at work its adios with out as much as a hand shake and a job well done. Seems
as though us tax payers of Joke Forest are going to be footing another legal bill to pay for another mess the King and Queen
have caused.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
I just have to say, I am SO GLAD that I'm not living in Oak Forest anymore!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2008
To Fred g Sandford: I would rather have garbage cans than bags. While
it does suck that there will be unused paid for stickers. I think your math is a little off....
"With the new contract beginning March 1, residents will pay a monthly flat-rate fee that will gradually go
up each year of the contract. Residents now have an option of paying the monthly flat rate for unlimited hauling or
they can pay for a $1.60 garbage sticker for every 33-gallon bag they put out for collection. Residents who now have
the flat rate pay $14.78 per month. With the new contract in place, that fee will go up to $17.88 the first year, $18.60 the
second, $19.34 the third and $20.11 the fourth. Seniors 65 or older will receive a $5 discount off the flat rate in
each of the four years. Residents also will be provided with trash toters for regular garbage and recycling material. Recycling
materials will be picked up every other week."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/14/2008
"CVS pharmacy, a well-known bank and a national coffee chain are three tenants
expected to take up residence in the long-awaited Gateway Project in Oak Forest. The Gateway Project has been a major
goal for Mayor JoAnn Kelly's administration since she took office in 2005." (Southtown Economist article 1-14-08)
What other businesses will be affected by the new gateway Mayor Kelly? Don't we already have a Walgreens? A Jewel
pharmacy? A 7 eleven? A Dunkin Donuts? At least 6 banks?
Shouldn't this Gateway bring
some business's we don't already have?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/13/2008
When I read these items in this web-site, now I know why Mayor Kelly/Scrooge McDuck
wants to get rid of this sight.
I have many questions to ask about the current goings on in
this community.
1) If there was no Crime committed as this mayor has stated, then why has
the former town employee made at the very least
3 reimbursements for items charged?
2) Who was watching as these items were purchased? Who approved them? Shouldn't those people be getting
ready for their retirements and pensions also?
3) Do the Taxpayers not deserve an answer on
what has gone on here? Why did the city's legal counsel allow this deal to
happen? Why when
I hear that all these Adlerman are working for the city's best interest are they not jumping up and down to get this out
in the open?
Could it be the friendships that are there or is it that maybe to
many of them could be implicated?
4) When our current Mayor Scrooge McDuck let the original
agreement lapse for the development of the properties south of 167th and Cicero and was telling everyone that the deal was
dead because no big box store would come there, why is she now annexing this land? What does she plan on doing with
it? It sure does seem like the midnight destruction of Miegs Field! Oh no that was another mayor ego maniac.
5) Why are people that have asked to questions bills and policies about the Resigned Fire Chief now getting threats
on their jobs and futures in this community?
6) Why do these Alder-people sit on their hands?
Bobbleheads or not should they not be asking questions and letting their constituents know what is going on? Guys what
deal did you all sign up for?
7) Why are we all having to struggle to pay all these new taxes,
when the adminstrators of this town keep lining their pockets?
8) Why was a new garbage contract
rammed through adding more expense and less benefit to the citizens of Oak Forest? No Recycling, no Garbage stickers,
more expense, seems like the Refuse Haulers made out on this one? Better check to see if the Mayor and Mr. Jones received
their great big thank from them.
9) This town has a long history and many great people,
but when the government continues to increase expense to the citizens, then we will see many of the long time residents start
to leave. Is that what the Mayor wants, no more seniors in this community?
10)Why has
this type of thing happened everytime this person that is our Mayor taken a job in city government? Seems that she is
a very destructive not constructive force!
11) When are we as citizens going to ask why this
Mayor decided to bail out School District 145 for over $ 2,000,000 of the taxpayer's money?
12)
Why is she going to tear down everything that was created by every other government official in the history of our community?
13) Why is there light duty for some, but not for others in this government?
14)
How many lawsuits is this community going to have to endure because of bad management?
15)
When are we as citizens of Oak Forest going to stand up and take a stand about poor government?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/13/2008
While I was not a supporter of former Mayor Gordon, it is good to see him get a little 'right back at ya JoAnn'
regarding the Feeley scandal with the current Laycoax scandal. I personally think that there was more that then meets
the eye in the Feeley case, but hey that's me.
Mayor Gordon raises some very good points
about campaign promises broken and those of us who voted for her deserve some sort of explanation for why she broke these
within days of taking office. Shame on the local newspapers for backing off on reporting the daily musings of what this
administration is doing. With the closed door policy of this administration, the newspapers are the only way to get
information on what they are up too.
Here's a couple more thoughts on this soon to be
Gateway Project debacle. How is any development going to survive in the old parking lot when people cant get to it?
You cannot put traffic lights at the current locations to get in/out of the former lot because of their proximity to 159th
& Cicero, so are you going to restrict traffic to right turns only coming out of the development? Other than a bank,
what type of business do they really think they are going to attract there? Wheres the car wash this town desperately
needs? Minute man was hands down the best car wash around. Why is that property still vacant? Cicero is
an eyesore, more so than 159th, why isn't there any development along there?
What about
all of these new rules regarding public works and the building department? I now need a permit to repair my HVAC system
or remodel a bathroom? So if my furnace goes out I need to pay for a permit to get it repaired? Same goes if I
want to put a new vanity in my bathroom. I now need a permit for that? The best one is this new policy on tree
roots and sewers. So if a tree on City property is causing my sewer to back up, I cannot get it cut down? How
is that fair? If im expected to maintain the parkway, the City should remove a tree if I do not want it. What
about this rumor floating that the City will be sending a van around to take pictures of peoples homes to make sure they are
compliant with all the City ordinances? This town is fast becoming very un-friendly to its residents.
I for one will not be voting for her again. As to someone who may run. Mayor Gordon drops a name (maybe
unintentionally) in his letter. I think we all need to hitch a ride on that horse and ride it to victory in April 2009.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/10/2008
Thanks Mayor kelly, my four stickers I use a month for garbage are no good and
now I have to pay $15 a month this year and $20 in 4 years. Plus I have to have a seperate can for recyclables, no more blue
bags. What a great deal to rob, I mean take, I mean get money out of the citizens of Oak Forest. Didn't raise property
taxes but you raised the phone tax, no garbage taxes basically, I'm sure a water tax won't be far off or a tax for
gas and electric, if there isn't one already. I know, how about a tax or a fee for the amount of air I breath in!!!!!
-Fred g Sandford
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/10/2008
Regarding the last post. Who is going to step up and run in the next election?
My question's to all of you
are, who is more qualified? By no means do I mean education wise.
I mean who in this town is Honest, Whole Hearted as
well as willing to step up and pull us back
in the right direction. Maybe we should take a vote here, for our favorable
Candidate?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/07/2008
So, all the negative comments about Mayor Kelly and the administration, check
the countdown clock, 1 year 2 months, who is going to step up and run?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/07/2008
Reading
about all the mistakes the present administration and the head of said administration have made , I was just wondering if
there is some way to remove the head of this administration before the next election?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/07/2008
It
has come to my attention that Mayor JoAnn M Kelly is apparently a direct descendent of the Wicked Witch of the West.
It
is very well known that she is extremely vindictive and that is the reason she orchestrated my demise.
I will be back!
Sincerely,
The Tin Man
(Formerly a resident of Oak Forest)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/05/2008
HAD ENOUGH, OAK FOREST?
Now that it's a new
year and we're more than 2.5 years into the current administration, we need to evaluate to see if we are better off than
we were when it began. Let's reflect.
One of the first campaign promises broken was the
appointment of the son-in-law of supporter Verla Clevenger as police chief, a position that was going to be outsourced according
to her campaign promises. A sergeant was promoted to chief over 4 lieutenants.
Then there was the creation of the $80,000/year
job of "City Collector" to repay another supporter, the City Clerk. His combined salary is now in the mid $90's.
Then she created the position of office manager in the building department as a payback to another supporter, former
Mayor Jim Richmond, and hired his wife to the $40,000+/year job. I'm sure his job is still waiting in the wings.
All this was done of course while leaving 2 Civil Service/Union positions vacant. But then, when you put your uncle
in as head of Civil Service I guess it's easy to get away with that.
I won't bother
going into the way she's mistreated the regular employees, most of whom supported her, as this website has done a good
job covering that.
Ah yes, your tax dollars at work. Speaking of tax dollars, been adding
up what you're paying lately? Check your monthly gas, electric, phone and cell phone bills, add them up and multiply by
12 to see how much this administration has been in your pocket. But then again, you weren't supposed to notice that. Just
to be certain you only think wonderful things about the administration, she also created a Public Relations position, with
salary of course! In addition to that, Administrator Jones took the Southtown editors to task for their reporting methods.
Amazingly, they listened and backed off!!! They've avoided painting a bad picture of the person they endorsed until just
recently with the Fire Chief scandal.
Yes, when the previous administration helped convict
the Public Works Chief, her statement was if "Gordon wasn't a part of it, he certainly had to know about it."
Now, when her Fire Chief was adding personal purchases to purchase orders signed by the Lieutenants, it became "poor
judgment" instead of a crime. In fact she kept insisting that nothing at all happened, and finally admitted that it was
"less than $1,000." C'mon JoAnn, if it was that little you wouldn't have tried so hard to cover it up!!
But you're taking care of him with a paycheck from us taxpayers until his September retirement. Crime may not pay, but
"poor judgment" sure does. Don Hall should have been so richly rewarded.
Then we
have the broken promise of "open government." First, the meeting agendas were changed to provide as little information
as possible, then the "Committee of the Whole" meetings were added. You know, the one where all the discussion takes
place away from the cameras, so no one ever really knows what's going on?? Wasn't her campaign about "open government?"
Ask the folks living at 167th and Cicero about their opinion of her open government." At least a delayed broadcast of
these meetings is now aired, thanks to Alderman Toland. But if the camera's running anyway, why can't it be shown
live??
She called economic development "spotty" during the previous administration.
Let's see, that's the administration that brought in the Walgreen's Center, Aldis, Food 4 Less, Community Mazda,
B & M Auto, filled the Industrial Park (that hadn't sold a lot in 10 years), among other things. So far, this administration's
brought in Oliver's, Giddyup Saloon, and a Polish Banquet Hall that keeps trying to say it's a night club. At last
count, there were 10 vacant store fronts in The Commons. Baba's, the Radiator Shop & Karate School and most of the
new center on 167th (brought in by the previous administration) among many others are vacant. We all know how she killed the
development at 167th. Funny thing, Dwight Welch seems to have no problem attracting commercial development. We can only wait
to see which the next business to leave town is. Any guesses?
But take heart, we have a $4.5
million parking lot on the old Arbor Park School site. This is a TIF property that, if it had been developed commercially,
would have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes in addition to potential sales tax for the City.
As a City owned parking lot we get no tax, only $1.00/car/day. So we still have a parking lot on our front door step,
and will attempt to put commercial by the condos in the old lot where no one will see it. In the meantime, the jury is out
on what type of traffic nightmare this new lot will produce for both commuters and local residents.
But we do have beautification thanks to the Streetscape Committee: 2 new beer gardens, bought in part with taxpayer
dollars. I really wonder where the liability for removal will lie when the State says they will have to be removed because
no permanent structure can be built within 20 feet of a State roadway.
Speaking of liability,
we have our new ordinance requiring sprinklers to be installed on new homes or any with additions that add 50% more space
to the home. That, of course, was brought about by our Fire Chief. You know, the one currently waiting to retire while receiving
a paycheck from us. Let's see, a system that was supposed to cost no more than $2,500, turns out it's more like $10,000
to $12,000. That's OK, though, since his wife was able to get a job from the installation company and he was moonlighting
there, too. But after the City ran a water study and found some severe "fire flow" problems, whose liability is
it when the City can't deliver enough water to the systems it required to be installed?
I
could keep going with things like the massive increase in legal fees, and other things, but I think you get the point. Is
Oak Forest a better place than it was before she took office? Have YOU had enough?
Patrick
M. Gordon
Mayor, City of Oak Forest 1997-2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/05/2008
Mayor Kelly, her city council of bobbleheads, and her hit man administrator Jones
are not new to deceit, lies, cover-ups and corruption.
The secret night raid against the property owners south of 167th
was the most recent and most notorious, but it wasn't the first and won't be the last.
They continually try to
convince people they are doing things for the benefit of all Oak Forest residents, but their actions are to the detriment
of most Oak Forest residents.
Early during her administration, Kelly supported a town home development on
Kenton Avenue that was repeatedly rejected by the Planning and Zoning Commission as being unfit for that neighborhood.
Despite the Planning and Zoning Commission's negative recommendation, she coerced her bobbleheads to approve the development.
When the residents tried to voice their concerns, she told them their opportunity to speak was before the Planning and Zoning
Commission. No more public discussion allowed! These residents were able to thoroughly convince the Planning and
Zoning Commission the project was undesirable as proposed, but when it came before the city council, the bobbleheads were
only allowed to listen to Mayor Kelly's desires. The residents concerns were unimportant. The development required
substantial infrastructure improvements that were either waived, or supported by city finances. Concerns about flooding
along Midlothian Creek remain unanswered.
In order to complete another development just to obtain a perceived
achievement, the current administration moved forward with an alternative "Gateway" development plan that has little
chance of providing pay back anytime soon. They gave away city property to a developer and moved the current functional
Metra parking lot to a completely dysfunctional location at a cost of $4,500,000 and counting. The new parking lot has
ingress/egress issues and still lacks a reasonably safe route for commuters to walk from the lot to the train stop.
The new "Gateway" development on the site of the old parking lot will require substantial infrastructure improvements.
The City is expected to provide these with borrowed money that will be paid back by Oak Forest residents.
Under the guise of a property tax decrease, the Mayor implemented utility taxes on electric and gas at the maximum rate
allowed by law. In addition, she sextupled (1% to 6%) the utility tax on communications in Oak Forest. Using percentages,
she tried to convince the residents they would break even, but for most folks, the new utility taxes are many times more than
the amount of the property tax decrease. The decrease was only on the city's portion of the real estate tax bill.
This windfall was used to "diversify" the city's revenue stream, and increase their bond rating. With
these new funds, they can now use a portion of the loan previously mentioned to pay for a new train station, something that
is the responsibility of Metra. Metra can't deliver funding before the next election so, Oak Forest residents will
pay again.
The current Mayor campaigned on having an open, honest government and the elimination of cronyism.
Her track record indicates just the opposite. There are constant cover-ups discovered by the news media. They
don't follow many of their own rules, they have just as many scandals as any previous administration, and cronyism is
rampant.
To add insult to injury, her administration disposed of some long time, dedicated employees for
no apparent reason other to have more money available to pay for the legal bills in order to defend her mistakes in judgment
and intimidate anyone who criticizes her.
We say, it's time for a change in Oak Forest.
Citizens for Honest Government
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/05/2007
C.A.N. has been asked numerous times exactly what it stands for so we thought
we would let you know.
CITIZENS AGAINST NAZISM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/05/2008
In regards to the Oak Forest Fire Chief.
You all
sit around and write about it but do nothing, waiting for someone else to do something.
The City of Oak Forest never
cotacted the States Attorney to see if they had a case, they took the word of their attorney. Well if you don't want people
to know, that's the way to go. We will never know will we?
Hey! Mayor Gordon, lets bring
back that Helmet that was given to you by the Now X Fire Chief. Don't you think that would be the right thing to do?
The now X Fire Chief took more than you think! But when they find something they call him and say, "Hey,Come
on in and pay the bill."
Why didn't Gordon do that with Feeley??? To bad all takers can't do that,
The Jail's would be less crowded
A Mad Taxpayer in Oak Forest soon to be leaving.