Village President Gopal Lalmalani accepting eCity award from Google's Rob Biederman.
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
What a winter we have had. We began the season with snow, the bitter cold and/or the beginning of spring warm up. Flowers and trees do not know whether to hibernate or begin to bud as we all anxiously await the warmer weather. We will indeed welcome the pleasures of spring and enjoy walks on our bicycle/pedestrian pathways or even around our wonderful Oakbrook Center Shopping Mall. Encourage your friends to join you in enjoying the fresh air and new sights - it will help both your health and that of our Village when you walk and shop in Oak Brook!
Warmer weather brings outdoor activities! Plans are underway for the Annual Taste of Oak Brook and spectacular Fireworks display to be held on Monday, July 3, 2017. Returning again this year will be some of Oak Brook’s fine restaurants, great musical entertainment and a variety of activities for children and adults as we celebrate our nation’s holiday!
As you may recall, last year the Village Board outsourced the Polo Program and in doing so brought an array of advertising, doubled previous attendance numbers and greatly enhanced the program. We are pleased to announce that the Village has once again partnered with Pineoak Partners LLC for the 2017 Polo Season and this summer promises to be even bigger and better. Additional information on ticket prices, sponsorships or advertisement opportunities and upcoming polo matches can be found at www.oakbrookpoloclub.com. Come out and enjoy some spectacular Polo summer fun!
Let’s not forget the Sports Core. The Oak Brook Golf Course will be offering Golf Lessons for both the beginners and the avid golf enthusiasts looking to enhance their game. The Oak Brook Swim and Tennis Club will bring many changes for this upcoming year. Be sure to check out the NEW summer camps offered for children of various ages. Information on camps, swim and tennis lessons can be found elsewhere in this newsletter.
I want to let our residents know, that the Village has been vigorously opposing the installation of the red light cameras by the City of Oakbrook Terrace at the intersection of 22nd Street and Route 83. Not only are we pursuing the legal option but we have engaged our legislators to assist us politically in opposing this issue.
On January 25, 2017, the Village of Oak Brook filed a lawsuit which we hope will stop the construction and operation of red light cameras at two of the four corners of Route 83 and 22nd Street. The lawsuit was filed against the Mayor of the City of Oakbrook Terrace, their City Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Triad Consulting Services, Inc., the President of SafeSpeed, LLC and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), who granted the permit to Oakbrook Terrace. Additionally, we are working with our consultant to advocate our position with IDOT’s Chief Safety Engineer and their General Counsel. I have spoken to business leaders within Oak Brook and regular citizens who use this intersection quite often. None of them feel the need for red light cameras at this location
As we began to investigate this matter, we found that in fact all of the intersection of Route 83 and 22nd Street is within the governmental jurisdiction of the Village of Oak Brook. The annexation of land adjacent to this intersection took place in 1958 and no one has paid much attention to this issue for over 50 years as there was no reason to do so.
Rep. Peter Breen has sponsored HB 506 that would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code. It has bi-partisan support as representatives David Olsen of Downers Grove, Patti Bellock of Westmont and Deb Conroy of Villa Park have signed on as co-sponsors for the bill. HB 506 basically states that “a municipality or county may not enact an ordinance providing for an automated traffic law enforcement system at the intersection of Route 83 and 22nd Street in the City of Oakbrook Terrace and any provision of an ordinance enacted by a municipality or county prior to the effective date of the bill that is inconsistent with the prohibition is null and void.”
Also, State Rep. David McSweeney, who represents the House 52nd District encompassing Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry Counties, has sponsored two additional bills, one of which would eliminate red-light cameras statewide and the other only in non-home rule communities such as Oak Brook. Rep. McSweeney believes red light cameras do not enhance public safety but are a revenue generating tool. He does not see any reason to continue the use of red light cameras in Illinois.
We will continue to pursue this issue and hopefully come to a successful conclusion in eliminating the cameras that Oakbrook Terrace has installed.
The Trustees, the staff, and I are always available to hear your thoughts, ideas, or concerns at all times. Kindly free to call, email or meet any of us. We are all here to serve you.
Respectfully submitted,
Gopal G. Lalmalani, MD, MBA.
Village President