By Joe Boyle
It may be spring, but it is not too early to talk about a summer parade.
The Oak Lawn Village Board approved a resolution Tuesday morning authorizing the submission of a permit request to the Illinois Department of Transportation for the 2024 Fourth of July Parade.
The resolution approves the closure of a stretch of 95th Street for the parade.
“We are taking applications now for clubs and organizations that want to appear in the parade,” said Paul Mallo (3rd) during the board meeting.
The parade will be held Saturday, June 29, and will begin at 3 p.m. along 95th Street, Mallo said. A concert will take place following the parade.
Lead service replacement
A brief public hearing took place before the board meeting began at which an update was presented for the lead service replacement program for the village. Jerry Dillon, assistant village manager, read the report and said that the village sent the required information to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
“Oak Lawn is compliant with all the rules and regulations,” Dillon said.
The Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act requires community water supplies to give owners and occupants notifications about lead service lines serving their homes or buildings and construction activities that may release lead into drinking water.
Oak Lawn officials have said that the act will allow for timelines to remove and replace all lead service lines.
No one had comments during the meeting. The project is available for public viewing at the Oak Lawn Village Hall, 9446 S. Raymond Ave.
During the consent agenda portion of the meeting, the board approved and directed the Fire and Police Commission to hire four police officers from the current eligibility list.
The board also approved the Oak Lawn Lions Club Helen Keller 5K Run and Walk to take place Sunday morning, April 28. The beginning and conclusion of the event will take place at Richards High School, 10601 S. Central Ave.
The Helen Keller 5K Run and Walk will go through the Wolfe Wildlife Refuge Center walking and running path.
A resolution waiving competitive bidding was approved for the purchase of the Axon Video Interview System for the police department. The total price will not exceed $545,154. 37.
Axon Interview features a 24/7 buffer that can store weeks of continuous video and audio to local storage. The system allows for the police to capture video of witness and suspect interviews.
Another resolution waiving competition bidding was approved by the board for the purchase of three 2025 Ford Police Interceptor SUVs from Napleton Ford in Oak Lawn for a total price not to exceed $145,139.91.