Orland Mayor Pekau weekly update

Monday night’s meeting was quite interesting, and even included a visit from the former Mayor. The first big thing is that we released executive session minutes (https://www.orland-park.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8261).  A long read but you will see some interesting behind the scenes discussions that have gone on since I’ve been in office. Second, we passed the final parts of the commission changes that I took a beating from several board members about for several months that you have read about here and in the Prairie.  I want to thank the board for passing these changes after more than 9 long months.  As you may know, sometimes government moves slowly and it can take more time than we’d like to get things done.  That is OK, it’s how representative republics work.  The important thing is that we eventually prevailed and the new commission structure will be good for Orland Park. As you may recall, our original goals were: Review our existing commissions’ goals, structure, charter and current level of engagement and impact Make recommendations on commissions’ structure, meeting requirements, goals and charters to help make them more value added for the Village Board and Staff Make recommendations on how to make commissions more efficient and effective Identify commissions that are no longer needed Make recommendations on new commissions and advisory boards to fill needed gaps Ensure that our commission structure continues to meet state requirements Some other goals that I had hoped this exercise would accomplish, included: Creating a Technology commission Improving the Recreation Advisory Board Ensuring that Trustees not be voting members of commissions, because then they effectively become judge, jury and executioner Modifying Open Lands Commission to add emphasis on sustainability and maintenance of our open lands So what was accomplished? We modified several commissions including improvements to the Recreation Advisory Board and adding an emphasis on sustainability and maintenance for Open Lands We created a Technology Commission that has its first meeting this week We ended three commissions that were no longer needed We combined one commission with another We codified the fact that Trustees will not be voting members of commissions At the end of the day, it’s about getting results even if the process is a bit messy.  A special thank you to Ed Giron, Ed Schussler and Kevin Scanlan for helping by meeting with several commission members and for giving me their counsel and making several recommendations (like ensuring that the commissions are reviewed every 4 years). Our next discussion centered on a resolution opposing the Cook County prevailing wage requirement on properties that receive tax incentives.  It was tabled after some discussion and staff was asked to provide more facts.   I will not delve into this discussion at this time, because there will be more discussion later. However, I will point out that Clerk Mehalek again stepped down from his duties and spoke.  This time directly challenging me on the issue. The Village Clerk is supposed to be the keeper of the official record and a neutral party.  It appears that our Clerk is not happy with that role.  Since he voluntarily chose to run for Clerk, I think he owes it to the taxpaying citizens to perform those duties. The former Mayor also decided to jump in on this discussion saying that “in the last 12 years there has been $1.2 Billion invested in Orland Park.   So, I don’t think that the prevailing wage hurt at all.  It’s a good indicator that it doesn’t affect the businesses.”   The problem with his statement is that Orland Park doesn’t have a law that forces prevailing wage on private business and Cook County’s law goes into effect in September of 2018. So, unless we act we will be subject to yet another ill-advised Cook County regulation.  No offense to the previous Mayor, but that investment came in because we weren’t forcing prevailing wage on private businesses, but instead because we allowed the businesses to contract with whomever they wanted. The next discussion was on a resolution forming an ad-hoc committee to investigate secession from Cook County.  Trustee Carroll indicated that this was laughable and a political stunt and it’s sad that we’re wasting taxpayer’s money to explore this.  Trustee Calandriello said that we should not spend one dime of taxpayer money or village resources on this. To clarify, an ad-hoc committee of citizens would not cost us any money.  I am reminded that it was Trustee Calandriello, supported by Trustee Carroll who refused to have an ad-hoc committee of citizens look at our commissions and instead conducted a workshop and surveys and many, many staff hours to compile information on the commissions.  I am thankful that after witnessing that cumbersome process, they agree with me that we shouldn’t be using staff time when we have willing citizens to help. I am also very happy they have found religion and have now become budget hawks.  This is progress. To summarize the key points of the resolution: Cook County mandates will hinder economic development within Cook County and the Village of Orland Park and these ordinances place unfunded mandates on municipalities and unprecedented requirements on private businesses The Cook County States Attorney’s Office policies fail to provide legal prosecution and protection for victims in Orland Park for several classes of crimes, examples include: Established a felony approval threshold of $1,000 or 10 prior felony convictions for retail theft in direct conflict with current Illinois law of $300 Implemented a policy of not prosecuting violators who have a suspended driver’s license and admitted this policy was created to relieve overcrowding in two courtrooms at the Daley Center Orland Park is the third largest tax contributor in Cook County, yet receives proportionally far fewer services in return (this year there is not a single County transportation project in Orland Park) Cook County’s actions only serve to hurt Cook County municipalities and their residents by driving businesses out of Cook County into adjacent collar counties and states such as Will County and the State of Indiana While it may be difficult and unlikely to successfully secede from Cook County, I am not willing to capitulate that “there is nothing we can do” and simply continue to watch the County take our money and spend it in the City and North side communities.  It’s time for us to understand all of our options and to continue to put pressure on the Cook County Board. Other jurisdictions, including Orland, Palatine, Hanover and Barrington Townships as well as the Village of Palatine have, or are considering doing the same thing. Finally, the former Mayor also spoke to the board during the public comment period.  He opened with “I came here tonight to address a robo call that was made on the 3rd and 4thof March including to my house.”  During his approximately 4 minute speech the former Mayor also stated the following, “Mr. Mayor it is my understanding that you have told at least one or two people in this room that you know who made the robo call.  I am asking you to tell that individual to stop making our town look bad with uncalled for negative misinformation, distortion and exaggerations.” I took a moment to thank him for coming and for inviting me to the water project meeting before I took office and meeting with me for 5 minutes before the meeting to brief me on the $225 million project.   Since that was the only 5 minutes he gave me during my entire transition, I was surprised to see him at the meeting and listed as a speaker.   His reasons for speaking were no less surprising.  As Trustee Carroll pointed out at our last meeting, to his knowledge NOBODY on the board had anything to do with this robocall and the avenue for complaints is the FCC as the Village Board and the Orland Park Police have no authority over telemarketing calls, which the former Mayor well knows.  His accusations are baseless.  I do not have any knowledge of who sent out the robo-call.  All of the board members have guesses, suspicions and ideas, but nobody knows for sure, it is out of our purview and would be inappropriate for us to get involved. I want to remind everyone of all that the Village Board has accomplished in the last 10 months by setting aside differences and putting the People of Orland Park first: Reduced net debt by $50.5 million by exiting the 9750 project Cut ~ 2% out of our operational budget Stopped the practice of rolling over excess revenue into operations budget Agreed to capital improvements for our parks, roads and technology infrastructure Improved transparency by putting board meetings on audio and having open discussions on critical issues Provided relief to Hurricane Harvey victims Opted out of Cook County minimum wage and sick pay mandates Reviewed and modified our commissions Approved assessment of our fields to improve utilization and find economic development opportunities The board supported my efforts to submit an Amazon HQ Bid that has resulted in interest from Intersect Illinois, Illinois DECO and Modern Business. When I arrived, there was a letter of intent with a developer to bring a theater to the Triangle.  Not only could they never get a lease done, but they were expecting $8M in incentives to build the building you saw pictures of.  Together we forced them to step up and they did not.    The board agreed to get out of the piece by piece development business and put out an RFQ for ALL of the remaining properties in the Triangle and received 6 submittals.  After 18 years, it is our goal that we see a plan for redevelopment of the remainder of the site. The board also agreed to conduct a due diligence project, at my request, on a potential village purchase for tens of millions of dollars for which there was a letter of intent when I arrived.  This project convinced the board to not move forward.  The Board put the People of Orland Park first and remained open to new information and thinking.  Recognizing the importance of Orland Square, I met with the owners of the mall shortly after taking office and they indicated that Seritage wanted to redevelop the upper level of Sears. I then met with Seritage and thought it was a good project, but informed them that there weren’t enough votes to approve the project.  I told them that I thought the project was a good one and if they moved forward I would work to get the board to approve.  In the end the board approved the project which is a $40 million investment for a new AMC/Retail development to replace a Sears, which is now closing, with a 5 to 1 vote.  The Board again put the People of Orland Park first.  This initial meeting with the mall also led to facilitating resolution of a 2-year-old issue between PACE and Simon properties at Orland Square Mall which according to PACE is and Simon is working well. Orland park has strengthened relationships with our neighbors – Mokena, Frankfort, Palos Park, Tinley Park, Orland Hills, New Lenox and the Will County Center for Economic Development Together with the Mayors of Mokena & Tinley Park, we founded a regional development group for the I-80 corridor. We aided Commissioner Morrison in his effort to successfully repeal the Cook County Soda Tax Finally, immediately after taking office, I opted out of the pension system, saving the taxpayers $2.1 million in the process. This board, in spite of a rocky start, has accomplished all of this and of late has been working together more effectively.  Transitions are always challenging but this is what was and is in the best interest of the People of Orland Park.  I fail to see how the People of Orland Park, or anyone on the Village Board benefit from the robocall.  In fact, the robocall made it more difficult for all of us. So, the question is, who does benefit from the robocall?  Certainly not me or the current board. I look forward to continuing to fight for the People of Orland Park and will continue to update you with these messages. If you are receiving this email from someone else, you can always get it directly by sending a request to keith4mayor@gmail.com Additionally, on April 11th, we will be celebrating my first year at Papa Joes’s from 6 to 9 PM.  I hope to see you there. Tickets are available at www.keith4mayor.com under upcoming events.