Oak Lawn Mayor Issues ‘Declaration of Emergency'

OAK LAWN, IL — Mayor Sandra Bury signed a “declaration of emergency” to authorize the village’s response to the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation. The declaration does NOT mean Oak Lawn is now experiencing community spread of COVID-19.

“We are in daily contact with our schools, churches, community organizations,” Bury said. “We are working closely with our public health agencies to ensure our community is prepared and responsive to the challenges of COVID-19.”

The declaration will enable the village to apply for additional “disaster” funds for Oak Lawn’s first responders.

The early voting polling place at Oak Lawn Village Hall, 9446 Raymond Ave., will remain open for the duration of early voting, which concludes at 5 p.m. Monday, March 16. The polling place at village hall will reopen on Tuesday, March 17, for voting in the Illinois Presidential Primary.

Intensive cleaning has been added in highly trafficked public areas of village hall and at the Oak Lawn Metra Station. Cleaning will be ongoing during early voting and on election day.

“We ask residents to check in on elderly family members and neighbors, and other vulnerable members of our community,” Bury said. “Help them vote early before Tuesday. The polling place in the village board auditorium is not as crowded. Most people are in and out in a few minutes. It’s important that we get out to vote.”

Activities at the Oak Lawn Senior Center, 5220 W. 105th St., are also suspended, including social activities, field trips effective March 13 until further notice. The senior bus, however, a lifeline for many vulnerable residents, will still operate. Passengers will be screened for fever, and asked if they have recently experienced the flu and colds for the next few weeks.”

“The village will try to preserve this for now,” the mayor said. “This is how many our residents get to the grocery store and doctor appointments. However, this may change after I get some input from the Illinois Department of Public Health.”

The village is also reaching to the overnight homeless shelters, nursing homes and Park Lawn to assist in protecting vulnerable persons.

In addition to the declaration, residents and businesses are encouraged to apply for building permits, garage sale permits and pay water bills online.

Those seeking permits, licenses, water readings, etc., are asked to conduct business by email, phone calls and texts. Send photos or scans of documents (surveys, plans, receipts, etc.) to email or text to staff.

For building permits, contact Don McKenna by phone at 708-499-7802 or email him at dmckenna@oaklawn-il.gov; or Michelle Niemeyer by phone at 708 499 7803 or email her at mniemeyer@oaklawn-il.gov.

Oak Lawn’s public commissions also postponing regularly scheduled meetings. The arts, special events and regional emergency commissions have canceled their upcoming meetings.

“Please be sensitive to people whose livelihoods have been so greatly impacted by these challenges — hospital workers, hospitality employees, retail workers, Uber drivers, restaurant workers and local businesses,” Bury said “Let’s support each other as a community.”