Orland Park Holds Final Town Hall For Video Gaming Town Hall

ORLAND PARK, IL -- The Village of Orland Park’s final town hall on video gaming will be held Monday, Jan. 8 at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Ave. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. The village board is seeking public input into the possibility of changing an existing 2009 ordinance that prohibits video gaming within the corporate limits of the village.

Declining sales tax revenue in Orland Park is causing the village board to consider reversing the ordinance. The mayor and trustees were working on a draft ordinance that would allow local bars and restaurants with bars to offer video gaming in their establishments, with restrictions. Part of their policy making process involved town halls to garner public input.

Village Clerk John Mehalek and a group of citizens opposed to video gaming placed a referendum on the March 20 gubernatorial primary ballot, which asks: "Shall the Village of Orland Park prohibit video gaming within the corporate limits of the village?"

>> > Orland Park Residents To Vote On Dueling Video Gaming Referendums

A similar referendum, one which Mayor Keith Pekau says more accurately reflects the issue at hand: "Should the Village of Orland Park approve and license video game [sic] within the village for those establishments (restaurants and restaurants with bars), limited in number by village holding Class A liquor licenses and having conducted business for at least 18 consecutive months with signage conforming to the village code?"

Pekau detailed what he described as the "hijacking" of the village board’s policy-making process during a special board meeting on Dec. 27. Orland Park residents will have two referendums to consider in March.

Nevertheless, residents and business owners are invited to express their views or ask questions of the Village Board regarding video gaming in Orland Park. Visit the Village of Orland Park website for more information on the proposed video gaming ordinance.