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1. Has the deadline to purchase vehicle stickers & animal licenses been extended?

Yes. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the deadline to purchase vehicles sticker and animal licenses has been extended to June 30.

2. How can water bill payments be made?

Residents needing to make water bill payment should do so in one of the following ways:

• In person - Face masks are required at Village Hall for in-person payments

• Online here (*you will need your account number)

• By phone 833-230-2598 (*you will need your account number)

• Or by utilizing the drop-box located outside of the south doors of Village Hall

* If you need your account number, please call Village Hall and leave a message including your name and address, or email mgott@vopf.com with your name and address, and staff will look up your account number and contact you with the information.

3. Is Village Hall open?

Yes. Village Hall re-opened on June 1 after being closed for nearly three months due to the coronavirus. Face masks are required for all patrons at Village Hall. 

4. How can I purchase a vehicle sticker?

To purchase your vehicle sticker or animal license, you may select any of the following options:

In-person: Face masks are required at Village Hall for in-person payments. Residents may also purchase vehicle stickers at the Park Forest Currency Exchange, 98 S. Orchard Drive. 

By mail: Mail your completed vehicle sticker application along with check made payable to Village of Park Forest to: 

Park Forest Village Hall

350 Victory Drive 

Park Forest, IL 60466

Drop box: Drop your completed vehicle sticker application along with check made payable to Village of Park Forest in the white Village Hall drop box located just outside of the south door entrance of the building. 

Online: Purchase your vehicle sticker on the internet for a $3 convenience fee. Please note that the convenience fee is charged by the vendor not by the Village and cannot be waived. Click here to purchase your vehicle sticker online. You will need to first select Park Forest from the menu options.  

*Please note: Residents submitting animal license applications should include a copy of a current rabies vaccination for each animal to be licensed.

5. Where can I purchase Homewood Disposal yard waste stickers?

Residents may purchase yard waste stickers at the Park Forest Currency Exchange, 98 S. Orchard Drive. 

6. Is all upcoming programming in Park Forest cancelled?

Yes. All previously scheduled programs and events sponsored by the Village of Park Forest are cancelled until further notice. The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Community Health is working towards organizing online programs and activities as well as planning for the resumption of “in-person” programs when people can assemble in groups again. Please continue to watch the Village’s website for updates for announcements and information on programs offerings. 

7. Which businesses are open in Park Forest?

Park Forest food service businesses are providing delivery and curbside service during the stay-at-home order. A complete list of Park Forest businesses currently open is located here. Please note that the list is updated twice a week.

For more on Park Forest businesses, you can also visit the Park Forest Businesses Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ParkForestILBusinesses/.

8. Are board meetings still being held?

Monday night Village board meeting are continuing to be held during the stay-at-home order. Meetings are conducted via conference call. Board meeting start times have temporarily been moved up from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Residents wishing to make a comment during the meeting can submit those comments by emailing tmick@vopf.com before 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Public comments will be read during the meeting. A record of all action, if any, taken during the meeting will be made available upon request.

To view upcoming meeting dates, visit the Village’s calendar here: http://villageofparkforest.com/calendar.aspx 

The agenda for Monday meetings is posted no later than the prior Friday. To view board meeting agendas visit http://villageofparkforest.com/AgendaCenter 

Please note that upcoming Saturday Morning Rules Meetings have temporarily been cancelled. 

9. What can I do to help the community during the stay-at-home order?

The best thing you can do to help others is also the best thing you can also do to help yourself: stay at home.

How you also can help the community while at home is by taking a few minutes to be counted in this year’s census. There is likely to be some longer term economic fallout as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Thus, it may be more important now than ever to ensure that your household is counted so that our community is sure to receive as many dollars as we qualify for from the federal government over the next decade.

To complete the census now, visit https://my2020census.gov/ .

10. How can I purchase an animal license?

To purchase an animal license, you may select any of the following options:

In person:  Face masks are required at Village Hall for in-person payments.

By mail: Mail your completed animal license application, a current copy of rabies vaccination for each pet to be licensed, along with check made payable to Village of Park Forest to: 

Park Forest Village Hall

350 Victory Drive 

Park Forest, IL 60466

Drop box: Drop your completed animal license application, a current copy of rabies vaccination for each pet to be licensed, along with check made payable to Village of Park Forest in the white Village Hall drop box located just outside of the south door entrance of the building. All animal license applications will be processed and licenses mailed to you.

Please note that animal licenses may not be purchased on the internet.

11. Where can I find more helpful coronavirus related resources?

The Village of Park Forest has compiled a listing of coronavirus related information and websites here https://www.villageofparkforest.com/covid19

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1. How can I pay a parking ticket?

Parking tickets may be paid by cash, check, or credit card (MasterCard/Visa/American Express) at the Park Forest Police Department, 24 hours a day.

Additionally, online bill pay of parking tickets is available by visiting https://www.violationspayment.com/ws/

(click on Park Forest then Parking/Compliance/Hearing Request)

Questions regarding your ticket can usually be answered by any records clerk. More detailed problems are handled by the Parking Administrator at the Park Forest Police Department, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Those wishing to speak with the Parking Administrator should call 708-748-4701 during the above noted days and times.

2. How do I pay a traffic ticket?

If you were issued a traffic citation where the citation number begins with the letter Y, you can pay the fine via US Mail by using the envelope provided by the officer during the traffic stop. Directions are included on the envelope. Some traffic citations require a mandatory court appearance. You can check in the lower right hand corner of your citation for any court information.

If you were issued a municipal citation where the citation number begins with the letter M, you can pay the fine in cash or credit card (MasterCard/Visa/American Express) at the Park Forest Police Department, in person or by mail. Please note that prepayment is not available if the officer checked the “Must Appear” box at the bottom of the Municipal Citation. In this case, the hearing information is included to the right of the “Must Appear” box, and you must appear at the hearing or be subject to a $750 fine.

3. How do I change a court date for a traffic ticket?

Scheduling of court appearances for traffic citations (citation numbers beginning with the letter “Y”) is conducted through the Cook County, 6th District Circuit Court in Markham, Illinois. The Park Forest Police Department cannot change court dates. Call the Markham Courthouse at 708-232-4577.

4. How can I file a complaint?

Anyone wishing to make a complaint against a police department employee is encouraged to speak to the on-duty supervisor, either by visiting the police department or by calling (708) 748-4701. Often times, misunderstandings of policy or minor issues can be successfully resolved by the on-duty supervisor. However, we recognize that sometimes a person may not want to visit the police department or speak with the on-duty supervisor. Should that be the case, formal complaint forms are located in the lobby of the police department and can also be downloaded here. Completed forms may be emailed to citizencomplaint@parkforest-IL.gov, dropped off at the front desk of the police department, or mailed to:

Citizen Complaint

Park Forest Police Department

200 Lakewood Blvd.

Park Forest, IL 60466

It is the policy of the Park Forest Police Department to ensure that the community can report alleged misconduct without concern for reprisal or retaliation.  All citizen complaints are treated seriously and investigated.

5. How do I commend police department personnel for a good job?

If you would like to commend a police department employee for the service they provided, please email Chief Christopher Mannino at cmannino@parkforest-IL.gov or correspondence can be mailed to:

Chief Mannino
Park Forest Police Department
200 Lakewood Blvd.
Park Forest, IL 60466

All letters of commendation are shared with the employee and also placed in their personnel file.

6. What time is curfew in Park Forest?

Village Ordinance prohibits anyone under the age of 17 from being in any public place, street, or assembly between the hours of 11:01 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and 12:01 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on the weekends. Parents may be held liable if their minor children are out past curfew.

7. Does the Police Department remove wild animals from my home?

No, the Park Forest Police Department Community Service Unit and Animal Control Units do not remove wild animals. Please call a professional wildlife removal specialist.

8. How many animals can I have in my home?

Village ordinance limits the amount of pets in your home to no more than three dogs and cats.

9. Are my pets required to have animal licenses?

Yes, annual pet licenses must be purchased at Village Hall. To obtain the license, the pet owner must provide an up-to-date rabies vaccination from a license veterinarian.

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1. Where does the Village of Park Forest get its water?

The Village is supplied by ground water pumped from six wells drilled approximately 340 feet deep into a dolomite limestone aquifer. The wells are all located within a one-mile radius of the Village’s Drinking Water Treatment Plant. Ground water is pumped from the wells to the plant where it is treated using a lime and soda ash softening process. The treated water is also filtered using anthracite and sand. Chlorine is added as a disinfectant, fluoride is added to help prevent tooth decay, and phosphates are added to help inhibit corrosion. Drinking water is then pumped from the plant to the consumer through 72 miles of underground drinking water mains.

2. Does the Village of Park Forest test for lead?

Yes. The Village is required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to test for lead every three years from IEPA-approved sites. The Village does not have laboratory facilities to test for lead in drinking water, but contracts with a lab certified by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The most recent sampling period was July/August of 2017. The results are posted on the Village’s website at www.vopfwaterreport.com. The Village complies with all IEPA testing requirements and have met those requirements every year since testing began in 1997.

3. How likely are Park Forest residents to be at risk from lead in their drinking water?

The bulk of Park Forest homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s when lead piping was more prevalent. While most of Park Forest’s water system was not built using lead piping there are fixtures and joints that could contain lead both within the Village’s water system and inside a resident’s home. Current chemical testing indicates Park Forest homes do not have lead levels approaching amounts that are a cause for concern under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, though, it still is possible for some homes to have small traceable amounts of lead in their tap water under the right conditions.

4. How does lead get into drinking water?

Lead will most often enter the drinking water from pipe corrosion or wearing away of lead-based materials.

5. What does the Village of Park Forest do to prevent elevated lead levels?

The Village adds chemicals to the drinking water at its Treatment Plant that coat the inside of the pipes to inhibit corrosion and prevent leaching of lead into the drinking water supply. While it is possible that some homes may still have lead service lines or lead solder pipe joints, the Village’s corrosion control methods reduce the amount of lead leaching into the drinking water from these sources as well. These anti-leaching, anti-corrosion additives are safe for consumers.

6. What are the chances the Village’s old water mains are adding lead to the drinking water supply?

The 72 miles of municipal water mains are mostly Cast Iron or PVC. Some lead solder joints still remain, but the drinking water mains are coated by the additives the Village of Park Forest uses to inhibit corrosion and lead leaching. In addition, unlike the drinking water in one’s home, the drinking water in the Village’s mains flows constantly. The leaching of anything into the drinking water occurs from standing water. That’s why experts recommend that homeowners run their tap water for at least three minutes before use if it has not been used in the previous six hours.

7. Do water main breaks or construction increase lead levels

Maintenance on the Village’s water system has the potential of causing corrosion on any lead piping of fixtures that may exist. That’s why experts recommend homeowners run their tap water for at least three minutes after any water main work is performed in your area. The Department of Public Works notifies residents in the area of any planned water main work prior to construction.

8. What would be the most likely source of lead in my home’s tap water?

If you have lead in your home’s tap water, the source most likely is the service line pipe connecting your home to the municipal water main, lead solder joints in your home’s own plumbing, or brass fixtures manufactured prior to 2011.

9. If my home has a lead service line, can it be replaced?

Yes. A property owner can replace the water service line. Property owners are responsible for the cost of replacing the service line from the shutoff valve to the house.

10. Should I test my drinking water for lead?

If you are concerned about the possibility of lead in your home’s drinking water, you can have your drinking water tested by a certified laboratory. If you have difficulty finding a certified laboratory for testing, contact the Public Works Department at 708-503-7702.

11. What are the health effects of lead in drinking water?

Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to young children, pregnant women, and infants-particularly if they drink formula prepared with tap water containing elevated levels of lead.

12. What measures can I take to reduce the lead in my home’s drinking water?

The U.S. EPA recommends the following steps:

• Flush your pipes before drinking - The more time the water sits in your home’s pipes, the more lead it may contain. Any time water in a particular faucet has not been used for six hours or longer, flush the cold water pipes by running the water until it becomes as cold as it will get. This could take as little as 30 seconds or up to three minutes. To save water, use the water you flush out for watering plants.

• Use cold water for cooking and drinking - Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially for making baby formula. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead. Run cold water until it becomes as cold as it will get. Boiling water will not get rid of lead contamination.

• Use water filters or treatment devices - Many water filters and water treatment devices are certified by independent organizations for effective lead reduction. Devices that are not designed to remove lead will not work. Verify the claims of manufactures by contacting National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International at 800-NSF-8010 or visiting www.nsf.org. Some water filters that remove lead also remove fluoride. Residents with children may wish to discuss fluoride replacement with a dentist.

13. Where can I find more information?

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or by visiting www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. You also can review the Village’s Annual Water Report posted at www.vopfwaterreport.com. If you would like to discuss the issue with a local contact, call Village of Park Forest Public Works Department at 708-503-7702.