[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6187768,"mediaKeyId","5064442-7b771d2814031ee6f22617afebee09d1","parentId",5064442,"title","Palos Park council approves 2025 employee health‑benefit renewals; UnitedHealthcare plan selected","audioSeconds",204,"startMs",1854000,"endMs",2058000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064442-7b771d2814031ee6f22617afebee09d1&start=1854&end=2058","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064442-7b771d2814031ee6f22617afebee09d1/thumbnail_1854000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6187768/Palos-Park/Cook-County/Illinois/Palos-Park-council-approves-2025-employee-healthbenefit-renewals-UnitedHealthcare-plan-selected","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187768-66850b5178d9cd658950e97b881db383/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159942&Signature=fITHAIifnP~zpxmv3F9JDUh-TSUyJF4KOnrRrdnqYtf4yxS2qyXi7CBzQJwZHQRWBW2vh06BLBno~iLRk7TOfJmiBk-XDESv~53p~awhp73StYbqITNSfg8UfxrRUpenFSEmg792psGg~-AjLvCJTJZ1u9urnMB4FWJZxsX-VNwXRuRSrYTYWls-yCz16jSCkfSFFOXyzNkE65rGawUqtt9bo-ncMSjCvDQG~SX4xscrpQUzJGTgjFJzGLC~CHVZm7o2fAoL0oDO6MinjqInU47IobgnvKq3m6Oz5XpqvcF0IpqAhGG6GFNXiEaQSN0U8QBXLX7FwiU9wOPIVL3McA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Village of Palos Park, IL","date","2025-06-25T13:52:02.597Z","article","PALOS PARK, Ill. — On June 23, 2025, the Palos Park Village Council approved its annual employee health‑benefit renewals, effective Aug. 1, 2025, selecting UnitedHealthcare for medical coverage and recommending Mutual of Omaha and VSP for ancillary benefits.

Village staff said 34 employees and their dependents participate in the plan. The Horton Group (now part of Marsh McLennan Agency) solicited quotes from four carriers; one carrier declined and three quotes were received. UnitedHealthcare’s proposal maintained the village’s current program structure but carried a reported cost increase of about 8.81 — described by staff as roughly $57,000 annually — a figure staff said falls within the council’s fiscal‑year 2026 budget, which anticipated a 13% increase in medical costs.

Staff reported the following recommendations and context:

• Medical: UnitedHealthcare — HMO (Navigate), PPO and HSA (Nexus) programs (renewal at +8.81%; estimated $57,000 annual increase).

• Dental: Mutual of Omaha recommended after MetLife quoted a proposed 50% increase; Mutual of Omaha’s quote was described as 0% increase from last year for certain components.

• Life and AD&D: Mutual of Omaha recommended (staff said Mutual of Omaha’s quote represented a 27% reduction relative to one renewal quote, saving about $1,350). Voluntary supplemental life insurance options would remain 100% employee‑paid.

• Vision: VSP recommended; staff reported a 0% increase from last year.

The council approved the package as presented. The motion to approve was made by a council member and carried on roll call; Commissioners Patan, Reid, Polk and Mayor Nicole Milovich Walters recorded affirmative votes in the minutes.

What the decision means

The selected renewals will be offered to employees during open enrollment; staff indicated open enrollment logistics will follow council approval. The transcript records specific quote figures and relative increases; the minutes show the council approved the renewal package as budgeted.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Village Council Meeting - June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On June 23, 2025, the Palos Park Village Council approved its annual employee health‑benefit renewals effective Aug. 1, selecting UnitedHealthcare for medical coverage and recommending Mutual of Omaha and VSP for ancillary plans.","taxTitle","Palos Park, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",73748,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6187778,"Palos Park council approves parking‑lot sealcoat, pump rebuild, water‑system assessment and utility truck purchase",274,840000,1114000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064442-7b771d2814031ee6f22617afebee09d1&start=840&end=1114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064442-7b771d2814031ee6f22617afebee09d1/thumbnail_840000.jpg","/articles/6187778/Palos-Park/Cook-County/Illinois/Palos-Park-council-approves-parkinglot-sealcoat-pump-rebuild-watersystem-assessment-and-utility-truck-purchase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187778-48e6f8772bd7fa7dc764a3ed6f8da33a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159942&Signature=T4BtfAQSkcu0NXaR12EohuIdKrSVu2KwkuuFoBeqnVY5QQuo4asAAJ8-zT8Gz5rvp3470dSEE7Na-qbUPpMyPmxhyFCUfZ4-VlXeca3z9r51KtEoXQqRrJ-uAeAnmJT9JNeU6gVo~Imur5Lm8nrztZj7eMh-fkbBNNXkPPNIt1ii8TkZUqoc7G09B1sxcGApWjsL6wyrQMI2uWQzgOHb3vSxfq5ExUP~xmMyB1L6h0HOYbE2d7r2oYjdz~dUdylD1Vy8aqShTe8NKUMtoJhx7u1N5RRvQc-c-rqsrGIDp42a~0rPULbVy3oss9skontl6hyzL6AKJX3SokdAtgVKig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PALOS PARK, Ill. — On June 23, 2025, the Palos Park Village Council approved a set of public‑works contracts and purchases intended to maintain the village’s water and transportation infrastructure and to replace aging equipment.

The council voted to award a sealcoating contract for the Metro commuter parking lot to H and D Maintenance for $15,500, after receiving a higher bid of $33,969.45 from Jack’s Seal Coating. The council also approved rebuilding a submersible sewage pump at the Holy Family Lift Station, accepting Flow Technics’ $9,802.30 rebuild proposal rather than replacing the pump outright for $19,759. Public Works reported the rebuilt pump will become a spare.

Council members approved a $9,500 lump‑sum contract with engineering firm Baxter and Woodman to update the water system’s Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) and Emergency Response Plan (ERP). Staff said the update is required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency under the America’s Water Infrastructure Act and is budgeted for the year.

Finally, the council voted to forego a formal bidding process and to purchase a 2026 Ford F‑250 pickup from Terry’s Ford of Peotone with an equipment package from Monroe; the total cost with equipment was reported as $79,181. Public Works said the purchase will be funded from the sewer fund and that the replaced unit (2013 Dodge, truck #52) will be reassigned to the street department.

Discussion and votes

Commissioner Patan presented the Public Works items and gave vendor quotes for each procurement. Commissioner Reid noted the price disparity between the two sealcoating bids. No formal protest or bid challenge was recorded. Roll calls were taken for each motion; the minutes record affirmative votes by Commissioners Patan, Reid, Polk, and Mayor Nicole Milovich Walters on the sealcoat, pump rebuild, RRA/ERP contract and the truck purchase motions.

What the council approved

• Sealcoating and restriping of the Metro commuter parking lot — H and D Maintenance, $15,500 (motion and roll call affirmative).

• Rebuild of submersible sewage pump at Holy Family Lift Station — Flow Technics, $9,802.30 (motion and roll call affirmative). Staff described the existing pump as replaced in service and now intended to be kept as a spare after rebuilding.

• Update of water system Risk and Resilience Assessment and Emergency Response Plan — Baxter and Woodman, $9,500 (motion and roll call affirmative). Staff said the IEPA requires the RRA/ERP update every five years under the America’s Water Infrastructure Act.

• Purchase of 2026 Ford F‑250 pickup with equipment package — Terry’s Ford (vehicle) and Monroe (equipment), total $79,181. Council voted to forego formal bidding on the vehicle purchase and approved the procurement (motion and roll call affirmative). Staff said funds are available in the sewer fund to cover the extra cost.

Background and next steps

Public Works staff indicated budgeted funds cover the listed items; no additional external approvals were noted. The RRA/ERP contract was described as a regulatory update; staff did not provide a timeline for completion in the meeting record.

The council’s approvals were procedural, recorded by roll call, and did not include additional conditions beyond the contracts and budgetary remarks recorded during the meeting.","On June 23, 2025, the Palos Park Village Council approved multiple Public Works purchases and contracts — a $15,500 sealcoat for the Metro commuter lot, a $9,802.30 pump rebuild, a $9,500 water system RRA/ERP update, and a $79,181 utility truck purchase — to maintain village infrastructure.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6187764,"Palos Park selected for CMAP technical assistance to study Southwest Highway crossings",84,1282000,1366000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064442-7b771d2814031ee6f22617afebee09d1&start=1282&end=1366","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064442-7b771d2814031ee6f22617afebee09d1/thumbnail_1282000.jpg","/articles/6187764/Palos-Park/Cook-County/Illinois/Palos-Park-selected-for-CMAP-technical-assistance-to-study-Southwest-Highway-crossings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187764-e58493c76cbab5e76c7e6c12a0e91465/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159942&Signature=b3d3qssoY9W-K6jtGo7wm~pWEgZaNNxcD9JLZDCGXU-d8kdXWvzxVwhUs9wWsDynDt7Wspc0jvAsqqNsfDh4k1O2Ad5uT9EfSBrw2YFxQ81gBwaCHk9I0K6FtRwmDXZrxsP6oe8hk~lt75o-3zeSMU43ZUF2bmJYBLXUGN7C7Kaye~e-Pa9JeczoeSvXUlodoFQlzMuev~OKllRvgvEgRylTWCAO~T7pTxX-Ad774grSR-UYzyeOU4XrSNYBFoatFbeXo1QOtz8wHM7E1BdQFKj8Xba51Gzd8bsS7NGox00E74BV0c6VtqXhw~mIIq17MfuBdn9HFUT39qQoyL-LoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PALOS PARK, Ill. — At the June 23 meeting, the Village Council announced Palos Park was selected to receive technical assistance from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) as part of a Cook County program to support local transportation planning.

The village was selected as one of more than 52 Cook County applicants for CMAP/RTA community planning technical assistance. The assistance will focus on a transportation safety plan for the area centered on Southwest Highway and its intersections with Timber Lane and 120 First Street and will further explore bicycle and pedestrian crossings that were identified in Palos Park’s 2018 bikeways and trail plan, the building‑department report said.

The building department reported the village will work with CMAP on the scope and next steps and will share details as they become available. No funding commitment or timeline for the CMAP assistance was recorded in the meeting minutes.

Why it matters

CMAP technical assistance can provide planning analysis and recommendations for multimodal safety projects; the council’s announcement signals a next step toward addressing bike and pedestrian crossing safety in a corridor the village identified in earlier planning work.","The council announced the village was selected for technical assistance from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to study transportation safety around Southwest Highway and its intersections with Timber Lane and 120 First Street; the project will explore bike and pedestrian crossings identified in the village's 2018 bikeways and",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6187774,"Palos Park council directs attorney to draft ordinance allowing alternative pool barriers under strict conditions",161,1363000,1524000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064442-7b771d2814031ee6f22617afebee09d1&start=1363&end=1524","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064442-7b771d2814031ee6f22617afebee09d1/thumbnail_1363000.jpg","/articles/6187774/Palos-Park/Cook-County/Illinois/Palos-Park-council-directs-attorney-to-draft-ordinance-allowing-alternative-pool-barriers-under-strict-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187774-486456bcf10c09d0352fb8feabf33baa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159942&Signature=fEuULN1gNjv9R296w8JhRw4ctlklshs8graHJgeuITUjBVokqnvV3GIzl5LzOM-eEKCfzHrE1oW2562s73Y0OiI0pjMo8Sd-vRGa4xZ227I21maqGfLrAyKuKZzZrQuGg4Mydcf2sFMVXjOwHY7XqkkWMbPbsPpzY84H3PAexHYX9FMnCn57zMO8-9j9J7~vLK-bWV~PySoi1Htb9L-iiG03EVF7lu4bwD9O6hsm~yMS9byoYbfJGcfGfN~V7pkYll4vfF3WoNP46nAJnyC9ZQ~f67yb0VZBwn7ZS3QNgOb2OgYC8p-D2o-n3xLrb~Au8xzxEolp7-IjT04to9olgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PALOS PARK, Ill. — The Palos Park Village Council voted June 23 to direct the village attorney to prepare an ordinance amending chapter 14‑82 of the village code to allow alternative pool barriers for private pools under specified conditions.

Council members said the village previously adopted the 2021 International Codes for building regulation but did not adopt the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code in full because the current village code required pool barriers be fences of wood, steel, stone, wrought iron or wrought‑iron‑style aluminum. Under the council direction, alternative barriers would be allowed only for pool area enclosures (not the full property perimeter), limited to an area no greater than six times the water surface area, and must comply with section 305 of the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code regarding pool barriers.

The motion specifies additional conditions: the alternative barrier may not be chain link; it must meet required loading and impact resistance set out in the adopted building codes; it shall not exceed 6 feet in height; it must provide a minimum of 70% openness or transparency per linear foot; and a lockable safety cover shall not be an acceptable alternative barrier. All remaining gate, latch and related requirements would remain in effect.

Vote and context

A motion directing the village attorney to prepare the ordinance language passed on a roll call with Commissioner Patan, Commissioner Reid and Mayor Nicole Milovich Walters voting yes; Commissioner Polk voted no. The minutes record the motion and the conditions the council specified for review by the attorney.

Why it matters

The change would permit alternatives to currently enumerated fence materials but only under narrowly defined circumstances. The amendment process will require ordinance drafting and subsequent council consideration; the meeting record does not include a public hearing date or an enactment timeline.","The Village Council voted to direct staff to prepare an ordinance amending chapter 14‑82 to permit specified alternative pool barriers for private pools, subject to size, material, transparency and height limits; the motion passed 3‑1 with Commissioner Polk voting no.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Palos Park council approves 2025 employee health‑benefit renewals; UnitedHealthcare plan selected

Palos Park council approves parking‑lot sealcoat, pump rebuild, water‑system assessment and utility truck purchase

Palos Park selected for CMAP technical assistance to study Southwest Highway crossings

Palos Park council directs attorney to draft ordinance allowing alternative pool barriers under strict conditions