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Forest Park council approves loan, fire-truck purchase, EV charger IGA and other routine measures
Summary
At its Feb. 9 meeting the council unanimously approved a loan from Forest Park National Bank, waived bidding and authorized purchase of a tower-ladder fire truck, approved an IGA amendment for potential county-funded EV chargers, and adopted several other routine resolutions and motions.
The Village Council of Forest Park approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and motions on Feb. 9, including a bank loan, a fire-truck purchase, and agreements on electric-vehicle charging and water-meter work.
Loan: The council authorized an ordinance allowing a loan from Forest Park National Bank to support village needs. The administrator later thanked Forest Park Bank for its quick turnaround on the financing.
Fire truck: The council voted to waive the competitive-bid process and authorize the purchase of a Pierce tower-ladder (tower ladder) fire truck, recorded as Ordinance 06-26. Commissioner Maxim read from Chief Hinkes’s letter explaining the urgency: “Truck 403 was removed from service earlier this year after being determined to be beyond reasonable and cost effective repair... At a recent structure fire, there was a delay in the arrival of a mutual aid truck company. During that incident, firefighters were required to rescue a village resident from a third story window using a ground ladder that was too short and had to be operated at an unsafe angle.” Council members discussed timing and the critical need; the ordinance passed by unanimous vote.
EV chargers IGA: The council approved Amendment 1 to the intergovernmental agreement with the Cook County Bureau of Asset Management to allow the county to consider installing a second EV charging station in Forest Park. Council members were told it would carry no immediate cost to the village and would leverage county ARPA funds; the measure passed as Resolution 12-26.
Other approvals: The council adopted a consolidated bills resolution (Resolution 11-26) totaling $927,493.74; approved pay request #11 for the water meter replacement project (Resolution 13-26); directed the Board of Fire and Police to offer employment to the next two eligible probationary firefighters; approved Roberts Westside’s use-of-public-way application for a 2026 food-aid event; and approved a community-center trip for the Barrel Run.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in open session): - Approval of Jan. 26 minutes: unanimous aye (motion moved by Commissioner Maxim; seconded by Commissioner Nero). - Resolution 11-26 (bills): adopted, unanimous aye. - Ordinance 05-26 (bank loan): adopted, unanimous aye. - Ordinance 06-26 (waive bids/purchase tower-ladder fire truck): adopted, unanimous aye. - Resolution 12-26 (IGA amendment for EV chargers): adopted, unanimous aye. - Resolution 13-26 (pay request #11 to Verigee): adopted, unanimous aye. - Employment offers to next two probationary firefighters: approved, unanimous aye. - Roberts Westside public-way application (food aid): approved, unanimous aye. - Community center trip agreement (Barrel Run): approved, unanimous aye.
Why it matters: The fire-truck purchase addresses an immediate operational gap in the department’s fleet; the IGA for EV chargers could bring county-funded infrastructure to the village without current local expense. Several routine items (pay requests, public-way approvals, personnel offers) were handled in consent or with minimal discussion.
