MAYOR: 'State of Oak Lawn is Pretty Good'

Mayor Dave Heilmann delivered a Valentine to members of Oak Lawn’s business community in his annual address to the at the

From the achievements of high school students to development, the mayor painted an optimistic picture of the village’s collective progress and accomplishments over the past year in a 58-minute speech and 80 slides.

About the only thing marring the village in the immediate future—aside from a fractious village board—was the current outbreak of ash borer disease affecting 1,600 public parkway trees. Even with that, the village was on top of controlling the destructive pest.

Members of Oak Lawn’s business community, trying to survive the worst economic recession in recent memory, raved about the mayor’s speech, delivered with self-deprecating charm and humor.

“I do think, despite the economic situation, that between now and 2014, these could be some of the most exciting years in our history because of projects and developments,” Heilmann said.

Here is a by-the-numbers look at some of the highlights of the mayor's state-of-the-village speech: 

Economic

• Sales tax revenue that was its lowest at $11.4 million in 2007, climbed back to $12.3 million in 2011, with $12.2 million projected for the current year, indications, the mayor said of an economic recovery.
• Oak Lawn ranked 18 out of the top 20 municipalities in the Chicago region in retail sales at $970.4 million of 5.35 percent in 2009 sales levels.
• Automotive and filling stations is the biggest economic engine generator by making up 42 percent of the village’s overall sales tax receipts.
• Oak Lawn welcomed many notable new businesses at its malls and storefronts including L.A. Fitness B Fit “fitness” center and office complex, Qdoba, T-Mobile, Smashburger, Stacked Restaurant, Eva’s Bridals in Oak Lawn, ATI Physical, Fatso’s, and Midwest Orthopedic in the former Edgar Funeral Home.
• Five of the village’s auto dealerships underwent major renovations including Napleton Honda, Mancari Chrysler Dodge, Webb Chevrolet, Haggerty Buick-GMC and Shirey Cadillac.

Finance

• The village board continued to toe the line on property taxes by not increasing levies for the sixth consecutive year. The village’s investment grade credit rating according to Moody’s Aa3 and according to S&_ is A+. Despite the reaffirmed rating, Moody’s did suggest the village has a negative outlook due to its low general fund balance and cash reserves.

Development

• Three major developments broke ground in 2011, including Advocate Christ Medical Center’s new ambulatory pavilion and parking tower, Little Company of Mary’s urgent care center, and Bluestone Health Care’s medical building on for the existing State Farm Claims Center site.

Infrastructure

• Oak Lawn received over $1.850 million in total grants between 2010 and 2011.
• 27.15 miles of village streets were resurfaced during one of most intense paving programs in the past 30 years at a cost of $9.8 million in the last two years alone.
• 1,285 feet of drainage pipe was installed to relieve backyard flooding issues and 3.5 miles of alley drainage.
• 3.9 miles of water main replaced at cost of $3.4 million.
• Ongoing implementation of the Water Master Plan continues in 2012 to enhance the distribution system infrastructure for both Oak Lawn and 12 municipal water customers.
• Oak Lawn is aggressively pursuing a $40 million IEPA low interest loan to provide part of the financing for an estimated $140 million project.

Public Safety

• The number of full-time police officers increased from 102 in 2005 to 108 in 2011.
• The Oak Lawn Fire Department answered 5,243 emergency medical service calls in 2011, or an average of almost 14 calls per day.
• Fire calls for service—including refuse, vehicle, structural, Dumpster, and cooking fires—totaled 2,685 in 2011.
• Ambulances are equipped with advance life support and staffed by paramedics at the highest pre-hospital level of licensure.

Demographics

• Oak Lawn’s population increased from 55,245 in 2000 to 56,690 in 2010, according to the U.S. Census.

Mayor Dave Heilmann's 2012 state-of-the-village address will be re-broadcast on public access Ch. 4.