[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6128089,"mediaKeyId","5751929-ac28c5c1e3d6c6ed4b9eff7d55351762","parentId",5751929,"title","Oak Lawn to start new waste-hauling contract with Flood Brothers; rates to drop for most households","audioSeconds",204,"startMs",1746000,"endMs",1950000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5751929-ac28c5c1e3d6c6ed4b9eff7d55351762&start=1746&end=1950","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5751929-ac28c5c1e3d6c6ed4b9eff7d55351762/thumbnail_1746000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6128089/Oak-Lawn/Cook-County/Illinois/Oak-Lawn-to-start-new-waste-hauling-contract-with-Flood-Brothers-rates-to-drop-for-most-households","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6128089-267115c45f9d2bb6e9cef9b33ceb1035/orig.mp4?Expires=1770910566&Signature=Fu7vHrGtJDC0vS3usJF-ZX0VbFCPV447tJhAfkb6-EdTCHPD1BO9iLwa3cUkHc9GLbKwCj6uLvvjHZ2OlHO1E9CtL6QWwDcrQyWgA58~i3Arg7f6XyJSuBOOpU~rGBclvwy9eTpaEoCwqOqs5RPVN3xlycdAr1SyiEPj6bAKAXzCPgs8ewwWawMv1wNFMG67EO-3yBErRoGWrBxTpzJ624zqh5abwxC3bJoS3NE40OrRbW~8yo97MVnFuFdchH1P1YwE4h1FmZ~Ya9RFxo7nysIMlcNnT9YYEzWboxiBVCGBS0hFCS0~HyvCUSF0yQhhFGOriV3~ebdK5PLHtesmxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oak Lawn, IL","date","2025-09-10T03:17:04Z","article","Lede: The Village of Oak Lawn will begin a new waste-hauling contract with Flood Brothers on Oct. 1, and trustees said the negotiated contract will lower quarterly collection rates for senior and disabled residents and for other households.

Nut graf: Village officials told the Board of Trustees on Sept. 9 that staff performed due diligence in negotiating the new contract, which also adds curbside pickup for electronic and large appliances and includes customer communications to help residents prepare for the transition.

Body: Trustee Alex (District 2) announced that Flood Brothers will assume Oak Lawn's waste-hauling responsibilities on Oct. 1 and summarized the principal consumer impacts of the contract. \"For senior citizens or residents with qualified disabilities, their quarterly rate will go down from $67.44 to $58.65,\" he said, describing the reduction as about 13 percent. He said the quarterly rate for other residents will drop from $76.74 to $69, a savings of about 10 percent.

Trustee Alex credited village staff for negotiating the contract and said the new contractor will provide curbside pickup for electronic waste and large appliances (TVs, refrigerators, washing machines) for a small fee. \"Over the next few weeks, the residents will receive a letter from Flood Brothers, with details on the collection process,\" he said, adding that public-works staff and Flood Brothers contact information will be posted on the village website.

Trustees and the village manager said the vendor has recruited many current local drivers to remain on the Oak Lawn route, which they described as a continuity benefit. \"The driver is going to end up working for Flood Brothers and staying in the village of Oak Lawn,\" Trustee Alex said, praising the vendor's recruitment.

The board discussed the change during the trustees' reports and the item was part of consent-agenda materials; the contract award had been accepted previously by the board as the lowest responsible bidder.

Ending: Flood Brothers is scheduled to begin service Oct. 1. Residents should expect mailed notices with collection schedules and instructions; questions can be directed to the village public works department or Flood Brothers as listed on the village website.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Trustees Meeting (2025-14) September 9th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees discussed and publicized the pending October 1 transition to Flood Brothers for town refuse collection; village staff negotiated contract terms that lower quarterly rates for seniors and general households and add curbside appliance pickup for a fee.","taxTitle","Oak Lawn, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",4200,"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},6128094,"Oak Lawn amends traffic code to ban low-speed e-scooters, tightens e-bike rules",370,3260000,3630000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5751929-ac28c5c1e3d6c6ed4b9eff7d55351762&start=3260&end=3630","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5751929-ac28c5c1e3d6c6ed4b9eff7d55351762/thumbnail_3260000.jpg","/articles/6128094/Oak-Lawn/Cook-County/Illinois/Oak-Lawn-amends-traffic-code-to-ban-low-speed-e-scooters-tightens-e-bike-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6128094-3f3b129765b0cfede37b2dc1b9c741a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770910566&Signature=HutvhZxRZ2sBigmIbJxxOYbdQGOK1tO-CCivklHf-sQoIa3NY0LB53-Nd70jYssN~nWV4t9aNgk0CifkJi2aaDBZM1RWTG52Ts1Nl0sg83xuAmBkwnaJhgSvDvGoHudf5WHLW2Y58PqrHYh5kSc~acdG0qStwBxR-oXx~X7RZ6VdVFjNO0yeClA1nUCpPP2QII-03CZdKilNkpMhTnfJVXcQ~zI9BE9K42jhjSeExENIHYDiZ2dF-DanycA-oUzvebNHK68bhdvKmyVTszIw~vmd8aGvlNuAmg4OIu~2JJd9b8LC-xWOqI91Ji36T4F0Ic0o4maZHg-Tru3J6dML3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lede: The Village of Oak Lawn Board of Trustees unanimously approved an ordinance on Sept. 9 updating the municipal traffic code to address electric bicycles and electric scooters, including a local ban on low-speed electric scooters and new rules for higher-speed devices.

Nut graf: Trustees said the amendments are intended to improve pedestrian and rider safety by aligning the village code with state law while adding local restrictions on equipment, age, allowed roadways and sidewalk use. The ordinance passed by roll call vote after several trustees said they had reviewed state guidance and safety reports.

Body: Trustee Michael Pembroke (District 4) summarized the primary elements of ordinance 25-14-46 during the Sept. 9 meeting, saying the code now distinguishes three classes of e-bikes by speed and sets a 10 mph cap for \"low-speed electric scooters,\" which are banned from village streets under the adopted rules. \"In this code, they'll be explicitly banned from use within the village, pursuant to state law,\" Pembroke said.

Under the ordinance, higher-speed electric scooters and Class 3 e-bikes remain allowed under conditions: operators must be at least 16 years old and possess a valid driver's license; devices must have functional brakes and required front and rear lighting for night use; riders are prohibited from operating on sidewalks and must travel single file and yield to pedestrians.

Trustee Pembroke said the intention is safety-focused. \"I think this is a good thing,\" he said, noting near-miss incidents and the quiet operation of electric devices that can surprise pedestrians. Other trustees who spoke in favor cited months of staff work and public-safety concerns; the board voted for the ordinance by roll call.

The ordinance also prohibits using such devices on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or greater and bans passengers and carrying loads that impair control. Trustees said enforcement will rely on police education and compliance, with penalties tied to existing traffic fines in the village code.

Ending: The ordinance took effect on adoption unless otherwise stated in the ordinance text; trustees and staff said they will monitor enforcement and public response and may adjust outreach and education efforts to reduce conflicts between riders and pedestrians.","The Village of Oak Lawn Board of Trustees on Sept. 9 adopted an update to the village traffic code that bans low-speed e-scooters, creates speed-based e-bike classifications, and imposes age, equipment and roadway restrictions for higher-speed electric scooters and e-bikes.",{"_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},6128098,"Oak Lawn residents press board over Animal Welfare League contract and pet-recovery practices",263,109000,372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5751929-ac28c5c1e3d6c6ed4b9eff7d55351762&start=109&end=372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5751929-ac28c5c1e3d6c6ed4b9eff7d55351762/thumbnail_109000.jpg","/articles/6128098/Oak-Lawn/Cook-County/Illinois/Oak-Lawn-residents-press-board-over-Animal-Welfare-League-contract-and-pet-recovery-practices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6128098-4cc1cb4ba00fddb791e785738f5e9506/orig.mp4?Expires=1770910566&Signature=FhNP3Fh~EMDm~xroNV9MkKkCTx0Xhy~L9eajAr3hbet-qrWCdr-A49GiP5ZCtxrNiF06T3iWIrLT4mokRv04NFz0JowoqZiULhb2O7U-c0RkCpktQe1Y5F5P2WWif2uUEUTSpaS3xcKfVkH8BJOfo-a-N-yOs0IRqIO78MrufCR3ALVr0636Ozj-MnlsDNuhUf8-AWihb4VjnbzNKtnnE7xR2GSmvccGkFW8GaM0iMPvRl0RYpB56SW80NKNzgpgJevfrpPZOBKDbaITvqtlhf-1aYMcCJ8DSWzgYJNHwx-5G6ffxiAe68icqQj70PA656D~YLbAt5RC3g4beEm3yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lede: Residents and animal advocates at the Village of Oak Lawn Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 9 pressed elected officials about the village's contract with the Animal Welfare League and how stray animals are impounded and returned to owners.

Nut graf: Dozens of minutes of public comment focused on claims that the Animal Welfare League has held animals and impeded reunification with owners, and on whether Oak Lawn police and village legal staff properly applied the village's impoundment ordinance. Village officials and the police chief responded at the meeting but did not announce any formal change to the contract or an ordinance.

Body: Kristen Adamiak, who said she is from Joliet, told trustees her father's dog was held at the Animal Welfare League for 16 days after Oak Lawn police brought the animal there and that village staff declined a private meeting on the contract. \"It states that after 72 hours of apprehension is when a dog or cat can be relinquished to animal welfare,\" Adamiak said, summarizing the village ordinance as she read it and arguing the contract conflicts with that requirement.

Paul Buck, who identified himself as a Chicago resident and the dog's owner in one high-profile case, said his dog was picked up and was not returned for 16 days. \"By the time I got the dog back, the dog was so stressed out,\" Buck said, describing visible weight loss and behavioral change.

Several other residents echoed those concerns. Kim Watonic, who said she previously filed litigation to try to obtain Animal Welfare League records, said the shelter spends heavily on legal fees and that she sought transparency about the facility's practices. Jacqueline Masalco, who described herself as a hometown resident who helps with stray-dog recovery, read the village's impoundment ordinance aloud and said owners had been told Oak Lawn does not hold animals for the 72-hour stray-hold period stated in the ordinance.

Mayor Terry Ford responded to the public comments by noting limits to the village's authority. \"Our ordinances apply to us, the village of Oak Lawn, and our police department,\" he said, adding that the village uses the Animal Welfare League because Oak Lawn lacks an in-house holding facility and sending animals to distant shelters takes police officers off the street.

Chief of Police (name not specified) spoke for the department and said the most common reason owners could not immediately reclaim animals was lack of proof of ownership or proof of vaccination. \"The reason they couldn't get their dog back was because [the owner] had no proof of ownership, medical records, or vaccinations,\" the chief said, adding that he reviewed the contract and contacted the Illinois Department of Agriculture. \"They had a valid license. I had the attorney review it. He said it is kind of boilerplate, but I had no issues with it, go ahead.\"

The chief said Oak Lawn's animal-control officer recently resigned and the village is recruiting a replacement; he also said code-enforcement officers have a new chip reader to identify microchipped animals. \"We are in the process of hiring another one,\" he said of the animal-control position, and noted staff training on chip readers.

The board did not take a formal vote on the Animal Welfare League contract at the meeting. Multiple trustees said they would review the village's ordinances and the chief reiterated existing practices: owners who can provide proof of ownership and vaccinations can have animals returned, and the police department pays for shelter boarding only for three days under the contract terms the chief cited.

Ending: Trustees did not announce any immediate policy change; residents who spoke asked the board to review the contract and local procedures to improve transparency and reunification outcomes. The village indicated staff would revisit relevant ordinances and village practice, and the police department said it is hiring a new animal-control officer.","Multiple residents at the Sept. 9 Oak Lawn Board of Trustees meeting said the village\u0000s contract with the Animal Welfare League and impoundment procedures have prevented owners from reclaiming pets; the police chief said the department reviewed the contract and the Illinois Department of Agriculture reported no open licensing issues.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Oak Lawn to start new waste-hauling contract with Flood Brothers; rates to drop for most households

Oak Lawn amends traffic code to ban low-speed e-scooters, tightens e-bike rules

Oak Lawn residents press board over Animal Welfare League contract and pet-recovery practices