Orland Park’s Committee of the Whole on Dec. 1 recommended a slate of contracts and policy steps aimed at shoring up public-safety infrastructure and advancing planned capital projects.

Trustees voted to recommend a contract under the Omnia cooperative with Davcom/Dave Connell Electric Inc. to upgrade fire alarm systems at police facilities and the north intake building, with a not-to-exceed price of $560,100, after staff said the existing systems needed to be brought up to current code and include ADA-related visual and audible alerts. The committee also recommended awarding a DevCom Electric Inc. contract for a full police-generator and transfer-switch replacement project not to exceed $498,700; staff said the current generator is 17 years old and had reliability failures during winter testing. Both motions were approved by roll call.

The board recommended a Midway Flooring Inc. contract for flooring at the police station and Civic Center annex, approving a not-to-exceed amount of $343,322.35 (including a $20,000 contingency).

On municipal finance, trustees recommended a parameters ordinance to authorize issuance of up to $40.5 million in general obligation bonds (series 2026A taxable and 2026B tax-exempt) to fund multiple capital projects. Staff said portions of the issuance would be reimbursed through TIF for specific redevelopment items (including a sports redevelopment incentive and the planned Ravinia Avenue extension). Trustees discussed debt policy, the planned use of TIF reimbursement, and a possible referendum on the Riviera property; finance staff put the village’s current debt near $125.83 million and said the proposed issuance would increase outstanding debt by $40.5 million.

On property and code matters, trustees recommended initiating two separate actions: (1) adoption of an ordinance to acquire a narrow strip of the Chermack parcel by eminent domain to complete the Ravinia Avenue extension to LaGrange Road, which staff said is necessary for access and safety for an upcoming subdivision; and (2) a resolution authorizing acquisition of the former El Cortez property with eventual demolition and conversion to part of the Marley Creek Basin to address flooding and create passive recreation space. Trustees also approved authorizing staff and counsel to initiate building-code litigation at 15151 S. Harlem Avenue to pursue title on a long-abandoned structure after staff said taxes and water bills have been unpaid since 2014.

How the committee voted (summary of recorded roll calls in the meeting):
• Fire-alarm/Omnia contract recommendation: motion passed (roll call recorded as unanimous among present members).
• Police generator contract (DevCom) recommendation: motion passed (roll call recorded as unanimous among present members).
• Midway Flooring contract recommendation: motion passed (roll call recorded as unanimous among present members).
• Cruise-lights pilot resolution (see separate article): motion passed.
• Ravinia eminent-domain ordinance recommendation: motion passed.
• El Cortez acquisition resolution: motion passed.
• Building-code litigation resolution (15151 S. Harlem): motion passed.
• Bond parameters ordinance recommendation (up to $40.5M): motion passed.

Next steps: Each recommended contract and ordinance will return to the full Village Board for final action; staff and counsel were asked to prepare additional materials (cost breakdowns, diagnostic summaries and legislative briefings) for items that may require more public engagement or further review.