The Village of Park Forest Board of Trustees will consider changes to fire service billing practices, approve an Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund appointment, and formally recognize Black History Month during a special regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 2.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Village Hall board room, 350 Victory Drive.
Trustees are expected to approve a consent agenda that includes the minutes of the Jan. 20 regular meeting and a resolution appointing an authorized agent to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. The resolution would designate Human Resource Generalist Rachel Jones to serve as the Village’s IMRF authorized agent, a role previously held by the accounting manager. IMRF is the pension system covering full-time Village employees not enrolled in police or fire pension plans.
Two ordinances related to fire service rates and billing will be introduced for first reading and discussion.
The first proposed ordinance would amend Chapter 42 of the Village Code to allow the Park Forest Fire Department to bill insurance companies for certain emergency fire and rescue responses. Under the proposal, fees for services such as motor vehicle extrication, hazardous materials incidents, fires, water rescues, and special rescues would be calculated using national insurance billing rates adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. Village officials say the change would allow the Fire Department to recover a portion of its operational costs without imposing additional fees on residents.
The second ordinance addresses fire department responses to incidents in unincorporated areas outside Village limits. The proposal would update service charges to reflect current costs, including personnel fees per responder, apparatus and vehicle fees, and charges for consumable or extraordinary materials. The ordinance would also allow the Village to bill uninsured property owners directly when applicable. If ultimately approved, the amended ordinance would take effect on March 1.
The agenda also includes a proclamation recognizing February 2026 as National Black History Month. The proclamation notes that 2026 marks 100 years since the first organized national observances of Black history and highlights the longstanding contributions of African Americans locally and nationally. It also recognizes Park Forest resident Sandi Lynn, a 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for community service and the founder of the G.R.O.W. Power mentoring program for girls.
The meeting will include reports from Village officers, commission liaisons, and committee chairpersons, followed by a public comment period.
Copies of the agenda are available in the Village Hall lobby, and the full agenda packet is posted on the Village website. Residents needing reasonable accommodations to participate in the meeting are asked to contact the Village Manager’s Office at least 48 hours in advance.