2021 Winter Newsletter
WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
OAK BROOK
Quarterly Newsletter | Volume 99- Winter 2021 news
President Gopal Lalmalani, M.D., M.B.A
Clerk Charlotte K. Pruss | Trustee Larry Herman
Trustee Michael Manzo Trustee Jim Nagle
Trustee Suresh Reddy Trustee Edward Tiesenga
Trustee Asif Yusuf
2 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
OAK BROOK news
3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Message from Dr. Gopal Lalmalani
4 From The Manager’s Desk
Message from Greg E. Summers
3 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Dear friends and neighbors,
On behalf of the Village Board, I would like to wish
everyone a happy, healthy, and hopeful New Year!
The Village began the new year by welcoming a
new Village Manager. Greg Summers brings a
wealth of knowledge in development services and
engineering. He served as Director of Development
Services from 2013 to 2019 and Director of
Engineering from 2008 to 2013 for the Village of
Barrington and more recently as the Assistant
Village Manager for the Village of Orland Park. His
understanding of Village government and his energy
are an asset to our community. The Board, staff and
I look forward to working with him.
We have been through so much as a community
dealing with the ever changing COVID-19 virus and
with the violence and crime that has recently
afflicted Oakbrook Center.
We are all aware of the increasing criminal activities
in the Village and surrounding areas. The
frightening events of December 23rd at our very own
Oakbrook Center will be in our minds for a long
time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the
innocent bystanders who were injured. The recent
high profile retail thefts at the Mall have also caused
concern. The Oak Brook Police Department is
working in partnership with Oakbrook Center
management and their retail merchants to address
and reduce these incidents. They are exploring the
use of new technology and the Oak Brook Police
have increased patrols in and around the Mall. Be
assured that the Village Board is committed to doing
whatever it takes to ensure the safety and security of
our residents and our visitors
Also an ongoing concern is CoVID-19. But, there is
a glimmer of hope moving forward. Today, I am
happy to report to you that the Omicron variant is
finally in retreat. The recent decline in new cases
and the decline in hospitalizations as well as the
decline in CoVID positivity rates in our state have
been a big relief to our virus-weary residents. We
need to change our mindset, think differently about
the virus, and begin to concentrate to live our lives
without disruption. I believe this begins with
vaccinations. There is convincing data to show that
most vaccinated people do reasonably well after
being infected and there are now new oral drugs on
the horizon to treat CoVID-19 infections. However,
we do need to continue the safety protocols
including masking, distancing, and washing hands
frequently. Together we will learn to adjust our daily
lives to the new normal.
I realize that Oak Brook mail service has become an
issue for some residents. The unfortunate reality is
that the Village has no authority over the USPS.
Staff has been diligent in contacting the local post
office, the regional office and our business
representative to log complaints and voice concerns.
We share your frustration and are doing what we can
to get this problem rectified.
Looking forward to summer, we have begun
planning for the return of the Taste of Oak Brook.
Our annual July 3rd fireworks event has been on
hiatus since 2018 and we are all very excited to see
its return. Our team is working hard to make this
year’s event something special while still addressing
COVID-19 and other safety concerns. Staff has also
been busy putting plans in place to open the Bath &
Tennis Club. With all the improvements in the
works and staffing changes we are looking forward
to providing an exceptional Club experience. The
Oak Brook Golf Club had a stellar year and
anticipate the same in 2022. If you have not had the
opportunity to enjoy one of the Village’s
recreational facilities this should be the year you do!
As always, the Trustees, staff and I are here to serve
you. Please contact us with your thoughts, ideas, and
concerns.
Kind Regards,
Gopal G. Lalmalani, M.D., M.B.A.
Village President
630.368.5026
glalmalani@oak-brook.org
President’s Message
By Dr. Gopal Lalmalani
4 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
New Year…New Start
As we start a new year in the Village, we
also kick off a new start for Village staff
with some new faces. I myself come to
the Village with nearly six years of private
sector experience in addition to over
eighteen years of municipal sector
experience across the Villages of Buffalo
Grove, Barrington and, most recently,
Orland Park. As residents know, Oak
Brook offers the ideal combination of a
small home town with large regional
prominence as well as thriving office and
retail sectors. I am committed to
reinforcing and elevating transparency of
operations and delivering top quality
services to the residents and businesses of
the community, at the lowest possible
cost.
Also new in 2022, as the Village begins
our search for the next Police Chief to fill
the vacancy left by retired Police Chief
Jim Kruger, Jr., we are pleased to have
brought aboard an experienced and
committed Interim Police Chief. Interim
Chief John Krull previously served as
Interim Chief of Police for Moraine Valley
Community College, Chief of Police for
Olympia Fields, and Deputy Chief for the
Village of Riverside as part of his 34 years
in law enforcement. Interim Chief Krull
has already been instrumental in bringing
new patrols and technological
enhancements to reinforce the safety of
Oakbrook Center. The Village has also
partnered with the Illinois Association of
Chiefs of Police to conduct a robust
search for the next candidate with the ideal
credentials to serve as Police Chief for Oak
Brook.
Finally, the Village’s search for a new Fire
Chief is ongoing and we are determined to
locate an experienced and innovative Fire
Chief committed to delivering exceptional
fire and paramedic services with an
efficient and streamlined operation. In the
meantime, we are in good hands with
Interim Chief James Arie who has been
with the Village for five months and brings
with him more than 41 years of fire service
knowledge.
While 2022 had brought many changes and
new faces, with more to come, the Village
continues our track record of delivering top
tier, efficient, and valued services to the
community. As always, President
Lalmalani, the Trustees, myself and the
entire Village staff are here to serve you.
Should you ever have a concern or
comment, please reach out and let us
know.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2022,
Greg Summers
Village Manager
From the Manager’s Desk
By Greg E. Summers
Greg E. Summers, AICP
Village Manager
630.368.5020
gsummers@oak-brook.org
5 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
I sincerely appreciate the opportunity the Village
of Oak Brook gave me ten years ago to lead the
Police Department and cap off a forty-year
career in law enforcement, seventeen as a Chief
of Police on December 29th.
During the past ten years, I have had the
opportunity to shape the department into one
of the most admired and respected police
departments in the region. This is in no small
credit to the caliber of the men and women who
make up this department. It is also due to the
support we have received from the elected
officials during my tenure. My gratitude also
extends to the many residents who have
expressed their support for me and the entire
department during my tenure and since my
announcement.
Over the past decade, I was able to mentor our
staff and provide an environment for them to
grow and thrive after a turbulent period. During
that time we have been recognized as one of the
few police departments in the state achieving
both CALEA and ILEAP accreditation that further
demonstrated our commitment to all of you for
excellence. We were also been able to bring the
Healing Field to the community twice and be
recognized by the state of Illinois, citizen police
academies, town hall meetings on crime, and
Special Olympics golf outings, polar plunges, and
tip-a-cops. The Village also gave me the
opportunity to serve our state and the larger law
enforcement community as president of ILACP.
I was also given the support by the Board to
modernize and expand our lockup facility and
sally port to make it safer for our officers and
civilian staff members for many years to come. I
am very proud of that accomplishment and see it
as a lasting symbol of what we have been able to
do together. I can only surmise that this one
accomplishment will save the life of a police
officer someday, and for that I am forever
grateful.
Over the past seven months, I have also been
given the opportunity by the Village President to
lead the entire village as the Interim Village
Manager. I thank them for their trust in me with
that responsibility. During this time I have worked
closer than before with other village directors
and employees at all levels and I have developed
an even higher admiration for them. The Village
is truly blessed by the staff that comes in every
day to serve the community, even during the
pandemic. Please take care of them and know
that they are some of the very best in municipal
government.
I am extremely honored to have the opportunity
to transition to professional and in-service
training of our police officers and play a role in
mentoring the next generation. As I prepare for
this next chapter, I wish the Village of Oak Brook
and all of my law enforcement colleagues all the
best in the future. I am confident we will see each
other again. Thank you.
Police News
By James Kruger
James Kruger
Police Chief
630.368.8710
jkruger@oak-brook.org
6 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Move to the Right for Sirens
and Lights!
Routinely, the Oak Brook
Fire Department responds to
motor vehicle accidents and
medical calls on sections of I
-88 and I-294. When we are
called to the tollways, one or
more lanes have to be
blocked with fire apparatus
in order to protect the
patients, as well as emergency personnel (fire
and police) on the scene.
The Oak Brook Fire Department wants to
remind all motorists of the hazards that exist
for all emergency personnel responding to
emergencies. In the interest of life safety, it is
imperative that first responders get there
safely and quickly. Did you know that there’s
one thing everyone can do to help our
firefighters and paramedics provide
emergency services? It’s as simple as Moving
to the Right for Sirens and Lights!
Every year in the U.S., there are thousands of
collisions involving fire department emergency
vehicles while responding to or returning from
incidents. These collisions result in over 1,000
firefighter injuries and almost 50 deaths.
Many people panic or simply don’t adhere to
the Illinois rules of the road for approaching
emergency vehicles.
Our state law is very specific; drivers must
yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle,
and failure to do so can cause serious
accidents or delays in ambulances, fire
engines and fire trucks arriving at the scene of
an emergency. Firefighters are trained to
avoid vehicle collisions by cautiously driving
when traveling against traffic, or coming to a
complete stop at intersections.
DO:
Stay calm.
Pull to the right and come to a complete stop.
If you’re traveling on a high-speed road or if
there is no room to stop, slow down as much
as possible and pull over safely to your right.
If you cannot move to the right because of
another vehicle or obstacle, just stop. Your
action will let the driver of the emergency
vehicle know what you are doing and allow
the driver to anticipate where to drive.
When an emergency vehicle approaches you
from behind while you are stopped at an
intersection, stay where you are unless you
can pull to the right.
On a 4-lane highway or street without
barriers, both sides of traffic should pull to the
right.
Be cautious when driving by or around a
motor vehicle accident or any situation where
emergency vehicles are parked and the
firefighters are working. Oftentimes, drivers
get distracted while passing an accident, take
their eyes off the road in front of them, and
can cause another accident, possibly injuring
fire and/or law enforcement personnel.
Drivers should stay at least 500 feet behind
emergency vehicles. DON’T:
Don’t panic.
Don’t play your radio so loud that you are
unable to hear sirens.
Don’t stop in the middle lane when there is
room to pull to the right.
Don’t pull to the left in the center lane or left
turn lane.
Don’t race ahead to make the green light or
turn before the emergency vehicle gets there.
Don’t turn quickly to the left onto a street or
driveway.
Don’t drive through a red light or stop sign
when an emergency vehicle approaches from
behind.
If the emergency vehicle is traveling on the
opposite direction of a divided highway or
street, you do not need to pull over.
Don’t disregard the presence of the
emergency vehicle by continuing to drive.
Fire Safety & Information
By James Arie
7 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Fire Safety & Information
By James Arie
James Arie
Interim Fire Chief
630.368.5200
jarie@oak-brook.org
Illinois Scott’s Law and the Facts
– Enacted Jan. 1, 2002, the law requires drivers to yield, to change lanes (if safe to do so) or re-
duce speed and proceed with caution when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying
its flashing warning lights.
– “Scott’s Law” is named for Chicago Firefighter Scott
Gillen, who was struck and killed by an intoxicated mo-
torist while working at a crash scene on the Dan Ryan
Expressway.
– Drivers cited for violating the law face up to a $10,000
fine. If the driver is found to be intoxicated at the time of
the violation, their driver’s license could be subject to
suspension, depending on the severity of the incident.
Criminal charges can also take place.
– For the first 6 months of 2021, 19 police officers were
killed while on the side of the road. There have also been a number of firefighters and paramedics
struck at accident scenes as well, resulting in unnecessary fatalities and serious injuries.
8 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Public Works Snow & Ice
By Rick Valent
Rick Valent
Public Works Director
630.368.5072
Winter is upon us and gives us all an opportunity to enjoy the great indoors. There are a few things we should look at to
insure that there are no unwanted surprises in the spring. Gutters and downspouts should be inspected to insure that periods
of snow melt don’t cause ice-damming along gutter lines. Similarly, area drains and sump discharges should be cleared.
Now is a good time to make sure furnaces, including filters, are serviced. Chimneys of active fireplaces should also be in-
spected. The biggest concern for Public Works will be snow and ice control, here are some notes on how we go about it:
The goal of the Village’s Snow & Ice Control
program is to mitigate vehicular and pedestrian
hazards caused by the accumulation of snow and ice
on all Village maintained streets and parking facilities
owned by the Village.
To assist in achieving this goal, the Village is divided
into five (5) separate routes. These routes were
created due to geographic location, lane miles of
pavement, and specialized equipment needs. Each
route is assigned sufficient equipment and man-power
to clear all snow, curb to curb, within eight hours
after a typical snow event has concluded. Typically,
this objective is reached, however, there are times
when it cannot be. This is usually due to the amount
of snow (over 8”) and/or type of snow, (heavy wet
snow requires more truck passes to clear than light
dry snow).
Following are the routes, the areas included in each
route, and the primary streets within each route. In
order to facilitate plowing operations, and to open up
streets where the most benefit will result, the
“Primary” streets are cleared of snow/ice first,
followed by secondary streets and cul-de- sacs/dead
ends.
There are a few other items of particular importance
you should note.
Although the Village does not have Village wide
restrictions on parking on streets during snow storm
events, it is advisable to keep your vehicles in your
driveways until plowing operations have been
concluded. Vehicles parked on the street make it more
difficult for snow plow operators. Additionally, due to
the weaving around parked vehicles, significant piles of
snow can remain on the pavement.
Many roadways that bisect the Village are not the
responsibility of the Village to maintain.
The Illinois Department of Transportation has the
responsibility for 22nd St. (from the I-294 bridge, west
to Rt. 83) also, Rt. 83, and Butterfield Rd.
The DuPage County Division of Transportation has,
Meyers Rd., Midwest Rd. 31st St. and York Road
south of Dover.
Should you need to contact the village or either of these
agencies, these phones are answered during the normal
hours of operation, the numbers are:
Village of Oak Brook Public Works: 630 368-5270 M-
F 7:00 am – 3:30 pm
Illinois Department of Transportation, Oak Brook
Yard: 630-832-7330 M-F 6:30 am – 3:00 pm
DuPage County Division of Transportation: 630-407-
6920 M-F 6:00 am – 2:30 pm
If you have a snow plowing service clear your
driveway, please advise them to make sure they deposit
the snow onto the parkway behind the curb or edge of
pavement. In many cases, this is not done and when our
plow trucks come back around, whatever snow they
have left in the street will certainly be plowed back into
your driveway approach.
SNOW AND ICE CONTROL
9 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Development Services Information
By Tony Budzikowski
Tony Budzikowski
Development Services Director
630.368.5104
tbudzikowski@oak-brook.org
Economic Development Update – Winter 2021
A special thanks and “shout out” to all of our Oak
Brook businesses. Whether you are a new business or
an existing business, we appreciate that you continue to
choose Oak Brook as your home.
Although construction and development went through a
recovery phase in 2021, Oak Brook’s development-
related activities remained steady and strong compared
to many of our DuPage County neighbors. Local con-
struction in Oak Brook remained consistent and building
permit revenue reached approximately $2.4 million in
2021.
Some of the exciting construction and development pro-
jects that were completed in 2021 were as follows:
Arhaus Furniture – Opened: February
Louis Vutton – Re-Opened: March
First Watch Café – Opened: March
The Sheridan (Senior Lifestyle) senior apartments -
Opened: April
Lifetime Fitness – Opened: April
Sweetgreen Restaurant – Opened: June
Lucid Motors – Opened: June
Blanco Cocina Restaurant – Opened: August
Restoration Hardware – Opened: September
Oak Point University (f.k.a. ResU) – Opened: Sep-
tember
Gucci – Opened: October
Fogo de Chao Restaurant – Opened: November
Puttshack Golf/Restaurant – Opened: November
Fogo de Chao, 1204 22nd Street – Photo November 2021
RH, 1300 22nd Street – Photo November 2021
Other projects that are nearing completion, under con-
struction or “starting” construction in early 2022 in-
clude the following:
Hines Apartments at Oak Brook Commons
MedProperties medical office building
Alter Brewing + Kitchen in Oak Brook Commons
(next to Fogo de Chao)
Wood-fire pizza restaurant and a Mediterranean
restaurant at Oakbrook Center
Game of Irons Golf Simulation/Restaurant
Entertainment venue/restaurant at Oakbrook Cen-
ter (formerly Kidzania)
Hub Group opening state-of-the-art LEED certi-
fied office building
Lazy Dog Brewery, Panera, Kura Sushi, Smash
Burger, Naansense Mediterranean, Blackberry
BBQ, Invicto Mexican, VEG Veterinary Clinic
and Guidepost Montessori at the Overlook
(formerly Macy’s furniture)
Circle K gas station and convenience store rede-
velopment
We are looking forward to continued positive momen-
tum in 2022 and ask that you take advantage of all of
the local restaurant, retail and entertainment venues
that Oak Brook has to offer. Please remember to shop
and dine locally in 2022 to support our Oak Brook
business community. Stay healthy and safe!
10 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Information Technology Services
By Jim Fox
Jim Fox
Director of Information
Technology Services
630.368.5174
jfox@oak-brook.org
Village of Oak Brook Mass Notification Alert System
With more and more residents using cellular telephones instead of landline telephone service, these new
telephone numbers are not available to the Village. It is important that you register your contact information
with the Village in order to receive important messages sent by the Village. Rest assured that your contact
information will be kept confidential and is only used for mass notification purposes. If you are NOT
receiving messages from the Village, please register with us today. https://www.oak-brook.org/303/Mass-
Emergency-Notification
It is critical to keep our Village of Oak Brook community informed. The Village has a system in place to
send updates and emergency alerts to Village residents and businesses through emails, phone calls, text
messages, or social media channels. The Village has been using the Blackboard Connect mass notification
since 2009. With this service, the Village has an easy- to-use, reliable tool that allows the Village to make
certain that Village residents and businesses are accurately and quickly informed during emergency
situations. There is no cost to use the service and your participation is completely voluntary. The Village
also uses the notification service to contact residents and businesses about important information in our
community, such as community events, road closures, utility problems, and weather events. The system has
the ability to reach thousands of people – by voice, email, and text messaging -- in a matter of minutes.
The Blackboard Connect system provides a comprehensive list of phone numbers collected from over 200
providers. However, there is the possibly that your home telephone number is not included, particularly if
your telephone number is unlisted or if you have switched to cellular service. When a Village resident enters
their contact information into our mass notification system they will be asked to provide: First & Last
Name, Address ( House Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code); Forms of contact like telephone types
landline or cellular), With cellular service do you wish to receive ( Text & SMS Messages), Email
addresses, Fax numbers, and Pager numbers.
When entering telephone information, it is important to indicate if it is a landline or cellular device and
whether or not you would like to receive SMS or text messages. Adding multiple forms of contact is a good
idea. i.e. landline, cellular, and email are the most popular. The reason collecting the address is important is
that the notification system has the ability to send messages to specific geographic area. For instance, the
Villages Public Safety personnel can send messages to specific parts of the Village in an Emergency. Public
Works uses this feature to announce Leaf Pickup Program routes and dates. The system also allows the
Village to send one of two message types -- Emergency or Outreach. The only distinction between the two
types of messages is that Emergency messages will make phone calls to all phone numbers, while Outreach
messages will only use the primary and secondary phone number ( generally speaking, emails and text
messages are sent to the same contacts regardless of whether you opt to send an outreach or emergency
message). Primary modes of contact are typically mobile phone numbers, while secondary modes are
usually home phone numbers, although users can populate the primary and secondary phone number fields
however, they want. Can I “opt out” from the Blackboard Connect calls? Yes, residents can opt-out;
however, we strongly suggest that you do not do so. The Connect - CTY service is used to send information
that is time- sensitive and relevant to our residents. Any resident that is eliminated will not be able to be
contacted by the system in an emergency.
More information about this system is available on the
Village website at:
https://www.oak-brook.org/303/Mass-Emergency-Notification
From the Village website, you can also add additional contact
methods such as cellular telephone numbers and email addresses.
If you have further questions or concerns about this service, please call the
Village at 630.368.5174 or you can email us at: alerts@oak-brook.org
11 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Library Update
By Jacob Post
Jacob Post
Head Librarian
630.368.7706
jpost@oak-brook.org
With the start of a new year, I’d like to remind you that the Library is here
to provide you countless resources during these trying times. Do you need
help with the new tablet or smartphone you got for the holidays? Schedule
a one-on-one learning session with one of the Library’s knowledgeable
reference librarians. They can assist you in setting up the device,
downloading an eBook or just give you some useful tips. And while you
are talking to the knowledgeable staff, ask about the electronic resources
the Library offers. For instance, did you know you can have free access to
Morningstar Independent Investment Research? All it takes is a valid Oak
Brook library card for you to unlock all the useful investment tools to help
grow your financial portfolio. If you haven’t signed up for a library card
yet, bring a photo ID and proof that you live in incorporated Oak Brook
and the Library staff will be happy to issue you one. Do you have a young
child in the family? Make sure to visit the Library’s YouTube channel to
see online story times that the Youth Services department offers. So as you
can see, the Library is more than just books. However, not to forget the
books, the Library’s Winter Reading Programs for both kids and adults
and runs through March 5. We are giving great incentives for completing
the reading logs. So come to the Library this winter, whether it be for the
books or the other offerings; you will not be disappointed!
Do note that as the ongoing pandemic lingers, the Oak Brook Public
Library continues its commitment to provide safe and effective services to
the community. In doing so, the Library has adjusted many procedures.
When creating these procedures the recommendations of various health,
library, and municipal organizations were taken into account. For the
latest information, including, programing updates and schedules, visit the
Library’s website. Thank you for your support
and patience as we all navigate these difficult
times.
12 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Village Clerk
By Charlotte Pruss
Charlotte Pruss
Village Clerk
630.368.5052
cpurss@oak-brook.org
13 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Golf
By Sean Creed
Sean Creed
Golf Club Manager
630.368.6460
screed@oak-brook.org
Dear Oak Brook Golf Community,
Thank you for your continued support the golf club. The 2021 season was
very busy with an influx of new and returning golfers, excellent weather and
fun and spirited club events. We look forward to providing a great experience
both on and off the golf course again this upcoming season.
As always, we will open the golf course in early to mid-March weather
permitting. 2022 golf information and membership detail will be available on
the website in the coming weeks. Past golf members will receive membership
renewals via email closer to the start of the golf season. For those who have
inquiries at this time, please do not hesitate to phone or email the golf staff.
For those interested in new golf equipment and gear this season, please plan
ahead as product availability and lead times will be a challenge. Our pricing
is very competitive on all hard goods and special orders. Pro shop inventory
will include Callaway, Titleist, FootJoy, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour and
more. Chip Wier is our merchandise specialist and will be happy to facilitate
orders and pricing in advance of opening day. Please contact him via email at
cwier@oak-brook.org.
The bar and restaurant will remain open on the weekends through the month
of January. Come cheer on your favorite teams this postseason while enjoying
lunch and spirits with family and friends. Hours of operation consistent with
playoff schedule and are listed on our homepage at www.golfoakbrook.org.
Once again, thank you for choosing Oak Brook Golf Club and contributing to
our facility.
Best Regards,
Sean Creed
Golf Club Manager
14 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Finance Information
By Jason Paprocki
Jason Paprocki
Finance Director
630.368.5070
jpaprocki@oak-brook.org
2022 Budget
The 2022 Proposed Budget was presented and
discussed during the Village’s two budget
workshops, which occurred on November 18th
and 22nd in the Samuel E. Dean Board Room.
At these meetings, Village department
directors presented their respective 2022 goals
and objectives, as well as funding requests.
The Village Board provided feedback and
direction to staff on the proposed budget
requests. Video recordings of these meetings
are available on the Village’s website for
public viewing.
The 2022 Proposed Budget was further
discussed at the Village’s Finance Committee
meeting held on December 2nd. The
Committee made several recommendations
that were incorporated into the final 2022
Budget document. Both the budget workshops
and the Finance Committee meeting were
open meetings for the public to attend.
The final 2022 Budget was approved at the
December 14th Regular Board of Trustees
meeting. Illinois Compiled Statues requires
the Village to adopt the annual budget prior to
the beginning of the fiscal year to which it
applies. The final 2022 Budget, as well as the
2022-2026 5-Year Plan, can be found on our
website for review.
The Village’s General Fund cash reserve
balance deserves special highlight, as it
continues to be an important aspect in the
Village’s position of fiscal strength. One of
the Village’s financial policies is to maintain a
General Fun cash balance reserve of at least
six months of operating expenditures. The
projected ending cash balance for 2022 in the
General Fund is $25.0 million, which is equal
to 13.2 months of operating expenses. This is
approximately $13.6 million above the
Village’s six-month operating reserve
requirement.
The Village’s 2022 Budget will be submitted to
the Government Finance Officers Association
(GFOA) for consideration of its Distinguished
Budget Presentation Award. The Village has
achieved this award the past 10 years and we
believe the 2022 Budget continues to meet the
standards required by GFOA. The Village uses
the review comments from the GFOA each
year to enhance future budget documents and
make an overall stronger, more transparent
budget document.
Budget In Brief Document
The Village is excited to release its fourth
Budget in Brief document for fiscal year 2022.
This document presents a high-level summary
of the Village’s 2022 annual budget that some
users may find easier to read and understand.
The full 2022 budget document spans over 300
pages in length and details nearly $59 million
in spending. The Budget in Brief boils down
the full budget into a handful of pages that is
much easier to follow. We hope you find this
document both informative and useful and
encourage those who want to learn more about
the Village’s finances to review the full 2022
budget document.
These reports, along with other financial
documents, are available on the Village’s
website at http://www.oak-brook.org/180/
Finance.
15 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Bath & Tennis Club
By Marianne Long
SARAH & DAVID ’S MAGICAL SPRING WEDDING
Throughout COVID-19, Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club missed celebrating the magical life moments that
make this life so special. So, since we’ve welcomed back couples and families to start celebrating again, we
couldn’t be more thrilled. One of our first weddings after getting back to business was Sarah & David’s.
This beautiful couple reminded us why we’re so passionate about bringing families together to celebrate
love, beauty, family, and connection. With all safety procedures in place, we celebrated safely with a lovely
group of 73 guests, the beautiful couple and some of our favorite local Chicago-area wedding vendors we
missed dearly over the past year.
A Serene Outdoor Wedding Ceremony on the Patio
The day began with the wedding ceremony at 5:00 p.m. and was
set up outdoors on the large patio adjacent to the main clubhouse.
Prior to guest arrival, our OBBT events team worked swiftly with
planner Jena Warren from An Affair to Remember, the skilled
catering team from Tasty Catering, talented florists from Design
Studio Décor and the team from A Posh Production to bring the
venue to life with lighting, décor and stunning blooms, only
adding to the ambiance of the day.
The patio featured white
garden chairs, string lighting, and a single high top with a lush floral
arrangement and bold navy linen to tie in the pond and colors of the
day. At OBBT, we particularly love special personal touches that the
couple will hold dear for years to come. A single purple rose was
placed in the first chair, holding space in hearts for the bride’s mother,
who couldn’t be with them that day. Our team, along with our
vendors, always seek to preserve these special touches that offer the
personalization couples deserve on their wedding day, the most
important day of their lives.
They ended the ceremony with a virtual “thank you” to guests that couldn’t be there in person thanks to the
talented videographers at Wedding Masterpiece. After the sweet ceremony, guests were ushered inside,
welcomed by a unique sign featuring Sarah and David’s fur babies—another personal touch to ensure all
their loved ones were with them on their special day!
Cocktail Hour Games & Light Bites to Get the Party Started
While there were clear skies for the ceremony and later in the evening, the chance of rain moved the party
inside—which was just as fun!
The couple had lawn games like
cornhole, giant checkers and dice
so guests could reconnect with a
little friendly competition while
hors d’oeuvres were passed.
16 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Bath & Tennis Club
By Marianne Long
Sweet Toasts & Delectable Dinner
After cocktail hour, guests were welcomed into the main clubhouse space for the reception at 6:30 p.m. The
room was decorated with crisp white linens topped with gorgeous floral centerpieces featuring eucalyptus,
hydrangeas, dusty and light purple roses and other seasonal blooms. Sarah and David opted for a sweetheart
table with bold navy linen, which was extra special and gave them time to enjoy their newlywed bliss
throughout the evening!
As the mixed green salads with poached pears and candied walnuts were passed, guests enjoyed joyfully
emotional toasts that brought both tears and laughter and clinked glasses to celebrate the new Mr. & Mrs.
David’s family offered a Jewish prayer, and Sarah’s family said grace before the meal. Everyone loved the
dinner menu served, with different entrée choices to suit every palate, including:
Chicken Prosecco: Topped with sun -dried tomatoes and basil accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes
and steamed asparagus
Beef Medallions: Drizzled with peppercorn sauce accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes and
Mediterranean green beans
Grilled Salmon: Served with dijon mustard rub and dill vin blanc accompanied by roasted yukon
potatoes and Mediterranean green beans
After dinner, first dances and a little time enjoying the much-awaited connection with family and friends,
it was time to indulge in dessert! The couple did have a wedding cake to cut per tradition, but they also
mixed it up with some delectable desserts in their assorted sweets station!
Assorted Sweets Station: Assorted mousse cups, truffle lollipops and
assorted cookie sandwiches
Mini Cupcakes, Wedding Cake, Coffee Bar
17 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2021
Bath & Tennis Club
By Marianne Long
Time to Dance the Night Away + A Final Tasty Surprise
After indulging in all the tasty fare, guests hit the dance floor and danced the night away! But
Sarah and David had one more surprise. After the traditional hora dance where both Sarah and
David were lifted high above their guests in chairs fit for royalty, they treated their guests to a
little late-night snack before calling it a night. Snacks included:
Classic Margherita Flatbread: Featuring roma tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil and extra
virgin olive oil and Angus Beef Sliders:
Guests enjoyed the late-night bites while Sarah
and David escaped to the patio with their
photographer Wes Craft Photography to capture
some special moments as husband and wife under
the twinkling lights over the patio. It was the most
magical celebration of love!
Congrats Sarah & David!
If you’re ready to plan your wedding or next special event at Oak Brook Bath & Tennis, please give us a call
at 630.368.6440 or send a message at events@oak-brook.org. We can’t wait to start planning!
*photography by Wes Craft Photography