A Community of Growth and Preservation
Although
it may sound contrasting, The Village of Orland Park is dedicated to
both growth and preservation. Regarded as the financial and retail
center of Chicago’s perpetually expanding southwest suburbs, Orland
Park has utilized various economic development tools to attract and
retain businesses. And while its 60,000 residents are well aware of the
booming development in their community, they also know the local
government supports their woodlands and prairies just as much.
Mayor
Dan McLaughlin and the Orland Park Board of Trustees formed the Open
Lands Fund Commission in November 1995 to help preserve the dwindling
number of open spaces in the community.
“We created the
not-for-profit Open Lands of Orland Park Corporation to raise funds and
purchase open space to augment public open space efforts,” said Mayor
McLaughlin. “Nearly 100 acres of open space have been purchased in
addition to 28 acres of donated property. Several more properties are
currently being pursued.”
There has been a major push for
environmentally sound construction in Orland Park, and the village
itself has been a leader. The new Orland Park Police Department
facility is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
certified building. Other notable projects include the Downtown
Triangle Development, which will create a mixed-use pedestrian oriented
downtown. This project will be the first of its kind in the south
suburbs.
Plenty Of Reasons To Stay
In
2006, Orland Park was named the 45th Best Place to Live in America by
Money Magazine. Improving the quality of life for its residents is an
ongoing priority. The village boasts an extensive recreation system
featuring hiking and biking trails, wildlife refuges, an aquatic
center, ice arena, golf courses, playing fields, and gymnasiums.
Residents take pride in the outstanding reputation of the local
schools, including numerous area colleges and universities. Orland Park
hosts an annual Senior Health Fair and has a Veterans Administration
office inside the award-winning Village Center Complex.
"From
our beautiful new library to our highly respected police and fire
departments, people find many reasons to be proud of living in Orland
Park," Mayor McLaughlin said. "You can see this civic pride in our Fine
Arts Fair, The Taste of Orland, National Night Out and other great
special events."
Every Penny Accounted For
“We
have been blessed with a strong retail tax base,” said Annmarie Mampe,
CPA and Village of Orland Park Finance Director. “A significant
portion of our general fund budget comes from sales tax. Our residents
benefit from this each year with a nice village tax rebate check in
their mailbox. This perk is just one of the reasons why residents love
to call Orland Park home.”
Among a host of other duties, Ann
Marie handles payroll for the 300 full-time and up to 800 part-time
village employees. Orland Park’s fiscal responsibility has not gone
unnoticed. The village has won numerous awards from The Government
Finance Officers Association (GFOA), the largest organization of state,
county and municipal finance officers in North America. Orland Park
received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and
Certification for Excellence in Financial Reporting. And because of
their strong revenues, due diligence and fiscal responsibility, Orland
Park has a great bond rating.
Controlling Health Benefit Costs
“The
Horton Group has been totally different from our previous insurance
broker,” said Orland Park Human Resources Manager Stephana Przybylski.
“We don’t just see them around renewal time. Horton is much more
focused on service and remains very accessible. I know I can call them
and get an answer right away. And they are the kind of people you just
enjoy working with.”
To enhance their strong employee health
benefit program, the village is very aggressive in market analysis and
providing communication about health education. Orland Park hosts a
Wellness Week for all employees every May that includes health
screenings, speakers and guest memberships to the Village’s
state-of-the-art Sportsplex.
“Horton participates in our open
enrollment and is very visible with our employees,” said Przybylski.
“They have provided us with a great website for our employees to access
a wealth of plan information. Their claims advocacy has been a
tremendous help to us in the past. We’re very comfortable and satisfied
with The Horton Group.”