Development News for Hazel Crest, Illinois

Police Department Updates: New Hires, Fundraisers, and Training Initiatives

Chief Davis's report indicated that a current police recruit will graduate from the academy on June 26th. The department is seeking quality lateral hire candidates. Motorola will host a demo day for their drone program and real-time crime center on July 1st. The 'Top on Top' event on May 15th raised over $2,600 for the Special Olympics, exceeding last year's donations. The next fundraiser is the Torch Run on June 9th. Sergeant Milligan is organizing electronics recycling and shredding events for August and will visit HOAs throughout the year. The department will also host an intern and received grant funding for seatbelt enforcement. Deputy Chief Beard was appointed treasurer for SMART and corresponding secretary for the South Suburban Association of Chief of Police. Deputy Chief Monteria will coordinate in-service training.

Village Board Approves Consent Agenda, Postpones Key Resolutions

The Village Board approved the consent agenda as amended, which included approving regular board and administrative meeting minutes from May 12, 2026, accounts payable totaling $256,219.94, a resolution terminating legal services of the Stuteley Group LLC (Resolution 18-2026), and a resolution in support of the Municipal Housing Authority (Resolution 20-2026). Items 4, 6, and 7 were removed from the consent agenda for separate consideration. Subsequently, the board voted to postpone Resolution 19-2026 concerning terminating legal services of Clark Beard Smith LLC due to ongoing fire negotiations. They also postponed Resolution 21-2026 approving a contract with Bako Landscaping and Tree Services and Resolution 22-2026 with KNM Ventures Inc., both for grass cutting services.

Fire Department Seeks Blood Donors for Annual Drive, Offers Safety Information

Chief Shields reported two full-time vacant firefighter paramedic positions. The annual pancake breakfast and blood drive will be held on June 7th. He provided information on bleeding control procedures for severe wounds, emphasizing calling 911, applying pressure, elevating the wound, and using tourniquets if trained. He also noted a nationwide shortage of blood donors.

Inspectional Services Update: Business Licenses, Code Enforcement, and OSHA Compliance

The Inspectional Services department reported that annual business licenses expired April 30th, with late notices issued. Enforcement letters will be sent May 30th, and cease of business operations will be issued June 15th for non-compliant businesses. South Suburban Hospital projects are ongoing. The department is interviewing for a full-time code enforcement inspector and has hired a part-time building and code inspector starting soon. The department also noted ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with OSHA standards.