Secretary of State Plans to Open New Location in Orland Park

ORLAND PARK, IL (June 26, 2020) - The Village of Orland Park has learned of the Illinois Secretary of State Office’s plans to open a new location in Orland Park.

In a press release provided to members of the news media, the Secretary of State’s Office announced it has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with Orland Township to establish a new driver services facility within the Orland Township Activity Center located at 14807 S. Ravinia Ave. in Orland Park.

“I am pleased to learn that a facility is being relocated just across the street from their previous location at Village Hall,” said Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau. “The Illinois Secretary of State has been discussing expanded services for our residents since 2001. I hope this will become reality at their new location. Residents will truly benefit from a facility where they can get Real ID, take a road test and get a license plate sticker without having to travel miles away.”

In February 2001, the Secretary of State’s Office released its three-year plan to improve customer service. An element of their plan was replacing the Orland Park Express Facility with a larger, full-service facility. This new full-service facility was a top priority, according to the three-year plan, since nearly half of the 20 fastest growing communities in Illinois were centered between Joliet in Will County and Orland Park in Cook County.

Prior to the decision made by the Secretary of State’s Office to close the Village Hall Express Facility because of an inability to meet COVID-19 social distancing measures, the Secretary of State’s Office was finalizing negotiations with a private property owner in Orland Park. This new location, in a vacant commercial space, would have assured a full- service facility in Orland Park while at the same time benefiting a tax paying Orland Park property owner. The full- service facility was to include Real ID, road tests, and license plate stickers. The property owner also offered to provide rent-free facilities while the full-service build-out occurred.

At this time, no information has been released as to whether the Secretary of State facility located at the Orland Township Activity Center, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave. will be a full-service facility or when it will open.

“The taxpayers of Orland Park contribute approximately $250 million annually in tax revenue to the State of Illinois,” said Pekau. “The residents of Orland Park have been expecting a full-service facility for almost two decades. The Village has been working hard to get a facility that provides Real ID, road tests and license plate stickers instead of just the limited offerings of an express facility that can be obtained online for the most part. It would be very disappointing if Township tax payers have to subsidize another express facility considering that Orland Park was very close to getting a full-service facility,” said Pekau.

All questions regarding Illinois Secretary of State Services should be directed to the Secretary of State offices at (800) 252-8980 or online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

Contact:

Nabeha Zegar

Public Information Communication Manager nzegar@orlandpark.org

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