Days after three trustees in Orland Township voted to abruptly "terminate" the lease for the only DMV office located in Orland Park, Village officials released a letter to residents about the controversial decision, which has led to strong criticism from the Village Board and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.
"We understand how important local access to Secretary of State services is, and we want to clarify what’s happening and what steps are underway," the letter began.
The letter goes on to say the current DMV, located inside the Orland Township Administrative building, is under a lease agreement by Orland Township and the Illinois Secretary of State's Office.
"The Village of Orland Park has no bearing or control of the lease terms or decisions, although we are assisting, as needed," the letter stated. The letter also said the Village of Orland Park and Orland Township are separate taxing bodies with their own elected boards.
According to the letter, the Village said it has contacted Giannoulias' office and shared the community's concerns over the closure, and "to advocate for the swift remedy to the possible ceasing of services in the community."
It also said it was working with Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady to find a possible alternate space within the village that could host a DMV Secretary of State branch.
"As soon as they confirm a location or lease agreement, Supervisor O’Grady’s office will issue a public update," the letter said.
The news of the lease termination came after a Township meeting last Monday. Following the meeting, Giannoulias released a statement about the decision, saying the trustees who voted to close one of the state's "busiest" DMVs were doing a "huge disservice" to Orland Park residents.
Giannoulias' statement went on to say that it was made without providing proper notice to Secretary of State staff or other board members.
Township supervisor O'Grady also condemned the move, saying he was "deeply disappointed" by his colleagues decision to eliminate services without first hearing from residents.
In an interview with NBC Chicago, O'Grady said he had urged the newly-elected trustees to put the change before voters through a referendum question, but "they looked right past that."
"I'm shocked," O'Grady said. "I really thought that we would defer it. I thought we would hear from our seniors, I thought that we would hear from our constituents here. It's a very busy location. It's an important service for the Southland, for our region. That's why we put it here five years ago."
The trustees who voted 3-2 in favor of terminating the lease agreement cited safety and security issues at Monday's board meeting, like overcrowding and parking. Two trustees also said they were in favor of relocating to a feasible location.
"We currently have security issues through the entire township building because of the DMV," Trustee Ken Duffy said during the meeting. "There’s no separations between their area of the building and the rest of the building."
Duffy added long lines often form outside the building, which also houses Township administrative offices.
"That line is always always long, 20 to 30 people deep, often times when I’ve been here," he said. "There’s always people waiting outside to get in. When they ask to come in to get out of the elements, they’re told no, you have to wait outside, I’m sorry."
Duffy described the lease agreement with the Secretary of State's office as "rent-free," and that the agency was responsible for the heating and cooling of the office space.
"We have yet to see any invoice go to the DMV to pay for any of those types of things," Duffy said.
O'Grady said the trustees at the meeting didn't articulate any "higher, better use for that space."
"They just want to throw them out," O'Grady told NBC Chicago.
The DMV facility currently operates out of the Orland Township Administrative Offices building, at 1408 S. Ravinia Ave. The closure would effectively end on-site driver services that have operated at the Township-owned space since 2020.
In an interview with NBC Chicago, Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge said there were "other ways" the issue could have been handled.
"I would love to find a way to help the Secretary of State's Office to stay in Orland Park," Dodge said. "It's a huge convenance for our residents. They like they services."
If the closure stands, DMV services must vacate the space by Oct. 31.