Bremen Township held its annual meeting on April 9 to hear reports and make decisions on upcoming measures, as law requires.
Bremen Township serves the northwest corner of Homewood, from the intersection of Western Avenue and 183rd Street.
The reports from township officers mainly focused on the successes of the assessor’s office, youth and senior services and the highway department. About 25 community members attended the meeting and voted to advance the planned proceedings.
“I’ve received compliments for all departments,” township Supervisor Kathryn Straniero said. “We are here to help people, and that’s what we do.”
Bremen Township provides a wide range of services, events and activities for community members, including free rides and low-cost meals for seniors, youth counseling, help with property tax appeals and more.
After Dennis McGlynn was elected to moderate the annual meeting, John Lord, the clerk of Bremen Township, read the balances of the township’s three funds.
The general administrative fund balance was around $1 million at the beginning of FY 2023. After accruing $332,000, mainly from taxes, investments and interest, which more than covered the year’s expenses, it closed with a balance of $1.2 million in March.
The general corporate fund began with nearly $5 million and gained an additional $2.3 million in revenue, primarily from property taxes. Following over $1.7 million in expenditures, the fund ended with over $5.5 million.
The road and bridge fund opened at $680,000, collected $563,000 in revenue, and after spending $540,000 (mostly on road maintenance in unincorporated areas), finished 2023 with over $703,000 in reserve.
The township’s next major project, planned for this summer, includes an addition to one of the Bremen Township Senior Services buildings on Oak Park Avenue in Oak Forest. The patio and sunroom will be adjacent to the Senior Café. Outdoor public restrooms will accommodate guests and community members exercising on the nearby walking path. If weather and time permit, the township may try to resurface the building’s parking lot and driveway before next winter.
Bremen Township encompasses around 37 square miles of southeastern Cook County. It includes all or parts of the villages of Oak Forest, Tinley Park, Midlothian, Country Club Hills, Markham, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Posen, Blue Island and Robbins, as well as some unincorporated areas. According to the U.S. census, Bremen Township had a population of 107,149 in 2020.
The Bremen Township website has more information about events, activities and services offered to residents.