Orland Park Board To Introduce Resolution Against Vax Mandate

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is set to introduce a resolution at Tuesday's special board meeting that will formally oppose the vaccine mandate recently put into place by Cook County Health Department officials.

Pekau, a Republican congressman hopeful, released a public statement last week to notify Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle that Orland Park officials would not be enforcing the mandate once it takes effect on Jan. 3.

Preckwinkle announced the county would follow the city of Chicago in requiring indoor venues such as bars and restaurants to check customers' vaccine statuses before they're allowed to enter.

Pekau said public health officials have "yet to provide any data indicating that restaurants, indoor entertainment facilities, or gyms are the source of covid." He also called the new mandate "unlawful."

The order is mandated for all suburban Cook County towns except for Skokie, Evanston, Oak Park and Stickney Township, who all have their own municipal health departments. Pekau can legally choose not to enforce the order, however, as the Orland Park Police Department is not tasked with enforcing a countywide initiative.

A resolution would formally denounce the mandate from the entire village board, but it would not excuse the village from the county health department's rule.