The new board nixed the boards.
The Orland Park Village Board figures to save well over a half million dollars by axing video boards that were proposed for the stage at Centennial Park West.
The boards were to have been used for the Concert Series shows, Taste of Orland Park shows and other events.
The former board approved a bill of close to $1 million for improvements in the park in late April. The improvements included an extra walkway, gate and fence improvements plus water fountains and two 15-by-25-foot LED video screens.
The video wall was quoted by Orland Park-based Dav-Com Electric at $671,000 of the $922,800 total bill.
After revisions – and getting rid of the video boards – Dav-Com got the price down to $302,300.
The board voted 5-1 for the revised proposal at the June 2 board meeting with Trustee John Lawler voting “no.” Trustee William Healy was absent and he was the lone “no” vote against the original proposal in April.
Lawler is still unhappy with the expense and not knowing how much the project has cost over the past two years. The Concert Series will likely lose $500,000, according to officials, and he didn’t want to sink any more money into the project.
“It’s a lot of money to be spending for a losing venture every year,” he said.
Two of the three scheduled concerts will go on without video boards, but temporary boards will be erected for the Aug. 8 Lynyrd Skynyrd concert due to the band’s demand for it in its rider.
Temporary boards will be a little smaller than the proposed permanent boards and will cost between $15,000-20,000, according to Recreation and Parks Director Ray Piattoni.
Board members said the future of the Concert Series might change in scope and that bigger, national rock bands might not be a part of the equation.
“There are different opinions about the future of this facility,” Mayor James Dodge said. “In some way, shape or form we will debate what we’re doing with it going forward.
“I would rather pay 15 or 20 grand now and save $700,000 while as a board we are debating this concert venue’s future.”