The new Republican majority on the Orland Township Board voted Monday night to break the lease with the Secretary of State’s Office and kick out the DMV office.
The new members who were elected in April voted to send the office packing after Trustee Kenneth Duffy read a list of complaints about the office and despite a lengthy defense of the office by Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady.
Duffy and fellow Republican trustees Kenneth Soltis and Frank Williams voted to break the lease while O’Grady and Trustee Lena Matariyeh voted to let the office remain.
Duffy cited security issues with people “wandering around the building,” police calls for disturbances in the DMV office and parking issues among other complaints.
“The DMV is a disruption to the building,” Duffy said.
He also was critical of DMV signage around the township building. “I walked in one day and the signs made the building look like a flea market.”
He also questioned the services offered by the office. “They only offer Real ID. Why don’t they offer other services?”
O’Grady said the problems raised by Duffy were “operational issues and not lease issues.”
O’Grady said the DMV office relocated to the township office in 2020 when the office was kicked out of the Orland Park Village Hall by former mayor Keith Pekau.
“I have never heard any of these complaints before today,” he said.
“The decision not only deprives thousands of township residents of a convenient, local driver’s license facility, it also diminishes the foot traffic that supports our local retailers and restaurants. “This isn’t just a removal of services,” O’Grady noted in a statement. “Each person who visited the Secretary of State generated additional sales and sales tax revenue for our merchants. Those dollars won’t simply disappear; they’ll be drawn elsewhere.”
He suggested asking the voters at an advisory referendum in the March primary whether they wanted to keep the office open. The motion was shot down by the same 3-2 margin.
Duffy and Williams both said they would be happy to help the office relocate.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said the Orland office is one of the busiest DMV locations and slammed the trustees for their decision.
“Orland Township Trustees did a huge disservice to Southland residents voting 3-2 to close one of the state’s busiest DMVs in Orland Park. By making the decision without providing notice to or consulting with Secretary of State staff, board members failed their constituents and the taxpayers they are elected to serve,” he said in a statement.
Matariyeh, who is unaffiliated with O’Grady or the Republican trustees, posted a message about the decision on Facebook Tuesday.
“I want to take a moment to address the decision made at last night’s Orland Township board meeting regarding the closure of the DMV office located in our township building.
“The vote to remove the DMV was passed by a narrow margin of 3 to 2. I want to be clear: I voted against removing this service because I firmly believe that our job as township officials is to serve the people—and this DMV has done just that.
“Many reached out to me expressing frustration, confusion, and disappointment. I hear you, and I share your concerns. This DMV has been a resource for residents—especially seniors and those who prefer not to travel far for basic services.
“I also advocated for this issue to be placed on the upcoming spring ballot so the community could have a direct say in the matter. Unfortunately, that proposal was also voted down.
“While I may not always agree with the majority of the board, I remain committed to representing the people of Orland Township with transparency, accountability, and integrity. This was a township decision—not one made by the Village of Orland Park—and it’s important that residents understand where and how these decisions are being made.
“I encourage all residents to stay involved, continue asking questions, and make your voices heard. Your input matters—and I will continue working to ensure that it is not only heard but respected.”
Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge said he would work with O’Grady to keep the office in the village.
“On Monday evening, the majority of the newly elected Orland Township board voted to end their relationship with the Secretary of State’s Office, removing the DMV from the Township building,” Dodge said Tuesday. “When I heard about this vote, I immediately contacted Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office with the intent to assist in finding a new location for the service in Orland Park.
“We are currently working in conjunction with Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady to find a way to continue to provide these services to the Orland Park community.”
In his statement, O’Grady called on concerned residents to make their voices heard by emailing the township trustees to express opposition to the decision and to ask that the board reconsider its decision:
• Ken Soltis – ksoltis@orlandtownship.org
• Ken Duffy – kduffy@orlandtownship.org
• Frank Williams – fwilliams@orlandtownship.org
No date for the closure was indicated, but the DMV is expected to move out of the township office within the next 90 days.