Oak Forest city officials have spent just over $300,000 during the past three years on a billboard marketing campaign that tries to convince people to move their families to the southwest suburban community.

That advertising campaign has attracted some positive attention, but the City Council on Tuesday pondered whether such advertising was truly the best way for the city to spend its money.

Economic Development Director Travis Bandstra told aldermen they ought to instead consider using radio advertising spots, including during Chicago White Sox baseball broadcasts.

Bandstra said such broadcast ads would cost the city about $19,800 – compared to the $105,786.81 the city spent last year on the billboard ads that included spots on Chicago Transit Authority trains, buses and train platforms as well as Metra commuter rail stations on LaSalle Street and Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue.

The advertising billboards “have raised Oak Forest’s profile,” Bandstra said, but radio broadcasts could help advance the message while costing the city less money.

He suggested the City Council consider allocating some $20,000 in their budget this year to pay for whatever marketing effort the city winds up using.

While Mayor Henry Kuspa said he could see boosting that figure to $25,000, while also keeping in mind that artistic elements the city paid for in recent years for their billboards would still be of use for another year or two – thereby allowing them to be used in continuing advertising.

Kuspa and 2nd Ward Alderman Richard Simon both said they like the idea of tying the promotion of Oak Forest into White Sox baseball broadcasts.

Simon said he’d like to see Oak Forest advertisements also incorporated into Chicago Bears football games at Soldier Field.

“There’s something about seeing our ad at the ballpark — it does get a rise out of people,” Simon said. “It would be a natural follow-up to our previous ads.”

The City Council didn’t take any final action on the matter.

Alderman Diane Wolf, 3rd Ward, wondered if the city ought to consider scaling back its marketing campaign for the time being.

She cited the fact that Oak Forest currently is having delays in road repairs around the prominent intersection of Cicero Avenue and 159th Street, and she thinks promotional efforts should wait until that issue is resolved.

“I suggest we put a hold on this until that project is done,” Wolf said. “We’re telling people to come out here, yet what are they really going to see? Road construction and old buildings that need repair. I’d rather they be able to see something new.”

Alderman James Emmett, 5th Ward, said he was skeptical about the merits of placing advertising for Oak Forest in downtown Chicago train stations.

“I don’t know how many people were really swayed by that,” he said.

And 6th Ward Alderman James Hortsman said he’d like to see local businesses take out advertisements themselves.

“A place like the Eagle Gun Club has some serious advertising that will draw people to come to our city,” he said.

Gregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.