The Homewood village board this week approved a special use permit for a daycare center and preschool at 3019 W. 183rd Street.
Nurturing Minds Preschool Academy owner Tina Buntin plans to care for between 34 and 42 children between six weeks and 12 years old at the 3,300 square foot facility. Buntin is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
The board approved the permit at its May 23 meeting.
The daycare center will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Buntin plans to also use the playground area near the currently vacant storefront. The board received a route adults will use to walk the kids to the playground.
Buntin attended the board meeting with her architect, Ray Franklin. She said in a letter to the board that fire and tornado drills will be performed monthly, along with smoke and carbon monoxide alarm checks. Buntin also said in the letter that she is fully insured.
Buntin has 27 years of child care experience.
In other business Tuesday, the board approved a financial incentive for Martin Avenue Holdings, which owns property at 18102 Martin Avenue. Julie Smith, who also owns Upsa Daisy Boutique with partners Julie Lawton and Suzy Moore, said Martin Avenue Holdings has a tenant ready for the space but an American Disabilities Act compliant bathroom is needed.
The cost of the needed improvements is $15,000. Smith said she and her partners got three estimates. The board approved an incentive payment of $5,850.
“We’ve already said no to probably three different people who want to come in because we’re hoping to have it food-related,” Smith said. “With food-related, you have to have at least two ADA-compliant bathrooms.”
The Homewood Science Center will host “A Celebration of Film” and dedicate the Michael Wexler theater on June 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. The center’s raffle application was approved Tuesday.
The board also approved bill payments totaling $518,283.28. The biggest item on the list was a $275,077.61 payment to the city of Chicago for water.
Brian Hoffman was sworn in at the meeting as a utility technician for the public works department. He was promoted to the position on May 11. He started working for the village in 1993 as a seasonal, part-time employee and became full-time in 2002.
Public Works Director John Schaefer said Hoffman has a Class C water operator’s license.
“I want to thank Brian for his current years of service, so far, and I look forward to many good things to come from Brian for the rest of his career,” Schaefer said.
