THE WEEK >
Flossmoor Board of Trustees meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 3, has been cancelled.
Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Board of Commissioners meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 3, has been cancelled.
Homewood Appearance Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5, in village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road.
- Find the agenda here.
- Attend virtually here, with ID 842 5232 2094 and passcode 451976.
- Highlights: The commission will consider exterior alterations and a sign variance for One Price Cleaners at 18046 Halsted St. and receive a report from Village Planner Valerie Berstene with updates on previous and pending projects.
State Supreme Court puts SAFE-T Act implementation on hold
Acting Flossmoor Police Chief Keith Taylor on Monday, Dec. 19, reviewed the implications for the village of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act (SAFE-T). The law would end the practice of cash bail for people charged with certain crimes and gives judges discretion in determining who should remain in custody.
On Wednesday, Dec. 28, a Kankakee County judge ruled the cash bail element of the law unconstitutional. The ruling would not have affected Cook County because it was not among the counties that initiated the lawsuit.
Then on Saturday, hours before the law would have gone into effect, the state Supreme Court put a hold on the abolition of cash bail statewide.
Minimum wage for tipped workers goes up
Effective Jan. 1 the minimum wage for tipped workers in Cook County increases to $7.80, in alignment with the Illinois State minimum wage. The minimum wage for non-tipped workers remains $13.35.
County officials said employees who believe their employer is not paying the required minimum wage should first check to ensure the municipality where they work does not have a different minimum wage. Complaint forms and additional information can be found online.
GSU EV survey
A Governors State University faculty member is heading up a study about electric vehicle demand, which includes a survey open to the public about the demand for electric vehicles, charging stations, and related workforce issues.
The survey is a part of the research study titled “Sustainable Inclusive Supply Chain for the Electric Vehicle industry in Illinois,” funded by the Illinois Innovation Network.
The study is being conducted by a research team led by Dr. John T. Simon at Governors State University.
Humane society need grows
In June, the South Suburban Humane Society moved into a spacious new building in Matteson.
In the organization‘s end-of-the-year newsletter and pitch for donations, Executive Director Emily Klehm noted that the large space filled up fast.
of the new South Suburban Humane Society shelter in Matteson. (Chronicle file photo)
“Two days after moving in, we already had every kennel and cage full. We’ve taken in the most lost pets ever in our history as they now make up over half of our intake,” she said.
She provided some numbers: 4,302 pets taken in; 8,974 pets treated at the South Suburban Low Cost Vet Services Clinic; 5,278 spay/neuter surgeries performed; 3,089 adoptions; 1,528 fostered; 1,211 families helped in the Pets are Family program; and volunteers performed 9,064 hours of service.
SSHS also will receive $8,425 in financial assistance from the village of Homewood to make improvements to its Homewood Adoption Center at 2207 183rd St.
< THE WEEK
Young entrepreneur helps girls feel safe, confident with first period
Marilyn Thomas reports on a business created by Churchill student Hannah Bryant that provides a kit to help girls care for themselves when they experience their first menstrual cycle.
Flossmoor observances light up dark nights
The Chronicle is publishing a series of stories about Flossmoor’s back-to-back holiday observances marked by candlelighting ceremonies, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Stories published so far include:
- Hanukkah Night 1: Charles Zurek serves as community candlelighter (Dec. 20, 2022).
- Hanukkah Night 2: Elliott Yurman lights the community menorah in Flossmoor Park (Dec. 21, 2022).
- Hanukkah Night 3: Jeffrey Lippert lights community menorah; Gloria shares home decorations and stories (Dec. 22, 2022).
- Hanukkah Night 4: Divine compassion and a history lesson (Dec. 28, 2022).
- Hanukkah Night 6: Winter storm can’t stop celebration, as Jim and Patty Himmel light menorah (Dec. 24, 2022).
- Kwanzaa Night 1: Loftons help community recognize unity (Dec. 30, 2022).
- Flossmoor’s Mitchell family lights kinara on Night 2 of Kwanzaa, celebrating self-determination (Dec. 29, 2022).
Flossmoor extends Ingalls Family Care Center property tax abatement
Flossmoor trustees approved a recommendation to Cook County to renew Ingalls Family Care Center’s class 8 property tax relief designation. The clinic at 19550 Governors Highway has an agreement with the village to make the village whole for Flossmoor’s share of real estate taxes.
MLK Day of Service opportunities
Flossmoor is helping match volunteers with service projects for the MLK Day of Service on Jan. 16.
Joint Review Board recommends Flossmoor proceed with new TIF
The Joint Review Board, which includes representatives from affected taxing bodies plus one resident representative, gave the nod to a proposed downtown tax increment financing district in Flossmoor on Dec. 21. The TIF will be the subject of a public hearing on Feb. 6 and is expected to be on the Board of Trustees agenda on Feb. 20.