Another round of liquor license fee relief was approved by the Homewood village board at it’s Dec. 8 meeting. It’s one of several small measures the village has made to help local businesses during the COVID-19 economic slowdown. 

Liquor license fees for bars and restaurants prohibited from serving customers indoors by Governor J.B. Pritzker’s virus restrictions will be rebated for five months, between December and April of 2021. Homewood passed a previous initiative in April rebating liquor licence fees for March, April and May.

“I think we’re making a particularly good move,” Trustee Jay Heiferman said. “It’s another good thing that we’re doing to help mitigate the issues for establishments in town.”

Liquor license fees are collected annually. The rebate will cost the village an estimated $17,000.

In other business, village code for raffle licensing was amended. Raffle tickets will be allowed to to be sold outside Homewood and online. Organizations holding raffles can enlist and pay third parties to provide support services. 

A pumping station being constructed on property owned by Reliable Thornton construction as part of Homewood’s process of converting from Harvey-supplied to Hammond, Indiana-supplied water. The board approved a $23,000 payment to Reliable for permanent and temporary easements needed for that project.

The 2020 tax levy discussed at the board’s previous meeting was also approved.