Homewood leaders have their eyes on a new development at 175th and Halsted streets.
The village board in late September voted unanimously to purchase three vacant properties at the northwest corner of the intersection for $28,000, plus closing costs. The seller is Citizens Bank.
“It was available, and it’s just in our best interest to keep control over it,” Trustee Jay Heiferman said. “It’s connected with other property, so it would be best to let us decide how it’s packaged in the future.”
The board also OK’d government relations contracts with law firms, Barnes & Thornburg and William F. Mahar Inc., for redevelopment of property in that area, which is southwest of the Halsted interchange of Interstate Highway 80. The deals, worth up to $10,000 each, cover some property in neighboring East Hazel Crest.
However, Mayor Rich Hofeld said plans for the area remain “nebulous” with nothing specific in the works.
Meanwhile, after a brief executive session, trustees approved a contract for Village Manager Jim Marino, who was appointed over the summer. A longtime assistant manager, he had been serving as acting manager since April, when former manager Ralph DeWitt took extended medical leave.
“He’s been our assistant for nine years,” Hofeld said of Marino. “It’s just a seamless move.”
Marino said he will be paid $120,000 a year, the same as his predecessor. Chief among his tasks will be managing village finances amid property and sales tax revenue clipped by the sour economy.
“We’re going to be starting our budget discussions with staff in the next month, and that’s always a challenge — trying to match our expenses with revenues,” Marino said.
Trustees also approved a $163,000 contract with Knickerbocker Roofing of Harvey to replace the roof at 2020 Chestnut Road, which houses Village Hall and the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District auditorium. The Park District will share the cost.
The board also accepted a bid of $162,900 by Maxcor Inc. of Lockport to paint the elevated east water storage tank on Pierce Avenue.
Hofeld also reminded residents that tree branch chipping will be held only once this fall, from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday outside the public works building at 17755 S. Ashland Ave.
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