Flossmoor may soon be home to a new wine consulting business that would sell and ship retail bottles out of an office in the village.
William Hightower, who owns Cuvee Concierge, pitched a plan Monday, Oct. 4, to the Flossmoor Village Board to expand his wine consulting business by selling and shipping retail wine from an office on the second floor of the Civic Center, which Village Manager Bridget Wachtel noted in a report to the board meets zoning requirements.
“I would really love the opportunity to start a relationship with the village of Flossmoor with this business,” Hightower said.
He is asking for a license to be able to purchase from a distributor and ship wine through UPS to clients in Illinois, as well as offer tastings off premises, Wachtel said. Hightower described the business as a monthly wine club. He added that the space would largely be used as office space, though wine for his service would move through and be shipped from the office.
The Class B-WO license requested, if approved, would allow for package retail, wine only. Hightower suggested he may one day seek to expand the business in another space to accommodate a wine tasting bar, but he would need to seek further approval to do so.
The proposal was only up for discussion at the meeting, but the village board gave an unofficial nod of support to draft an ordinance for the license to be formally considered for a vote at its Oct. 18 meeting.
“I think this is a great first step for your business,” Mayor Michelle Nelson said. “I’m very excited to see a wine bar opening in Flossmoor in the future. I think residents would really enjoy it. It looks like you have the support of the board.”
Flossmoor raises awareness for breast cancer
Nelson read a proclamation recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She said Flossmoor stands “with the courageous women and men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and [honors] those who have lost their battle to this terrible disease.” The month is designed to increase public knowledge of the disease and the importance of early detection.
Karen Bruck, of The Cancer Support Center, explained the support the organization offers Chicago-area communities. She also shared information about the organization’s fall walk, the Pink-a-Boo Walk of Hope, which is slated for 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, starting at 2028 Elm Road in Homewood. She called it “a cross between breast cancer and Halloween, the two things that come up in October” in the form of a 1-mile walk, vendors and other activities.
For more information, visit cancersupportcenter.org/walk-of-hope.
Pastor said church is dealing with water backup issues
The Rev. Derrick Roberts, pastor of Restoration of Faith Church, 2801 School St., told the village board whenever drainage on School Street is backed up his church becomes a “release point” for the water.
“I’ve experienced that three times since I’ve been in that building,” he said. “Whenever the drainage backs up, water comes into my sanctuary.”
Roberts said it last happened a few weeks ago and asked if someone from the village can look into the problem.
“It’s costing me a lot of money,” Roberts said.
Nelson asked Public Works Director John Brunke to visit the church in the near future to see if Flossmoor can figure out what is happening there.
Roof replacement contract approved
As part of its consent agenda, the village board voted unanimously to accept a bid for $676,900 by A-1 Roofing Company for the Village Hall Complex Roof Replacement Project.
The project calls for the replacement of the roof EPDM membrane, additional insulation, parapet cap replacement, roof drains replacement, scupper replacement, gutter and downspouts replacement, standing metal seam fascia and soffit, and replacement of soffit lights around the building with LED fixtures, according to a report from Brunke to the board.
The existing membrane is in “very poor condition,” and multiple leaks have been experienced over the past few years, according to Brunke. The standing metal seam fascia and soffits are rusting, with holes present, he added.
A-1 was the lowest responsible bid of 11 submitted, according to Brunke. The approval came with a budget adjustment of $76,900 because the bid was higher than the approved budget.
With the consent agenda, the village also approved its end of an intergovernmental agreement with Flossmoor School District 161 for an easement to allow Flossmoor to conduct part of its Evans Road and Douglas Avenue Drainage Improvements Project on the grounds of Parker Junior High School.