Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Homer Glen trustees approve building-code update, fees changes and fireworks contract; table variance application
Summary
At its regular meeting the Village of Homer Glen Board of Trustees approved an update to the building code, adopted a new fee schedule for planning/building permits, authorized a $36,000 payment to the fireworks vendor for Homerfest and tabled a variance application for a property on West 160th Street.
The Village of Homer Glen Board of Trustees voted on several legislative items after public comment and committee reports. Major decisions included adoption of updated building-code references, approval of a revised fee schedule for planning and building permits, authorization of the Homerfest fireworks payment, and tabling a variance application for an accessory structure at 13506 West 160th Street.
Votes at a glance
- Variance application (13506 W. 160th St., HG2506 V) — Motion to table (Trustee Reinders moved; Trustee Mason seconded). Roll call recorded: Trustee Reinders, Trustee Mason, Trustee Steilen and Trustee Fialco voted yes; Trustee Consolino voted no. Outcome: tabled indefinitely.
- Consent agenda — Approval of accounts payable for 03/15/2025–03/27/2025 ($483,134.17) and Treasurer's report (cash & investments as of 12/31/2024: $47,385,131.33). Outcome: approved (one trustee abstained; others voted yes).
- Payment to Ace Pyro LLC ($36,000) for Homer Community Festival fireworks (contract 02/2022 for years 2023–2025) — Motion carried (Trustee Fialco moved; Trustee Mason seconded). Roll call included recorded ayes by Trustee Fialco, Trustee Mason, Trustee Consolino and Trustee Reinders. Outcome: approved. Staff noted a deposit of $18,000 is due with the remainder payable upon contract fulfillment; trustees discussed choreography/audio options and noted contract renegotiation will be required after the three-year term.
- Ordinance amending Chapter 75 (Buildings) — Motion carried (Trustee Mason moved; Trustee Reinders seconded). Roll call recorded unanimous ayes among trustees present. Outcome: adopted. Staff said the update brings local code into alignment with the 2024 International Code Council cycle.
- Ordinance amending Chapter 114 (fees for planning, zoning and the building department) — After committee discussion the board considered and rejected an amendment to change the new pool-permit calculation from $9 per $1,000 of construction cost to $7 per $1,000. Final roll call on the proposed fee ordinance: Trustee Mason, Trustee Steilen and Trustee Reinders voted yes; Trustee Fialco and Trustee Consolino voted no. Outcome: adopted as presented. Several trustees asked staff to evaluate a $500 flat-fee alternative for in-ground pools and to report back to the Admin & Finance committee.
What trustees said
Trustees framed the fee revisions as an attempt to recoup inspection and plan-review costs and to bring Homer Glen into line with neighboring communities. Trustee Steilen noted the distinction between general taxation and user fees, saying the building department’s fees are meant to charge the permit applicant for services applied to that project rather than the general taxpayer. Trustee Fialco and others voiced concern that some of the proposed fee increases are steep and asked staff to consider alternatives and to provide comparative numbers from nearby municipalities.
Next steps
Staff will process the fireworks deposit and implement the adopted code and fee changes, publish updated permit forms and fee schedules, and return to the board or committees with supplementary analyses of fee alternatives (including a $500 pool-permit flat fee option) and insurance/indemnification exceptions for Homerfest contracts. The tabling of the variance leaves that application pending until the applicant provides more information and the board takes it up again.
