Flossmoor Village Board Keeps Good Zen

Flossmoor's Mayor said Monday officials and residents may have shopped Trader Joe's and other chain groceries and picked up Zen Bakery muffins without ever realizing the treats were baked in their own hometown.

But that is a problem, clarified Mayor Paul Braun in Monday's meeting, because the wholesaler was operating out of the Fresh Starts restaurant building at 1040 Sterling Avenue without proper zoning.

That's because the 'B-5' zoning allows for local retail bakeries, not wholesalers like Zen. However, rather than send the business packing, the board voted to amend the code to allow for 'artesian bakeries' to be included, provided business owners apply for a special use permit.

After the meeting, the mayor slyly admitted that he was motivated to work it out with the bakery: to do otherwise would have been "bad Zen."

During the meeting, Fresh Starts restaurateur  Joann Lindholm pointed out that the Zen Bakery owner lives in Seattle, and travel to Flossmoor might present a hardship. However, board members indicated that he could appoint a local representative.

In other business, the board approved a $143,523.15 bid from Alpha Construction Company of East Hazel Crest to complete the village's street resurfacing plan. Asst. Public Works Director John S. Brunke said after the meeting Flossmoor residents should look for the work in midsummer, and the following streets will be affected: Hutchison Road, from Travers Lane to Hagen Lane; Alexander Crescent, from Heather Hill Crescent to Lawrence Crescent; and Braemar Road, from Flossmoor Road to School Street.

They also awarded a $33,592.98 bid to Matthew Paving, Inc., the lowest bidder, noting that the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District has given the firm a good reference.

Flossmoor Fire Chief Chris Sewall asked the board to waive competitive bidding so that the department could do a volume buy of cardiac monitors with the village of Downers Grove and get a discount on the medical equipment. Board members liked Sewall's plan to do a 'power buy.' Currently, some $52,000 is budgeted for the monitors.

Finance Director Scott R.. Bordui prepared documentation of the village's budget overrun on three funds: the TIF, Police and Fire Pension Funds. The board approved a budget amendment resolution. Pension benefits went $4,780.15 more than expected, accounting was $4,260 more, legal services were $9,084.11 higher, and investment manager services were $969.20 more.  Also, engineering and unplanned construction overages on the 198th St. TIF  improvements were $133,153.78 for the main, and $183,953.77 on the sanitary sewers.