Wauconda board approves facade grant, Village Hall flooring contract and small liquor-license rebate

Wauconda — The Village Board voted May 5 to approve several routine and business-focused measures, including a facade grant for a downtown building, a contract to replace tile and carpeting at Village Hall, and a new small-business incentive that rebates liquor-license renewal fees for qualifying exterior maintenance projects.

The consent agenda included an ordinance amending the intergovernmental agreement that establishes the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County; a resolution appropriating $117,576 in motor-fuel-tax funds for a 2026–27 county joint bid to buy rock salt; approval of minutes from April 21; and payment of bills totaling $573,196.59. The board approved the consent agenda by roll-call vote.

In new business, staff described a facade grant application for the building at 201–203 South Main Street, now owned by Red Veil Enterprises LLC, which houses Bliss, Bevel and Niece Plantitas. "The total investment is $68,000 and he's eligible for the $15,000 facade plan," said the village administrator. The board approved the facade grant by roll call.

The board also authorized a contract for replacement of high-traffic carpet tile and tile in restrooms and selected areas of Village Hall, along with painting and wallpaper removal. Staff said the FY2026 budget includes the work, which the village expects to take place in late July or early August. The staff presentation named an awarded contractor in the record (transcript references both "Pico Tile Incorporated" and "Hico Tile Inc"). The resolution to proceed with competitive bidding and award the contract was approved by the board.

Separately, the board approved a small facade-improvement incentive that rebates liquor-license renewal fees when an establishment completes specified property-maintenance work. Staff described the program as available to any liquor-license holder; a class A license would be eligible for roughly a $1,400 rebate plus the renewal-fee rebate, for a maximum around $1,500 per establishment. "We will rebate them their liquor license fee if they complete a project that's a property maintenance project," staff said.

All votes recorded during the meeting were taken by roll call; the board recorded affirmative responses for the trustees present and each motion carried.

What happens next: projects approved under the facade and rebate programs will proceed through the village's permitting and inspection process; staff indicated the Village Hall installation is planned for late summer. The meeting moved into executive session at the end of the public agenda to discuss possible real-property acquisition, and the board planned to adjourn from that session.