Decatur puts another $400k towards renovating Wee Folks building

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — City of Decatur leaders decided Monday night to pass an ordinance that will allocate $400,000 to renovating the old Wee Folks building to a functioning daycare center.

The center—Love, Learning and Laughter—would be a 24-hour care service for families with children.

However, the cost of construction at the site of the former Wee Folks building has ballooned to more than $1.5 million. The City has already allocated nearly one million for the project.

Any additional renovations that surpass the $400,000 price tag will be paid for by the new owner, Cheri Johnson. Once repairs are completed, the city will conduct an inspection and give Johnson a certificate of occupancy to open the daycare.

The City of Decatur does not have any 24/7 day care facilities, leaving shift workers with few options.

"This daycare is a barrier to getting people back to work—or to work or to training—so that they can lift their own lives and their families up," said Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe.

The city plans to sell the facility to Johnson for $10 once it is up to code and passes inspection.

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