Will County Gazette

Village of Peotone Village Board met July 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Vieaux at 6:00 pm.

II. Roll call

Village Clerk, Stacey Hartwell, conducted the roll call and following persons were present: Trustee Bowden, Trustee Hudson, Trustee Richards, Trustee Sandberg, Trustee Sluis and Trustee Strba. Also present was Village Administrator Palmer and Village Attorney Marrs.

III. Public Comments: Jennie DeValk, a resident on Oak Street, expressed her concerns about the proposed athletic field at the High School and said she would like it to be required that the Army Corp and IDNR be involved to ensure minimal impact and seek improved drainage. She also expressed concerns with the Elementary School parking and traffic on Oak Street and Rathje Road during school pick-up and would like to see a better plan in place before school starts in August. The Mayor stated that he will have a conversation with the School.

Mark Jones, a resident on Rathje Road, was looking for some clarification on the classifications and requirements/guidelines for the ordinance under new business regarding scooters and e-bikes. Police Chief DeMik confirmed that the Village is following/adopting the State Laws and that they are confusing.

IV. Approval of Consent Agenda:

A. Approve Minutes of the June 23, 2025, Regular Village Board meeting

B. Approve Payroll/Accounts Payable

C. Approval for Knights of Columbus Annual Intellectual Disabilities (ID) Fund Drive "Tootsie Roll" Drive, September 19th-21st 2025, Peotone Illinois

D. Approve Special Event and One Day Class C-2 Liquor License, Peotone Chamber of Commerce, Sip & Stroll, September 11, 2025, 5pm-8pm, with Road Closure on Second Street from Main to Crawford, on North Street from Railroad to Second Street (West Side of Street) and on Main Street from First Street to Railroad, with Request to Waive Fee for One Day Liquor License

E. Approve Special Event, Block Party, Jake St. Louis, 325 W. North Street, August 16, 2025, 11am-11pm, with Road Closure on North Street between Conrad and N. West Street

Moved by Trustee Sluis, Seconded by Trustee Strba

Roll Call Vote: Trustee Bowden, Trustee Hudson, Trustee Richards, Trustee Sandberg, Trustee Sluis, Trustee Strba

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion passed

V. Staff Committee Reports:

A. Engineer - Van Calombaris was present and addressed the concerns of resident Jennie DeValk during public comment about the development at the High School, he stated that it will require an IDNR and FEMA permit and Robinson Engineering is aware of the severity of the drainage there.

B. Police Chief had submitted a report in the packet and reported he is working on a grant for cameras and Narcan education.

C. Public Works - Bob reported that there are photos in the board packet from the Conrad Street storm sewer project and that the sanitary sewer will be relocated to North Street, the pipe is all in and the next step is grinding the street and there should be no issues completing the project before school starts. Public Works has done some tree removals and tree trimming and there have been a lot of trimming requests from residents. He wanted to remind everyone that due to the dry weather the trees are struggling and that they will drop their leaves early this year. He also reported that curbs have been sprayed for weed control and he is still working on assessments for the sidewalk program.

D. Admin – Nick had submitted a report in the packet and reported that he has been working on agenda items. The Village received its first check for the hotel tax and the hotel will be having an official grand opening/ribbon cutting in the future. Code enforcement was in town the week of June 30th doing a sweep. He will be working with Trustee Sandberg to schedule a Building Committee meeting soon. He and the Mayor have met with the Mayor of Beecher and Pavlov representatives. He asked residents to please water their trees and also the grass seed that Pavlov has planted.

E. Police & Public Safety Committee - Trustee Sluis reported that there was discussion about the e-bikes and e-scooters. This item is on tonight's agenda and the Village will have to follow the State laws.

F. AOC Committee - Trustee Hudson reported that there was discussion about the Peotone Sportsman's Club lease agreement and how to handle it going forward. There was also discussion about event permit regulations, guidelines and requirements and how the Village will handle them and what services to provide for the patrons and also the liquor guidelines, the Liquor Commissioner and the Village Administrator will set some guidelines going into the future. There was also some discussion on the building department planning functions and the Administrator will have the services of a Senior Planner to reach out to and utilize as needed.

VI. Mayor's Comments - The Mayor announced that the Village has received the distinguished budget presentation award for the fourth year in a row. He also expressed condolences to the family of former Village Administrator, Gregg Spathis who passed away recently.

VII. Old Business: None

VIII. New Business:

A. Motion to Award Contract to Lowest Bidder, Iroquois Paving Corporation, in the amount of $176,934.25 for the 2025 MFT Street Resurfacing Program

The Village received three qualified bids at the bid opening. This project location is on East Crawford from Rt. 50 to the railroad tracks and the work will be done in the fall. The project deadline is in October.

Moved by Trustee Hudson, Seconded by Trustee Strba

Roll Call Vote: Trustee Bowden, Trustee Hudson, Trustee Richards, Trustee Sandberg, Trustee Sluis, Trustee Strba

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion passed

B. Motion to Approve Ordinance Amending Chapter 71 of the Village Code of the Village of Peotone to Add a New Section 71.28 and Amending Existing Section 71.22 Relative to the Operation of Electric Scooters, Electric Personal Mobility Devices and Electric Bicycles Within the Village

As the Village is a non-home rule community and does not have the ability to modify the State laws, by passing this ordinance it will allow the Peotone Police officers the flexibility to utilize a municipal ordinance violation rather than a state ticketing process. Attorney Marrs stated that the current State legislation is somewhat confusing and contradictory but he doesn't think we have seen the last of it from the legislation and he hopes it will be addressed in a more comprehensive manner in the future.

Moved by Trustee Sandberg, Seconded by Trustee Strba

Roll Call Vote: Trustee Bowden, Trustee Hudson, Trustee Richards, Trustee Sandberg, Trustee Sluis, Trustee Strba

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion passed

C. Motion to Approve the Peotone Travel Center Letter of Credit (LOC) Reduction, Reduction Request #4

The letter of credit has been progressively reducing and there will still be a balance for some outstanding items. Robinson Engineering will review the handout and clarify a few items and revise it.

Moved by Trustee Bowden, Seconded by Trustee Sluis

Roll Call Vote: Trustee Bowden, Trustee Hudson, Trustee Richards, Trustee Sandberg, Trustee Sluis, Trustee Strba

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion passed

D. Resolution Approving Extension of Employee Lease Agreement with MGT Impact Solutions, LLC for Finance Director/Treasurer Contract

The current contract for the Finance Director/Treasurer will be expiring and this contract will extend it to the end of the fiscal year

Moved by Trustee Hudson, Seconded by Trustee Sluis

Roll Call Vote: Trustee Bowden, Trustee Hudson, Trustee Richards, Trustee Sandberg, Trustee Sluis, Trustee Strba

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion passed

IX. Close Regular Session

E. Close Regular Session to go into Executive Session for:

a. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body (5 ILCS 120/(2(C)(1))

Moved by Trustee Sluis, Seconded by Trustee Strba

Roll Call Vote: Trustee Bowden, Trustee Hudson, Trustee Richards, Trustee Sandberg, Trustee Sluis, Trustee Strba

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion passed

F. Open Regular Session

Moved by Trustee Sluis, Seconded by Trustee Richards

Roll Call Vote: Trustee Bowden, Trustee Hudson, Trustee Richards, Trustee Sandberg, Trustee Sluis, Trustee Strba

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion passed

X. Resolution Approving Contract Extension for Village Administrator, Nick Palmer

Moved by Trustee Sluis, Seconded by Trustee Bowden

Roll Call Vote: Trustee Bowden, Trustee Hudson, Trustee Richards, Trustee Sluis Nays: Trustee Sandberg, Trustee Strba

Absent: None

Motion passed

XI. Questions of the Press: None

XII. Correspondence/Communications/Petitions: The Mayor reminded everyone of the upcoming Market on Main, the Cruise Night on Thursday and the Annual Peotone Car Club Car Show on July 26th. He also wanted to state that he had another conversation with Aqua and that they are still standing by their pricing. XIII. Adjournment:

Motion by Trustee Sluis, Seconded by Trustee Hudson

All said AYE

Nays: None

Absent: None

Adjournment at 7:00pm

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