New Board is All About Business

By Andrea Arens

In a joyous moment at Monday’s board meeting, Peotone was lucky to swear in four new police officers. Officer Reyes, Officer Wallace, Officer Weiffenbach, and Officer Burrow each were sworn in independently, with Officer Wallace receiving his badge from his son. Although the four do not reside in Peotone, the Chief was still ecstatic to have them join the force.

Officer Wallace received his badge from his son at the Peotone Village Board meeting. Photo by Andrea Arens.

Peotone recently lost several officers to better paying municipalities, and the Chief thanked the village board profusely for increasing the starting pay for incoming officers. The starting pay, at just over $51K, pales in comparison to other local municipalities, but Chief DeMik truly believed they wouldn’t have been able to fill those positions without that increase.

Afterwards, it was all business, literally. 

The board approved a new business license for Hooked Up, Inc., at 117 W. Main Street, also known as the old post office building. The new business will operate as a construction management/general contractor’s office.

The board also discussed the possibility of a liquor license at 908 W. Wilmington Road. Nick Patel, current manager of Peotone Tobacco and Liquor, was there to discuss the possibility of the purchase of the old Rising Sun restaurant. At first, he discussed a liquor store, but then he diverted to a gaming cafe that would serve food. He also mentioned he’d like to build a small plaza with three storefronts and operate a liquor store, the gaming cafe, and the Subway he currently owns but rents space in the Sunset Plaza.

Trustee Sandberg asked how big the property was and Patel said it was 1.7 acres. Patel suggested it would be two or more years to build the plaza. Trustee Marevka stated she’d be on board with the plan and so was Sluis. Trustee Sandberg asked if the liquor store on Governors Highway would remain open and Patel said both would remain open. Trustee Richards inquired about serving food, and that was when Patel modified his original request from liquor license to gaming cafe. Trustee Hudson said he’d like to see a more solid plan before committing. Hudson said he doesn’t want to approve a gaming cafe and that it’s all it ever is.

The Vedette inquired if there were concerns of an increase in crime by adding a liquor store and gaming cafe at the location, since Patel’s liquor store has been burglarized twice this year. Mayor Peter March said he had concerns.

Trustee Marevka said there is always a concern off I-57. “Gull Landings – there’s always a concern because people get on and off 57 super easily. There was a murder back in the ’70s. Unfortunately, that’s what we’re going to have anytime we put anything over there.”

Chief DeMik confirmed there is currently one license plate reader on Peotone-Wilmington Road, and the village is waiting on the second, which will be placed on Rt. 50. Chief DeMik did say if businesses wanted to purchase license plate reader cameras for $3K a year annually, to contact him directly.

March added that he met with owners the next day to clarify what they wanted to do and to convey the village’s requirements. “They do not want to have a liquor store at that location,” he said. After explaining the Village’s  liquor license categories again, March said the owners are looking at a gaming cafe with tobacco sales, not a liquor store. March said, “I explained to them that I didn’t think the board or residents would be excited about another gaming cafe. I suggested they think of some type of restaurant to accompany the gaming cafe and the board may be more likely to approve that. I also asked them to put their request in writing along with concept plans and architectural elevations to show their eventual plans for a small strip center on the property.”

The previous zoning recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone 8650 W. Wilmington Road from residential to B-3 auto oriented and service, which was rejected by the previous board, was placed on the agenda again. This time, co-manager of one of the Chalkstone Partners was in attendance and spoke.

Dennis Stahl said the truck stop caught the developers attention. “National brands will come in and buy a pad near an interchange based upon the traffic flow of the interstate. They won’t come into the center of town due to population constraints,” said Stahl. “The present zoning for residential is totally inconsistent and incompatible with your own (the village’s) comprehensive plan.”

Trustees Marevka and Hudson asked questions and Administrator Ingalls said the approval was for zoning only. Any site specific plans would need to be approved by Planning and Zoning before being developed. The approval was unanimous this time.

A resurfacing bid using motor and fuel tax funds was approved and awarded to Gallagher Asphalt, which came in at 12 percent under budget.

Lastly, an escrow agreement with Bhagwati Properties One, LLC, and Suhas Patel was approved for the 88th Avenue improvements. The escrow agreement provides insurance should funding from the TIP not cover the village’s expenses.

An intergovernmental agreement with Will County also was approved for fire extinguisher recycling. Chief DeMik said that at no cost to the village, residents will be able to recycle their old fire extinguishers at the police department.