Project Pickle Perplexing but Will Persist
By Jeff Vorva
Project Pickle was in a little bit of a pickle, but not enough to shut down the initiative.
Project Pickle is the marriage between the Village of Beecher and the Beecher 200U Board of Education to set up pickleball courts on the site of the Beecher High School tennis courts.
The village wanted to use $115,000 from the American Rescue Plan to set up three pickleball courts, a half-court basketball court, and a compact soccer court for the public to use.
Village officials have gone shopping for the supplies and, like anyone else who has gone shopping in recent years, found some high prices and sticker shock.
The village received just one bid – from Deerfield-based Home Court Advantage – that would take up a chunk of close to $100,000 of that money for equipment and installation.
“The proposal came in quite a bit higher than what I anticipated,” Beecher Superintendent of Public Works Matt Conner said at the January 23 board meeting. “I think a lot of people were shocked by it. We’ll definitely have to put more funds to that project in order to get it completed.”
He estimated the project is $24,000 over budget.
“It’s higher than we expected, but it’s not a huge, huge number by any means,” Conner said.
That hiccup likely won’t set the project back. Conner said ARP money set aside for playground equipment at Firemen’s Park is available because that project will be under budget.
Village Administrator Robert Barber said he wanted any leftover money from the playground project to stay allocated to projects in Fireman’s Park and suggested taking money out of the water main budget to make up for Project Pickle.
“We should have enough money to make everything work,” Conner said. “I really feel comfortable with that.”
The board did not vote on that item but did approve to award Blue Island-based Pavement Systems $40,131 for resurfacing the tennis courts.
Five-year plan
The board voted on a five-year financial plan that, for the most part, is solid.
Barber has concerns about funding sewers in the coming years.
“The sewer utility is leaking a little bit,” he said. “It’s not a drastic leak, but it is not going to go away, and it’s going to get worse as time goes on.”
Bridge will close
The Penfield Street construction is scheduled to start in early February.
Public Works Committee Chairman Todd Kraus said it’s possible the bridge will be taken out of service from March 27-April 19. The target date for completion of the entire project is September 15.
Beecher bits
•The board voted to pay bills each meeting to streamline the process.
•The 2011 Chevy Traverse the police department used will be designated as surplus property.
•Police officer Krzysztow Szwab resigned to take a job in Worth and there is a search process starting for his replacement.
•Street lights that have not been working in the village were not being repaired by Commonwealth Edison. It was found there was a computer error and workers came out recently to repair the lights.
Illinois News
Classifieds
Elizabeth Packard: The Woman Who Wouldn’t Be Silenced
Spread the loveJoin Laura Keyes, as Elizabeth Packard, for this informative and inspiring presentation on “Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard – The Woman Who Wouldn’t Be Silenced,” on Saturday, April 20, from 2 – 3:30 p.m., at the Kankakee County Museum in Small Memorial Park, 801 South Eighth Avenue in Kankakee. Tickets are $10 for general…
Manhattan-Elwood Quilt Group ‘Rescue ME’ Crafters’ Resale
Spread the loveMark your calendars – we are back for our 10th “Rescue ME Resale.” The Manhattan-Elwood Quilt Group is hosting its Rescue ME Crafters’ Resale on Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Manhattan Township Office, 230 Wabash Street, in Manhattan. This resale will feature quilting, sewing, and needlework supplies.…
Manteno Announces ‘Spring Showcase: Garden and Arts Festival’
Spread the loveSpring is in the air, and the Village of Manteno is proud to announce its first ever “Spring Showcase: A Garden and Arts Festival” set for Sunday, May 5, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Spring Showcase, an all-day community celebration of spring and the arts, was created with the intent to…
Beecher Police Blotter: March 12 – 16
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. March 12, Samuel Atchison, 21, of the 200 block of E. 124th Avenue, Crown Point, was stopped at 435 W. Indiana Avenue for speeding. He was issued citations for speeding 26-34 mph…
Holy Week Services at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church
Spread the loveEaster Triduum March 28: Holy Thursday, no 7:15 a.m. Mass; Morning Prayer at 8 a.m.; Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m., includong the washing of feet, procession, and transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the altar of repose and silent adoration until 10 p.m. March 29: Good Friday, no 7:15 a.m. Mass;…
Manteno’s Veterans Home Hosting Volunteer Fair
Spread the loveYour help is needed! As part of National Volunteer Week, the Illinois Veterans Home at Manteno is inviting veteran service providers, community organizations, and individuals to a volunteer fair to learn more about volunteer opportunities, while enjoying refreshments from local food trucks. The fair will include volunteer representatives and volunteers to share their…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The library will be closed on Friday, March 29, for Good Friday. Pick-up a pair of free solar eclipse glasses beginning March 27, for the solar eclipse on April 8. Supplies are limited. Thursday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m., Team Puzzle Competition: Teams…
200-U Tackling Truancy Head On
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Beecher’s schools are going to take an active approach to truancy. At the District 200-U Board of Education meeting on March 11, Superintendent Jack Gaham said the State of Illinois considers any student with 14 absences as truant, regardless if they are excused or unexcused. That included days used as…
Beecher Police Blotter: March 4 – 7
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. March 5, Malcom Kyle, 37, of the 13100 block of E. 2500S Road, Pembroke Township, was stopped at 311 Dixie Highway for vehicle equipment violations and found to have a revoked driver’s…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. On Wednesday, March 27, the library will have free solar eclipse viewers for the partial solar eclipse on April 8. Supplies are limited. The library will be closed on Friday, March 29, for Good Friday. Youth Services A new hot air balloon make-and-take…
Semi-Annual Craft Show at Veteran’s Home May 3-4
Spread the loveMark your calendars now for the semi-annual Manteno Illinois Veterans’ Home Craft Show on Friday and Saturday, May 3 – 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Veterans Hall at the home. There will be craft and décor items for all seasons, patriotic, beach, and holiday items, wreaths, garden and yard décor,…
Joyce: Rural Communities Deserve High-Speed Internet, Too!
Spread the loveIn order to allow all Illinois residents to have access to high-speed internet, State Sen. Patrick Joyce has played an essential role in ensuring federal funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is being used efficiently. “Access to high-speed internet isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity in today’s digital…
Beecher Police Blotter: February 16 – March 1
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. February 16, Jasmin Reynoso, 23, of the 4200 block of Talman Avenue, Chicago, was stopped in the 300 block of Dixie Highway for a vehicle equipment violation and found to have no…