By Andrea Arens
Peotone’s super fast June 24 board meeting still had some good news. The swearing-in of another new police officer.
The hiring of Officer Jospeh Santacaterina was approved at the last board meeting, but he was officially sworn-in at the June 24 board meeting. Surrounded by family, his wife pinned his badge on. Santacaterina has previous law experience with the South Holland Police Department and will go through a modified field training program before joining patrol.
A contract for motor fuel tax resurfacing for Crawford Street from West to Conrad Streets was also unanimously (Trustees Marevka, Hudson, and Sluis were absent) awarded to Iroquois Paving for $85,192.05. Village Engineer Troy Golem said the bid came in under estimate and should be beneficial, since Iroquois also is completing the downtown streetscape.
In other news, Chief David DeMik shared his department will be cracking down on speeders in village limits.
“Speeding causes unnecessary danger on our roads. Speed greatly reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve. Speeding drivers put themselves, their passengers, and other motorists at tremendous risk,” said Demik in a press release.
During this speeding enforcement blitz, officers will “intensify” enforcement of posted speed limits during a specific period of time and will be looking especially on Beecher Road, Wilmington-Peotone Road, Rt. 50, Rathje Road, and 88th Avenue.
The overtime for the enforcement is being paid for with an Illinois Department of Transportation Federal Safety Traffic Award grant.
It’s about time law enforcement tightened the traffic laws. I’m retired law enforcement and there was a set rule of write the ticket or warning, either way the person was going to have an encounter with the police.