By Andrea Arens

A budgeted new vehicle for the Peotone Police Department officially was approved at the August 26 Peotone Village Board meeting. Trustee Julie Sluis was absent.

The local purchase from Terry’s Ford is for a new police Interceptor SUV, along with police feature build-outs for a total of $63,695.42. Chief David DeMik sought additional quotes from purchasing cooperatives, but Terry’s Ford, the local dealer, had the best price.

Peotone PD also is going to help out Monee PD for staffing their upcoming Monee Fall Fest and the Vietnam Moving Wall.

For the unanimously approved agreement, Monee will reimburse Peotone for all costs incurred with providing police, personnel, and equipment, including benefits and ancillary expenses.

The addition of new Village Administrator Nick Palmer to the village’s bank accounts also was approved. The administrator expense approval limit remains at $5,000. Palmer would not be the only signature required for checks; the Mayor, Financial Consultant, and Trustee Gary Hudson are all signers on the account.

Discussion of the Mill repair work took place at the last board meeting, and trustees had agreed to move forward. The removal of the damaged deck and beam that had fallen occurred last week, but the official board approval for the expense came at the August 26 meeting. The lowest quote came from Affordable Tree Experts for $12,000. Administrator Palmer relayed the Historical Society would be splitting the cost at $6,000.

In the public comment portion of the meeting, Dominique Dettmering approached the board to discuss opening an Emil’s Tires location at the Peotone Travel Center. Emil’s Tires currently is located in Grant Park but desires the Peotone location to service both semi-truck and agriculture tire business, along with passenger vehicle tires. Mayor Peter March asked if the tax revenue would be for Grant Park or Peotone, and Dettmering suggested that it could be structured however the village pleases.

Special event permits were approved for Cornerstone Coffee House’s Trunk-or-Treat on October 27, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and for the high school Homecoming Parade on October 11 at 4 p.m.

Mayor Peter March also presented Director of Public Works Bob Hennke with a certificate of appreciation for 25 years of service to the village.