By Jeff Vorva

The new U-Haul business is not making a good first impression with some members of the Village of Beecher Board.

At the August 12 meeting, the board discussed granting a special-use permit for a U-Haul rental business at 759 W. Indiana and agreed to authorize the permit to be drawn up.

The board was to take the next step of granting the permit and drawing up the ordinance at the August 26 meeting, but some board members had concerns, and the vote was tabled.

Trustee Joe Tieri said he has seen trucks already parked in the area even before the ordinance was granted. He said there were cars parked in the back lot.

Tieri noted the petitioner, Vic Reato, told the board at the August 12 meeting the closest U-Haul business open was in Park Forest. Tieri said there are closer U-Hauls, and Reato “was not as truthful” in his proposal.

Trustee Todd Kraus also was not thrilled with seeing a U-Haul truck parked at the property on the night of the August 26 meeting.

“Now we have an issue,” he said. “It looks like he is doing what he wants to do until someone stops him. I was fine with it until tonight when I saw the truck parked there.”

All-American Day is OK

Beecher Police Chief Terrence Lemming told the board the All-American Day, hosted by the Beecher Lion’s Club, was successful from a safety standpoint.

The event took place August 24 on Gould Street in the downtown area and, aside from honoring those who served in the military, it featured a motorcycle performance and a burnout event.

“The event went overall without a hitch,” the chief said. “They did everything they said they would do. They had plenty of Lions people there at every post. We had no police incidents, although we had a guy fall on the boardwalk, who was taken away in an ambulance. He wasn’t drinking.”

Beecher bits

•Former longtime village administrator Robert Barber can’t stay away from village affairs, as the retired administrator was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

•The board heard a proposal from Lennar Homes to make changes to a planned unit development ordinance that includes the Hunter Chase East subdivision.

•Beecher plans to submit a letter of objection to the Will County Land Use Department for a special use permit for construction of a community solar garden and commercial facility on South Park Road, which is within 1-½ miles of the village.