By Karen Haave
Peotone Village President Peter March is running for another term in the April 2025 election.
“I am running for re-election as Village President (Mayor), as I love my hometown, and I want to see it continue to thrive as a great and safe place to live and raise a family,” he said.
“I look forward to slow, steady growth in commercial and industrial properties to provide tax revenues to support the facilities and services our residents desire. I want to build on the successes of the past five years and to continue working with the village board and residents to make our little town the best it can be!”
March was elected to the village board in 2015, and succeeded former Mayor Steve Cross in June 2020, after Cross unexpectedly stepped down. Prior to that he served on the Planning and Zoning Commission from 1988-2009.
March is a lifelong Peotone resident, and a graduate of Peotone High School Class of 1977.
He and his wife Elizabeth have three children and six grandchildren. He has been co-owner of March Family Dental Care in Peotone for 40 years.
Among his accomplishments as mayor, March lists three grants acquired for the village, including a: $2.5 million grant from State of Illinois for Downtown Streetscape; $900,000 ARPA grant from Will County for Conrad Street the storm sewer and resurfacing project; and $25,000 from Morton Arboretum and others for parkway tree plantings
Additionally, he lists significant capital improvement projects, including the Peotone Travel Center, “a $26 million dollar investment in the community;” $3 million road improvements at the I-57 interchange, Wilmington Road and 88th Avenue; new storm sewers to alleviate chronic flooding on South Second Street and Ahlborn Subdivision; new sidewalk connecting Gull Landings to the rest of the village; and the Railroad Street parking lot.
At the same time, he is proud of the Downtown Streetscape $3.5 million project, which comprises storm sewer replacement, elimination of lead service lines, new pavement, sidewalks, pavers, planters, trees, and streetlights. All of those improvements, he emphasized, were funded by a state grant and the Business Development District Tax.
During his tenure, March has seen the successful transitions of a new police chief (David DeMik), a new village administrator (Nick Palmer), appointed a new village clerk (Stacey Hartwell), and contracted with a finance professional to take over treasurer duties.
With the goal of financial stability, he noted the village has invested proceeds from the Aqua utility sale into accounts earning on average 4 percent interest.
The village also had a budget surplus in the general fund of $250,000 in the last fiscal year and received a budget award for the past two years from a national organization for a transparent and comprehensive budget document.
Moreover, the village has seen a stabilized Police Pension Fund. The f und was 22 percent funded, but now is more than 50 percent funded and on track to be fully funded as obligated.
March is also proud to have seen an improved environment during his nine years as a village official, with over 250 parkway trees planted in past few years and the demolition of three “major eyesores” in downtown Peotone.
Improved communication also has been an objective, with “video recaps of every village board meeting,” weekly video updates of downtown construction, and a weekly e-newsletter on construction progress and village events
Major goals for next term, March said, include:
- Making sure downtown streetscape is maintained properly
- Attracting new businesses to downtown
- Maintaining and enhancing the beauty of the village by continuing parkway tree planting
- Increasing pedestrian and bicycle-friendly routes throughout the village
- Continuing to develop land around the I-57 interchange, with businesses that will increase our tax base while minimizing congestion
- Analyzing future needs of police and administrative departments and developing plans to physically meet those needs.