New Business
Another new business registration was approved at the June 9 Peotone Village Board meeting.
Family Healthcare Clinic, 106 W. Main Street, Unit B, was unanimously approved by the new board at the meeting. Peotone has not had a general healthcare clinic/urgent care since the Riverside building closed its doors to patients years ago.
RNP, Kevin Strohl shared the Family Healthcare Clinic will see newborns on up for family practice and general care, urgent care, along with functional medicine. FHC also offered IVs for hydration/immunity, Botox, lip fillers, and weight loss plans. FHC also will complete bloodwork. Stroll said, “I am able to offer care, so most of the time I do not have to refer patients to specialists. Stroll is hoping to be open by July 1.
Old Business
Grocery tax is old business again. Just as the state dropped the municipal grocery retailer’s occupational tax, every local municipality created an ordinance to reenact it. With many villages claiming the loss of revenue, even villages with surplus revenue put the tax back on the rolls.
Peotone was no exception. The grocery tax netted an average of $160,000 in revenue annually, and that wasn’t paid by just Peotone residents. Patrons from neighboring communities, without a grocery store nearby, shared some of that burden. Mayor Chris Vieaux said the grocery tax should remain until a revenue replacement could be found.
An audience member called out and suggested lowering it, Vieaux said it’s 1%, or $1 on $100 and said we could consider it.
Trustee Todd Sandberg noted, “$1 on $100; you could go to Indiana to not pay the tax, but I don’t think you can get there for $1.”
Administrator Nick Palmer gave the history, explaining the tax dates back to 1990 and is a supplemental revenue source that pays for police and public works. He added it was kind of a gimmick, since the state cut it, and it never went to the state; reiterating it’s not a new tax.
The motion was unanimously approved.
Scoot away
E-scooters have been a hot topic on social lately, and it’s no surprise. The complaint, more often than not, is that children are not obeying the rules of the road and are driving dangerously. With summer, more and more children are out and about on them. Peotone Police Chief David DeMik reported to the board there’s been two accidents where children on e-scooters have been hit by cars, because they were driving them in the street.
Currently, Illinois law prohibits e-scooters being driven by anyone under the age of 18. Yes, that’s right, all the kids driving them around town are doing so illegally. What’s more, the Chief said if the police department issued citations to the children driving scooters illegally, the children could lose the ability to obtain their license till age 21.
The counter argument is that if the village allowed e-scooters by enacting an ordinance regulating them; it opens them up to liability.
Mayor Vieaux said he doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. While he agreed responsibility fell on parents, he thought the village should intervene. Trustee Julie Sluis said the speed can be turned down on the scooters, while the children can’t turn them up. She added her children have the e-scooters, and they regulate the speed.
Discussion also circled around where e-scooters could be legal. According to Illinois law, they’re illegal on sidewalks, streets, parks, and rights-of-way. Trustee Gary Hudson suggested the discussion continue in committee, and the board moved on.
Other Bits
Administrator Palmer and President Vieaux managed to negotiate a lower contract with Homewood Disposal.
The new contract will last five years, with rates starting at $71.49 per quarter. It will increase to $74.70 for ‘26-‘27 per quarter, and $78.06 for ‘27-‘28.
A special event permit for Hansen’s Dugout Cruise Nights was unanimously approved. Vieaux made mention that anyone looking to have an event is encouraged to contact the village prior to advertising the event. Palmer agreed and addressed all events, “This may warrant reviewing our process on events and what other things we may want to require and not require.”
Palmer was quick to say the village welcomes all events but encourages hosts to work with the village to ensure all bases are covered. Hansen’s did host two cruise nights prior to approval. Moving forward, cruise nights continue every Thursday through October.
A special event permit for St. Paul the Apostle’s Eucharistic Procession also was approved for June 22, at 11:30 a.m.
Committees were updated, and code was amended to reflect the current committees. Committees are as follows: Administrative Oversight: Hudson – Chair, Bowden, and Sluis; Building: Sandberg – Chair, Strba, and Hudson; Economic Development: Bowden – Chair, Hudson, and Sandberg; Police and Public Safety: Sluis – Chair, Richards, and Bowden; and Public Works: Strba – Chair, Richards, and Sandberg.
Police Chief DeMik’s contract was renewed for another four years to run concurrent with the mayor’s term. DeMik’s salary will increase to $128,357, with four weeks of vacation. Administrator Palmer stated, “We have made substantial progress in the FY 26 budget to streamline expenses and more accurately reflect growing revenue streams. The goal will be to continue to bring in additional businesses and revenue to support the village’s work.” FY 26 budget projects revenue is expected to be $4,149,976. Palmer said FY 25 surpassed projected revenues, and the village projects conservatively.
Detective Gary Miller was recognized for his 25 years of service to the village. It was noted he started the week off with seven businesses being burglarized within 11 minutes on June 9.
Trustee Todd Sandberg is the husband of Editor Andrea Arens. Any coverage of his activity is not an endorsement of such.