The Village of Beecher made it official. There will still be a 1 percent grocery tax.

At the July 28 village board meeting, it was unanimously passed that come 2026, the tax will remain in effect, even though the state will eliminate it on January 1.

The state currently gives the tax money to municipalities, and Beecher receives more than $200,000 per year.

The state allows non-home rule towns to vote if they want to continue to implement the tax, and Beecher wants to keep it.

“Nothing changes,” Beecher Mayor Marcy Meyer said. “The state still will collect it on our behalf, and we still will get it just like we always have. Now the town is charging the grocery tax and not the state.”

Lots of appointments

The board voted on a host of appointments recommended by Meyer that will last until April 30.

Included in that list is that Trustee Todd Kraus will be the village manager pro-tem if Meyer is absent from meetings.

Kraus is chairing the Finance and Administration Committee. Joe Tieri will chair the Public Safety Committee, Erik Gardner – Public Works Committee, Jess Smith – Economic Development and Community Events Committee, Brian Diachenko – Public Buildings and Properties Committee, and Roger Stacey – Planning, Building and Zoning Committee. 

Stacey is heading the Planning and Zoning Commission, Kraus and Meyer the Fourth of July Commission, Smith – Beecher Youth Commission, Gardner – Historic Preservation Commission, and Tieri – Police Commission. They are liaisons for the village and do not vote on commission business. 

Tom Knuth will be the village prosecutor, Tim Kuiper – village corporate council, David Harrison – code enforcement officer, Bob Heim – EMA director, Terry Lemming – Chief of Police, and Donna Lippelt – village treasurer.

Charity Mitchell (village and zoning administrator), Jannett McCawley (village clerk), and Matt Connor (public works superintendent) have been recommended pending the finalization of their contracts.

Construction complaints 

Resident Sharon Heim and a group of neighbors near the Hunters Chase subdivision construction had concerns about some of the construction activities and if they are violating village ordinances. 

“We understand it’s going to be messy, it’s going to be loud, and it’s going to be inconvenient at times,” she said, “and we like that we are getting new neighbors.”

However, problems with a recent gas leak, the fencing, no JULIE markings, and large holes that can be hazardous to children are among her concerns.

But the neighbors also are angry about the early morning noise. 

While Lennar, the building company, advertises a “serene lifestyle” for the new neighborhood, Heim and her neighbors are upset that construction is supposed to begin at 7 a.m., but at 6:30 a.m. trucks roll in and dump gravel, making a lot of noise.

Meyer said there are periodic inspections and will address the early morning noise.

“We absolutely will look into it,” the mayor said. “We’re not looking at having somebody do things they are not supposed to do out there.”

Lemming said residents should call the police department if work is starting earlier than it should.

Bank change

Meyer said the village is looking to change banks but has not been satisfied with the process, which has been going on since April.

The mayor consulted the village’s lawyer, who suggested a Request for Proposal document with a deadline to respond that allows the board to evaluate the candidates as a whole and the criteria would be consistent. 

Scooter fines

The board is discussing the possibility of setting up a fine scale for those using motorized scooters and is using the Peotone scale as a guide.

Board members say Peotone uses a sliding scale in which first time offenders are charged, and the fine increases after each offense.

The state has banned the scooters, and the village wants to follow suit.