One solar power project has the Village of Beecher’s blessing.
The other one doesn’t.
The board unanimously approved a motion at the October 27 meeting to submit a letter of non-objection for the Plum Valley Solar project, which is proposed to be located outside the village limits northwest of the community, north of Eagle Lake Road and east and west of Ashland Avenue.
The project is within 1-½ miles of Beecher and will occupy the village and township of Crete, Monee and other municipalities.
Black Swan asked the board for a similar letter of non-objection for a solar facility southeast of Beecher, between Indiana Avenue and Corning Road. The board voted 4-2 to reject crafting a letter, with trustees Roger Stacy and Erik Gardner voting for the letter.
Despite the Black Swan rejection, it does not mean the board will object to that solar facility.
“We’re just going to leave it with sending no letter at all,” Beecher Mayor Marcy Meyer said. “So, it’s no letter whatsoever. We’re not objecting, and we’re not non-objecting.”
The Plum Valley project offered the village $100,000 as a goodwill gesture for the letter. The money would be used for community benefits.
“The spirit of this agreement is we want to support something that is tangible and has a meaningful benefit to the residents of the village,” said Ryan Dunfee, a representative of Earthrise, which is developing the Plum Valley project.
“It could be used for services or equipment, park infrastructure, water infrastructure – things like that. Something that can be felt or seen, experienced, and appreciated by the residents of Beecher. That’s the spirit of it.”
At a prior meeting, board members kicked around the idea of using the money to complete and fill in sidewalks near the village’s schools.
Also at that meeting, Dunfee said villages and governing bodies in Will County can share approximately $2.6 million the first year Plum Valley is open, and there will be plenty of jobs available with construction and within the facility itself.
The project is eyed for a 2028 completion date.
While there was no specific discussion on why four board members scotched the Black Swan letter of non-objection, trustees did ask representatives if they would consider giving money to benefit the village and were told that wasn’t in the plan.
Cameras and tasers
The board approved the purchase of in-car cameras for $60,255.51 from Axon Enterprise, Inc. A portion of the cost will be reimbursed by a grant from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
The Public Safety Committee said it received a grant to purchase six tasers for approximately $18,000. The grant needed to be signed by November 4, and there was a consensus by the board to move forward.