Beecher Mayor Marcy Meyer admits she is not sure what she is getting into but is confident it will be a good thing.
At the seven-minute Jan. 12 village board meeting, Meyer was approved to represent the village on the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association Environmental Justice Committee. Village Administrator Charity Mitchell was designated as an alternate representative for the village,
The committee is just a few years old but it serves a wide array of communities including close-by Chicago Heights, Crete, Monee, Peotone, Steger and University Park.
“We have been asked to participate,” Meyer said. “There are things that have to do with grants and a bunch of other stuff.
“We’re basically going to have me serve on the committee until we know more about what it is because none of us are really sure what it is. I know Peotone participated.”
The SSMMA website tried to explain its mission. When the group was seeking an administrator for the initiative in 2023, it described itself.
“The SSMMA is launching a new, broad initiative that elevates and prioritizes environmental justice through intentional policy implementation using a racial equity lens, prioritizing the involvement of public officials, business and civic leaders, government partners and other stakeholders in the development of innovative solutions to system equity changes,” it said.
New clerk
The board approved and swore in Denise Abbink as its new clerk.
Abbink joined the village as a deputy clerk in July.
She takes over for Janett McCawley, who retired after 35 years of service with the village.