The more the merrier?
Gaming revenues are up in Beecher since the village added new facilities to gamble.
At the April 27 village board meeting, Mayor Marcy Meyer said she did some research into the slot machine and video poker numbers and they continue to go up.
“They say that if you add a new gaming place, everybody just redistributes the money,” she said.
But her research says differently. Money is going up with the new places.
In 2024, Meyer said, gaming was bringing in $7,900 a month. In 2025, when Gould Vault came aboard, it rose to almost $9,000 per month.
With the addition of Elsie’s Place in December, the figures rose again in January, February and March in 2026.
“We were averaging $10,300 a month,” she said of those three months. “But I’m sure that will go down a little as the year fluctuates.”
Budget passed
The board passed the 2026-27 budget and the general fund forecast is at $4.7 million, slightly up from last year’s $4.4 million.
Village Administrator Charity Mitchell said some of the bigger items on this year’s budget are insurance, health benefits and police items.
Community Room policy
The board passed its policy for the public’s use of the Community Room in the new police facility.
It will be open to those nonprofit groups that need a meeting room. No food or alcoholic beverages will be allowed but soft drinks, tea, coffee and water will be allowed.
Beecher officials are not expecting a lot of people to use it, but some homeowners groups have expressed interest in using it.
Spiffing up Village Hall
The board approved a contract with Beecher-based Irwin Construction to complete work on the exterior of Village Hall for $51,600 and one with Morris-based McGrath Office Equipment for divider panels for two desks at Village Hall for $3,949.
The village is also seeking proposals to replace 13 windows at Village Hall, located at 625 Dixie Highway.
The village deems the windows important to improve energy efficiency and to ensure a clean, professional and welcoming appearance for residents and visitors.
Contractors can find proposal documents at villageofbeecher.com.