The Peotone Village Board discussed adding stop signs throughout town to cut down on speeding and improve safety at its April 27 meeting.
“There have been three locations brought to our attention in the village that could use a stop sign. Being that safety is our main concern, controlling speed, especially on Rathje, I think we need to discuss adding some stop signs,” Peotone Mayor Chris Vieaux said.
New stop signs were discussed for the intersections of Locust and Louise lanes, Ahlborn Drive and Fourth Street, and Crown Lane and Rathje Road. For the most part, the board seemed in favor of adding them.
However, village engineer Troy Golem advised the board the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices does not recommend stop signs for speed control.
“The MUTCD says stop signs aren’t meant to be used for speed control, but I mean there’s situations like schools nearby, sight distance. I guess I’m just giving you the argument for speed control, because they say if a stop sign’s solely used for speed control, typically, it speeds people up, because they have to stop, and then they accelerate, and they end up driving faster to make up the time between the stop signs. It creates more noise and pollution,” Golem said.
“I agree with that. Especially on Rathje Road, that’s not going to stop it,” Trustee Gary Hudson said.
Though Hudson agreed with Golem, other trustees said the issue wasn’t just speed.
“Mine’s more the daycare center, because people really, obviously – maybe it’s speed, but they don’t necessarily slow down or stop or look either, because this one’s definitely a safety issue,” Trustee Todd Sandberg added. Sandberg was recommending the stop sign at Ahlborn Drive and Fourth Street.
“So, it may not be just speed, right? But it may be other factors like safety,” Palmer added.
Rathje Road seemed to be the main road with speed as a concern.
Ultimately, the board agreed to move forward with the new signs.
Peotone honors police sergeant for 32 years
The village issued a proclamation recognizing Sgt. John Popek, for his 32 years of service with the Peotone Police Department. Vieaux also presented Popek with a plaque and a gift on behalf of the village, offering best wishes in his upcoming retirement.
Popek began with the Peotone Police Department in March 1994 as a part-time officer, went full-time in 2000, and will retire after 37 years of service.
Police News
Since the last board meeting, Police Chief David DeMik reported officers issued eight truck citations. The department is trying to reduce the number of semi-trucks traveling through town, especially those entering Black Diamond by the library.
Officers on the night shift also are surveilling the downtown area via a live-view camera at Main and Second streets. They keep the footage open on their squad computer while patrolling.
DeMik also reported there was a hit-and-run incident at the Wilmington-Peotone Road and 88th Avenue, but because of the village’s live-view camera and a license-plate reader, they were able to identify the semi-truck that hit the small vehicle.
DeMik advised the board that members of the Peotone Police Department will be volunteering for the Special Olympics Torch Run Fundraiser “Cop on a Rooftop” at the Dunkin’ in the Peotone Travel Center.
Instead of being on the rooftop, they’ll be by the drive-thru from approximately 5:30 to 10:30 a.m., on May 15, to raise funds for the Special Olympics organization. Last year, they raised $9,000, which they set as this year’s goal to beat, DeMik said.
The Axon cameras that were awarded to the village have been delivered, inventoried, and car installation is being scheduled. DeMik is looking at ordering two new police vehicles, which were included in the budget.
DeMik also advised he is working on the 2027 IDOT traffic safety grant.
Data center loses interest
Village Administrator Nick Palmer reported Geronimo, the company that had previously approached the village with interest in building a data center in the community, has reportedly moved on.
“There were some challenges with the application process that were just too big an obstacle. So, we just want to let people know about that. We never had received a proposal plan or anything. If we had received something as we all talked, we would have had public meetings, etc. But there’s no need for that now,” Palmer said.
Palmer said the company was moving on entirely from sites in the area.
Strategic Planning Ongoing
Palmer reported approximately 60 people participated in six focus groups established to gain insight for the village’s strategic plan that is in the process of being developed.
“At our next board meeting on May 18, the consultant is scheduled to be back here, and we’ll present the findings from our community survey – kind of a summary of the focus group comments and some other ongoing work,” Palmer said.
Road work underway
Resurfacing of Route 50 between Beecher Road and Wilmington-Peotone Road will start soon. Updates will be on the village’s Facebook and website.
The board approved three resolutions to remedy an error involving motor fuel tax funds.
“Motor fuel tax is a restricted revenue source. It’s paid by anybody who buys gas in Illinois. It’s all aggregated, and then they divide it by population. So, Peotone gets its per capita amount. It’s largely been used here for road construction and maintenance in the past, but it can also be legally used for a couple of other things,” Palmer said.
One of the other things is salt, but it requires extra paperwork to be filed with IDOT. Previously in 2023, 2024, and 2025, the paperwork wasn’t filed. Palmer is working with the treasurer, IDOT, and engineering to ensure the paperwork is filed retroactively, which IDOT is allowing.
However, Palmer cautioned the village from using MFT funds in the future to pay for salt, because they are moving funds from the general fund to pay for road work and then using the MFT funds to pay for salt when they could just swap them and eliminate the extra paperwork and work.
Other news
In regular business, the board approved the special event and road closures for St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church’s 16th Eucharistic Procession scheduled for June 7. Additionally, the board approved video gaming, liquor and tobacco renewals for several establishments and organizations within Peotone.
The village received its ninth Tree City USA award. The 25 saplings the village received from ComEd have all been distributed, though ComEd should be sending more, Public Works Supervisor Bob Hennke said.
Several other proclamations were made for motorcycle awareness, clerk’s week, police week, and public works week.
The board also approved the hiring of one new full-time public works laborer. Palmer advised they were pleasantly surprised by the number of qualified applicants for the position, but they could only hire one.