Beecher Trustee Jessica Smith brought some bad news to the Oct. 26 village board meeting regarding the 2030 census, and it could affect communities nationwide.
Smith said that the Will County Governmental League is warning area towns that there are proposals on the table that could have a negative impact. Smith outlined one to the Beecher board.
“The proposed change would ask people where they live between January and March,” she said. “That would affect us for snowbirds because a lot of people go to Florida because the weather is nicer there.
“It would not be great because that could cost us congressional seats and it could change how we get our funding and how districts are drawn.”
Smith said the Will County Governmental League is asking municipalities to write letters to the census bureau.
“We need to let them know we are against this because we are not for it,” Smith said.
TruGolf update
There is a minor hiccup regarding granting business owner Vic Reato a liquor license for a proposed TruGolf facility next to his Silver Screen Vapes shop at 759 W. Indiana Ave., but it should be fixable by the next board meeting.
Reato is seeking a license that would allow him to sell just beer and wine, but the village does not have that type of license on the books. There are beer-only and wine-only licenses available.
Mayor Marcy Meyer said village attorney can draw up a license with a new classification, and the board can vote on it at the Nov. 9 meeting.
The TruGolf project will start with a few golf simulators and eventually grow to 8-10 with possible batting cage simulators added to the mix, according to Reato.
Beecher bits
- Trustee petitions for the April election must be turned into Village Hall between Nov. 16 and Nov. 23.
- The village received a clean audit report from the Groskreutz, Abraham, Eshleman and Gerretse CPA firm.
- The board approved a bid from Beecher-based Wirkus Paving for $196,507.60 for roadway resurfacing and pathing related to water and sewer system repairs.