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Board Approves Budget and Appropriations  Share
The board voted to approve the village's fiscal year 2009-2010 operating budget and appropriations. Some of the projects outlined in the operating budget include updating the village Web site, new body armor for the police department, funding for a downtown development plan, an economic marketing study, construction and engineering for the Rathje Road reconstruction project, as well as operating expenses for all departments. ''This is our working document,'' Village Administrator George Gray said. ''It's what we refer to to see if we have funds to purchase something or begin a project.'' Gray said the village departments and administration always estimate revenues to be low and expenses to be high, which allows them to have positive ending balances for all funds. The board held a public hearing before the board meeting to discuss the fiscal year 2009 appropriations ordinance. The appropriations are maximum amounts that the village can legally spend. Once adopted, the ordinance allows the village to begin new projects and award bids on construction projects.
''We have a lot of projects coming up, so we want to be able to move forward on those,'' Village President Steve Cross said. The board also voted to amend the fence ordinance. The changes to the ordinance include allowing the use of cedar as a fencing material in residential zones. The cedar fences must comply will all other design requirements. Also during the meeting, trustees voted to begin construction on two ''Welcome to Peotone'' signs that will be placed on Route 50. One sign will be placed on F&S Heritage property on the north side of town and the site of the second sign on the south side of town is still being negotiated. The signs will be built by Maltese Masonry Inc., and cost about $7,500 each. The signs will be solid masonry and will look similar to the welcome sign on Peotone-Wilmington Road. The board approved the issuance of a $600,000 debt certificate to pay for the Rathje Road and Garfield/Elementary school water main replacement projects. The projects will be originally financed through debt certificates, but will be repaid out of water operating funds. Total bids for the projects came in a $600,000, which is $200,000 less than the village originally anticipated. The debt will be taken on with First Community Bank and Trust in Beecher at a 4.18 percent net interest rate. In addition, the board voted to approve the village's five-year plan. It is a long-range planning document that helps the village map out its needs and those costs. ''It is mapping out the course for the next five years, and hopefully, it'll make things easier as far as planning goes,'' Cross said. Also during the meeting, Stacy Morris, Peotone's Relay for Life organizer, spoke to the board about this year's Relay for Life. This is the fifth year Peotone has hosted a Relay for Life and it will be held July 31 to Aug. 1. Fifteen teams have already signed up. ''It's a great community event, and I encourage the entire community to participate,'' Cross said. In other board news: - Bills were paid in the amount of $69,902.76. - The American Legion Auxiliary Peotone Unit 392 will hold its annual Poppy Day on Saturday, May 23. They will have volunteers collecting contributions at local businesses throughout town. - The Peotone Boy Scout Troop #315 will canvass the town from April 20 through May 2, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., to sell tickets for its pancake breakfast. The pancake, sausage, gravy and biscuit breakfast will be on May 3 from 7 a.m. to noon at the Sportsmen's Club in Peotone. The tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for children and children under five are free. - Village President Steve Cross declared May 2009 as motorcycle awareness month. - The board voted to allow a sign variance to Peotone United Methodist Church. The church, at 105 N. West Street, plans to move its current sign to the west side of its property and to install a new sign on the south side of the property. - The board amended the 2009 paratransit agreement with PACE. PACE has increased the funding for the Dial-A-Ride program this year from $56,251 to $75,001. This program is through the Eastern Will County Senior Services in Monee. EWCSS provides transportation to neighboring areas for seniors or handicapped individuals. Call (709) 534-2323 with questions or to make a reservation. - The board approved liquor licenses for 14 businesses in Peotone. They are Throwback II Sports Bar and Grill, Will County Fair Association, Suzy's Saloon, Peotone Bowling Center and Lounge, Peotone American Legion #392, Second Street Saloon, Tony's Pizza of Peotone, Peotone Country Market, RC Phillips 66 Food Plaza, Casey's General Store, Speedway #7032, Mac's #182, Chef Klaus' Peotone Bier Stube and Pueblo Viejo. - Trustees approved June 13 as the date for the community garage sale. Participants will not be required to sign up or pay the $5 permit fee. It will also not count toward the limit of two garage sales per year. For more information, contact Chris Bowden. Katie Carr is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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