Peotone Sportsman’s Club Lease Under Scrutiny Amid Questions of Legitimacy, Finances

The lease agreement between the Village of Peotone and the Peotone Sportsman’s Club for the use of village-owned property is facing intense scrutiny, with a village trustee and the press raising serious questions about the club’s legitimacy, finances, and operations.

During the village board’s June 23 meeting, what began as an update from Mayor Chris Vieaux on the status of the club quickly evolved into a contentious discussion revealing a deep lack of transparency and a history of resident complaints.

Todd Sandberg voiced strong opposition to the village’s relationship with the club.

“Currently I’m not in favor of any contracts with these people,” Sandberg stated. “I just… I don’t know who’s on the board. I can’t find out who’s on the board.”

He said he had received numerous complaints, including about ten over the previous weekend alone, from residents who claimed they paid for a membership but were subsequently chased off the property.

“I’m just right now currently not in favor of any compromise with this situation,” he continued, requesting that the club provide a list of its directors, documentation of its nonprofit status, proof of registration with the state, and potentially a list of its members.

Questions from a member of the press amplified these concerns, stating that there appears to be no registered entity for the Peotone Sportsman’s Club in Illinois. Furthermore, the press member noted that the Will County Sportsman’s Club, with which the Peotone club has been affiliated, denied governing the local organization.

At the heart of the financial questions is a reported $200 fee the club charges for fishing privileges on the property, which is owned by the village. “If they’re not a registered entity, we would need to know where that $200 is going,” the reporter stated, noting the tax and registration requirements for corporations and non-profits.

Village officials acknowledged the complexities of the situation. A village administrator confirmed that after a lengthy search, officials had only recently obtained a copy of a fully executed lease agreement with the club. The document, which expires in March 2026, was signed sometime after 2021 and contains a 90-day termination clause. The club also recently provided the village with a lease payment and a certificate of insurance.

According to officials, the club’s board consists of president Bob Porter, secretary Judy Porter, and a third member, Danny Laam.

Mayor Vieaux and the administrator recounted a recent meeting with the club’s caretaker and the president of the Wilmington Sportsman’s Club. They learned that the portion of the property south of the driveway, which the village owns, is well-maintained. The northern portion, which includes an old clubhouse, belongs to the sportsman’s club itself. The entire area is unincorporated, falling under the jurisdiction of Will County, and is zoned A-1 for agricultural use.

The village owns the land but does not manage its day-to-day use under the lease. While the board took no official action Monday, the pointed questions and the trustee’s firm opposition signal that the village’s contractual relationship with the Peotone Sportsman’s Club will be subject to further review.