Peotone Village Board Reviews Draft Capital Improvement Plan at January Workshop

By Andrea Arens

The Peotone Village Board held a capital improvement plan (CIP) workshop on January 26 to review proposed infrastructure investments and funding strategies for the coming years, giving both trustees and residents an early look at how major projects could be prioritized.

Village Administrator Nick Palmer opened the workshop by explaining that a capital improvement plan is a long-term planning tool used to identify, schedule, and fund major infrastructure projects over multiple years while balancing needs with financial realities.

“This workshop is designed to have a discussion with the full board and also give the public the chance to hear some of the draft ideas as we move through the process,” Palmer said.

Public Safety and Public Works Investments

Among the proposals discussed were planned capital purchases for police and public works operations. The draft plan includes funding for two police squad cars in 2027 at an estimated cost of $140,000, followed by an annual allocation of $70,000 in future years.

Public works equipment planning spans several years and includes replacement and new vehicles such as pickup trucks, plow trucks, a mini dump truck, a brush chipper, and a front loader. Palmer noted that the village’s oldest plow truck dates back to 1995, increasing maintenance costs and downtime.

The plan also maintains the village’s annual sidewalk improvement program at $50,000 per year.

Road and Stormwater Projects

Road paving projects were a central focus of the workshop. Palmer referenced a 2020 pavement management analysis conducted through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), which recommended Peotone invest approximately $300,000 annually just to maintain existing road conditions.

Proposed paving projects include South Street and Fourth Street in 2027, East Main Street in 2028, Gull Landing Drive in 2029, and Meadow Lane in 2030. The village also remains committed to providing a $655,000 local match for the future West Street road project when state funding becomes available.

Stormwater projects, many of which exceed $1 million per project, were also discussed, including Royal Lane, Hauert Street, and West Main Street. Officials emphasized that such projects typically require outside funding due to their scale.

Trustee Discussion and Concerns

Trustee Gary Hudson stressed the importance of setting priorities as the plan moves forward.

“What we need to do is we need to prioritize those projects,” Hudson said, noting that while many infrastructure needs exist, not all can be addressed at once.

Hudson raised concerns about coordinating village roadwork with utility providers, particularly Aqua Illinois, to avoid newly paved streets being torn up shortly afterward.

“The last thing we want to do is go make it look beautiful and then have them come along and dig it up,” Hudson said.

Trustee Todd Sandberg added that there’s things Aqua can do, such as sleeving the sewer, besides digging up a newly paved road.

Village officials reported they are working with Aqua to better align capital plans and reduce conflicts, including scheduling regular coordination meetings.

Funding Sources Reviewed

Financial consultant Ann Marie Mampe outlined how the proposed projects would be funded, including motor fuel tax (MFT) revenues, existing fund reserves, business development district (BDD) funds, tax increment financing (TIF) funds, and limited transfers from the general fund.

Annual MFT revenue is projected at approximately $180,000, with about $200,000 currently available in reserves. Some projects would require drawing from general fund revenues to fully cover costs.

Officials emphasized that the CIP remains a draft document and will continue to evolve through committee meetings and the upcoming budget process before final approval by the board.

“This gives us a framework to move forward,” Palmer said, “knowing that these numbers and priorities can change before the budget is adopted.”