The Peotone Sportsman’s Club caretakers now reside in the clubhouse on their portion of the property. (Photo by Andrea Arens)

By Andrea Arens

The Peotone Village Board Administrative Oversight Committee met on Wednesday, April 22, and debated the future of a village-owned property containing fishing ponds, discussing potential access restrictions as the neighboring Will County Sportsmen’s Club grapples with the absence of infrastructure.

Following the village’s recent decision to sever its lease relationship with the Will County Sportsmen’s Club, officials are now analyzing a new land survey to determine how the village-owned “triangle with the ponds” can be utilized.

The board has discussed several long-term ideas for the site, ranging from a public gun range to a municipal leaf-dumping area, but physical access remains a significant hurdle.

Village Administrator Nick Palmer reported that access to the village’s property via the northern entrance is too narrow for adequate vehicle parking without encroaching on the adjacent land still owned by the Sportsmen’s Club.

“Without that northern parcel, it limits the amount of cars you can get on the property and park,” Palmer informed the board. “It would be advantageous for us to partner with someone to have that property, if they can get it.”

Compounding the issue is a severe infrastructure failure on the club’s side of the property line. The Will County Sportsmen’s Club currently has no active water service after the village severed the lease. Water service was on village property. According to village officials, a replacement well must be drilled deeper to survive drought conditions, carrying an estimated cost of $15,000 to $40,000.

Currently, caretakers reside in a trailer on the club’s property. However, if water service is not restored within an estimated five to six months, the timeline Mayor Chris Vieaux verbally offered the caretakers of the parcel. Will County code enforcement could “red-tag” the property, declaring it officially uninhabitable and forcing the occupants to leave.

In the interim, the board debated how to protect the village’s ponds from unauthorized use by individuals crossing over from the club’s property. Suggestions ranged from installing temporary snow fencing to posting official signage.

“I just think [a fence] is an unnecessary cost,” Trustee Gary Hudson noted during the discussion. “Just put up a sign that says ‘no trespassing.’ It’s the same thing. They’re going to go around the fence anyway.”

The board ultimately agreed to hold off on fencing or immediate eviction actions until the village administrator consults with legal counsel regarding the exact timelines and statutory requirements for shutting off access and issuing trespass notices.

Andrea Arens is a freelance reporter.