Beecher Library Board Installs New Trustees, Elects Officers for Two-Year Term

Article Summary: Following the certification of the April 1 election, the Beecher Community Library Board seated three trustees for six-year terms and unanimously re-elected Shirley R. Biery as president. The board also elected a full slate of officers to lead the library for the next two years.

Beecher Library Board Key Points:

• Shirley R. Biery, Sheila Oppenhuis, and Douglas Short Jr. were officially seated as library trustees for six-year terms.

• The board unanimously elected its leadership for the next two years: Shirley R. Biery (President), Lance Saller (Vice-President), Kathryn Czarnecki (Secretary), and Sheila Oppenhuis (Treasurer).

• With 484 votes, Sheila Oppenhuis was the top vote-getter in the April 1 election, followed by Shirley R. Biery with 456 votes and Douglas Short Jr. with 392.

BEECHER – The Beecher Community Library Board of Trustees has formalized its leadership for the coming years, officially seating its recently elected members and unanimously appointing a new slate of officers at its May 20 meeting.

Library Director Jill Grosso began the meeting by reading the official results of the April 1, 2025, consolidated election, which were certified by Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry. Sheila Oppenhuis, who received 484 votes, Shirley R. Biery with 456 votes, and Douglas Short Jr. with 392 votes, were declared the winners for the three open seats on the Beecher Community Library District board. All three will serve six-year terms.

Following the announcement, the board immediately moved to establish its leadership for a two-year term. In a series of uncontested nominations, the board quickly and unanimously filled its officer positions.

Sheila Oppenhuis was nominated by Trustee Wehling to serve as Treasurer, Kathryn Czarnecki was nominated by Trustee Lance Saller to serve as Secretary, and Douglas Short Jr. nominated Saller for Vice-President. To round out the leadership team, Oppenhuis nominated Shirley R. Biery to continue in her role as President.

All nominations were seconded and met with unanimous “Aye” votes from the board members present, cementing the officer slate through 2027.

The rest of the board is composed of trustees Kerber and Wehling. The board also approved the minutes from its April 15 and April 25 meetings and authorized the payment of bills totaling $33,399.23.