Beecher Looks to Broaden Scope of Water System Infrastructure Funds

Village of Beecher Meeting | April 13, 2026

Article Summary: The Village of Beecher is drafting an ordinance to amend its local code, allowing funds previously restricted strictly for “water main replacement” to be utilized for broader water system infrastructure needs.

Water System Infrastructure Fund Key Points:

• The Village Board directed the attorney to draft an ordinance amending Section 12-3-1(A) of the Village Code.

• Historical minutes from 2006 to 2010 revealed the original fund fee was earmarked strictly for water main replacement.

• The amendment will grant the village necessary financial flexibility to address overall maintenance and system upgrades.

The Beecher Village Board on Monday, April 13, 2026, voted unanimously to direct the village attorney to draft an ordinance amending Section 12-3-1(A) of the Village Code, a move designed to unlock existing utility funds for broader infrastructure repairs.

Trustee Erik Gardner, Chair of the Public Works Committee, introduced the motion, noting that the change pertained specifically to the water system infrastructure replacement fund.

Village Administrator Charity Mitchell explained that a deep dive into the village’s historical records necessitated the official code amendment. While staff initially thought they could simply reallocate the money within the budget, the original legislative intent required a formal change.

“I did a little further going back to like 2006, 2008, and 2010, and it was pretty clear from minutes and the ordinances that the board intended for the additional—it’s called a water system infrastructure replacement fee—but it was intended specifically for water main replacement,” Mitchell told the board.

Mitchell noted that a decade and a half ago, the village faced a specific financial shortfall for water main replacements, prompting previous boards to strictly earmark the fee.

“There was a couple of different places where they were specifically [clear] because they just didn’t know; there wasn’t enough money for water main replacement, and they wanted to make sure that that was earmarked for that specifically,” Mitchell said.

By amending the ordinance, the village will legally permit the funds to be used for general “water system infrastructure,” expanding the scope of eligible maintenance and repair projects beyond just the physical water mains.