Dolton trustees and municipal staff on Tuesday held a business brunch to connect local business owners with village departments and outline next steps on safety, leases and utility collections.

Trustee Keanna Belcher, who organized the event, said the brunch is the second quarterly session intended to strengthen relationships between the village and small businesses. "We are building a better Dolton," she said, and emphasized that the meeting was meant to be an informal opportunity to answer licensing, zoning and permitting questions.

Why it matters: Village officials used the hour-long discussion to flag topics with immediate financial and operational implications for businesses — unpaid water bills that could trigger shutoffs, the process for leasing village-owned properties and steps businesses can take to reduce theft and vandalism as daylight shrinks.

Leases and municipal property
Trustee Belcher clarified that Melanie's Fitness Center is village property and "was not sold; it is being leased." She said the village leased the facility because it could no longer afford to maintain it and that the new tenant is expected to open in late November. Belcher said she did not have the lease document at the meeting and believed the term was three years; she offered to provide a copy to any attendee who requested it. She also noted the village faces a pending $33,500,000 lawsuit that limits its ability to sell property at this time.

Utility arrears and enforcement
Belcher, who identified herself as the finance chair, told business owners the village has substantial unpaid water balances and urged any business with a large outstanding balance to contact Village Administrator Charles Walls to arrange payment. "We have to start collecting," she said, adding that property-tax timing from the county affects village cash flow. She warned that shutoffs will be strictly enforced if payment arrangements are not made.

Public safety and alarm permits
Dolton Police Chief Jeff Chapman offered free security risk assessments for businesses and urged owners to ensure alarm permits and key-holder contact information are current to speed response times. The village's alarm permit was noted as a $10 annual registration due each April; police staff said up-to-date contact information reduces the need for officers to remain on site after a burglary or alarm activation.

Zoning, development and resources
Trustee Belcher reported a proposed economic development project on 147th Street in Harvard involving roughly 13–15 acres that has presented to the village and is awaiting zoning-board review; she said officials will evaluate public-safety, school and subsidy impacts before moving forward. Several nonprofit and private organizations offered business support and community services at the meeting, including the Abba Center, which detailed a free market and disaster-recovery programs for Dolton residents, and a new village landing page to highlight local businesses.

Community outreach and next steps
Staff and trustees encouraged business owners to schedule one-on-one meetings with the mayor's office or relevant department heads for licensing, permits or to discuss site opportunities. The village also announced a housing-committee meeting on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. at Village Hall and a tax-appeal seminar the following day to help residents. Trustee Belcher said the brunch will be quarterly, with the next session expected in January.

Selected quotes
"We did not sell Melanie's Fitness Center. It is being leased," Trustee Keanna Belcher said as she answered owners' questions about the property.

"If you have a $10,000 water bill that's owed to the village...you need to have a conversation with the village administrator," Belcher said.

What the village offered
Chief Chapman said the police department will perform free security risk assessments and recommended businesses update their alarm-permit and key-holder information. Communications staff said business owners can submit contact details and promotions to communications@bodalton.org to be featured on the village's new business landing page.

The meeting closed with networking and reminders to contact department staff for follow up. No formal votes or motions were taken.