Partners involved in two developments are hoping to attract new businesses and residents to Valmeyer, and village officials have done their part to aid in the effort.

Last summer, Valmeyer’s village board approved a plan to eliminate tap-in fees for both residential and commercial businesses within the village itself for the next five years.

Valmeyer Mayor Howard Heavner said the village’s portion of property taxes to newly constructed commercial properties will also be waived.

This was all done in an attempt to expand development in both the Bluff Meadows subdivision and the commercial area downtown.

“If nothing happens (with growth), we’re not making anything, but it’s not like we’re losing it either,” Heavner said in an article published in September. “If nobody hooks up to the pipes, nobody uses them.”

The waiving of water and sewer tap-in fees represents a savings of $6,000 to $8,000 per home compared to surrounding communities, developer Rick Roever said.

Roever has a stake in the Bluff Meadows development, and is a key partner in a proposed office space/apartment development in the village’s commercial area near the school complex, banks and churches.

Bluff Meadows, which started in 2006, currently has 15 homes, but there is room for 30 more, Roever said.

As for the proposed commercial development, Roever said the plan is to build five or six apartments, mostly two-bedroom, above three or more first-floor storefront businesses, which could be dental or medical offices or some other type of small practice.

“I think there’s a real need for it,” Roever said of the commercial project. “We’re a growing little community. It’s come a long way since 1993. Valmeyer has a lot to offer.”

Roever said he has received calls from those interested in the commercial development, but nothing has been set in stone.

“Hopefully it continues,” he said.

Heavner said last year that if Valmeyer could land a couple of new businesses, it would help with sales tax revenue.

For more information on either the Bluff Meadows subdivision or proposed commercial development, contact Roever at 618-530-0579 or email rick@bluffmeadows.net.