Waterman, village president settle civil lawsuit days before scheduled trial

WATERMAN – The Waterman Village Board president and the law firm representing the village in suing him said they have reached a settlement days before an almost $28,000 civil dispute would have gone to trial.

The out-of-court agreement concludes a yearslong saga that ignited with a fire at Waterman Lion’s Community Park, 420 S. Birch St., on April 3, 2021. The fire destroyed a building in which Waterman & Western Railroad equipment and accessories were stored.

Three days after that fire, Pete Robinson – one of the owners of the Waterman & Western Railroad holiday train that was beloved by the community but destroyed in the fire – was elected as Waterman village president. Robinson ran unopposed as a write-in candidate for the office in the April 2021 consolidated election.

Less than a year later, the village filed a civil lawsuit against Robinson, his wife Charleen Robinson and Waterman & Western Railroad Inc., alleging that the Robinsons failed to repay the village for costs associated with cleaning up the fire damage.

Reached by phone Friday, Pete Robinson said he, Charleen Robinson, and Waterman & Western Railroad Inc. have decided to settle the matter with the village of Waterman outside of court.

The village president, and his cohort, had been sued by his own village for almost $28,000, about what the village paid for removal of the charred remains from his holiday train after it was destroyed by fire.

Chilton Yambert Porter LLP lawyer Bill Porter, representing the village of Waterman, confirmed Friday that the disputing parties had reached a settlement outside of court.

Both parties said they no longer will be going to trial because of the settlement, which they said included a no-comment clause. Neither provided further details to Shaw Local News Network.

A civil jury trial on the matter was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Monday in front of 23rd Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Bradley Waller in Sycamore. But an order to dismiss the case with prejudice was filed Friday, according to court records.

Pete Robinson is running to retain his position as Waterman village president in April. This time, his name will be on the ballot, and with opposition. Village Trustee Anton G. Feitlich also is running for the village’s top elected position.