Batavia officials appoint new alderman in 4th Ward, approve permit for new ‘brewstillery’

The Batavia City Council on June 13 appointed Dustin Pieper, of the 100 block of North Prairie Street, to be the new 4th Ward alderman, replacing former Alderman Tom Connelly, who was reelected in April but resigned in May.

Pieper works as an engineer and has lived in Batavia for more than four years, according to his application.

Pieper and another candidate, Katherine Swiecicki, were interviewed individually during the June 13 Committee of the Whole meeting. After a closed vote, Pieper was announced the winner by Mayor Jeffery Schielke.

“On behalf of the city, I would say that we would be lucky if either of the two of you were selected,” Alderman Dan Chanzit said.

Pieper will be sworn in during the June 20 City Council meeting.

Also at the June 13 meeting, officials approved a permit for Grainology Brewstillery, which is set to open later this year.

The brewstillery’s co-founders Michael Reed and Jason Kelly sought a conditional use permit allowing them to open a more than 5,000-square-foot brewery and taproom at 131 Flinn St., according to meeting documents.

“Our current projected [opening] timeline with some contingencies is Nov. 15, plus or minus a month. So this year is the target,” Reed said. “We are all about a better living through chemistry, a field-to-fork experience [and] a grain-to-glass experience.”

Documents showed Grainology will include an outdoor patio seating area to be built once the main facility opens. The distillery and taproom will encompass about 9,571 square feet.