2011 has been a difficult time for the many West Peorians who depended upon Haddad’s Market for their grocery shopping as well as being able to have a very friendly staff help them. The fire caused an unwanted “life style” change for many of us. Two community efforts are currently underway to assist the Haddad’s employees until the store reopens. First, Daryl Klusendorf and many community business owners are planning a fund raiser on February 13th from noon until 7:00 p.m. at Crusen’s on Farmington Road. Plan on attending and visiting with the many good people connected to Haddad’s.
You will likely run into people you haven’t seen since January 1, 2011. There also is an account established at SouthSide Bank on Rohmann for donations to also assist the employees during their long time without employment. These are people who cheerfully and conscientiously assisted us whenever we attended the store. Donations may also be taken to City Hall. Any extra funds not used by the employees will be turned over to the West Peoria Fire Department. Plan on seeing some of your friends on February 13th and show the depth of respect we have for our missing friends and colleagues who made Haddad’s so special for all of us.
The West Peoria Residents’ Association will meet Thursday February 17, 2011, at 6:30 at City Hall. Bill Woodard, superintendent Madison Park Golf, will be the guest speaker at the WPRA February meeting speaking about the history of Madison Park and a planned hike in Madison Park on Saturday 19th, 2011. On Saturday, February 19, 2011, beginning at 11:00 am, David Pittman, WPRA, will lead a hike into Madison Park to view some of the history and beauty it offers. In the first half hour the group will walk around the 100 year old clubhouse, examine the foundations of the former ‘swinging’ suspension bridge and offer a close up look at some of the largest trees in Peoria County. This part of the walk will be completely level. The remainder of the hike will be more physically demanding and take approximately one hour. The walkers will traverse hilly terrain to examine the Madison Park hillside year-round spring and hike into Horseshoe Bottoms, a former oxbow lake. The hike will look closely at several 10,000 year old glacial hill prairie sites and return to Madison Park through St Mary’s Cemetery. The hike is open to children if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian and will occur no matter the weather so dress accordingly. If you want to join the fun please plan to meet in the parking lot of the clubhouse accessed from Martin Luther King Drive. You need to arrive a few minutes before 11:00 a.m.
The Consolidated Election for the City of West Peoria will be April 5, 2011. Offices up for Election are: mayor, city clerk, treasurer, and one alderman in each of the four wards. Candidates are: Mayor – Incumbent – James R. Dillon, City Clerk – Incumbent – Carole Stephens, Treasurer – Incumbent – Jennifer Main, Ward 1 – Incumbent – Hazel Thomas, Ward 2 – Incumbent – Write In, Vote for one in Ward 3 – Incumbent – John Venzon Jr. or Candidate – Gus Mason Jr., Ward -4 Incumbent Thomas S. Dwyer. A referendum is also included in the voting on April 5th. Following is the referendum included on the ballot: Question: Shall the City of West Peoria impose a retailers’ occupation tax of up to one-half percent (1/2%), on the gross receipts from sales at retail of tangible personal property excluding the sale of food for human consumption that is to be consumed off the premises where it is sold (other than alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and food that has been prepared for immediate consumption) and prescription and non-prescription medicines, drugs, medical appliances, and insulin, urine testing materials, syringes, and needles used by diabetics and on the gross receipts from the selling of all tangible personal property transferred by such servicemen either in the form of tangible personal property or in the form of real estate as an incident to a sale of service as provided by Illinois law, to wit: 65 ILCS 5/8-11-1.3 and 8-11-1.4, as may be amended from time to time.
West Peoria TIF District I Expansion: In 2005 the City of West Peoria established a Tax Increment Financing District (TIF I). The TIF District enables the City to apply TIF revenues for public infrastructure and other eligible improvements within the TIF I Project Area. Since the establishment of the TIF I District, the City has made commitments of time and money to address its goals and to encourage conservation and redevelopment of the area. The proposed expansion will enable the City to make additional public improvements to further enhance the redevelopment of the area throughout the remaining life of TIF District I. The proposed timeline for the TIF I Amendment is available at City Hall. The Public Hearing is scheduled for March 1st at City Hall at 6:00 p.m. A map showing the existing TIF I properties and the properties to be added is available at City Hall.
West Peoria TIF District II: The City proposes to establish West Peoria TIF District II by redeveloping property that is currently underutilized for commercial, residential and light industrial types of development in order to increase its population, increase employment opportunities, expand and diversify the local tax base, manage growth and increase the overall value and quality of life of the community for its residents. The properties to be included in the TIF II District were annexed to the City in 2010. The proposed timeline for the establishment of TIF District II is available at City Hall. The Public Hearing is scheduled for March 1st at City Hall at 6:00 p.m. A map showing the existing TIF II properties is available at City Hall.
The Street Department Manager asks that you please not shovel the end of your driveway until the plows have been down your street. This will save you the trouble of having to shovel again. It is against City Code to shovel your snow into the street. (Doing so only slows down the process of clearing the streets.) This City Code also applies to raking leaves or landscape debris into the street because when it rains this causes the storm sewers to back up.
A parking ban on all West Peoria streets will be issued whenever 2 or more inches of snow is predicted, according to City Ordinance # 2006-17: All vehicles must be moved or it can result in a fine. Parking bans will be posted on all local television stations. Following is the snow route/parking code: SECTION 3-3-5NO PARKING SNOW ROUTES All streets within the corporate limits of the City of West Peoria are hereby designated as emergency snow routes. It shall be unlawful to park any vehicles on these streets at any time within twelve (12) hours after a snowfall of two (2) or more inches. Where there has been a snow forecast of two (2) or more inches for any calendar day, it shall be unlawful to park any vehicles on any of these streets for that calendar day.
The Street Department Manager shall be authorized to take the necessary actions to have those vehicles parked on streets designated as snow routes in violation of the provisions of this Section towed away in order to permit the clearing of snow from the snow routes. The payment of any and all charges incurred as a result of such towing shall be the responsibility of the vehicle’s owner. In addition to, or in lieu of towing the vehicle, the owner or lessor of the vehicle shall be fined $25.00 for first offense and $50.00 for second offense and for the third offense, the fine may be up to a maximum of $750.00. In all events, each day the violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
The West Peoria Lions as well as all of the community are reeling from the loss of Haddad’s Market. It really hits this Club as Mark and Erika and one of their employee’s, Dorothy, are all members. The Club will be there to lend support in any way needed to help rebuild the heart of our community, “Haddad’s Market” Our prayers go out to all of Haddad’s employees.
This Christmas the Lions Club delivered a record number of food baskets in West Peoria. Because of this met demand, the Club will be looking at new avenues to fund this program for 2011 as they believe the need will only continue to increase. One very successful fundraiser, Really Large Coloring Books, has been sold at Haddad’s over the last couple of years and now that outlet is lost until they rebuild. The Club is open to any ideas to help continue to sell these books. Please contact any WPLC member with any suggestions or ideas you have. The 2011 Lions Club Highway clean-up schedule is: April 9th, June 11th, Aug 13th, and Oct 8th. 8 a.m. to noon. Please consider giving an hour or two to help in this important and needed effort. Remember the Club recycles: eye glasses, hearing aids, cell phones, ink cartridges, keys, and tabs. Boxes at Alwan’s Pharmacy are available to donations of any of these items or call 208-3815. Check out the West Peoria Lions Club web site, WPLions.org, to learn what a great difference you can make by becoming a Lion or ask a current member who will be happy to talk to you.
The West Peoria Township Relief Office has relocated to 2516 W. Rohmann Avenue. Their phone number is: 674-0492