There’s a lot of money flowing through local governments for local projects. One can only hope shifts in Washington D.C., don’t disrupt all these plans …

Peoria County Board

The Peoria County Board met Jan. 9 with all members present except Brandy Bryant and Steven Rieker.

All regular business passed unanimously, including accepting a $102,000 bequest for PCAPS from the Byerline Estate and a replacement cremation system at PCAPS for $95,000.

Also approved was the federal legislative agenda to be pursued by the county and its contracted lobbying firm, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. Among identified funding priorities were continuation of Radnor Road improvements, Cameron Lane improvements, and Brownfield Remediation work at the Hanna City Work Camp site.

Other agenda regular business items included:

• $41,000 for continuing participation in the State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor Program.
• $30,000 agreement with Mohr & Kerr to conduct structural cross sections on 53 county bridges.
• $48,000 bid from Hein Construction to replace the Highway Department’s North Station Main Building roof located at the intersection of Park School Rd. and Evan Mills Rd.

The brief consent agenda was passed unanimously.

One citizen’s remarks in support of possible wind turbines in western and northwestern Peoria County were received along with proclamations recognizing Leo Orban as the Probation Department’s 2024 Employee of the Year, Board Member Phil Salzer on 30 years of service to the county, and Board Member Terry Ruhland for “above-and-beyond service” during construction of the new Health and Human Services building.

Peoria City Council

On Jan. 14, Councilors Denis Cyr and Denise Jackson were absent; Councilor Kiran Velpula attended electronically.

Council members approved Peoria Township expenses, Dec. 10 meeting minutes and the consent agenda.

City Manager Patrick Urich discussed the city/county joint legislative agenda. Issues include: preemption of Home Rule; Public Safety trailer bill for SAFE-T ACT including strengthening areas such as stolen vehicles and repeat juvenile offenders; economic development incentives for commercial growth; use of red light and speed cameras; and release of funds for Main Street and MacArthur Blvd.

Dunlap District 323

The regular school board meeting was held Jan. 15, with six members present.

Superintendent Scott Dearman reported there were two Freedom of Information Act requests since last month’s meeting. One is complete and another in progress. Negotiations with non-certified union staff were set to begin the week of Jan. 20.

The annual evaluation of the superintendent will be distributed at the next board meeting, and responses are due to Dr. Abby Humbles, board president, by April 25. They will be tabulated and presented to Dr. Dearman on May 2.

Dearman also reported he will have the second round of interviews with three construction firms.

There was some discussion about the annual student extracurricular fee of $90 and what it includes. Plans are to raise it in the near future.

The board approved the Illinois Vision 2030 Resolution as presented at the past two school board meetings.

Sanitary District

The Greater Peoria Sanitary District Board of Trustees met Dec. 17, with full quorum.

The Board discussed the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Route 29 relocation project. This project will require that GPSD conduct sewer relocation that would cost $4.2 million. Since GPSD does not have this project budgeted, it will work with IDOT to ensure the latter can fund the relocation costs.

GPSD would like to enter into an annexation agreement relating to Koller Subdivision (Haven Farm) in coordination with the City of Peoria’s sewer expansion project. A public hearing for this project will be announced.

The City of Peoria requested GPSD develop plans and bid a City Sewer cleaning and inspection project. The project will clean and inspect via camera approximately six miles of city sewers. Bids for the project have been received and an intergovernmental agreement has been drafted, with district management recommending approval.

GPSD reports 100 percent completion of the various projects that were required for compliance with the July 24, 2023, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrative Order of Consent.

The budget report given by GPSD showed 2024 revenue and expenses trended closely to the budget.

GPSD continues to invest available cash in CDs to benefit from market conditions. Investments approved at this meeting total $4.6 million at two banks and for three different maturity times

Operating budget is expected to be close to the projected budget. GPSD’s total liabilities and net assets at the end of 2024 totaled $242.2 million, a slight increase from 2023.

Monthly billing accounts remain consistent. Expenses are below budget and are expected to increase as sewer system cleaning starts.

Various tracked effluents were within the defined limits, except for phosphorous which increased on a few dates in 2024; the overall annual average remained within acceptable limits. GPSD reported its compliance with USEPA-mandated limits.

GPSD’s goal for 2025 is to exceed the annual planned sewer maintenance by 55 to 60 miles. Some delays may be expected due to Peoria’s construction converting Adams Street to two-way traffic throughout downtown.

ICC Board Of Trustees

Illinois Central College Trustees in attendance at the Jan. 16 meeting were student Leon Belmont, Alma Brown, Ron Budzinski, Cindy Byrd, Kelly Daniels, Diane Lamb, Gale Thetford. Trustee Carl Cannon was absent.

The Board recognized the ICC women’s volleyball team and coaching staff for their successful season. The team finished 32-15, won the Region 24 district championship for the third straight season and advanced to the NJCAA national tournament. With a combined 3.34 team GPA, the volleyball team also finished the 2024 fall semester with the second-highest team GPA in the athletic department.

Student Trustee Report: The semester began with a welcome week. New students could tour their class locations and were provided with maps of their individual schedule. “Ask me stations” were supported by student services, as well as grab-and-go food items to help students in their first days.

ICC students packed more than 2,000 meals at Midwest Food Bank.

President Report: Student numbers increased 8.2% and semester hours increased 7.7%, compared to spring of 2024.

ICC received $4.8 million from the Good Jobs Challenge Grant for the Workforce Accelerator program. This is the highest single grant award of all recipients. ICC was the only repeat awardee and the only community college nationally to receive this award.

ICC has been named an Achieving the Dream 2025 leader college. This distinction recognizes unique and exemplary community colleges from across the country.

A brief treasurer’s report updated financial activity through the first six months of the fiscal year. Revenues are on track and there are positive variances in tuition revenue due to the third semester of favorable enrollment. As reported in previous meetings, the corporate property tax replacement is anticipated to be $1 million short of the budget. Expenditures are trending positively.

The Board approved the collective bargaining agreement with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America local #237.

Airport Authority

The Metropolitan Airport Authority Board held its annual meeting on Jan. 29 at General Wayne A. Downing International Airport. Five of nine commissioners were present.

Director of Airports Gene Olson said airport insurance has an upcoming review.

Action items approved include: the ATCT Project Labor Agreement for Construction Phase 1, and the ATCT Programming Assistance & Project Engineering #4 Agreement, DEN preliminary marketing (billboard) and Choose Greater Peoria Floor Display for the bicentennial.

The board also approved upgrading the 3MY Vestibule Doors at Mt. Hawley Airport.

Steve Perrone, Director of Finance & Administration, reviewed the December 2024 financial statements and detailed the FY2026 Budget, noting increases in the fees to concessions and airport ad concessions. The board approved the budget and bond placements.

Cheryl Bockhold-Sloan, Manager of Marketing & Public Relations, reported 2024 finished strong. January and February were projected to be status quo. But the numbers should take off in March with more than 71,000 passengers projected. There is a decrease in freight usage. There was discussion about future parking options.

League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria observers attend and report on local government meetings. For more information, check www.lwvgp.org/news