[Editor’s Note: The Community Word offers this column to various agencies and governmental organizations such as the City and County of Peoria, the Library, etc. in order to inform the public just what it is that they do for our Peoria-area community. Hopefully, each month, we’ll all learn something new!]

Peoria County appreciates The Community Word for the opportunity to share some of our news, services, and programs with your readership and we look forward to the partnership. Many units of government exist within the state of Illinois, including 102 county governments. Peoria County itself is home to 15 municipalities and 20 townships. With so many governing bodies coinciding, it is often difficult to distinguish between the local units and their respective responsibilities.

Peoria County’s 966 employees serve the population of the county, approximately 186,000 people. We are governed by a board of 18, each representing approximately 10,000 citizens residing in his or her district. Our unit of government also has nine elected officials responsible for their respective offices, including the sheriff, coroner, and state’s attorney.

We operate a nursing home, an animal shelter, and a jail and juvenile detention center. We maintain 630 miles of highway, house the 10th Judicial Circuit Court, and provide public health services at the Peoria City/County Health Department. Between elected offices, appointed offices, and boards and commissions, Peoria County government has 27 departments and owns seven existing facilities, with a new elder care facility and the Peoria Riverfront Museum currently under construction.

So how do we manage such a vast and varied organization? At the turn of this century, the County Board made the prudent decision to begin a strategic planning process to help guide the County’s policy-making and funding decisions and establish Peoria County as the region’s best value in local government. The board developed the mission that Peoria County is financially sound and provides core county services in a cost effective manner. The County has a quality workforce and an engaged citizenry. The County is a regional leader.

Then the board identified its vision for Peoria County, our community:

Peoria County 2025 is a collection of livable, sustainable communities, with a strong, growing economy and connectivity within the region and to the world, providing opportunity for all its residents. Cooperative local governments provide efficient and effective services, and are responsive to residents and to community needs.

To ensure the County’s ability to achieve its vision, the board sets attainable short-term goals. In 2009, the board vowed to 1.) provide a safe and healthy community, 2.) grow the county, 3.) operate a high performing public organization, and 4.) provide high quality public facilities. During the first quarter of each year, the County Board and elected and appointed County officials identify top and high priority action items to accomplish throughout the course of the year; these action items are aligned with the four strategic goals.

Currently, Peoria County is focusing its energy and resources on enhancing our rural transportation program, developing our minority business initiatives and business loan programs, and investigating areas of service collaboration with the City of Peoria. These are just a few of this year’s strategic action items, in addition to the services and programs we provide our citizens every day.

The Community Word has graciously brought us together and Peoria County wishes to continue developing a relationship. Residents interested in learning more about their county government are encouraged to visit our website at:

www.peoriacounty.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.