The Community Word

The West Peoria Firefighters’ Association is having its annual hog roast & raffle fund-raising at Crusen’s on Sunday, October 19th from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. West Peoria firefighters will be going door-to-door selling the fund-raiser tickets which are $1/ea or $5/5 tickets with the 6th ticket being the meal ticket. The meal includes a pork sandwich, side dishes and one beverage. Raffle prizes are:$500/first, $250/second and $100/third. You do not need to be present to win at the drawing which will be the following Wednesday at the fire house. Fund-raising is an important aspect of the department and allows the purchase of much needed equipment. Firefighters are always in uniform when selling raffle tickets; they do not solicit over the telephone.

The West Peoria Fire Department begins charging for ambulance calls beginning October 1st pending completion of billing procedures. A combination of factors leads to the decision by the Fire Protection District Board of Trustees. The rising costs of medical equipment, supplies, and operating costs figured into the decision. “In order to maintain the high quality of service to West Peorians, we unfortunately found it necessary to begin charging for ambulance calls,” stated Fire Chief Robert Stecher. “The ambulance service has dramatically changed over the last thirty plus years. There have been many life-saving medical and technological advances and we’ve been able to keep pace, but equipping and maintaining an ambulance today is far more costly.”Another change is each volunteer will be paid a nominal amount per call. This is a deviation from past practices but has been necessitated by the changing dynamics in EMS services locally. “We are one of the last area departments to offer a free ambulance service,” Stecher said. “We found ourselves training emergency medical technicians only to lose them to area ambulance services and other departments that pay their crews. We want to continue to provide the high quality of service at the most affordable means we can, but we cannot continue to do so if we are a training ground for paid services. We anticipate the charges to be less than what Advanced Medical Transport charges,” Stecher stated, “and we are normally much quicker in our response because the ambulance is right here rather than summoning an outside agency to respond to our call.” The free ambulance service was added to the fire department in 1975 to be able to quickly respond to West Peoria residents in emergency situations. Until the change to a fee structure, the ambulance has been funded through tax dollars, memorials and donations as well as fundraisers. A user-fee structure will free up a portion of the other funding sources to address the fire department’s budgetary needs as well as the ambulance. For more info call Chief Robert Stecher at the non-emergency number: 674-6615.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2008: Polling places for West Peoria are: Wards 1 & 2 – City Garage at1322 N. Hillside and Wards 3 & 4 – Franciscan Recreation Center at 908 N. Sterling. Residents whose polling place has changed will receive new voter registration cards.You can register to vote at City Hall. In order to vote in the November election, you must register by October 7th. Two forms of ID are needed to register. Early voting is available at City Hall on: Fridays, October 17, October 24, and Monday, October 27, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Please do not rake your leaves into the street. Landscape Waste Removal is included in your Waste Management bill at no extra cost. Pick up for Yard Waste is every Friday morning through December 1st. Raking your leaves into the street causes the storm sewers to back up and is a violation of City Code. Burning of landscape waste (leaves, grass clippings, etc.) is no longer allowed in West Peoria. Mow or trim your alleyways and place trash in a can with a tight fitting lid to deter rodents and other animals.

Until cold weather sets in, the City Code Enforcement Officer and a P.A.W.S. Officer will be inspecting area neighborhoods. They will survey the neighborhood, issue violations and fines if necessary, provide resources, and be available to answer any questions you may have.

Building a fence, a shed, new porch or deck, installing a new driveway? A permit from the City is needed for these projects. The City also has a Paint Program for residential property owners. Applications for permits and the Paint Program are available at City Hall or on the City Website. Cost for most permits is $25.00.

Stay informed about what’s happening In West Peoria. Check out the City Calendar at: www.cityofwestpeoria.com. The calendar shows all City Meetings, events and more.

The Test Area for Curbside Garbage Pickup has begun and seems to be going very well. We have had a good response thus far. The improvements in the alleys can already be seen: No more tipped over trash cans and trash strewn in the alley; no raccoons or other animals roaming the alleyways at night; no more dodging windblown trash cans as you try to drive down the alley, and best of all, for those whose garages are off the alley, the large potholes that have been filled are staying filled. The test area is both sides of Callender Ave., the south side of Kellogg Ave. and the north side of Ayres Ave. from Western Ave. to Sterling Ave. It runs through November 21st. The test is being done to promote a cleaner and safer community, as well as more efficient service. To continue to promote this, please pick up any leftover trash and landscape waste. Also, remember to trim high weeds and grass along the alley.

Interested in running for a city office? April 2009 is an election year in the City of West Peoria. The offices up for election are: Alderman in Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4. Anyone interested in running for one of the positions should contact the City Clerk at the West Peoria City Hall to pick up the packets. October 28, is the first day to circulate nomination petitions. Filing is 78 days prior to the elections. January 19, 2009 is the 78th day prior to the April 7 Consolidation Election and is the first day of filing for those offices which are open. Those offices that are closed in observance of Martin Luther King’s birthday will begin filing on January 20, 2009. The last day to file is January 26, 2009. January 20, 2009 is the last day to file petitions for referenda.

Help prevent a rat infestation in our city by following these guidelines: STARVE THEM OUT: Keep a lid on your trash cans at all times, don’t leave plastic trash bags out, don’t leave pet food outside, clean up your animal waste. BUILD THEM OUT: Check your foundation for holes and openings of any kind, any place where wires or pipes enter your home, and around doors and windows, keep firewood and other items stored outside at least 18″ off the ground.POISON EFFECTIVELY: The safest baits are those which contain Warfarin and similar substances. Traps can also be used effectively, especially indoors.

If you see evidence of rats in your neighborhood, call the Street Department at 674-1994 or call City Hall at 674-1993. Include your address and phone number, so the Street Department Manager can contact you to survey the area to ensure proper placement of the bait.

The October West Peoria Neighborhood Watch meeting will be Thursday, October 16th at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. Deputy Chris Watkins will give an update on criminal activity in the area. The West Peoria Residents’ Association meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m. Guest speakers will be Jehan Gordon, State Representative candidate and Colleen Callahan, congressional candidate. The public is invited.

The summer has come and gone with Troop 11 Scouts returning to school. Eight Scouts and several leaders attended summer camp at Ingersol Scout Reservation where they completed merit badges and had lots of fun and adventure. Congratulations to Evan Murphy, son of Rich and Barb Murphy, for completing his Eagle Scout requirements. His Court of Honor is scheduled in October. Evan is the 59th Eagle Scout for Troop 11. William Getz has completed his Eagle Scout project and is looking forward to his board of review. The Annual Troop 11 Ice Cream Social held in August was a success. At a recent camp out at Coleman’s Farm located west of Peoria, 11 scouts and 6 adults performed a project for the Scout Sweep Litter Program. This was done in conjunction with Pheasants Forever at the interchange of I-74 and Kickapoo/Edwards exit. They worked for four hours collecting 15 pounds of aluminum cans to recycle and 12 bags of trash along a small part of the roadway. Thanks to the many projects that Troop 11 does, we have a much cleaner and more pleasant area to enjoy.

Troop 11 will again be selling holiday wreaths starting November 1st with delivery scheduled for November 22nd.Call Bob DeSutter at 674-6668 or any Boy Scout from Troop 11. They are again selling popcorn this year.Sales started September 27th. Delivery is November 8th. Call Bob DeSutter at 674-6668 if interested in buying popcorn.

The West Peoria Lions Club wants to make the world brighter for the sight impaired and more functioning for the hearing impaired in our community and throughout the state of Illinois. Members and friends of the West Peoria Lions Club will be at Haddad’s Market and South Side Bank October 17th and 18th soliciting donations for Candy Day, a major Lions Club fund raising program. All proceeds will be used for Humanitarian Services such as: eye research, eye glasses, hearing aids, Camp Lions, and leader dogs. If you can help the Lions Club during this event call 673-6207

Do you have a family in your neighborhood that could use a food basket for the Christmas holidays? Call 673-6207 with the name and address. Do you have items to recycle? The West Peoria Lions Club collects: aluminum tabs, old keys, aluminum, and used eye glasses. Call 673-6207 if you’d like to contribute.

If you wish to inform the Code Enforcement Office of a violation call Mr. Sullivan at City Hall: at 674-1993 or email at: code-zoning@cityofwestpeoria.com.

Remember, if it poops, you scoop! Be courteous to your fellow residents and pick up your dog’s waste. Keep your alleyway clean. Mow or trim the alleyway and place trash in a can with a tight fitting lid to deter rodents and other animals.

The City Code Enforcement Officer and a P.A.W.S. Officer will be inspecting your neighborhood in the future. They will survey the neighborhood, issue violations and fines if necessary, provide resources, and be available to answer any questions. If you have any questions regarding this, call City Hall at: 674-1993

or at: office@cityofwestpeoria.com.

Interested in getting to know your neighbors? Consider a block party before the weather turns.There’s a block party planned for the 2500 & 2600 blocks of Kenwood Ave on the eve of October 4th. There will be bags tournaments and a live band. Sit & enjoy each other and your neighborhood. Bring your own beverages & chairs. Bring a canned good item to donated to the West Peoria Lions Club for distribution in the community.