Remember Americans who have served our country on Memorial Day weekend with the Annual West Peoria Memorial Day celebration beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the West Peoria War Veterans memorial on Saturday, May 29th. The memorial is at the corner of Heading and Sterling in Franciscan Park and is hosted by the township.

Real Estate tax bills were mailed the last week of April and are due by June 8, 2010 and September 8, 2010. West Peoria Township Tax Collector Imelda Kelch will be collecting them from her home at 2206 W. Barker Ave until their June due date, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Installment stubs from the tax bills are now required at time of payment and checks need to be made payable to: Peoria County Tax Collector. Taxes may also be paid at the South Side Bank in West Peoria or mailed to the court house. Anything after June 8, 2010 needs to be paid at the Peoria County Court House. The second installment due September 8, 2010 may be paid at either South Side Bank or at the courthouse.

The Community of West Peoria, Boy Scout Troop & Pack #11 and the West Peoria Lions Club extend an invitation to join the annual 4th of July Parade and flag raising celebration. This special day brings with it a feeling of community togetherness and heartfelt patriotism that truly touches the spirit. We proudly coordinate the longest-running 4th of July parade and patriotic event in Central Illinois and will be honored if you and/or your organization will march along with us.

Trophies will be awarded for the following: Most Patriotic, Best of Show, Service Organizations, Best Juvenile, and Grand Marshal. All entries need to be decorated in a patriotic theme. If you’ve never participated in a parade before, your enthusiastic patriotism is more than welcome in the West Peoria Parade! In previous years, the community has enjoyed viewing marching bands, classic cars, walking groups, dance troupes, groups on bicycles and prestigious floats.

The 41st annual parade steps off at 10:00 a.m. the morning of the 4th. Line-up begins at 8:30 a.m. at the corner of Rohmann and Sterling Ave. Groups should be in place and ready to step off no later than 9:45 a.m. City streets will be closed at that time in preparation for the start of the parade. The parade will go on rain or shine. Please be prepared for the weather.

Once again we urge you to join us in West Peoria for our annual salute to and celebration of our Country. Please feel free to call Mark at 472-4258 or e-mail at mwrhel@comcast.net with any questions. For more information about the parade please visit www.wplions.org.

If you would like to nominate someone to be the grand marshal of this year’s parade, write a short letter explaining your choice. The person should be someone who has had an impact on the community as a whole. It can be thru social work, public service, or volunteerism in the city of West Peoria. Please include: your contact information so that we may ask questions if necessary. Mail to: West Peoria Lions Club Attn: Grand Marshal Nominations, 2407 W. Rohmann Ave. W. Peoria, IL 61604.

In an effort to recognize the contributions of local businesses that support their community in the face of the current economic challenges, Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) recently accepted nominations for her Good Neighbor Business of the Year Award. “Many businesses in our community go above and beyond their duty to make our neighborhoods stronger, and there is a lot of goodwill that often goes overlooked,” Gordon said. “I believe that businesses that make it a mission to donate their time, services and energy to helping our community should be recognized, and this recognition program will allow consumers to single out businesses that show that type of dedication.” A panel of local leaders selected the top five businesses among all nominees. The businesses were honored by a resolution in the Illinois House of Representatives. Haddad’s Market in West Peoria was one of the five businesses chosen for the Good Neighbor Business of the Year Award.

Kelly Abraham, Chair of West Peoria Township Clean-up Day, thanks all who assisted with the annual event. We all appreciate the extra work the Street Dept. employees do to make the day an improved event for all who assist and bring items to the site. Thanks to all for making a cleaner community.

The West Peoria Neighborhood Watch asks residents to be alert and to take precautions to make it tough for burglars. Improve home security by putting in place good locks, alarm systems, and effective lighting. Make sure that all interior and exterior lights are turned on at appropriate times. The West Peoria Neighborhood Watch encourages all residents to join the “Light up West Peoria” campaign. The campaign’s slogan, “Help stop crime -fight with light.” The West Peoria Neighborhood Watch will next meet Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The public is invited to attend. Deputy Middlemas will speak on Home Security.

The West Peoria Residents’ Association will meet Thursday, May 20, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Mr. Tribe from Ameren will speak on West Peoria streetlight replacement options. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Annexation Update:On March 23rd the West Peoria City Council voted to approve an annexation agreement with Qpro (the Babu’s) and the Hindu Temple of Central Illinois for 50 acres west of the City. The City is planning to annex six additional properties. A hearing to annex the other three properties will be held in May.

75% of West Peoria residents have returned their Census Questionnaires. Let’s try to make it 100%. Have you looked up your area’s 2010 Census Mail Participation Rate? On the Census Bureau’s Take 10 Challenge Map: (http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/) You can track how well your community is participating in the census by seeing what percentage of households have mailed back their census forms. Replacement forms for the 2010 Census have been sent to many households. Some households received these replacement forms because they have not yet returned the initial form; however, all households in hot tract areas received replacement forms. If you returned your original form there is no need to complete the replacement form. If you have not completed and returned your census form please do so immediately. Remember: census data help determine how more than $400 billion in Federal funds are distributed to state, local and tribal areas each year. A complete count of your community in the census will help ensure that your community gets its fair share of census-based funding for the next ten years. If everyone across the nation mailed back their form, taxpayers could reduce the cost of taking the census by about $1.5 billion.

The Residential Paint Reimbursement Program still has funds available for this program. This program offers reimbursement of paint costs to residents who wish to paint the exterior of their homes or accessory structures. (sheds, storage units, or garages) Reimbursement will be granted for exterior paint only. Participants who purchase paint in the City of West Peoria will receive reimbursement of 50 percent of total paint costs, up to a maximum of $250. If the paint is not purchased in West Peoria, the maximum amount reimbursed will be 30 percent of total paint costs, up to $250.

Paint is available in West Peoria at Ace Hardware at 2504 W. Rohmann Ave. Reimbursement of receipts will be received upon completion of project.

Residents can pick up a copy of the guidelines and an application at West Peoria City Hall, 2506 W. Rohmann Av. They are also available on the City Website:www.cityofwestpeoria.com

If you have any questions: call City Hall; 674-1993.

Information regarding Right-of-Way obstructions in West Peoria are: 1) It is against City Code to rake leaves or landscape debris into the street because when it rains this causes the storm sewers to back up. 2) This City Code also applies to shoveling your snow into the street because doing so only slows down the process of clearing the streets.

The West Peoria Lions Club meets at City Hall at 7:00 p.m. on the 4th Monday of each month. Visit and check them to see how you too can help the community of West Peoria be the best to the west of Peoria.

From April 1st thru December 31st limbs and debris from storm damage will be picked up by Waste Management as part of their Yard Waste Service. Yard Waste is collected curbside once a week on Friday. Maximum container size is 32 gallons; maximum yard waste bag weight is 50 lbs. Large limbs must be tied in bundles using rope or twine. Limbs must be cut to 4’ in length and be 2″ in diameter or less. The bundles can weigh no more than 50 lbs. All large limbs must be placed at the curb with the cut ends pointed in the same direction.

New Residents may pick up a Welcome Packet at City Hall, Monday – Friday / 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. “Plant Pride…Not Litter” signs are available at City Hall. House Numbers for the rear of your house are also available.These numbers are helpful in emergency situations, re: ambulance & fire calls.

If you see a zoning code violation: Please email: code-zoning@cityofwestpeoria.com or call Mr. Dan Sullivan at: 674-1993 or 370-1142. The Code Officer’s hours are: Monday-Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. All information is confidential. You do not need to give your name when you report a violation.