The early election for the Consolidated Election is March 18th, 2011 at West Peoria City Hall. Voting time will be from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On April 5th 2011, the Consolidated Election voting will be at polling precincts according to the wards where the voters reside. If you have any questions concerning this call Carole Stephens at City Hall 674-1993.
If you wish to report a code violation or register a complaint, please contact Code Enforcement Officer Bill O’Neill at 674-1993 or 370-1142.
On March 11-12, members of ILEAS (Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm Systems) Region Team will be conducting exercises at the Cross Baptist Church (former St. Joseph’s Home) at 2223 W. Heading Avenue. Signs will be posted in the area during the training and flyers will be distributed to the residents in the area. The team may also utilize the City Garage at 1322 Hillside Avenue. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the West Peoria Community officer, James Middlemas or Lt. Doug Gaa through the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.
Landscape Waste Pickup will begin again on the first Friday in April. This service is included in your Waste Management bill.
All vehicles without an up-to-date license sticker are considered inoperable and are in violation of City Code. Any vehicle without an up-to-date sticker must be stored in a garage.
On February 9th a Joint Review Board meeting was held at City Hall for the expansion of TIF I and the creation of TIF II. On March 1st a Public Hearing will be held at City Hall for the expansion of TIF I and the creation of TIF II. The approval of the final ordinance to expand TIF I and establish TIF II is scheduled for March 22nd. The public hearings will be at 6:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. 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 City is creating West Peoria TIF District II in order to assist in the development of property that is currently underutilized for commercial, residential and light industrial purposes. The properties to be included in the TIF II District were annexed to the City in 2010. The maps showing the properties to be added to TIF I and included in TIF II are available at City Hall. An Enterprise Zone is an area designated by a municipality for targeted business growth and economic revitalization. West Peoria has been working with the EDC and Peoria County to become part of the Enterprise Zone that presently exists and has existed since 1986 for Bartonville, Unincorporated Peoria County and Bellevue. On January 25th the West Peoria approved an intergovernmental agreement to establish the Enterprise Zone. For more information, call West Peoria City Hall at 674-1993.
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 two 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 or more inches. Where there has been a snow forecast of two 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 lesser 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 Neighborhood Watch next meeting will be March 9, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Deputy Middlemas will discuss “Protecting Your Home and Property From Burglary – Break-Ins and Vandalism.” He will also give an up-date on any criminal activity in the City. As always, the public is welcome. The West Peoria Residents’ Association Meeting is March 17, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Guest speaker will be Dave Schaab, General Manager, Waste Management. He will discuss various options for residents and what Waste Management will accept for recycle. Public is welcome.
The 2011 Local Youth Government Day is schedule for Friday, April 15th with all four local schools participating.
Mark your calendars for the Township Clean Up day on April 30th from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the West Peoria City Garage. Help is needed and if you can help, please call Kelly Abraham at 673-6919. Specific detail will follow next month.
Thinking Spring? The West Peoria Lions Club Highway Clean-Up schedule for 2011 is April 9th, June 11th, Aug 13th, & Oct 8th. The Club can use your help to keep West Peoria beautiful. They start at 8:00 a.m. and work until noon. You can help out any time during those four hours or the whole time. The more hands working, the faster the job gets done.
Save the date: April 17th noon to 4:00 p.m. The WPLC will be having a “One stop shopping event” at Champs West, 515 Western Ave. This fundraiser will include soy candles, fused glass jewelry, beaded jewelry, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, Miche purses, really large coloring books, and Watkins products. Easter is April 24th, Mother’s Day May 8th. You will be able to find that perfect gift at this fundraising event. Watch for flyers or call 673-6207 for more info. Do you recycle?? The WPLC does: eye glasses, hearing aids, old keys, cell phones, ink cartridges, and can tabs. Drop off at Alwan’s Pharmacy or call 673-6207.
We welcome you to join us for an evening. Come see what we are working on for the community, or better yet bring us your ideas.We meet the 2nd & 4th Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at Champs West (515 Western Ave.).