EXCITING NEWS

It’s been vacant for a long time, but the former car dealer lot at University and War Memorial Drive will soon be alive with activity. Expect an announcement by a developer about some new businesses to be constructed in space once occupied by McComb Chevrolet. We can’t give you any inside information, but the University Merchants Association has to be excited about plans that will provide at least three new businesses at what is the busiest intersection in the city.

DUNKIN’ DILEMMA

Speaking of North University, one of our favorite stops for morning coffee and/or donuts is Dunkin’ Donuts. They were closed for a time last year for construction of a newly designed building complete with a drive-up window for lazy butts unable or unwilling to get out of their cars. Trouble is, the design left owners with three spaces for parking for those who want to try and work off some fat before eating more of same. The manager of the donut shop blamed the city for his dilemma, but a city official said the desire for a drive up window in back of the building created the issue for parking space. “He refused to negotiate to buy an adjacent property for parking,” said the

official. That would’ve provided more parking.

OUCH!

To the surprise of many, the city council has hit apartment owners and retirement homes with a new and heavy assessment along with an increase in the annual registration fee.

We’re told that City Manager Patrick Urich and his staff recommended jumping the registration fee from $75.00 to $150.00 and slapping on a new annual fee of $20.00 per unit. It’s bad enough in this economy to penalize apartment owners with new fees, but even worse to tax retirement homes for seniors. One council member said he didn’t think the new code was intended to affect retirement homes. However, I called two such facilities and both said they had received notice to pay the annual registration fee and the

apartment fees. One executive said it was a tax on seniors since the assessments would have to be passed on to residents.

I expressed concerns to Urich about the unfair fees or taxes. He responded by saying the new fees were necessary to help make neighborhood improvements including inspections and police patrols. One could argue that not every apartment complex or retirement home is in a neighborhood in need of improvements.

Truth is, the city needs money and this is a new revenue source even though it hits seniors.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

One of the highlights of 2015 was the exciting year the Chicago Cubs had. Perennial losers, they made it to the play-offs and defeated Pittsburgh and St. Louis before losing to the Mets of New York. The Mets went on to lose to Kansas City. How ironic that one of the heroes of the World Champion Kansas City Royals was Eureka, Illinois, native Ben Zobrist, who’s now a Chicago Cub. In reflecting on the past year in sports, my choice for central Illinois Athlete of the Year is Ben Zobrist.

Zobrist, a starter for virtually his entire professional career, is one of the most prolific switch-hitters in baseball. Last season he hit .276 with 13 home runs and 56 RBIs. In post season play he hit a sterling .303 with 2 home runs and a terrific on base percentage of .365. When the Royals needed a rally, Zobrist frequently started it or was in the middle of it. As one example, Zobrist went 3 for 6 in the opening game of the World Series against the Mets and was part of the winning rally in the 14th inning. He scored in the 12th inning of a five run winning rally that clinched the series in the fifth and final game. Not to be forgotten is his home run in the first inning in the American League play-off series against Toronto in game six, which the Royals won 4-3.

No other athlete from the Peoria area in any professional sport had a greater year with a world champion team than Ben Zobrist.

THEY LOST!

No one likes to lose. For far too many, losing is unacceptable. That seems to describe the small but vocal group of people opposing development of the

River Trails Apartment complex along the downtown riverfront. The Peoria City Council voted to approve the project that has been on the drawing board since 2007. The vote wasn’t close. Yet, at least two members of the council wanted to resuscitate the dead issue by allowing opponents to restate their tired and worn out arguments. Beth Akeson put the matter on the agenda and won only support from Beth Jensen. The motion to replay the argument was soundly defeated, 8-2.

More red tape is in the future for developers. There’s a land swap to be approved by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and some legal hurdles. To the delight of opponents, the project is not a done deal.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“He who laughs…..lasts.”–Tim Hansel