Early voting in West Peoria is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 11 at West Peoria City Hall. Voters are encouraged to use the side entrance of the building for best access. Voting polls in West Peoria will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Franciscan Recreation Center and the West Peoria City Garage on March 15. Polling place assignments can be found on your voter registration card.

Now that winter has rolled into our city in full force, there are city regulations to follow. All streets within the corporate limits of the city of West Peoria are hereby designated emergency snow routes. It shall be unlawful to park any vehicles on these streets at any time within 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 that calendar day on the snow route. The owner or lessor of a vehicle in violation of this shall be fined.

A copy of the Winter Storm Damage Limb Pick-Up policy is available through City Hall and on the City’s website, cityofwestpeoria.org. Landscape waste pick-up will begin again on the first Friday in April. All vehicles without up-to-date license stickers are considered inoperable and are in violation of city code. Any vehicle without an up-to-date license sticker must be stored in a garage.

The City of West Peoria is implementing a notification system through text or email that will be used to communicate public safety tips and community event information. To text: compose a text to 23559 with @westpeoriaupdates in the body of the text. To email: sign up at https://cel.ly/signup. You will need to complete the signup form to join the cell westpeoriaupdates. Have questions? Contact April Silver by phone or text at 369-2104 or email at city_clerkofwestpeoria.com.

During the recent past school years, the Peoria Public Library has provided free library cards for West Peoria students, and 175 West Peoria students have used their library cards at any of the five library locations as well as using the library website. The cards are valid through August and need to be renewed each year.

Families with children, mark 11 a.m. March 26 on your calendar for the Heddington Oaks’ third annual Easter Egg Hunt. Children will be grouped by age and be able to have their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny. The Franciscan Recreation Complex is hosting two Easter Egg Hunts. The first at 8 p.m. March 18 will be a flashlight hunt for ages 10-13. The next morning at 9:30 a.m. March 19 ages 1 – 12 have a chance for their own Easter Egg hunt.

The West Peoria Garden Club meets March 21 to hear the West Peoria Beautification Committee’s plans for 2016. The Club meets regularly at 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at West Peoria City Hall. Contact Donna Schwab at 256-8233 for more information.

Boy Scout Troop 11 is again selling trash bags from March 21 to April 11. Contact any Troop 11 scout or Bob DeSutter, scout leader, at 674-6668.

As the Page Turns Book Club will meet in March to discuss “A Spear of Summer Grass” by Deanna Raybourn. For further information, contact Maggie Moore, 673-0535 or Loretta Fehl , 637-0326.

Each year, townships are mandated to host an annual meeting so citizens can be informed of last year’s activities and be updated on plans for the current year. This year’s annual meeting will be 7:30 p.m. April 12 in the township building on Rohmann Ave. All township citizens are invited to attend.

The West Peoria Senior Citizens/Retirees Group next meets 1 p.m. March 24. Maggie Moore, 673-0535 or Loretta Fehl, 637-0326, can be contacted for the location and planned activity.

The West Peoria Lions Club is in need of additional members in order to avoid declining membership forcing the club to close. The club is asking the community to become a Lion and help it remain part of the community. Call Carolyn McCarter, 673-6207 or email ctmccarter@gmail.com for more information.

Illinois American Water company recently filed an application with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to adjust rates effective January 2017 for water and sewer service. The company’s investments in water and sewer system improvements are the primary driver behind this rate request. From October 2013 to December 2017, Illinois American will have invested approximately $342 million in water and sewer infrastructure that includes over $42 million in the Peoria District.

If the rate request is granted, typical Peoria District water customers would see their water bill increase by about $7.57 a month. This excludes fire protection charges, taxes and franchise fees, which may vary by community. Rates will not change until January 2017, after the ICC completes a comprehensive review of the request. The process includes opportunities for public comment.