Crime-busting purchases dominated recent agendas for local governments.

Peoria County Board met June 8, with all members present except Linda Daley and Brandy Bryant.

Regular business focused on a zoning case in Medina Township and within the Lake of the Woods Plaza.

The owner requested a gambling site and wine bar within 500 feet of a residential area. The request was approved unanimously by the Zoning Board and the County Board Land Use Committee, despite more than 50 objections filed by residents. Following board discussion, the request was approved 13-3, with Steve Rieker, Brian Elsasser and Nathan Hoerr opposed.

County Administrator Scott Sorrel discussed the electric aggregation contract with Energy Harbor. County residents participating in an electric aggregation program were mailed letters. Several board members were contacted by constituents wanting more information and assurance this arrangement was not a scam. Sorrel said constituents would be part of this contract unless they “opted out” and received service directly from Ameren. He said residents should only consider using Energy Harbor or Ameren and avoid any “third party” solicitations.

County Treasurer Nicole Bjerke was presented a 25-year service pin.

Two citizens’ remarks encouraged a county-wide moratorium on C02 pipelines and warned of their dangers.

Among items unanimously approved on the Consent Agenda:

• Assignment of 34 parcels within the dissolved West Peoria Township to Limestone Township.

• Appropriation of $235,000 into the 2023 budget for approved American Rescue Plan Act projects.

• Intergovernmental agreements for school resource officers between the Peoria Sheriff’s Office and Pleasant Valley and Princeville schools, and for police patrols in Princeville and Norwood.

• Accepting a $25,000 grant from Petco Love into the PCAPS Fund for its mobile spay and neuter unit.

The Peoria County Election Commission did not have a quorum June 13, so members could not hold votes. Public comments concerned a FOIA request to view monitoring of the North Branch Library dropbox from last fall’s election.

Executive Director Elizabeth Gannon said an omnibus bill passed by the state legislature includes a task force to study ranked-choice voting, preregistration by 16-year-olds, and permanent vote-by-mail with an opt-out available for those who have signed up.

The office wants to purchase a machine to open and extract vote-by-mail ballots, saving time and money for judges to do the work manually.

On May 23, Town Officials of Township of City of Peoria approved creation of Decennial Committee on Local Government Efficiency. A 2022 state law mandated a committee to include Board members and at least two members of community. Township Supervisor LaTrina Leary appointed Evonne Fleming and Irene Lewis-Wimbley. This law includes all units of local government that levy any tax, with the exception of municipalities and counties.

Councilor Charles Grayeb asked to defer a special use ordinance for residential townhomes at 824 W. Moss Ave.

Items approved include:

• Pavement of slurry seal project to restore reverse diagonal parking spaces downtown to forward facing.

• Development agreement with Oculus Development for 801 and 800 S.W. Washington St. for 176 residential units in Warehouse District.

• A grant from Illinois Secretary State for Greater Peoria Auto Crimes Task Force, as well as intergovernmental agreement between city and county for Greater Peoria Auto Crimes Taskforce.

• A $3,068,000 grant from Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

• Purchase of a $138,651 quick response vehicle and $564,934 for two crisis intervention vehicles to be used by fire department tech medics.

On June 13, councilors approved May actual expenditures and June anticipated expenditures for the Town of the City of Peoria.

The Consent Agenda was approved unanimously.  Under regular business items, Councilors approved:

• Purchasing a handheld analyzer for drugs and explosives for safety responders, using $164,504 in opioid settlement funds.

• Purchasing 45 body armor systems for $126,829.00, using asset forfeiture funds.

• A $99,950 contract with Woodard Curran, for water system assessment and technical support.  Item passed 7-4, with Mayor Rita Ali, Councilors Andre Allen, Denise Jackson and Bernice Gordon-Young voting nay.  Costs of purchase, replacing lead service lines and bonds were discussed.

• Annexing property at 9601 N. Allen Road for an industrial park.

• A four-year intergovernmental agreement between the city and Illinois Secretary of State Police (includes Peoria County Sheriff’s Office and State’s Attorney Office), under Greater Peoria Auto Crimes Taskforce for $2,150,700. Goal is to reduce stolen vehicles, educate community and increase prosecution of offenders.

League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria observers attend and report on local government meetings. For more information, check https://www.lwvgp.org/news/category/observer-reports-logo