Gender-affirming care and potentially controversial textbooks aside, your local officials seemed business-like heading into 2024.

Peoria County Board

The Peoria County Board met Dec. 14 with all members present except Brandy Bryant.

The board unanimously approved a plan to pay off the $11 million owed on Hedding-ton Oaks bonds that are due in 2032. The plan annually shifts funds from the General Fund to the Long Term Care Service Fund by reducing surpluses in three funds — IMRF, FICA and Risk — thus creating a pathway to pay off the bonds without increasing taxes. The board praised staff and Vice Chair Sharon Williams for devising the innovative plan.

The board also approved two employee-related resolutions that would bring the county into legal compliance with newly enacted state laws. Paid leave for non-union and temporary employees was approved unanimously. However, changes to the employee health plan were more controversial and passed on a 11-6 vote with six Republicans (Brian Elsasser, Nathan Hoerr, Daniel Kelch, Matt Windish, Paul Rosenbohm, and Steve Rieker) opposing the state mandate to cover gender-affirming care, abortion, contraception and HIV-related medications.

Peoria City Council

Councilors met Nov. 28 with members Denise Jackson and Kiran Velpula absent.

The Council approved a redevelopment agreement with Shreem Pere Historic LLC, Shreem Non-Historic, LLC and Shreem Garage, LLC for the recently purchased Hotel Pere Marquette and Marriott properties. Highlights include:

• Clause from original 2011 redevelopment agreement was incorporated into new agreement so that property taxes were not contested as that revenue would pay annual debt service.
• City and Shreem will each contribute $800,000 for improvements, including parking deck, hotel and commercial space under deck with restaurant.
• City Manager Patrick Urich briefed councilors on allocation of property tax revenues and refinancing of original bonds, which were extended for additional 12 years through 2043.

All members of Council were present for the Dec. 12 meeting.

Highlights include:

• Approval of an agreement with Peoria Citizens Community for Economic Opportunity (PCCEO) for $150,000 in South Village TIF Funds for rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes.
• Approval of a redevelopment agreement with Titan Fitness, LLC, for proposed project of Medina Plains Corporate Park section one, within Medina Plains-Allen Road Business Park Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment District. Project will cost $3.57 million and generate $1.7 million in TIF revenue.
• Approval of an inducement agreement for potential TIF district bound by SW Washington St., Sanger St., Illinois River and MacArthur Highway. This project has been labeled The Distillery TIF, referring to the history of distilleries along the riverfront.

Election Commission

The Peoria County Election Commission met Dec. 12. Commissioner Matt Bartolo was absent. There was no public comment at the meeting.

Executive Director Elizabeth Gannon recommended two purchases: A backup Verity Count workstation would be kept off site in case one of the three current workstations should break down on election night. Wire shelving to keep all voting equipment off the floor. Both were approved.

Open houses for prospective judges led to hiring 55 new judges. There is still a shortfall, but Gannon hopes more people will sign up, especially student judges.

Early voting locations and times for the primary election remain the same. Ballots will be sent out Feb. 2 to overseas voters, with early voting beginning on Feb. 8. There have been no objections filed for the primary.

Dunlap District 323

All board members were present Dec. 21 to hear congratulations to the girls basketball team for winning a state title and an explanation of a 5% increase in the tax levy.

A new “app” to access information about the district was mentioned, along with use of the “Angel Fund” to help students with the cost of lunches and several Freedom of Information Act requests

Members approved a bid by McConnell & Associates from St. Louis to refurbish nine tennis courts. The school had successfully worked with them in the past. The cost of the project is expected to be $91,615.

There also was a suggestion to study cost of mileage, which had been $125,000 over the last four years.

Discussion included a new proposed social studies course called United States History through Sports. Comments addressed potential controversy over one text, “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn. It was suggested the interested parties get together and talk through the issues.

The open meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. and a closed session followed.

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