The Peoria City/County Health Department Board met May 18 with a quorum present. Karen Cadet-Saintilus was absent.

An estimated 13.6 percent of households in Peoria County report food insecurity.

Public Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson offered food insecurity policy recommendations. The board approved exploring additional programming options, including mini-grants for the “hidden hungry,” specifically targeting working households with children.

The Watch: Projects are booked for the seaason

The board approved consent agenda items, a one-time budget amendment for a federal grant to combat homelessness, and revisions to the health department fee schedule.

Based on data from a third-party fee study, the updated schedule will increase annual restaurant license fees, raise fees for some clinical services, and transition clinical services to a self-pay model.

— League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria observers attend and report on local government meetings. For more information, check https://www.lwvgp.org/2025-newsletters.html