Chaos may reign in the larger world, but your local representatives are doing a rather admirable job of keeping things orderly around here.

You might want to take an extra look at the Peoria Park District, where people complained about a potential land deal along the river.

Peoria County Board

The Peoria County Board met April 9 with all members present except Chairman Jim Dillon.

In regular business, the board approved two zoning requests: a commercial solar energy generational facility in Limestone Township and a business expansion in Radnor Township. It also approved the sale of a small outlot in the Peoria County Business Park.

Highlights of the approved consent agenda include:

• A $215,000 civil litigation settlement at the former Heddington Oaks.
• Three-year intergovernmental agreements between Peoria County Sheriff’s Department and Pleasant Valley, Princeville and Illini Bluffs school districts and the village of Princeville.
• Sealcoating bids for multiple townships.
• A three-year grant from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board for body-worn and fleet cameras.
• A five-year update to the sustainability plan for energy use reduction.
• An engineering services agreement with Hanson Professional Services for Airport Road traffic light improvements.
• A $206,500 architectural services agreement with Dewberry for remodel and restoration of the west and south courthouse vestibules. About $2 million has been appropriated from capital funds for the Main Street entrance reopening to serve as both entry and exit. The south side will remain exit-only.
• Architectural and engineering services with Wold Architects and Engineers for improvements to the Peoria County Jail kitchen and laundry facilities.

Peoria City Council

The Peoria City Council met March 24 with all Councilors present, except Kiran Velpula.

The consent agenda passed unanimously, with two items being removed. Councilors:

• Unanimously approved temporary amendments to reduce license fees, allow additional locations and licenses for mobile food trucks and to reduce fees for street and sidewalk vendors.
• Approved the private activity bond allocation of 2026 volume cap to the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority, with Councilor Andre Allen abstaining.
• Unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance amending codes for sign replacement and non-conforming off-premise signs.

In regular business, the Council approved purchase of a Ford Explorer for the Police Department to replace the vehicle hit in an accident, as well as funds to have the necessary vehicle equipment added.

Westlake Special Area sales taxes were approved, along with an amendment to the agreement between the city, property owner and Morton Community Bank. Second District Councilor Alex Carmona voted “nay” to both.

A request for a liquor license at Midwest USA, 2411 Knoxville Avenue, was deferred; the Liquor Commission recommended denial.

One citizen addressed the Council about requiring solar panels for the Expo Gardens neighborhood development.  Another citizen, from the Friends of the Riverfront Park, provided a handout showing the historical monuments that would be lost with the proposed sale of land within the Detweiller Land Trust to O’Brien Steel. A third citizen expressed concern about the sale because the vice president of O’Brien Steel was also a trustee for the Detweiller Land Trust.

Council adjourned to closed session to address an issue relating to an employment issue.

Peoria Public Schools

Peoria Public Schools’ board met March 9 with all members present except Larry Ivory.

Financial Update: Revenues were $152.5 million; Expenditures $168.2 million.

All action items from the consent agenda were approved 6-0. Highlights include a memorandum of understanding with the Peoria Police Department to enable real-time video monitoring and management of public safety incidents through the FUSUS system.

Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kehrat said the agreement was carefully reviewed and vetted over the course of more than a year. It was determined to be a positive step toward enhancing safety for staff, students, and the broader community. The current process is manual and cumbersome; the new system is expected to significantly improve efficiency.

In other business, Illinois High School Association membership renewal was approved for Manual High School, Peoria High School and Richwoods High School.

Peoria Park District

The Peoria Park District board met April 8 with people seeking to address a proposed sale of land from the Detweiller Trust to O’Brien Steel.

Such a sale could close some public access and force movement of the Rock Island Greenway. Their main points:

• The public first learned about the proposed sale on March 11. With so little time for public input, the sale should be postponed, and may even be illegal, according to the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club.
• The land was used by Native Americans and was the site of Old Peoria, a French settlement. It is of historic importance.
• An osprey nest is reported in the area. They are a threatened species.
• The Detweiller Trust is supposed to guide use of the land for the people of Peoria. Some indicated the Trust has not been living up to its caretaking responsibilities and has allowed the area to fall into disrepair.

Citizens want the park district to intercede. Historically, it has had a relationship with the Trust, which is a private enterprise.

After public comments, trustee Joyce Harant submitted a motion for the park district to take immediate action. The motion was passed unanimously and the text is available via the full report at lwvgp.org

In other action, the board unanimously approved new business and consent agenda items, as well as a staff recommendation to install a WindPhone at Luthy Botanical Garden.

Dunlap District 323

The Dunlap District 323 School Board met March 18 with seven members present. Public Hearing on Health Safety Funds was opened and closed.

Superintendent Scott Dearman recognized Tommy Jaeger for his first-place championship in extemporaneous speaking at the 2026 IHSA state speech tournament. Students and a teacher explained a community and school program for grade school students.

Dearman reported six Freedom of Information Act requests were submitted.

He recognized Special Education Director Jennifer Hastings for a regional leader ship award by Illinois Alliance for Administrators of Special Education. He announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Wilder Waite school would be April 17. He gave an update on district construction plans. At the next board meeting, a representative from the Illinois Association of Executive Searches will discuss the results of the superintendent’s search survey.

Consent agenda item approved: establishment of co-op 2026-27 boys and girls wrestling teams.

Also, the board approved payment of bills for $9,137,749, health/safety resolution, and 2027 student handbooks.

Summer projects final proposal for $713,786 was approved by a 6-1 vote. After much discussion the board approved 6-1 a Chromebook refresh. Wilder Waite construction bids were approved 6-1 with base project cost of $38,715,960.

Tom Feldman said after the February board meeting he talked with administrators about justification for hiring new personnel.

During discussion on this matter Theresa Holshouser expressed concern that the cost of new hires may cause a serious deficit in future district finances. In response, Mick Hall suggested a board finance committee begin open discussion about finances. Nick Yemm said the district needs these new positions in order to maintain educational quality.

With those comments in mind, the board approved the following 2026-27 positions: elementary school counselor, two special education teachers, one special ed coordinator, English/language arts teacher, math teacher, English teacher, social studies teacher, BEST Program special education administrator. Total cost for new positions is $686,528.

Airport Authority

The Metropolitan Airport Authority met on March 25 with seven of nine commissioners.  Absent were Karen Jensen and Emily Shields.

The board approved the consent agenda which included the minutes of the following meetings:  the Feb. 25 board meeting and executive session, the March 2 special board meeting; the March 16 Marketing/Air Service Committee and March 16
Projects/Finance Committee.

The following action items from Director of Airports Gene Olson were approved: Change orders for lighting, $8,333; a water softener, $1,982; sanitary utilities, $10,523; paint of an outer wall, $3,730; scope changes, $20,589; and River City’s request to change a subcontractor due to poor performance.

Director of Operations/Main-tenance Randy Hurst reported interviews for an ops specialist.  The board approved purchase of a $25,800 batwing mower.

Director of Finance and Administration Steve Perrone reported ATS has requested to extend their lease for five years.  The board approved the vouchers payable and the gift shop lease amendment for extending the lease for three years with the same terms — the airport receiving 3% of concessions income.

Manager of Marketing & Public Relations Cheryl Bockhold-Sloan noted much media coverage of the TSA situation.  She will be attending the Allegiant conference.  There will be a fifth Honor Flight on Nov. 17.

Tri-County Planning

The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission met March 4 with Vice Chair Danny Phelan officiating. Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) was amended with identified funding and timeline for additional three projects: Radnor Rd, lighting replacements on Interstate-74, and Sycamore Street in Chillicothe. Commissioners:

• Adopted the Uniform Work Program for 2026-27.
• Approved the 2027 Joint Funding Agreement with the three counties and their municipalities. Eligible 2027 Federal Metro Planning funds for TRPC are $992,315, which requires a 20% non-federal match of $248,078. The three-county funding agreement is based on a percentage of Motor Fuel Tax funds received by each governmental entity in 2026.
• Combined Call for Projects Selection criteria were discussed. Staff is reviewing the existing scoring criteria for redundancy, refinement to the Environmental Sustainability section, and evaluation of the new scoring compared with past funding decisions.

LWVGP observers attend and report on local government meetings. For more information, check https://www.lwvgp.org/2025-newsletters.html