Among other cool initiatives from your local governments, a new ice rink sounds pretty good in July. . .

County Board

The Peoria County Board met June 11 with all members present except Brandy Bryant and Phil Salzer.

In regular business, the board approved a $67,000 engineering agreement with Fehr Graham for the jail ring road and adjacent employee parking lot and an $87,000 contract with Tyler Cashiering to standardize cash receipts processes across all county offices.

Highlights of the approved consent agenda include:

• Heart of Illinois United Way will retain a $185,000 Continuum of Care grant in 2026-2027, with Peoria City/County Health Department as the sole subcontractor. The health department will become the lead agency in annual planning. A full-time position was added to manage the grant.
• The 2026 landfill budget.
• Continuation of the $37,000,
  pavement-management agreement with Bradley University.
• Purchase of $72,000 in-house toxicology assessment equipment for coroner’s office, which will be offset by fees charged to 13 out-of-county coroners.
• An agreement between the county and Chillicothe for an initial $1 million engineering contract to replace the railroad viaduct over Rt. 29.
• Springdale Cemetery by-law amendments to clarify adherence to the Open Meeting Act and Freedom of Information Act.
• A $35,000 federally funded engineering project to improve seven busy county intersections with rumble strips, lighted signs, and additional signage.
• A $380,000 renovation and rehabilitation contract with PJ Hoerr for the existing parking facility at 300 Hamilton Blvd.

Election Commission

The Peoria County Board of Elections met June 9 with all commissioners present.

Newly appointed Executive Director Jessily Joseph presented the month’s expenditures for approval.  Unusual expenditures included unused vacation pay for outgoing Executive Director Elizabeth Gannon and payment to Mike Bailey for consulting work to train Joseph in the use of the media.

In addition to hiring new office personnel, an assistant director, and interns for next fall’s general election, Joseph has been submitting grant applications.  A $97,000 grant was approved, with $29,000 going to a voter registration license and security upgrades.  Included are items like vests for election judges and new swipe cards.  The remainder of that grant goes to Peoria County IT, which handles all IT issues for the Election Commission.

Joseph also suggested stickers for the fall election.  Last year, the Commission held a contest to design special stickers for Peoria County’s bicentennial.  Joseph will research costs for stickers honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The Watch: Woodruff students represent at state-wide events

The Watch: Health Dept. working on food insecurity

Peoria City Council

The Peoria City Council met May 26 with a quorum present.

Consent agenda was approved, with discussion of the action plan and $2.6 million in Community Development Block Grant funds.

Okayed in regular business:

• A land swap between the city and Peoria Public Schools to improve access and traffic circulation along N. University Street and Northmoor Road for the redevelopment area of Exposition Gardens.
• An agreement with CORE Construction Services of Illinois Inc. and TERRA Engineering, Ltd. for construction of the Dee Hengst Amphitheater on Peoria Riverfront. Corporation Counsel Patrick Hayes said agreements were structured to limit the city’s financial exposure. Costs or project aspects beyond current plan require council approval.
• A three-year $316,035 contract for Shotspotter, Inc., which for 13 years has helped Peoria Police manage gun violence.
• Councilors tabled a request for an Abatement Review Board to consider an Urban Decay Abatement ordinance.

Under new business, Mayor Rita Ali gave an overview of Sister City relationship between Peoria and Fredrichshafen, Germany. A delegation from Fredrichshafen will be in Peoria to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

Peoria Public Schools

The Peoria Public Schools board met April 27. Lynne Costic did not attend.

Chief Financial Officer Mick Willis reviewed requirements for the 2025-2026 budget amendment, which was to be available online and at the reception desk. A public budget hearing was to be held June 8,  followed by board action.

Meeting highlights include:

• Approval of a $70,000 contract with Advantage Communications for a speech and debate summer program for 5th- through 8th-grade students. Up to 70 students receive three weeks of instruction, four hours a day, Monday-Friday. National competition coaching was included for nine students traveling to Virginia in June. Funding comes from Title I funds.
• Approval of a one-year extension for the web-based Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment program. The total cost is $40,876 and will be paid using district assessment funds.
• Approval of $257,102 for HMH Into Reading Literacy and Arriba la Lectura instructional materials and supplies for the 5th-grade literacy curriculum.
• Approval of $1,591,534 for Curriculum Associates Magnetic Literacy program for K-4 stu-dents. Included are student workbooks, teacher resources, and six years of online access. Funding for both literacy programs covered with combination of Title I/district funds.

On May 11 six members were present. Costic was absent.

All consent agenda items were approved, including:

• City Kids Camp in Lewistown during June. Cost was $90,000 for 100 middle schoolers and included student fees, transportation, and PPS chaperones. Costs are paid through donations to the Peoria Public Schools Foundation.
• Approval of $62,840 for Edgenuity site licenses during the 2026-27 school year. It is a comprehensive learning platform delivering full-semester and year-long high school courses. Title I funds apply.

Dunlap District 323

The Dunlap District 323 School Board met May 20 with five present, two absent.

Superintendent Scott Dearman recognized the DERT 2040 Robotics team for their strong showing at the recent World Competition. The Eagle Talon Award went to Kenzie Davis and Adryan Morrow.

Middle School Principal Jason Holmes addressed the OSF Athletic Training Agreement which provides a three-year contract for 1.5 or 2 training staff. He said these positions would cost the district $53,996 for 2026-27, $58,625 for 2027-28 and $58,625 for 2028-29.

Board voted 4-1 to approve.

Assistant Superintendent Matt Andrews offered background about the Wilder Waite Boundary Advisory Committee. Information includes timeline, boundaries, communication with board/public, engagement plan, enrollment projections, busing, Title I funding, staffing, and administration recommendations. Completion date of new Wilder Waite School anticipated to be start of 2027-28 school year. Board President Tom Feldman requested updates on decisions.

Board members approved payment of $6,500,369 in bills.

Peoria Park District

The Peoria Park District Board met June 10 with all members present. No citizens chose to address the board.

Executive Director Emily Cahill was complimented for her
10 years of service. A request for a memorial bench at Forest Park Nature Center for a pet dog was approved.

Three items were approved under new business: the 2025 audit, which showed nothing untoward; a contract with Iron Sleek for a refrigerated ice rink at Luthy Botanical garden and a police security update. The ice rink will be open from late November through January, hosting up to 50 people. It can expand and could be moved.

An item involving the Jon Buckley Memorial Garden care and maintenance was deferred.

Airport Authority

The Metropolitan Airport Authority met May 27
with eight of nine commissioners present. Ab-sent was Aaron Gunn.

Change orders requested by Director of Airports Gene Olson were approved, including a design agreement for field cabling to tie in new and old towers, which was not to exceed $145,600, and two requests to rehab/relocate taxiways, for $123,338 and $63,392.

Director of Operations and Maintenance Randy Hurst reported the pavement condition inspection is complete, the taxiway project has begun, and the Air Guard is starting the ramp rehab to be completed in August.

Director of Finance and Administration Steve Perrone requested and received board approval for a lease amendment with UPS Supply Chain Solutions for an annual rent of $80,599.

Manager of Marketing & Public Relations Cheryl Bockhold-Sloan said 176 people and 30 agencies participated in the Mass Casualty Event practice on April 25. Aviatrix Communications recommended for web accessibility and ADA compliance contract.

Sanitary District

The Greater Peoria Sanitary District met May 14 and appointed all trustees members of the Board of Local Improvements for 2027.

The board approved a Community Solar Subscription Agreement with SunCentral LLC, an off-site solar array provider. Based on this agreement, savings of more than $150,000 per year are expected. The agreement requires no capital expenditure, no infrastructure obligation, and no equipment ownership by GPSD.

A memorandum of understanding with Kickapoo Creek Watershed Partners was also approved so GPSD can provide lab services for the overall watershed improvement initiative.

Year-end financials in line with the budget. Audit will commence soon. Sewer line maintenance and wastewater treatment effluents reported to be within set goals and limits. Water shutoff accounts were reported. Past-due accounts with slightly higher for April 2026 than April 2025.

Customer Service EZ-Pay & E-Statement Enrollment are increasing as the program is rolled out and customers opt for these options.

In April, one overflow of the district-owned sewer system was reported to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; additionally, two backups occurred within the area served by the District-owned public sanitary sewer collection system. Year-to-date, one overflow has been reported and five backups have occurred.

Among projects awarded or approved based on bids:

• $297,500 to Stark Excavating for the concrete pad for underground storage tank replacement;
• $24,700 and $31,300 agreements for professional services from Fehr Graham;
• $435,000 for professional services from Concentric Integration, LLC;
• $149,508 for professional services with T.Y. Lin International.

Projects for sewer cleaning and inspection, erosion control and concrete repairs were approved. There are 15 construction projects with contracts open at this time.

Tri-County Planning

Tri-County Regional Planning Commission met June 3, and was told that TCRPC is fully staffed. Federal reauthorization for Economic Development Council work on housing anticipated to include a 90/10 local match.

Route 24/ Dee-Mac Road intersection stop signs were approved.

— 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