​The 3pm meeting time is new and they didn't have a quorum at 3pm. Vice Chair Carl Cannon started the meeting with discussion items not needing a vote. Another commissioner arrived about 3:20 creating a quorum. (The Board has one opening since a commissioner resigned at the last meeting.) Carl Cannon, Anne Fox, Alma Brown, and Tekia Childs were in attendance.  The Executive Director was not at the meeting.
One item of concern was the painting contractor giving notice that they would not be able to paint approximately 40 units by a specific deadline in August.  But, the contracted company was the only company submitting a bid. A decision on whether to put the painting out for bid again will be made by Tuesday. The Commissioners asked sincere questions to support staff's efforts.

The big item was Manager Urich announced they were looking for $600,000 in cuts to expenses.
Councilwoman Moore requested a deferral of regular business item 18-231 which was to amend the Biennial Budget to use the Storm Water Utility Fund to purchase the Simantel property at the foot of Spring Street for $159,000. This was interesting because exactly what is the City Council allowed to spend the Storm Water Utility money on??
​Cheryl Budzinski, Observer
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​Chairman Steve Kerr, Jim Stuttle, Bob Manning, Becky Doubleday, and Pat Powers were in attendance.
Chairman Kerr has been working on the Scattering Garden project and showed the plan (in progress.)
Manager Mark Matusak was not at the meeting.

Mike Rucker, volunteer coordinator with Peoria Wilds reported on the Savanna and the "Woodlands." (The Savannah is native plants. The Woodlands is not native plants, but deer resistant and needing little maintenance.) Mike had 20 volunteers working on The Woodlands recently - there was a lot of tree-killing vines.

August 7 black-topping will begin in certain areas.
The number of burials and sales was discussed and were good.
Heritage company -established in 1820 in Peoria- has been doing "wonderful" restoration work at the cemetery for the Springdale Foundation.
Steve with "Find a Grave" has 6 people helping with Springdale (as volunteers) including photographing graves. 59,000 have been identified with 70% photographed. Monica and Jim are very impressed with his work. Jim said that geneology is the 2nd biggest hobby in the United States.
Observer Cheryl Budzinski thanked the Board for allowing the LWV to hold its Summer Social at Springdale near the stones of "The Shaft."  (Cheryl is filling in for Rick Fox.)

The Election Commission held its monthly meeting on July 10, with Commissioner Reed absent. During the discussion of the payment of bills, it was noted that Peoria County had not yet filed for a tax exemption for the part of the Brandywine building that will be housing the Election Commission. Since the Commission will be using 55% of the building, that percentage of real estate taxes should not need to be paid. Those taxes that the Commission has already paid should be reimbursed. However, the County, which leases the building, has not yet filed the tax exemption.