The Board of Election Commissioners held their April 14, 2020, meeting using audio conferencing.  Regular observers were given the phone number and code to call in.  All five commissioners participated.  The final report on the general primary was sent to the State today (4/14/20).  Hopefully, the County will be reimbursed by the State for various expenses due to the corona virus.  Everything has been cleaned and put away.  Numbers for the election: 62% of those eligible voted; 12 ½% voted by mail (a record high); 25% voted early.
A discussion was held on what to do for those voters who could not ask for a ballot on line because they had registered before the office became computerized.  This is just 4% of registered voters.  They can receive a ballot if they phone or write the office, but the County does not have a Social Security number or driver's license on file for them.  It was decided that the website will explain what the voter is to do.  This cannot be done until 90 days before the next election.
If the State chooses to go to all vote-by-mail, Peoria County could not handle all ballots being done this way.  The State would have to help out.
The meeting ended with the Commission going into executive session to discuss a recommended settlement with a current law suit.
 Irene Pritzker, Observer

​The meeting was held at 6pm through streaming ZOOM on the Peoria Park District Face Book Page. The meeting opened with a staff update on the district’s response to the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Trustee Harant asked for information on concerns for the zoo’s tigers. Staff reported that they are wearing masks and gloves when with big cats and primates since a tiger at another zoo was reported to have the virus after exposure from a zoo employee with the virus. Committees have been not been meeting because of the virus and changing guidelines. The committees will resume soon using virtual meeting arrangements.
Trustees approved the following by unanimous roll call vote:
· annexation of 7.374 acres of land along Route 91.
· a three-year employee contract with AFCSME.
· an Assistant Treasurer to replace a vacancy.
· an emergency order for an additional $14,00 to finish work on Trewyn steps.
Staff noted that budget adjustments resulting from the impact of the pandemic will be forthcoming over upcoming months.           
The meeting was adjourned at 6:52 PM.                                     Farrell Davies, Observer

The meeting was held through streaming ZOOM on the Peoria Park District Face Book Page. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by President Johnson.
The meeting opened with a staff update on the district’s response to the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Trustee Harant asked for information on concerns for the zoo’s tigers. Staff reported that they are wearing masks and gloves when with big cats and primates since a tiger at another zoo was reported to have the virus after exposure from a zoo employee with the virus. Committees have been not been meeting because of the virus and changing guidelines. The committees will resume soon using virtual meeting arrangements.
Trustees approved the following by unanimous roll call vote:

• annexation of 7.374 acres of land along Route 91.
• a three-year employee contract with AFCSME.
• an Assistant Treasurer to replace a vacancy.
• an emergency order for an additional $14,00 to finish work on Trewyn steps.

Staff noted that budget adjustments resulting from the impact of the pandemic will be forthcoming over upcoming months.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:52 PM.                                                  Farrell Davies, Observer

Chair Cannon called the meeting of the PHA Board of Commissioners to order at 4:30pm. Meeting was held electronically via Zoom with public notice of the meeting posted in the Peoria Journal Star as well as on PHA website with log in information.  Meeting Agenda was available on the PHA website.  Chair Cannon, Vice Chair Brown and Kadar Heffner were present in person; Helen King participated via electronically.  Chairman Cannon read a statement regarding the meeting being held electronically pursuant to Executive Order 2020-07 signed by Governor Pritzker and guidance provided by Legal Counsel due to the coronavirus pandemic.
There were no public comments; this observer participated via Zoom.  There was one new employee introduced to the Board, Marsh Moses, who is an Assistant Manager for Sterling Towers.  
Chief Executive Office, Jackie Newman, reported PHA was keeping in touch with State government, Illinois Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control, and HUD regarding Covid-19 precautions via webinars and conference calls.  Weekly updates with PHA staff is being done electronically.  PHA offices are currently closed to the public through April 30.  Director Newman discussed steps being taken for income verification so that families are not not paying more than required if work status or hours have been reduced.  She also discussed that PHA staff cannot mandate adherence to social distancing and hand washing at high rise housing facilities, such as Sterling Towers.  Education on these strategies are available, as well, as sanitizing stations in common areas.  Managers are available to follow up on resident concerns.
Security concerns were discussed regarding Harrison units.  

Peoria City/County Landfill Committee meeting March 18 was cancelled due to ongoing shut-downs and public safety directives for shelter in place.                       Joyce Blumenshine, Observer
​

Peoria County Board Chairman Andrew Rand opened the regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. 
Board members James Dillon, Barry Robinson and  Phillip Salzer were absent. 
Mr. Rand announced the agenda schedule would be adjusted so the meeting could begin with an update from Monica Hendrickson, Director, Peoria City/County Health Department. Ms. Henderson gave an overview of the current status of COVID-19 for the county, including the opening of a joint response center for Peoria City and County, ongoing work of a strong policy group addressing a wide range of issues and ongoing public information. She said the virus situation is fluid and evolving and while it will not be possible to stop all cases, the goal is to slow down the number of those infected and protect the public. She commented that this effort will be a marathon and reviewed recommended procedures. Chairman Rand urged everyone to follow guidelines for hand washing and other protective measures.
The Consent Agenda had nine items which were approved. Five items were on the Zoning Ordinance and Resolutions listings. The first was a variance request for a cell tower that would be 255 feet, which is above the County Unified Development Ordinance limit of 200 feet for a non-residential zoning district. This was approved. There were two other zoning cases. Two Resolutions were approved: 1) a cooperative research agreement between the County of Peoria and Bradley University regarding maintaining the Pavement Management Program; 2) a resolution from the Board Executive Committee recommending County Administrator Compensation. Information on this last item was contained in a separate Agenda Briefing blue page available on the public table containing print-outs of the meeting agenda and board packet. A 2.5% increase was approved based on the performance review, along with a one year extension to the Administrator's current employment agreement.                              

Meeting held at PHA Offices. Tim Shelly, local NPR reporter was present.  Board members present:  Secretary, Helen King, who led the meeting, and Commissioner Kim Furness.  Director Jackie Newman and Melissa Huffsteadter were present, as well. 
A representative from Bear Development, the company that will construct the new housing at the Taft site, reported on the status of the project.  Stake holder meetings have been held with the City of Peoria and residents of Taft.  HUD has approved the initial application and the next phase is due by March 23, 2020.  The Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) allows for specific number of public housing units to change to federal based vouchers.  226 Units at Taft will be demolished to make way for renovation; 142 new units will be built as single and duplex style homes.  The East Bluff Project is also part of this effort.  Jane Genzel, Executive Director of Peoria Opportunities Foundation was in the audience and gave overview:  project consists of 16 RAD properties and will build 20 single family homes and 5 duplexes; all are 2-3 bedrooms and fully applianced.  Bear Development expects the timeline for approval process and funding to take to the end of 2020.  This funding will include Individual Development Accounts (IDA), which provides funds to persons of low income to promote asset building and promote home ownership.
Helen King stated the Taft project has full support from the PHA Board; Peoria City Council has also given support to the project.  Director Newman stated that both of these approvals give strength to the project with HUD officials.
PHA will continue to meet with stakeholders to finalize plans and keep residents updated on the project.  Current residents of Taft Housing would be eligible to apply for units in the East Bluff Project under the “Resident Right to Return” or they could opt for a new unit at Taft.
The meeting ended at 12:22 p.m.                                                Connie Romanus, Observer

The Peoria County Election Commission held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.  The meeting started late due to a lack of quorum until Sandra Burke arrived at 2:06.  Commissioners Ketterer and Reed were absent.
That morning director Bride had received a phone call from Independence Village requesting that the polling place be moved from their location due to coronavirus concerns and their elderly residents.  Bride then contacted the other two senior residences, St. Sharbel and Lutheran Hillside Village.  They, too, asked that the polling places be moved.  Director Bride was able to move all three to nearby polling places, with placement on the other side of the room to cut down on confusion.  A mailing was to be sent to all affected voters. 
As of March 10, 2514 vote by mail ballots had been sent out, with approximately 1000 already returned.  There had also been 2550 early voters.
It was brought to the commission's attention that people who had registered to vote many years ago had not been asked for a driver's license or social security number.  This has made it difficult for some to receive vote by mail ballots, since two forms of ID are now needed.  Those people affected can update their information either in person or by phone.
 Irene Pritzker

The regular third Wednesday of each month Peoria City County Landfill Committee meeting began at 3 p.m. at Peoria City Hall Room 404 with Chairman Steve Morris presiding and member Zach Oyler absent.
During the Foth Engineering report, committee member Rick Fox asked for more information regarding one of the special waste products approved for disposal. Mr. Fox referred to several comments on the Material Data Safety Sheet regarding toxicity of manganese sulfate monohydrate. The substance was accepted at the landfill because it was not a RCRA hazardous waste. The Foth review will turn down substances that could be a risk and they can also bring items of concern to the committee.
The gate audit check showed all procedures in place and being followed.  Due to the cold weather only one load of landfill leachate was reported for the previous month. Waste tonnage receipts were up for January 2020 which have helped landfill revenues and 13,168.18 tons were recorded compared to January 2019 which was 12,199.75 tons. Waste Management staff could not be present for the meeting and had sent notification to the Chairman.

Bob Manning, Vice Chair, chaired the meeting which started at 4:00pm.  Chair, Linda Daley, was present by phone.

• Mr. Matusak introduced his new idea for the Memorial Day Celebration.  He wanted the Board to consider a Luminaria Event at Twilight on the Sunday before Memorial Day.  A number of smaller activities were discussed as possible enhancements for the evening.  The Board was very enthusiastic about the event and asked Mr. Matusak to move forward with his plans and keep them informed. 

 

• Goal Setting Meeting – Chair Linda Daley called the Special Goal Setting meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. in the Springdale Cemetery meeting room in the Volunteer and Maintenance Building on Monday, January 27, 2020.  A quorum was present.  The Goal Setting Meeting was facilitated by Mr. Patrick Urich ending at 5:30 p.m.  Mr. Urich will put together a summary of the meeting.  A second Goal Setting Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, 2020 from 3 – 5 p.m.