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
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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