Peoria City Council Observer Report

​Peoria City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement regarding tax collection duties with Peoria County Treasurer and Peoria Township Collector. Stephen Morris, city treasurer and township collector, explained that Peoria is the last County to have a township collect property taxes and recommended that city hall no longer collect these taxes, saving $40,000 annually. Beginning in May, property taxes will all be paid to Peoria County Treasurer (at the Peoria courthouse) or local participating banks. Nicole Bjerke is the County Treasurer. This impacts few people who had paid their real estate taxes in person at City Hall and will be able to pay in person at Peoria Courthouse (down the street.) Most taxpayers pay via their mortgage, at a bank, or by mail which already goes to the County Treasurer.   

• A presentation by Ray Lees was made on the Heart of Illinois Port District which was established in 2003 and covers six counties and 30 private terminals along the central Illinois waterways. He gave an overview of the economic benefit, especially for Tazewell and Peoria counties. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers started collecting statistical data for the Port District in 2021. The six counties of the Heart of Illinois Regional Port district have largest metrics of river commerce in the state outside of Chicago.
• Caesar Suarez, Economic Development Department, gave overview of Small Business R.I.S.E. Program that will provide funds in four areas: recovery support, income, start-up and harm identification to qualifying businesses.
• About $2.2 million in funding from Cares Act and American Rescue Plan will be available each year in 2022 and 2023. The city is using community navigators, Chamber of Commerce, minority business groups and media to market this program locally.
• Joe Dulin, Community Development Director, gave an overview of the Near Southside Housing Needs Assessment and Community Revitalization Plan. City met with Illinois Housing Authority and is looking at direction of future affordable housing. Funding is available through the American Rescue Plan and will do demolition work in 61605 area. The council commended Director Dulin for efforts to get community input on this project from neighborhood groups and surveys of residents.
• The councilors voted 8-3 to waive the city’s right of first refusal to purchase the Spirit of Peoria riverboat, with Beth Jensen, Zach Oyler and Charles Grayeb opposed. Several members expressed disappointment that more information was not available to Council regarding business operations and condition of the boat.
• City Manager Patrick Urich was asked to report back on liability pension obligations and how the city can be better positioned over the next 18 years to meet public service pension obligation.

Connie Romanus, Observer