Peoria County Board Observer Report

The Peoria County Board held its regular meeting January 13th with all present. There were no Citizen’s Remarks. 
The Consent agenda passed on a vote of 17-1 without discussion. Among items approved were:

• A budget amendment that funds two positions within county departments for two of the three employees who lost their positions with the County Auditor’s office.  The third employee chose not to accept another county position.
• Two grants to fund specific PCAPS services.
• PCAPS veterinary services contract extension.
• Approval of the Peoria City/County Landfill 2022 budget.
• Cedar Hills Drive engineering for resurfacing work.
• Dogtown Road bridge replacement. 

The regular agenda consisted of ten items and all were approved.  These include:

• Special use to permit short term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) on three properties on River Beach Road in Medina and Chillicothe townships.
• Rezoning request in Medina Township.
• Placement of temporary meteorological towers to record and measure wind data for up to three years in Millbrook, Princeville and Brimfield townships.
• Zoning two tracts on an island in the Illinois River adjacent to the town of Chillicothe as “A-2” Agricultural. (This island had been proposed as a barge depot in 2021, and this designation ensures that this use will not be permitted).
• After a presentation by Tom Bride, Election Commission Executive Director, several questions and some discussion; an amended budget amendment resolution permitting the purchase of a new paper ballot voting system and upgrades to the existing electronic pollbooks, and new label printers.
• A resolution to replace the current facilities housing a number of county services with a new health and human services campus.  All the services have not yet been determined however the Health Department, Coroner, Regional Superintendent of Schools, and Sustainability and Recycling Department will definitely be included. This permits the county to continue activities to replace the current Health Department facilities on Sheridan Road and the Coroner’s facility on Gift Ave. rather than renovating either.
• Suspension of the Rules to permit extension of the Declaration of Emergency due to COVID-19 in the county.

The board went into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.
Jim Runyon, Observer
Links to the meeting agenda and video are here:
Agenda
Video
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