Peoria County Board Special Meeting

The Peoria County Board held a special meeting on  April 19 to amend its budget.  All members were present. 
 
A Health Committee meeting immediately preceded the full board meeting since the budget amendment was related to the construction of a new Health and Human Services Campus.   County Administrator Scott Sorrell and Public Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson led the board through a slide presentation reviewing the steps leading to the decision to build a new health and human service building at the current location on Sheridan Ave, and the need for a budget amendment to cover the higher than originally anticipated costs.  A link to the full presentation can be found here.

The anticipated full cost of the new building with all equipment and furnishings is $22,389,416.  More than $14 million is provided through federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds with the remainder provided primarily through Health Department funds and the General Funds.  A budget amendment was necessary due to increased costs associated with inflation.  The resolution asked for an additional $7.8 million above the previously budgeted amount.  There will be no need for the county to buy bonds to cover the construction costs.

The budget amendment passed in the 13 member Health Committee on a vote of 11-2 with members Rieker and Elsasser casting “no” votes.  With committee approval the amendment then went to the full board where a two-thirds vote — 12 “yes” votes — were necessary for passage.  Following board discussion and comments by Coroner Jamie Harwood and Regional Superintendent Beth Crider, the full board approved the budget amendment on a vote of 15-3 with Members Steven Rieker, Brian Elsasser and Paul Rosenbohm casting “no” votes.  The board thanked Member Terry Ruhland for acting as the board’s representative throughout the design phase, and he indicated he would remain in that role during the demolition and construction phases.
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——— Jim Runyon, Observer