​  All were present at the November Election Commission meeting including new Commissioner Jeanne Williamson.  The new rules were in effect covering public comments.  That agenda item was moved to the beginning of the meeting, and speakers were limited to five minutes.  This allowed the Commission to answer public concerns about  the integrity of voting systems and the reason why local vendors did not tender bids.
  The Request for Proposals went out in February, and two vendors returned bids.  They were ES & S and Hart Intercivic.  Both companies gave presentations to the committee formed to evaluate and recommend a new voting system.  The committee used a weighted twelve point rating to compare the two companies’ proposals.  Hart scored higher on 9 of 12 points, including 100% on security.  Hart is set up to handle cumulative voting (which is used in the city of Peoria), while ES & S would have to set it up.  Both systems would be accessible to handicapped voters.  Both systems use secure paper ballots.  The Hart system cannot be accessed without a code from Hart, and everything is encrypted.  All ballots will look the same whether used for early voting, mail in voting, or on election day.  The evaluation committee recommends Hart because of security, ability to meet the County’s needs, customer service, and ease of reporting.  The exact cost of the new voting system will not be known until after negotiations.  The number of precincts was not known in February when the RFP went out.
  There was discussion about whether the Commission should pay for the return of vote by mail ballots.  This has always been done in the past, but business reply envelopes do not require postmarks, which is sometimes an issue.  A decision will be made at next month’s meeting.
   Also discussed was the need to update the pollbooks and provide printers to do ballots on demand.  This will also be decided at a later date.
 IP

​  The Board of Commissioners met for regular monthly meeting with a quorum present.  Absent were Commissioners Alma Brown and Kim Furness.  There were no community comments presented. New receptionist, Tenora, was introduced and welcomed.  Current employee, Ernest Jackson, was promoted in the accounting department. There were no FSS graduates this month, but anticipate one in December.
 Jackie Newman, Chief Executive Officer, reported on recent program she attended on “Choice Neighborhood” program.  She sees this as an opportunity to begin positioning PHA and partners to pursue grant funding available for Housing Authorities with distressed properties, such as Harrison.  The two-year grant would need to involve city planning, as well as other partners.  A second two-year grant could be applied for, as well as other funding. 

• Ms. Newman was enthusiastic regarding the recent ground breaking for Providence Point housing development that replaces former Taft housing.  She recalled that PHA had been talking about this since 2010 and the historic significance of getting project to this point; efforts resumed over the past three years to get to this point. 
  
• She thanked the Board for their support and encouraged them to keep momentum going to upgrade older housing stock, such as Harrison. 
  
• Melissa Huffstetdler reminded the Board that PHA was seeking third party investor for RiverWest recapitalization, as this property is twenty years old.

  Reports were approved by consent agenda.  Resolutions were passed to award contract for employee health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield with one percent increase; approved proposed 2022 utility allowance schedule for housing choice voucher program; and approve proposed 2022 utility allowance schedule for public housing, which is required to be in compliance with HUD regulations.
  There was no update on CEO candidate search.  Ms. Newman reminded the Board of the importance of employee training in available grants and other programs to position PHA for future success.
  The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners of PHA will be December 6, 2021.  Meeting schedule and agenda available at www.peoriahousing.org.
Connie Romanus, Observer

A quorum was present for Special City Council meeting regarding the proposed 2022-2023 biennial budget and other business.  Meetings on budget are also scheduled for November 2 and 16th at 6:00 P.M.  Minutes and videos can be found on city website: www.peoriagov.org.
Township officials asked Trustees to consider an increase in tax level of property taxes for 2022.  Max Schlafley, Township Assessor, discussed decrease in levy annually since 2018; this was done to decrease amount held in reserve to 50%.  An increase is of 4.5 percent is being requested for 2022 to maintain reserves and cover increase in services during coronavirus pandemic.  Supervisor Leary presented ways the Township has decreased rent expenses with purchase of building more centrally located to residents.  After much discussion, Trustee  Oyler made substitute motion to maintain current rate not to exceed 0.0880.  Option to use city recovery funds for Township could be alternative funding source according to City Manager Urich, if the requested.  Motion passed
  Mark Fenton gave presentation on Complete Streets and Active Transportation program.  This includes redesign for walkability, access to shopping and safe streets for all users, as well as economic benefits.  Pop up demos planned.  Mr. Fenton is consultant for National Public Health, Planning and Transportation.  Peoria was selected to participate in this program.  See video of meeting for more details:  www.peoriagov.org.
   In other business, Councilman Grayeb expressed concern for ability to contain fires to point of origin and asked Fire Chief Bachman to provide statistics on this since Engine 2 taken off line.  Mr. Grayeb asked the City Manager if there was funding in current budget to restore engine for remainder of the year; Mr. Urich acknowledged there were enough funds in Fire Department budget to accommodate this. Much discussion took place by council members regarding the timing, lack of information, legality of the action and overtime impact on budget.  Legal council reported that city manager had authority via statute and city code to set head count of employees.  The measure passed to restore the engine with six to four vote.
   City Manager reviewed sixteen items in report back to council on budget issues for 2022-2023 Biennial Budget.  More detail can be found online in meeting minutes, as well as video of meeting.
 Connie Romanus, Observer

The Peoria County Board held its regular monthly meeting October 14th with all members present except Chairman Rand.  Member Daley participated via phone.
Two proclamations recognizing Bartonville Hardware’s 70th anniversary and the Heart of Illinois United Way’s 100th anniversary were read. 
Twelve citizens offered remarks related to the proposed 2022 budget’s staffing and appropriation reductions in the County Auditor’s office.  Among those speaking were Jessica Thomas, County Auditor, and the three employees impacted by those reductions. State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos also spoke later in the meeting responding to some statements made during public comment.
The seventeen consent agenda items were approved on a 16-1 vote without discussion. Among those items were acceptance of five grants, approval of additional funds for the Distillery Labs Smart City/Mobility Living Laboratory, and approval of four infrastructure projects in western Peoria County.
Other regular business included approval of a Long Term Care Ombudsman/Senior Advocate position in conjunction with the Center for Prevention of Abuse, and discussion and approval of ten resolutions related to the 2022 budget. Highlights include:

• Adoption of the Annual Tax Levy—there is no increase in this rate.
• Approval of a budget amendment to permit use of ARPA (America Rescue Plan Act) funds to cover the increases in health care premiums for county employees with one or more dependents.
• Approval of a budget amendment setting aside $87,000 from the General Fund to ensure the three Auditor’s office employees could laterally transfer to other county positions in 2022.
• Adoption of the 2022 Peoria County Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance as amended by the previous two bulleted items on a 15-2 vote.
• With the adoption of the 2022 amended Budget the Auditor’s office staffing was eliminated with only the elected Auditor serving in that office for the upcoming year.

A proclamation was approved on a 13-4 vote extending the Declaration of Emergency due to COVID-19 in Peoria County.
Jim Runyon, Observer

Edwards Power Plant Coal Ash Pond and Site Issues Session Presentation Held October 13th
Representatives for Illinois Power Resources Generating, LLC, a Vistra Energy LLC subsidiary, held a public presentation about the Edwards coal plant ash pond at the Pere Marquette Hotel, Peoria, October 13th at 7 p.m. Notice about this session appeared in an ad in the Peoria Journal Star on Thursday, October 7th. The session was one of the requirements in a legal settlement over groundwater contamination at Edwards and several other downstate coal plants in the case Sierra Club v. Illinois Power Generating Company, et al, Illinois Pollution Control Board case PCB 2019-078.  The meeting was moderated by a Vistra staff member from Texas. A panel of three specialists with the company discussed aspects of their work regarding the Edwards coal ash pond, including site investigations ongoing to meet existing state regulations for ash pond closures; data collection and monitoring well results; what could be a surface impoundment closure timeline; and additional measures the company will be taking to evaluate the site for closure.

​Public comments included statements on the need for the coal ash to be removed from the river bottomland and safe handling and placement of the ash in an approved and monitored landfill. Some commentors stated doubts about the history of company compliance with regulations. There were questions on the company commitment to local concerns, including coal plant impacts of decades of polluted air impacting the south side of Peoria and minority neighborhoods. Thirty-six people were in the audience area, including the Chairman and members of the Peoria Park Board, the President of Illinois People’s Action Rev. Tony Pierce, City Council member Denise Jackson, Peoria League of Women Voters, and a diversity of faith-based, environmental, and justice group members.

Coal ash is the waste material left after coal is burned. It contains arsenic, boron, mercury and other contaminants, many of them toxic to people, fish and wildlife. When coal ash comes into contact with water, these hazardous materials leach out of the waste and can pollute both surface water and groundwater. Several of the substances can cause cancer, damage the nervous system and other organs, or cause other major health issues. Throughout its 52 years of operations, the Edwards plant has dumped large amounts of coal ash close to the Illinois River and coal ash has been used for fill and other site projects including the access road embankment. Some sources indicate the bottom ten feet of the existing ash pond is in contact with groundwater. The coal ash pond is an 89-acre, 32-foot deep incised pond with embankment and is located between the plant and access road off of Illinois Route 24 south of Bartonville. The area around the plant has been declared unusable for potable, drinkable water due to existing pollution according to the Illinois EPA permit for plant discharges. More meetings will be held in the future regarding the closure of the Edwards power plant at the end of December, 2022.
J B, Observer

  A quorum was present for the regular biweekly meeting of the City Council. Consent agenda of 10 items was unanimously approved. Special Council meetings will be held November 7 and 16th regarding the Proposed 2022-2023 Biennial Budget, as well as other business.
​  The council voted unanimously to focus on redistricting based on census. Prior to the vote, there was some discussion regarding altering current structure of five districts with five at large positions to ten districts. Attorney Phillip Linzini presented an overview of the 1987 class action lawsuit representing Peoria Park District and Peoria School Board and City of Peoria for lack of equal representation in local elections. The outcome of this consent decree that has no expiration date. The result of this legal action was the cumulative five-vote for at-large council positions, as well as, school and park board positions.
  The Council voted to approve two special use Class 4 (single family residence) short term rentals in District 2, with one councilor voting no. Concerns were expressed on maintaining quality of life in heritage neighborhoods, parking, number of persons allowed, and potential disruptive behavior with short term rentals. Guidelines on the number of short-term rentals in a district, as well as how close special use permits would be allowed in specific radius were issues discussed. Council deferred action on third special use permit to the next regularly scheduled council meeting by Mr. Grayeb to allow additional information to be provided.
  City Manager Urich reported that General Fund Balance was in stronger position than anticipated in 2020 due to $10.8 million income from income tax revenues, state shared funds, and internet sales tax. Original projection was $1.2 million. The proposed capital budget is $34 million with focus on replenishing staff positions that had been eliminated including staff position, Public Works, Code Enforcement and Fire Department. Filling Police Department vacancies is also a priority, as well as thirty recruits scheduled for Police Academy.
Connie Romanus, Observer

​A quorum was present at the monthly meeting of PHA Board of Commissioners.  Two topics for community concern included one resident with issue of mistaken identity affecting her status with PHA and Rhonda Sexton, union bargaining representative, regarding employee contract issues related to Taft redevelopment.
Two residents of PHA completed Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program that enables them to increase their income and reduce reliance on welfare and rental assistance.  Both are in process of purchasing a home for their family. 
Jackie Newman, Executive Director of PHA, gave overview of Taft redevelopment project status.  The new housing development will be names Provident Pointe, with ground breaking scheduled on October 6.  Reports to Board were approved by consent agenda.  A resolution was approved to accept revisions to Administrative and Occupant Plan which will change eligibility to allow persons without crime record in past six months to apply for housing, as well as maintaining records of denial for review by state Criminal Justice Board.
Kadar Hefner announced selection of CEO search firm, Organizational Leadership Edge, to find applicants for PHA Executive Director position.  Board approved this action.  Resolution passed to approve FY2022-2026 5 Year Plan and FY 2022 Annual Agency Plan which are posted on PHA website.  The 5 Year plan has 45-day public comment period.
The Board discussed current lack of Resident Councils at PHA sites and effort to promote these.  Latasha Perry, Board member, cited the benefits of these to address common issues and share information with residents.  Councils have rules process and elections to elect residents to individual council.
Board adjourned for closed session to discuss collective bargaining issue.
Connie Romanus, Observer

The Peoria City Council approved 14 items on consent agenda, with one pulled for discussion related to lobbying expense for city.  Councilor Kelly asked for clarification of expense for two lobbyists in Springfield.  City Manager Urich reported that with amount of state and federal funding anticipated, each lobbyist has expertise that would benefit city.  Contract with Turning Strategies approved in amount $3,680 per month. 
Follow up from City Manager and Community Development Director on elimination of various business licenses/regulations in city identified seventeen items that are no longer pertinent.  An additional 17-18  more items anticipated to be identified.  Manager Urich complemented Director Dulin, city staff  for their work on this, as well as Councilman Cyr for his identification of this for small business owners.  City manager also reported that $1.4 million from Department of Commerce distributed to more than 100 local businesses, in addition to $1.3 million DEA funds.
Representatives of Downtown Advisory Committee (DAC) made presentation to Council with recommendations  on restoration of two-way streets in downtown area to increase economic development, pedestrian safety and compliance with sewer overflow plan.  Riverfront Master Plan 2020 identified to resolve flooding, parking issues, ensuring green space and coordination with Peoria Park District, as well as coordination with Main Street redevelopment efforts. Wayfinding pilot with signage to help visitors get around easily last item covered in presentation.  Funding efforts to include federal funds, grants, and public-private partnerships.  Councilor Jensen asked that public meetings be advertised so community engagement and input can occur.
Community Development Director Joe Dulen presented 2020 census data for city to Council and potential impact on current council districts.  Census results reported population in city as 113,150 residents, a decrease of 1.6% from 2010 census.  Mayor Ali will appoint Redistricting Committee to meet to begin to address the proportioning of district boundaries based on census results.  This process will begin after budget sessions completed with goal to conclude by March 2022.  Director Dulen stated that the city has access to software to run scenarios for proportioning districts.  Councilor Ruckreigel was recognized for his work in leading the census efforts. 

Connie Romanus, Observer