August 2025 Wrap-up
The Peoria Heights Village Board is considering the implementation of a local grocery tax, with Mayor Matt Wigginton expressing his opposition up front. The conversation was prompted by the state’s elimination of the 1% tax on its end, effective at the end of this calendar year.
The Board expects to act on the issue one way or another at its Sept. 2 meeting.
The discussion centered around the same issues that triggered the state’s action, namely Gov. JB Pritzker’s view that the tax is “regressive,” meaning its impact falls the hardest on the poorest and most vulnerable citizens. That was the rationale voiced by Wigginton, and ultimately a few others at the table in expressing their opposition.
The issue may be somewhat moot, as the Heights is set to lose its only full-scale grocery story, Save A Lot, next year, though Village officials are seeking a replacement. Even so, the state’s move is likely to cost the Village about $125,000 in sales tax revenue annually unless the Village imposes its own grocery tax.
Trustee Brandon Wisenburg is not a fan. If you’re earning six figures, that grocery tax is “barely felt,” he said. But if you’re like many Heights residents who are living paycheck to paycheck, groceries and the taxes on them become a much larger percentage of your household income. “It’s hard out there,” said Wisenburg.
Meanwhile, the Village has been running annual budget surpluses for some time, making it possible to absorb any potential loss, he indicated. Finally, creating a local tax “would undo the relief the state just gave our residents,” said Wisenburg. “I’m opposed to a new tax.”
The flip side of that coin, said Trustee Nate Steinwedel, is the potential to see “the starts of a food desert” in Peoria Heights, with the proceeds from a grocery tax potentially coming in handy to incentivize another market to come to the town. Some nearby communities, including Peoria, have already adopted a local grocery tax, noted Steinwedel, adding that he has concerns about the Heights now losing tax dollars to those surrounding communities because residents no longer have a local grocery option.
Wigginton countered that by saying the city has other economic development tools, namely tax increment financing, enterprise zones and Business Development Districts to lure another grocer.
Trustee Sarah DeVore also expressed some mixed feelings. “I feel like it needs to go to a vote,” she said.
The Board supported a proposal for the Village to become an Illinois American 250 Community, which will require the Heights to either make a financial contribution or host some kind of event celebrating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s Declaration of Independence.
“An event is much more rewarding than writing a check,” joked Wigginton.
To that end, the mayor created a committee to be chaired by Trustees Jen Reichert and Brandon Wisenburg to brainstorm and help execute some ideas honoring America’s founding document. “What better reason to have another carnival than a 250th celebration,” said Wisenburg.
Mayor Matt Wigginton announced a new collaboration with Bradley University that will have the Village painting the university’s signature “B” logo on Kingman Avenue in front of the A Matter of Taste Community Kitchen, which Bradley leases from the Village for its culinary incubator.
Trustees generally backed the idea, adding that the street art could have the added benefit of being a traffic-calming device as motorists slow to look at it. The project should come at “very minimal cost,” said Public Works Supervisor Chris Chandler. Meanwhile, the effort could be of mutual benefit to both parties, first as a recruitment tool for the university, which in turn is supporting the Heights’ downtown and its restaurant row by turning out new culinary talent, said the mayor.
Look for Bradley’s white and red soon.
The Village Board unanimously approved a Business Development District grant of $1,000 to restaurateur Frank Abdnour for a sign at his new business, Frank’s: Home of Frank’s Famous Italian Beef, 4408 N. Prospect Road.
“We’re thrilled to have you back in the Village of Peoria Heights,” Trustee Elizabeth Khazzam said of Abdnour, who formerly operated The Spotted Cow for nearly two decades in the Village’s Downtown.
“I’ve opened four or five restaurants in my career. This has probably been the easiest,” said Abdnour, who lauded the Village’s business-friendly approach. “I can’t thank the Village enough. You guys have been awesome to deal with.
“It is good to be home.”
Jake Kencke was sworn in as the newest police officer in Peoria Heights.
Barry Rolett, a former Peoria firefighter and police and fire dispatcher and EMS coordinator in the Village, was named to fill a vacancy on the Police and Fire Commission through 2027, and JT Kellock was appointed to the Heights Zoning Board of Appeals through 2029.
The Board voted unanimously to authorize the temporary closure of multiple Village streets to accommodate the Peoria Heights High School homecoming parade on Sept. 19. Parts of Marietta, Prospect and Glen will be closed from 3 to 4:30 p.m. that Friday, with intersections blocked at Park, Clarendon, Bellevue and Glen.
The Board authorized the purchase and installation of a solar-powered flashing stop sign at the intersection of West Lake Street and Boulevard Avenue. Poor visibility and high traffic have produced some safety issues at that intersection.
The project will cost about $1,700. Because that intersection is right at the Village’s boundary with the City of Peoria, the latter also will be doing the same on its side of the street, said Village Administrator Dustin Sutton.
Meanwhile, Village leaders also are talking about other signage, specifically some kind of welcome structure that lets people know when they have entered the Village.
The Village Board accepted the bid of Herman & Associates to do the engineering work on the Glen Avenue ramp and sidewalk project, which is largely being paid for through a $760,000 grant secured through the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, augmented by a $40,000 supplemental grant attained recently by Peoria County Board member and Tri-County Vice Chairman Danny Phelan.
The Board approved the expenditure of just over $8,700 for two new sets of turnout gear for Heights firefighters.
The Board received an update on the lead service line replacement in the Village. As of mid-August, 131 lines had been replaced, with the goal of getting to more than 220 structures yet this calendar year. Lead is extremely toxic to humans, especially to children, and investigators have found heavier lead levels the farther they get from the Heights downtown area.
The installations have come at no cost to Village residents, thanks to grant acquisitions, and “a lot of our neighboring communities can’t say that,” said Wigginton. Homeowners have the option of saying “no thank you,” but that has been a relatively rare occurrence.
