The Peoria Heights Village Board torpedoed a proposed contract from a water consultant to evaluate a potential sale and conduct a valuation of the municipally owned water system, pretty much telegraphing its decision to keep the water system publicly owned.
The administration brought the $112,000 proposal from Missouri-based Woodard & Curran to the Board, indicating that it was the next logical step if the Board was serious about potentially selling the water system.
“(We) didn’t really receive direct direction on this so … we followed through and brought this proposal to you for your decision,” Community Development Director Wayne Aldrich explained to the Board at its June 18 meeting. “If you accept this proposal, it doesn’t mean you’re selling the water system, but it’s heading down that road.
“I would say from a staff perspective, if you deny this proposal, we would probably move forward with the (local) capital plan.”
The Board quickly and emphatically dispatched with the plan following Trustee Jennifer Reichert’s “I am not in favor of this motion,” defeating it on a 5-0 vote with Trustee Brandon Wisenburg absent.
Trustee Matt Wigginton said the availability of state loans and their potential forgivability, specifically $14 million in funding for a new water filtration plant and other infrastructure improvements for which the Village has applied, changed his thinking “100 percent” given that it would make it affordable for the Village “to make the improvements to our own water system without bankrupting the Village.”
In other action or discussion:
The Board hired Farr Associates, a Chicago-based architectural and urban design firm, to rewrite the zoning code and create a form-based code in the Village. The Heights’ zoning code has not been comprehensively updated since 1970.
The cost is $124,200, which should be covered entirely through a state grant secured through the office of state Sen. David Koehler.
Aldrich has worked with Farr Associates for the last 25 years in a previous career stint in the Town of Normal and expressed confidence in the selection. The new code is to be created with substantial public input, with a completion date of May 2025.
The Village Board gave its approval for the expansion of the Peoria Heights Chamber of Commerce’s annual Kringle Market in Tower Park.
Chamber Board President Barb Milaccio said the Market will become a two- weekend event – Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 6-7 -- with rented and decorated storage units, essentially pods, joining the investment the event already has made in five Kringle huts and pop-up tents.
“I think she (Milaccio) has come up with a great solution here to expand her event and also keep costs down,” said Village Administrator Dustin Sutton. “I think it will be a great addition.”
The Board approved a grant application for $876,305 to the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission for the purpose of improving pedestrian infrastructure on Glen Avenue, including making sidewalks, ramps and such compatible with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
Should the Village receive the grant, it would be required to pay $256,575 as its local match, which would come from Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds. As home to several critical public and private institutions – the school district, library, Village Hall, the fire department and the Village’s largest employer – Glen Avenue is considered a critical corridor in the Village with a need for infrastructure upgrades, including future road pavement improvements.
The Board approved the installation of signage at the all-inclusive Tower Park playground to alert families to the issue of food allergies in children and how to combat them.
“Obviously, playgrounds are fun but to a child with food allergies, it can be life-threatening,” said Lindsey Spangler, a family nurse practitioner and co-founder of the Red Sneakers program with the mission of making the Peoria area “allergy friendly.”
To that end, the signs will encourage parents and guardians to be cognizant of food lying around on the ground and disposing of it, and Red Sneakers will be donating epinephrine to local first responders. About one in 13 children have a food allergy, which can be triggered by something as simple as touching a food particle on a piece of playground equipment.
The Board unanimously approved the measure. “The park was originally planned as an accessible park,” said Wigginton. “I think this fits with the message and what we wanted to do with this park. I think it’s a perfect fit.”
The Board approved an amendment to its lease with American Towers LLC for cell phone service in the Village, which now will include two additional 10-year lease options that potentially could extend the contract until the year 2071. American has a cell tower at 1605 E. Gardner Lane.
The towers now provide reception to multiple carriers, and American will pay the Village $15,000 for the purchase of the options, which also carry rent increases should they be exercised. Village Attorney Mark Walton called it “a good deal for the Village.”
The Board responded to complaints by some local residents about noise levels from various entertainment establishments over a recent weekend. The concerns were resolved amicably and no tickets were issued after police spoke with cooperative venue owners, but it’s an issue that has cropped up before without Board follow-through in terms of direction for police officers regarding enforcement, said Sutton.
The Board has talked about establishing an 11 p.m. cutoff for bands, though that’s less of an issue than the volume, said Trustee Elizabeth Khazzam.
“Noise is a quality-of-life issue,” said Mayor Michael Phelan, and the police department is as busy as ever. “I don’t think we want to be pulling police off the streets on a Saturday night.”
Robbie Mathisen, co-owner of Pour Bros. Craft Taproom which has a popular summer concert series, said he wants to be a good neighbor and will work with the Village, while reminding trustees that his business and others have become a major part of the Heights’ tax base.
“When I came to Heritage Square, it was a gravel parking lot,” he said. “Peoria Heights has very little industry. This (entertainment) is our industry.”
“The owners of the establishments have been great,” said Sutton. “I want to be proactive.”
The Board is expected to return with proposed guidelines at a future date.
The Board approved the expenditure of $12,226 for the replacement of the fire department’s HVAC unit.
The Village will renew its so-called “ice pigging” operations to clear debris from water pipes between the dates of July 18 and July 22. The process has been successful in addressing the problem of discolored water coming out of faucets in some local homes. It will take about two weeks.
Mayor Phelan wished former Mayor Ray Picl, the longest serving Heights’ mayor at 28 years, a happy 95th birthday.
The Board issued a proclamation in honor of three teachers with 93 years combined experience who are retiring from Peoria Heights School District 325. Dave Carroll, Patricia Hasenstein and Jennifer Hursey were all in attendance to receive the recognition.
After 30 years, she “never thought the grass was greener anywhere else,” said Hursey.
“Working for the Heights is like working for your family,” added Hasenstein. “It was always an honor to teach in the school district.”
Board members heaped high praise on the police department for its handling of a shooting at the Beck Oil service station, which ultimately led to the quick arrests of three suspects. Meanwhile, Village and Richwoods Township staff also were commended for helping a young lady with serious landlord issues.
“She was completely lost and didn’t know what to do,” said Trustee Jeff Goett. “I just think it speaks volumes that Peoria Heights took care of one of their own.”
Mayor Phelan forewarned the public that the elimination of the grocery tax by state government could put a $300,000 hole in the Village’s $5.8 million operations budget. The Board may have to wrestle with that issue before the fiscal year is out.