Limited new housing inventory and the need for a full-service grocery store in Peoria Heights have Mayor Matt Wigginton seeking a partnership with other local governments to offer real estate tax rebates to those who would help fill those gaps.
Wigginton said he wants to work with the Peoria Heights School District, Library District and Richwoods Township to create a pilot program to provide a significant break in property taxes for three years, “not a giveaway but a targeted, temporary incentive.”
The mayor said he wants to model the program on a similar intergovernmental agreement in Oswego, Ill.
It’s important to send the message to prospective investors and builders that “Peoria Heights is unified, Peoria Heights is serious, Peoria Heights is ready to partner,” said Wigginton. “Peoria Heights has always succeeded when we work together.”
Wigginton received a consensus from other trustees to pursue the agreement.
Trustee Elizabeth Khazzam called it “a great idea” and said she was “in full favor.”
In other action or discussion:
The Village Board voted to communicate its intent to award a contract of up to $2.7 million to J.C. Dillon plumbing for lead service line replacement. The award is based on a per-unit price, so the cost ultimately could be less as further investigation reveals how many lead lines there actually are.
The Village Board authorized the borrowing of up to $9.5 million from the state’s Public Water Supply loan program for a new water treatment plant in the Village.
The loan program provides lower-than-market interest rates, but in this case could be forgiven in all or in part.
The Village Board voted to spend $201,500 on a final balloon payment for a fire truck and agreed that ongoing maintenance and replacement of Village equipment, especially in the public safety sector, needs to be a bigger priority.
“With public safety, there is no second place,” said Trustee Nate Steinwedel. “It’s a no-failure mission.”
Meanwhile, the Village also will spend $47,500 on a new police vehicle, as well as more than $78,000 on two Public Works vehicles. All the purchases come with trade-ins, on vehicles that tend to be durable. The new Ford models for Public Works, for example, will “be here longer than me,” joked Public Works Superintendent Chris Chandler.
Wigginton noted that the money for the vehicles comes out of the Village’s budget surplus, which has become an annual thing given the administration’s and Board’s fiscal discipline. “Pretty impressive,” he said.
The Village Board approved the expenditure of $340,000 of motor fuel tax funds for the purchase of road salt, sealcoating and spray patching materials as well as engineering services in 2026-27.
The Village Board voted to cede its unused bonding authority to the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority for use in the immediate region.
The Village’s borrowing capacity is set by the state based on its population, which in this case is set at $135 per head for a total of more than $783,000. If the Heights or any other community doesn’t tap into those available funds in any given year, such capacity is returned to the state for use elsewhere. This is an annual thing and keeps the borrowing capacity in local hands while preserving it as a future repository of funds. In short, just because Peoria Heights may not need to borrow against that capacity now does not mean it won’t in the future, when those accumulated funds may also be available to the Village including those borrowing caps transferred from other Peoria area communities.
The Village Board is considering a site plan for a new outdoor patio at The 33 Room, which is part of the old Pabst Building. The addition will provide accessibility to those compromised by disabilities and will almost double the capacity of the bar. The issue was deferred to a future meeting to determine whether bathrooms also can be added.
The Village Board approved an alternative site for the annual Mt. Moon music festival, which now will be in the 1300 block of Kelly Avenue at the Café Santa Rosa coffee shop location, formerly the Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts. The road will be closed for the festival on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29-30. All proceeds from the music fest go to an area charity.
Mt. Moon organizers initially had requested closure of Prospect Road for those dates, which then prompted a Board debate regarding the use of the primary downtown thoroughfare for private causes. The potential inconvenience and confusion for downtown businesses and motorists were cited as primary concerns, along with a reticence to establish a new precedent. Currently, portions of Prospect are closed only for large, public events such as the Taste of the Heights, the Fine Art Fair and the St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
“No one here wants to see you not succeed. We’re in your corner,” said Steinwedel. “We have to look out for the entire community.”
Ultimately, both sides expressed satisfaction with the compromise.
The Village Board renewed its license with Peoria Pedicab LLC, which conducts bicycle-powered transportation to visitors on Prospect Road and Grandview Drive during the summer months.
Tower Park will be reserved for the annual #GIRLSDAY celebration on Saturday, Oct. 10 from noon to 3 p.m. The event serves as a fundraiser for the Center for Prevention of Abuse.
Tower Park also will host the second annual Howlin’ Halloween Bash on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mayor Matt Wigginton reappointed Greg Fletcher to the Police Pension Board. His term will expire in 2028.
The “Welcome to Peoria Heights” signs have been purchased and are being installed at various entrances to the community. Illinois Route 29 has one now. The flag commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary, donated by Trustee Teresa Symmonds, also is flying in Poplar Lane Park