Prospect Rd will be closed from Marietta Ave to Sieberling Ave on Monday, March 17th, for the annual St Patrick’s Day celebration.
The street will be closed from midnight Sunday to 7am Tuesday morning.
Please use caution when traveling along the detoured route.
Happy St Patricks Day!
Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to be held Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM at Village Hall, 4901 N. Prospect, Peoria Heights, IL regarding the proposed FY 2025-2026 Operations Budget. The tentative budget is available for public inspection by contacting administration@peoriaheights.org.
Stephanie Turner
Village Clerk
Village of Peoria Heights
Peoria Heights residents got their first glimpse of the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget at the Village Board’s Feb. 18 meeting. The financial blueprint calls for nearly $5.76 million in spending on an estimated $5.79 million in revenue. The 2026 budget plan anticipates a slight decline in spending from the current budget.
Meanwhile, the Heights is ending another year in the black, with 2024-25 revenues looking to exceed expenditures as the fiscal year enters its final month. That was by no means certain a year ago, when it appeared the Village might suffer a budget deficit for the first time in a while. Thanks to some mid-fiscal year adjustments and continued strong sales tax performance, that situation was avoided.
Village Financial Assistant Stephanie Turner indicated that the Village again has taken a conservative approach, with department heads given a baseline budget that “became a cost-cutting operation from the very beginning.” While revenues have grown substantially over the last few years, so have expenditures, she said. Public safety expenses, for example, are up considerably, with fire department expenses quintupling over the last five years, she added.
“I’m comfortable with the (budget) cuts,” said Police Chief/Village Administrator Dustin Sutton. “They won’t affect service.”
The fire department will continue to have its maintenance challenges, said Chief Dan Decker, but he is “looking for new grants all the time.” Meanwhile, the department continues to make progress, with response times, “from call to fire out,” improving dramatically in the last year, from 12.5 minutes to 9.5 minutes, he said. The department may look at purchasing used vehicles that still have some life in them, he added.
“These are very slim budgets,” and the Village Board will need to stay on top of those as, inevitably, circumstances change, said Turner. One example is the expiration of the state grocery tax on Jan. 1, 2026. The biggest impact of that will be felt in the 2027 fiscal year, but it does mean an annual revenue loss of some $325,000 unless the Board imposes a local tax on grocery purchases.
The proposed water budget shows spending of $1.58 million on revenues of $1.72 million, though the water infrastructure is entering a stage of major capital investment. The Village’s long-term water capital plan had anticipated two 10 percent increases in the coming year, but now the administration is proposing two 5 percent increases instead, in May and December. The local burden has been reduced somewhat by the Village’s success with grant acquisition.
Should the Village experience deficits here and there in the coming year, it has ample fund reserves to cover them, said Turner.
“So this is a balanced budget,” said Trustee Matt Wiggington, adding that not all central Illinois communities are facing the same financial prospects. “We had that fear last year. This is a testament to the success of Peoria Heights and why people want to locate here.”
The proposed budget may undergo some tweaks here and there in the coming few weeks. It will be adopted by the Village Board sometime in April, with the fiscal year beginning May 1.
In other business or discussion:
The Board approved a professional services agreement with Missouri-based water consultant Woodard & Curran, which will oversee the Village’s water capital improvement program along with grant administration at a cost not to exceed $80,000. That money will come out of the Village’s water budget.
The Village has a well-established relationship with Woodard & Curran, which will apply its hourly rate toward that $80,000.
“We don’t do the work unless you tell us to,” said Don Taul of Woodard & Curran, adding that in any given year, the work performed might not reach that ceiling. Should the cost of projects potentially surpass $80,000, Woodard & Curran would have to get Board pre-approval.
Woodard & Curran has had significant success in securing grants for the Village and currently is working on improvements to the filtration plant, specifically regarding the removal of magnesium from the local water supply.
Community Development Director Wayne Aldrich called Woodard & Curran “a big help.
“I would say say it’s necessary for a village the size of Peoria Heights to do this type of work … to assure we can get the projects complete.”
The Board approved the low bid for lead service line replacement in the Village, ultimately contracting with Five Star Energy Services of Waukesha, Wis. at a per-project cost of $6,706.
The Village received four bids that were wildly divergent, ranging from Five Star’s estimate to $69,630 from local firm Hoerr Construction, with evidently some confusion over what work the companies were actually bidding on. Ultimately, Five Star will do up to $2 million of lead line replacement at that per-unit price of $6,706, with the Village earlier receiving a $2.2 million fully-forgivable loan from the state.
The full extent of the Village’s lead line problem will not be fully known until contractors begin digging.
The Village Board agreed to the purchase of a fiberglass bison to be displayed in the Village at a price tag of $2,500, plus the added cost of decorating it by a local artist, as part of Peoria County’s bicentennial celebration. The effort is modeled after the City of Chicago’s Cows on Parade displays in 1999, which produced a significant amount of tourism to the Windy City. Communities throughout the county are participating.
The Village also is encouraging other local governments and/or businesses to participate.
“I think if we could get four or five of these in our community, it could be very exciting,” said Trustee Elizabeth Khazzam.
“We hope … to call it a herd,” said Mayor Michael Phelan, who also noted that there’s a natural connection to Peoria Heights, as former President Teddy Roosevelt visited the Heights more than a century ago and was known for his efforts to protect and preserve America’s bison.
The bicentennial bison will remain on display at various locations – Tower Park was mentioned, along with the library and perhaps a local school – through December of this year, and perhaps longer. An example is on display at Peoria Riverfront Museum. The fiberglass sculptures are about eight feet long, five feet tall and weigh some 100 pounds.
You can learn more about the bicentennial and its mascot at https://www.peoriacounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13010/Bicentennial-Bison-Purchase-Document-PDF.
The Board held a substantial policy discussion on Feb. 4 regarding the future of its Business Development District Fund after Trustee Brandon Wisenburg proposed the elimination of the 1 percent sales tax on businesses in the Village’s two Business Development Districts.
Wisenburg acknowledged that it was perhaps “a radical idea,” but questioned why the Village should “continue giving tax money to rich businesses to put up signs” if it means keeping something like the grocery tax “on essentially poor people” who are dependent on the basic services – police, fire, streets, etc. – that the Village provides. The state grocery tax is set to expire at the start of 2026.
Wisenburg’s comments prompted a quick response from other trustees, specifically from Trustee Sarah DeVore, who has two businesses in the downtown corridor and said that “not everybody that asks for it (BDD assistance) is a rich business.” She also argued that comparing the grocery tax, the proceeds of which go into the general fund, to the BDD tax, which is restricted to business development in a defined area, is “two different pictures.” Wigginton, meanwhile, noted that BDD funds were a big help when the Village provided grants to local businesses that were suffering during COVID. And with the proposed reconstruction of Prospect Avenue on the horizon, having the BDD to potentially help struggling businesses “could make or break some of these businesses.”
“I’d be really cautious,” said Phelan. “I’ve never believed government should horde money,” but with more than $1 million in BDD funds – which has “grown by leaps and bounds” – that money has proved a major tool in securing economic development projects, most notably the Beck Oil development on War Memorial Drive, said the mayor. The added sales tax revenue to the Village from Beck’s alone more than replaces the lost grocery tax proceeds, he said.
“The brand of Peoria Heights has increased in value probably tenfold in 10 years or so,” said Phelan. “By providing good services, having low taxes, having a walkable, safe community, all those things are important to developers and people looking to relocate their businesses.” That’s why Village government in a landlocked community needs tools like the BDD to promote economic development and the revenues it produces to pay for those basic services, he said.
Village Administrator Dustin Sutton largely echoed those sentiments, saying at the Feb. 18 meeting that he does not favor the elimination of the BDD, that the Village also pays some wages out of the fund and that it would be “a huge mistake” to strip the Village of that economic development tool.
The Board created an additional A-1 liquor license for Feels Like Ohm, a juice bar at 4606 N. Prospect Road. The vote was 5-0.
The Board authorized the purchase of outdoor Christmas decorations at a discounted cost – 40 percent off – of nearly $37,700. Many of the current displays date back to the 1970s.
“I think this is a huge upgrade,” said Sutton. “We’ve been putting this off for years.”
Both Wigginton and Wisenburg indicated that they’d like to see some of the decorations be placed below the hill “to delineate this is the Heights.”
The Village Board approved the installation of an on-street handicapped parking sign in front of the home of Gary and Tammy Roush, 1107 E. Moneta, which raised concerns about what precedent it would set.
The Roushes don’t have a driveway and Gary Roush suffers from debilitating asthma, prompting the family to request the sign. Tammy Roush indicated that a neighbor has multiple vehicles and frequently takes up the on-street spaces in front of their house, creating a hardship for her husband.
The request was unprecedented in the Heights, prompting a long discussion among trustees about how best to proceed, from having law enforcement speak with the neighbors about possible code violations to ongoing enforcement demands on the police department should more residents request the handicapped designations on the roadway.
“It makes me a little nervous,” said Wisenburg. “One, we haven’t done this before. Two, this kind of feels like a neighbor dispute to me.”
Ultimately, the Roushes agreed to seek a permanent handicapped designation from the state of Illinois with an accompanying placard, and the Board voted 5-0 – Trustee Jeff Goett was absent – to put up a temporary handicapped sign on Moneta for 120 days, open to anyone with proof of a disability including the Roushes.
Meanwhile, Phelan urged the Board to come up with a policy governing situations like this one. While “sympathetic” to the Roushes’ situation, the mayor said “lots of homes in Peoria Heights don’t have driveways and we have an elderly population … If you do case by case, you’ll have an issue.”
The Board learned of the promotion of two firefighters to assistant chief status. They are Austin Szentes (day shift) and Benjamin Thompson (night shift). Both are salaried positions.
Meanwhile, the Fire Department is seeking a $350,000 renovation grant from the state for the construction of a fitness area and day room for firefighters. There would be no cost to local taxpayers if the Heights receives the grant.
A pollinator garden is coming to Peoria Heights’ Poplar Lane Park, and you can help.
On Saturday, March 15, volunteers will gather at 9 a.m. at Poplar Lane Park – across Illinois Route 29 from Bielfeldt Park, on the Heights’ waterfront – to start pulling up sod and loosening dirt at what eventually will become a 700-square-foot pollinator garden and a source of pride for the Little Village That Could.
The garden is the brainchild of Ethan Lynn, PhD, an educator and consultant who works in promoting literacy. A native of Ohio who moved with his family to Peoria Heights sight unseen about three and a half years ago, in large part because housing prices were so affordable here, Lynn was surprised to discover how beautiful the local landscape was. He’d been educated in Utah and Arizona, had a job offer in Hawaii, and previously had thought of Illinois as just flat and full of corn
Lynn, 35, soon discovered that most of those farm fields had once been natural prairie, which had its own innate beauty and diversity. And he thought he could lend a hand – and a spade and a rake -- to help bring it back and, perhaps, even make it a little better.
He contacted Village government and soon got a conversation going with Trustee Brandon Wisenburg about his idea for a citizen-led initiative that, in its own small way, would make the Heights and surrounding region a better place.
In planting some 240 native wildflowers of about 30 species, specifically multiple varieties of milkweed, “we want this to turn into a monarch (butterfly) magnet,” as well as a haven for planet-saving bumblebees and beetles, said Lynn. “It will be vibrant” with splashes of pink, purple, white, yellow, blue, lavender, red and orange.
Meanwhile, the garden may produce other benefits, in part by adding to the Heights’ growing reputation as an ecotourism destination that also includes the bluff-side recreational path that is coming with the Illinois Route 29 reconstruction. In addition, there will be reduced maintenance costs for the Village as the pollinator project precludes the need to mow, said Wisenburg. Regarding concerns about flooding, that has been anticipated as well, as Lynn said a more elevated site has been chosen that doesn’t typically get that river overflow.
“I think Poplar Park is going to be better off for this,” said Wisenburg.
The project will proceed in four phases, between the sod removal and soil preparation on March 15, a May 24 planting and fencing day, June irrigation, and August-September weeding. Lynn anticipates needing 150 total volunteer hours.
“The more the merrier,” he said of the individual volunteers, who are welcome to just show up if they wish but can also give him a heads up by email, at drethanlynn@gmail.com. While some tools will be provided, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own shovels and trowels.
Lynn doesn’t consider himself a master gardener. He grew up near Cincinnati with a typical suburban yard and a dad who would mow. But on his runs through town, he began to notice and appreciate the potential of the Heights’ natural areas, “got the passion’ for what could be, consulted with some experts and decided to “take a shot in the dark” with an email to Village Hall and an idea “to do something small, practical and manageable,” at minimal cost. The Village is contributing $2,500 of financial and in-kind assistance to the project.
Ultimately, this central Illinois transplant is hoping to plant his way to putting this part of the Land of Lincoln on the map in a very natural way. Indeed, he hopes this is just “the tip of the iceberg,” and that this effort plants a seed in others to take this concept and run with it at multiple locations.
“This is our heritage and our identity,” said Lynn, who lives on East Terrace View Lane with his wife, Felicia, and four young children. He’s noticed that Illinoisans sometimes discount or dismiss what’s special about the place they call home, and he hopes to start changing some of those attitudes and create a sense of pride. “There’s a hidden beauty in Illinois and it’s right underneath our noses.”
“I absolutely love it here,” he said. “I never thought I’d have an experience like this in Illinois.”
Preliminary Environmental Impacts Determination (PEID) for proposed water treatment system
click here to view pdf
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given to all residents and property owners of the Village of Peoria Heights, Illinois and all users of the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and distribution system that a Public Hearing at Village Hall will take place on March 18 at 5:30 p.m. The Village plans to begin upgrades to the water treatment plant to remove excess manganese in the drinking water, increasing the quality and volume of treated water available to Village residents. This Public Notice is to provide an opportunity for the public to provide comments on the Village’s proposed construction. A project summary and Preliminary Environmental Impact Determination document provided by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is available for review at Village Hall, 4901 N Prospect Rd, Peoria Heights, IL 61616. The
document contains information including the project costs, location, user rate impacts, and potential environment impacts.
This Notice is to provide access to the documents and to satisfy Section 662.330 of the Illinois Procedures for Issuing Loans from the Public Water Supply Program from the Illinois EPA. These documents will be on file at Village Hall after the Public Hearing to allow for public comment. Written comments can be submitted up to 10 days following the Public Hearing to the Village or directly to Kaitlyn Holtsclaw at the Illinois EPA, Infrastructure Financial Assistance Section, 2520 West Iles Avenue, Springfield, Illinois 62704.
Michael Phelan
Village of Peoria Heights
4901 N Prospect Rd
Peoria Heights, IL 61616
Peoria Heights residents got their first glimpse of the five candidates seeking three open seats on the Peoria Heights Village Board at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria on Feb. 6.
The five candidates, in alphabetical order, are Jason Jones, J.T. Kellock, Jennifer Reichert, Nathan Steinwedel and Teresa Symmonds. Current Village Board Trustee Matthew Wigginton is running unopposed for mayor and, given that, did not participate in the forum.
The candidates introduced themselves to the community and shared their priorities for the Village.
Reichert, of 5028 N. Glen Elm Drive, was appointed to the Village Board in 2023. She described herself as a “Peoria Heights lifer” with a “unique perspective” as the daughter of a former Heights fire chief father and a former Village Board member mom. She is in her 18th year as the director of technology for the Peoria Heights School District.
Symmonds, of 712 E. Lake Ave., said that she is a 32-year resident of the Heights. Her involvement in the community has revolved mostly around her five sons and their school activities. She is a property manager and licensed residential leasing agent with the state of Illinois.
Steinwedel, of 5137 N. Montclair Ave., is an 18-year resident of the Heights and former local police officer who works in commercial real estate.
Jones, of 1410 Duryea Ave., is a 12-year Heights resident with seven children, three at Peoria Heights High School. He has worked at GFL Environmental, a waste disposal company, for the last 15 years.
Kellock, of 4925 Grandview Drive, is a 15-year Heights resident with four kids who owns a packaging services company in Galesburg. He has been involved at St. Thomas Catholic Church and school through his four children. He owns an MBA degree.
In questioning from League representatives and the audience, it soon became clear that the top issues in this race are the future of the fire department and newer, better water infrastructure.
Symmonds was the most vocal in expressing her support for a full-time fire department and said she was upset with the Board’s backpedaling on the issue. “We need to push forward with a full-time fire department,” she said.
Reichert demurred, saying that Fire Chief Dan Decker “is doing an amazing job” and “we did find a happy medium.” The Village shouldn’t want “to overextend ourselves with your tax money with something we can’t sustain,” said Reichert, adding that if the Village had proceeded down the previous path of hiring full-timers, it ran the risk of “bankrupting us in a 10-year span.” Steinwedel was pretty much on the same page, arguing that “right now we have a very responsive fire department” made up of volunteers and those on stipend and suggesting that “we absolutely have to keep our fire department” rather than contracting fire service out to another community such as Peoria. Finite Village dollars would best be spent on top-notch fire training and equipment, he said. Jones said that he is “on the fence with the full-time.”
“If we can continue to grow the tax base … then we can put more money into the fire department,” said Kellock, adding that until then, he is content with the current hybrid model.
Regarding the water system, Reichert tried to reassure residents that the infrastructure is getting the attention it needs while cautioning that the cost of a comprehensive fix is quite significant and will require patience. “It took a long time to get this bad. It’s going to take a long time to get better, but we are working on it,” she said. Kellock was of similar mind, calling the system “a huge issue” that will require “millions and millions and millions and millions and millions of dollars” as the Village tries to “make up for 40 years of underinvestment.” He added that clean water is “a basic human right” but acknowledged that “it all takes money.”
Steinwedel said he favors a piecemeal approach to addressing the water system but in the interim supports hiring additional water workers and exploring the possibility of purchasing household water filtration systems for residents. Symmonds said some measures have been helpful, such as ice pigging, but the ultimate answer is complete replacement of ancient water lines. Jones said the Village needs to prioritize infrastructure upgrades – worst first – but confessed that “money is a concern.”
Regarding plans for the reconstruction and redevelopment of Prospect Road, Steinwedel indicated that he is opposed to any narrowing of the roadway that might discourage traffic to and through the downtown area, calling it “a river of people wanting to spend money in our Village.” Symmonds sounded a similar note, suggesting that congestion from the construction alone “will strangle our businesses.”
Regarding economic development, Steinwedel said the first step is “keeping taxes low,” a comment echoed by Kellock. Steinwedel also said that the Village needs to be more proactive regarding business recruitment instead of “waiting for the phone to ring.” Symmonds said the landlocked Village needs to “grow upward” while enticing businesses that are more affordable for families with children and encouraging development below the hill.
The candidates expressed satisfaction with the police department’s work, for the most part, and agreed with the sentiment that the Heights “is a safe place to live and work.” Symmonds said she wants to beefed-up security infrastructure for events, such as blocking off roads with large trucks, citing the importance of avoiding a New Orleans-type situation. Steinwedel said he wants a restoration of the canine program and crime scene technicians to the department. Jones repeatedly said he wants more camera surveillance of residential neighborhoods.
There have been consistent complaints with the Village’s new waste hauler, GFL Environmental. Jones defended his employer while conceding that high employee turnover has been an issue. Reichert said that the Village had been spoiled with its previous garbage pickup service. When GFL entered the picture, “basically they bought out a contract and weren’t ready to start,” she said, adding that she has advocated for monthly sit-downs with the waste hauler. Steinwedel indicated that stronger performance standards are needed in the Village’s garbage contract, and Kellock said he wants more accountability, potentially with financial penalties being levied for repeated “hiccups.”
Finally, there was a divergence of opinion regarding the recently adopted Active Transportation Plan, which aims to make it easier and safer to get around the Heights without a vehicle. Jones noted that “walkability is part of the draw to the Heights for people who don’t live in the Heights” and that he routinely walks Downtown from his Duryea Avenue home. Reichert indicated that she generally supports the plan, while Symmonds and Steinwedel expressed reservations regarding the potential ramifications for business. Kellock generally expressed support for accommodating pedestrian traffic throughout the community but urged Village officials to be careful about “going overboard.”
In closing statements, Symmonds said she wants more community involvement in Village government. Jones said he “will do whatever it takes to get the job done … with the rest of the group.” Kellock also indicated that collaboration is a priority for him and that he intends to be a team player even when he might differ with other trustees. “I intend to represent everybody … the tenants … the landlords … the business owners and everybody else,” said Steinwedel.
“I eat at your restaurants. I work in your school. Now I serve on your Board,” said Reichert. “Peoria Heights is more than home for me. It has completely been my world my entire life …
“I want to continue my education on this Board.”
For those who’d still like to watch the candidate forum, the video can be found online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arQN7gWtldE. Election Day is Tuesday, April 1, though there is ample opportunity to vote before that, either in person at various locations throughout Peoria County or through the mail. The Peoria Heights Public Library, 816 E. Glen Ave., will host early voters from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26.
For more information on the 2025 election, please visit the Peoria County Election Commission website at https://www.peoriaelections.gov/.
Freezing temps can cause frozen pipes...
Be prepared!
Here are some cold weather tips to help prevent frozen pipes:
Locate and insulate pipes in or near exterior walls or unheated interior spaces (attics, basements, garages.)
Locate and exercise shut-off valves leading to the water meter.
Let cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes to prevent freezing during cold snaps.
Keep the heat no lower than 55° F or winterize the pipes if you’re planning to be away during cold weather.
The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria will host a candidate forum for the Village Board of Peoria Heights at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at Village Hall, 4901 N. Prospect Road.
The event will be live-streamed on the LWVGP YouTube Channel at:
Don’t miss this chance to hear from Village Board candidates
The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria will host a candidate forum for the Village Board of Peoria Heights at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at Village Hall, 4901 N. Prospect Road.
Five people are seeking three open board seats. They are Jennifer Reichert, who now sits on the board after being appointed in 2023, Teresa Symmonds, JT Kellock, Jason Jones and Nathan Steinwedel. The mayor’s seat also is open, with current Trustee Matt Wigginton unopposed on the ballot.
Candidate forums give members of the community the opportunity to hear directly from those seeking elective office. Questions from the audience and League representatives will be posed to the candidates by the Forum moderator. The event will be live-streamed on the LWVGP YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@leagueofwomenvotersofgreat5058.
Election Day is Tuesday, April 1. Early voting begins Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Election Commission, 4422 Brandywine Drive, Suite 1, and at various satellite offices starting Monday, March 17. Among the latter, the Peoria Heights Public Library, 816 E. Glen Ave., will host early voters from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26. Voters also can cast their ballots by mail.
For more information on the 2025 election, please visit the Peoria County Election Commission website at https://www.peoriaelections.gov/.