Peoria Standard

Peoria County Board met Dec. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Attendance

Present:

Members: Eden Blair, Camille Coates, Linda Daley, Jimmy Dillon, Betty Duncan, Brian Elsasser, Jennifer Groves Allison, Daniel Kelch, Marcia McCann, Danny Phelan, Rob Reneau, Steve Rieker, Paul Rosenbohm, Terrence Ruhland, Phil Salzer, Sharon Williams, Matt Windish

Absent:

Members: Brandy Bryant

County Board Agenda

CALL TO ORDER

MOMENT OF SILENCE

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL BY THE COUNTY CLERK

I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Member Rosenbohm moved for approval of the minutes, and Member Duncan seconded. The minutes were approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

II. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

A. A proclamation recognizing the 125th Anniversary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 34.

B. A proclamation recognizing OSF Life Flight on its 40th Anniversary.

C. A proclamation honoring the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport on being named Primary Airport of the Year for 2024.

III. CITIZENS' REMARKS

Clark Abraham spoke in favor of a wind farm in Peoria County.

Robert Rowe spoke in favor of a wind farm in Peoria County.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

Member Williams moved to approve the Consent Agenda, and Member Phelan seconded.

Member Williams requested to pull item C-15.

Member Rieker requested to pull item C-6.

Member Ruhland congratulated staff and Dewberry for getting the Probation Department remodel done so quickly and getting it out and ready to go. The Consent Agenda, except items C-6 and C-15, was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

Member Rieker moved to approve item C-6, and Member Elsasser seconded. Member Rieker stated that he requested this to be pulled to highlight the discussion from the Executive Committee. He commended Member Daley for being very focused on the owner’s representative concept. He noted there needs to be an owner’s representative assigned to the projects as they are going through, that would report back to the committee that oversees the project. Member Elsasser expressed his appreciation for Mr. Rinkenberger and Mr. Sullivan of PJ Hoerr for coming out on such a cold night and being involved in the County.

Member Ruhland stated he understands the urgency of allocating funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, but noted he would like a split, dollar and cents wise, between ARPA funding and Capital Projects funds.

Administrator Sorrel stated that the split is roughly 50-50. He noted that there will be a point when they go to construction for each itemized project, there will be a detailed project budget to promote full transparency with the Board. He clarified as funds were available in the queue, they would begin spending ARPA dollars first. Once that is expended, they would begin to spend the Capital Projects.

Chairman Dillon stated Peoria is blessed with a very strong contractor market. He commended River City on their work after going through the new Health Department. He expressed his belief that the Board will be very happy with both firms that have been selected moving forward.

Member Daley stated she agrees in the need for an owner’s representative; however, she doesn’t agree with a job description for an employee to be split between an owner’s representative and economic development. She noted that she would prefer a contract with an owner’s representative instead of an employee with the 2 very different skill sets.

Item C-6 was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

Member Williams moved to approve item C-15, and Member Phelan seconded. Member Williams stated they will be delaying the Landfill Committee for 1 month for further discussion with the Chairman.

Member Rieker requested clarification of the FEMA Board appointments between December and January regarding Kathi Urban. He questioned the January Appointments, stating they should be labeled differently as it appears as though all appointments are being approved not future appointments to be considered.

Chairman Dillon clarified the January Appointments would be the appointments that would come up for the next month as they are the positions that are opening.

Administrator Sorrel provided reassurance that Kathi Urban did not hold 2 seats on the FEMA Board. He stated that they could label the upcoming month’s appointments better. He noted that historically they have included the next month’s appointments in the packet, so the Board knew what they were voting on a month in advance.

Member Elsasser stated it had been about 20 years since the next month’s appointments started being added.

Administrator Sorrel agreed.

Item C-15 was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

C1. November 2024 Treasurer's Board Report

C2. The Finance Department's report of expenditures from Accounts Payable system is accessible at www.peoriacounty.gov/199/Transparency-Portal.

C3. Monthly Delinquent Taxes

C4. Approval of awarding Bid #01-06-24 to Knapp Concrete Contractors, Inc. of Goodfield, Illinois in the amount of $44,825.00 for stormwater improvements at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.

C5. Approval to enter into and implement a contract with Tri-County Regional Planning Commission for administering and managing the consultant-led Peoria County Comprehensive Planning Process, not to exceed $300,000.00 from ARPA Funds.

C6. Approval of a contract award with Core Construction for construction management services for multiple capital improvement projects at the Peoria County Courthouse and PJ Hoerr for construction management services at County facilities.

C7. Approval of awarding Bid #05-16-24 to Hein Construction in the amount of $1,150,000.00 for the construction of a salt storage building at the Highway Department's Maxwell Station.

C8. Approval of awarding Bid #33-04-24 to Illinois Oil Marketing in the amount of $886,661.35, with an optional tank rental bid of $16,910.00, for the replacement of the Fuel Island at the Highway Department's Maxwell Station.

C9. Approval of authorization to accept at $4,675.00 donation for microchips into PCAPS fund and to appropriate these funds into the PCAPS expenditure funds.

C10. Authorization to execute intergovernmental agreements for full animal control services and impound only services for Elmwood through December 31, 2029.

C11. Approval of excess insurance/broker bids for risk management in the total amount of 41,362,497.00.

C12. Approval of the 2025 General Maintenance Request for Quotations.

C13. Approval of awarding Bid #05-13-24 to Knapp Concrete in the amount of 4402,259.17 to complete Phase II of the Jail ring road.

C14. Approval of awarding Bid #05-14-24 to Bishop Brothers, Inc. in the amount of $1,078,550.00 for the renovation of the Probation Department and approval to rollover appropriations of $78,550.00 from FY2024 to FY2025.

C15. Chairman Appointments.

V. ZONING ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS

1. Zoning Case #ZBA-2024-071, Petition of Jonathan Bleichner

Member Rosenbohm moved to approve the petition, and Member Ruhland seconded. The petition was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes. 2. Approval of the additional appropriation of $13,600.00 in expenditures from the General Fund reserves into the rental buildings line in the Election

Commission Budget.

Member Duncan moved to approve the resolution, and Member Windish seconded. The resolution was approved by a roll call vote of 12 ayes and 5 nays, with Members Daley, Elsasser, Rosenbohm, Williams, and Windish voting nay.

3. Approval of a service agreement between the County of Peoria and Greater Peoria Economic Development Council to administer the Rural Peoria County Broadband Program.

Member Groves-Allison moved to approve the resolution, and Member Ruhland seconded. Member Williams asked if Administrator Sorrel could provide information for the public. Administrator Sorrel stated a commitment to broadband infrastructure and services amongst the policy sessions regarding the ARPA funds being allocated for private industry to expand into rural Peoria County. He noted an engineering study was completed to determine what areas of Peoria County were lacking the most. He clarified that if Comcast were to apply for state and federal funding, the County would match up to $1,669,170.00. He noted that Comcast has submitted our projects to multiple rounds of the Connect Illinois program, that have not been awarded. He stated that to have the ARPA dollars allocated, the Economic Development Council will hold the ARPA dollars until the time that Comcast is awarded state or federal funding or October 2025, when the Economic Development Council and County staff would come together to see how to expend those dollars. Chairman Dillon stated that Planning and Zoning Administrator Braun has been working on a letter from the County in support for the next application. The resolution was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

4. Approval of a Two Hundred Thousand Dollar ($200,000.00) grant from the County's American Rescue Plan Act Fund to Harvest Supermarket, LLC.

Member Coates moved to approve the resolution, and Member Blair seconded. Administrator Sorrel summarized that CJ Harvest Supermarket is a project to be located at the old Aldi’s location on Western Ave. He stated they were awarded a grant from Governor Pritzker’s grocery store initiative that requires a local match of $600,000.00, of which this item is the first $200,000.00 to be allocated from the County ARPA dollars, the second $200,000.00 would be a loan from the Keystone fund, and the last $200,000.00 would come from a tax increment finance incentive from City of Peoria that is subject to Peoria City Council approval. He noted stipulations that the uses of the dollars have to be used compliant with the County’s US Treasury guidelines under ARPA and under the terms and conditions from the State of Illinois grant.

Member Elsasser stated it will be a monumental task to compete with the large and small box stores, and he hopes Reverend Brown has a great manager to order and keep inventory of the products.

Member Blair noted that she is chair of the loan review committee that spent over an hour questioning Reverend Brown and his technical advisors on their business model. She stated their business model made her feel very comfortable that this is something they should invest in.

Chairman Dillon stated this project has come a long way from where it started. He commended them on their business plan and looks forward to what Pastor Brown will bring to the community, and he is happy to support this.

The resolution was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

5. Approval of a loan to Harvest Supermarket, LLC of Peoria, Illinois in the amount of 200,000.00 from the County State Capital Improvement Fund (Keystone Fund) for a portion of the local match to a State of Illinois Grocery Store Initiative Grant.

Member Williams moved to approve the resolution, and Member Blair seconded. The resolution was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

6. Approval of awarding Bid #05-14-24 to Givsco Construction Company for the Renovation/Remodel of the Circuit Clerk's Office, Orders of Protection, and Treasurer's Office in the amount of $1,604,070.32.

Member Salzer moved to approve the resolution, and Member Duncan seconded.

Chairman Dillon stated this will remodel the remainder of the ground floor of the Courthouse. He highlighed Givesco, a homegrown contractor, the largest minority owned workwise contractor south of I-80. He stated they have done government projects all over. He noted the tight bidding between contractors. Member Salzer thanked for praising Ronny Givens. He stated Mr. Givens is a former student of Peoria High, has always been a good man, and he trusts that he will do good work for the County.

The resolution was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

7. Approval to amend the Tax-Exempt Revenue Bonds, Series 2012 as requested by PNC Bank and Goodwill Industries, to shift the index from BSBY to SOFR, and to extend the prior for which PNC agrees to hold the bonds.

Member McCann moved to approve the resolution, and Member Williams seconded. The resolution was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

VI. MISCELLANEOUS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Member Elsasser wished everyone a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. He stated Bradley will be playing San Francisco on Wednesday.

Member Salzer wished everyone a Happy New Year. He mentioned Dean Olson, a Peoria native.

Member Rosenbohm wished everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Member Groves-Allison congratulated the Limestone Varsity Girl’s Volleyball Team on their 2nd place finish at State. She also wished everyone Happy Holidays. Member Blair wished everyone a Happy Holiday. She stated for the holidays she would be making coquito, and if anyone has a great recipe, feel free to text it to her. Member Duncan wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Member McCann wished everyone Happy Holidays. She stated she is very excited to be here and work with everyone in the coming year.

Chairman Dillon thanked Member Williams for coordinating the potluck. He stated Jennie would be mad that Mike didn’t have to comment once during the Board Meeting. He gave shout outs to Rich Edgar, of the Peoria Civic Center, and John Morrison, of the Riverfront Museum. He stated that to see the amount of people downtown walking on a Saturday night, made him feel good about Peoria. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business before the Board, the Chairman announced the meeting was adjourned.

https://www.peoriacounty.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12122024-1683