Peoria Standard

Peoria County Board met March 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Attendance

Members: Member Dillon, Member Williams, Member Blair, Member Bryant, Member Coates, Member Daley, Member Duncan, Member Elsasser, Member Groves Allison, Member Kelch, Member McCann, Member Phelan, Member Reneau, Member Rieker, Member Rosenbohm, Member Ruhland, Member Salzer, Member Windish

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. MOMENT OF SILENCE

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

4. ROLL CALL BY THE COUNTY CLERK

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

5.1 February 13, 2025

A motion to approve the February 13th, 2025 minutes was made by Member Blair and was seconded by Member Daley.

Motion Carried. (18-0)

6. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

6.1 A proclamation congratulating Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat on being named 2025 Illinois Superintendent of the Year.

6.2 A proclamation congratulating Dr. Susan Bordenave-Bishop on her retirement from the Peoria City/County Health Department after 30 years of service as Director of Dental.

6.3 Presentation by the Peoria County Farm Bureau

6.4 Presentation by the Washington Bicentennial Committee

7. CITIZENS' REMARKS

7.1 Citizens' Remarks

Tracy Fox spoke in favor of allowing a wind farm in Peoria County.

8. CONSENT AGENDA

A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Member Ruhland and was seconded by Member Phelan.

Motion Carried. (18-0)

8.1 The Treasurer's report consisting of the Bank and CD's Portfolio for the month of January 2025 and Revenue & Expenditure Reports for January 2025.

8.2 The Finance Department's report of expenditure Reports.

https://www.peoriacounty.gov/199/Transparency-Portal

8.3 Reimbursement Agreement with Four Creeks, LLC for legal and engineering services incurred for a proposed wind farm road use agreement

A resolution from the County Executive Committee recommending approval of a Reimbursement Agreement with Four Creeks, LLC, and the corresponding appropriation into the FY2025 budget for both revenue and expenditures, in the amount not to exceed $120,000.00 to compensate the County for legal and engineering services in the preparation of a transportation impact analysis and development and negotiation of a road use agreement associated with a proposed wind farm.

8.4 Civil Litigation Settlement

A resolution from your Executive Committee recommending approval of a settlement of civil litigation in the amount of $250,000.00.

8.5 FY2024 Rollover and FY2025 Additional Appropriations

A resolution from your Finance, Audit, and Legislative Affairs Committee recommending approval for the County Administrator to appropriate FY2024 rollover funds and FY2025 additional appropriations into the FY2025 budget.

8.6 Food Service, Commissary, & Tablets at Peoria County Jail and Food Services only for Juvenile Detention Center

A resolution from your Public Safety and Justice Committee to award the bid for Food Service, Commissary, & Tablets at Peoria County Jail and Food Service only at Juvenile Detention Center to Trinity.

8.7 Public Defender AOIC 2024 Allocation and FY2025 Appropriation

A resolution from your Public Safety & Justice Committee recommending an appropriation of funds in the amount of $113,115.00 to the Public Defender FY2025 budget.

8.8 IT Services Staff Augmentation Services

A resolution from your County Operations Committee approving a contract with 22nd Century Technologies, Inc. for IT Staff Augmentation Services at an estimated cost of $51,000.00.

8.9 Preliminary Engineering for Rehabilitation of Structure Number 072-3119 on Smithville Road

A resolution from your County Infrastructure Committee for a Preliminary Engineering Agreement with Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Incorporated in the amount of $135,180.00 for the rehabilitation of Structure Number 072-3119 on Smithville Road.

8.10 Guardrail Repair Bid Letting

A resolution from your Infrastructure Committee to approve the low bid from Northern Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $127,780.20 for the repair of damaged guardrails on various Peoria County Highways.

8.11 2025 - 2026 Pavement Management Agreement

A resolution from your Infrastructure Committee for a cooperative research agreement with Bradley University in the amount of $30,062.00 to be appropriated from the County Motor Fuel Tax Fund.

8.12 Engineering Agreement to provide technical assistance in the development and negotiation of a road use agreement with a wind energy developer.

A resolution from the County Infrastructure Committee recommending approval of an Engineering Agreement with Hutchison Engineering, Inc. of Peoria, Illinois to provide technical assistance in the preparation of a transportation impact analysis and development and negotiation of a road use agreement with Four Creeks, LLC in an amount not to exceed $80,000.00.

8.13 March 2025 Appointments

9. ZONING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

9.1 Zoning Case #ZBA-2025-0007, Petition of Waterleaf Solar, LLC

A Special Use request from Section 20-5.2.2.2.h of the Unified Development Ordinance. This section allows for a special use in the “A-2” Agriculture Zoning District for a Commercial Solar Energy Facility, provided that the conditions in Section 7.17 (“Ground Mounted Solar Energy Equipment”), of these regulations are met.

A motion to approve the petition was made by Member Rosenbohm and was seconded by Member Ruhland.

Motion Carried. (18-0)

Chairman Dillon asked Administrator of Planning and Zoning Braun to summarize the 3 special use restrictions

Administrator of Planning and Zoning Braun summarized 3 new restrictions that will be added to any solar special use applications. He noted the special uses will not be transferable, there is a 3-year deadline for construction to begin, and the owner must submit contact information with the Department of Planning and Zoning annually or if there are any changes in contact information already on file. He stated these restrictions are not retroactive and will only be applied to applications moving forward.

9.2 Zoning Case #ZBA-2025-0008, Petition of Ode Solar, LLC

A Special Use request from Section 20-5.2.2.2.h of the Unified Development Ordinance. This section allows for a special use in the “A-2” Agriculture Zoning District for a Commercial Solar Energy Facility, provided that the conditions in Section 7.17 (“Ground Mounted Solar Energy Equipment”), of these regulations are met.

A motion to approve the petition was made by Member Rosenbohm and was seconded by Member Ruhland.

Motion Carried. (18-0)

9.3 Zoning Case #ZBA-2025-0009, Petition of Kickapoo CSG1, LLC

A Special Use request from Section 20-5.2.2.2.h of the Unified Development Ordinance. This section allows for a special use in the “A-2” Agriculture Zoning District for a Commercial Solar Energy Facility, provided that the conditions in Section 7.17 (“Ground Mounted Solar Energy Equipment”), of these regulations are met.

A motion to approve the petition was made by Member Rosenbohm and was seconded by Member Ruhland.

Motion Carried. (18-0)

9.4 Zoning Case #ZBA-2025-0006, Petition of Peoria County

Case #ZBA-2025-0006: A Text Amendment to amend Chapter 20, Article 3, Section 3.5 (“Special Use Permits”); Article 7, Section 7.2 ("Commercial Wind Energy Facilities") and Article 11, Section 11.1 (“Definitions”) of the Peoria County Code.

A motion to approve the petition was made by Member Rosenbohm and was seconded by Member Ruhland.

Motion Carried. (18-0)

Administrator of Planning and Zoning Braun stated over the last 6 months the Department of Planning and Zoning and Attorney Andrew Keyt have been working on updating the counties ordinance. He noted the objectives of identifying gaps, making it more transparent, aligning it with the State of Illinois guidelines and public act, and making sure it protects our citizens, the Board, and everybody as best as possible. He added that he believes it a conservative effort to make sure all the information is available and on the table in advance of the Zoning Board of Appeals hearing. He noted this was a transparent process that allowed comments to come in to make sure everyone was heard. He concluded that the Ordinance before them is the recommendation of the Department of Planning and Zoning, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Land Use Committee.

Chairman Dillon asked Administrator of Planning and Zoning Braun to speak about the changes that were adopted into the Ordinance.

Administrator of Planning and Zoning Braun noted 3 sections that were affected. Section 3.5, the standards for special use, was updated from approval standards to review standards set as the LaSalle Sinclair Factors. Section 7.2, the commercial wind energy facilities ordinance, added minimum requirements and clarification for supporting documents for applications being submitted. Article 11.1, definitions, updated the definitions and verbiage throughout that had been updated.

Chairman Dillon thanked Planning and Zoning for continually setting the bar very high with their expertise and professionalism. He also commended Mr. Keyt, who is hired all across the state for his expertise, for the work that he has done.

9.5 A resolution (ITEM 1 CONVEYANCE) from the Ways and Means Committee recommending that the County Board Chairperson be authorized to cancel the appropriate Certificates of Purchase.

A motion to approve the resolution was made by Member Duncan and was seconded by Member Windish.

Motion Carried. (18-0)

9.6 Approval of Worker’s Compensation Settlement in Case 010015-006381-WC in the amount of $275,000.00. (Pending Committee Approval)

A resolution from your County Operations Committee recommending approval of Worker’s Compensation Settlement in Case 010015-006381-WC in the amount of $275,000.00.

A motion to approve the resolution was made by Member Rieker and was seconded by Member Coates.

Motion Carried. (18-0)

10. MISCELLANEOUS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

10.1 Miscellaneous and Announcements

Member Elsasser shared a visit that he had with a constituent, Rick Radford, a 20 year veteran, on the mental health and homelessness of veterans and what they are encountering. He stated they would be meeting with Mike Brooks when he returns from vacation, as part of Mr. Radford's thesis statement for his Master's degree, to ask the Board to step-up.

Chairman Dillon stated our Veteran's Assistance Commission is the highest performing anywhere in Central Illinois. He noted it has one of the best rated and most professional staff, with veterans coming from out of county to use our benefits.

Member Salzer reminisced that he believes Bob Baietto was the last and only veteran that served on the Board.

Member Groves-Allison noted she and Member Reneau were taking any recommendations for talent for the bicentennial event.

Member Blair urged everyone with the coming storms to be prepared, and to check your fences afterwards before letting your dogs out.

Member Coates stated the self-evaluation memo from Administrator Sorrel would be out towards the end of the month. She noted the surveys following would be available shortly after with 2-3 weeks to be completed. She stated any questions should be directed towards Chairman Dillon.

Chairman Dillon stated Member Rieker had previously led the self-evaluation, and noted that Member Hoerr was the previous Republican member. He asked if any of the remaining Republican members would volunteer to serve.

Member Ruhland stated he would do it.

Member Elsasser thanked member Kelch for the chocolates.

Administrator Sorrel informed the current strategic plan will go out March 14th. He noted the meeting request will also get updated and sent out with the location on March 14th, with the meeting beginning at 8:30 and hopefully being done by noon.

Member Ruhland stated that the 3 candidates for the Assistant County

Administrator remaining were all potential hires and that he would be backing out now and leave the decision up to Administrator Sorrel.

Chairman Dillon noted if there was anything the Members wanted on the list for the upcoming retreat to let himself or Administrator Sorrel know. He also recognized and congratulated Marcellus Sommerville for being inducted into the Missouri Valley Hall of Fame. He informed the Members to be thinking about a person, place, or business they would like to recognize in a proclamation within their district and they would put a new schedule together for 2 Board Members a month to participate.

Member Daley thanked the Human Resources Department for providing letter to all employees regarding their salaries and benefits for being a part of Team Peoria County.

Chairman Dillon thanked Members Daley, Williams, Rieker, Blair, and Administrator Sorrel for representing the County last week at NACO.

11. ADJOURNMENT

11.1 Adjournment

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

https://www.peoriacounty.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04102025-1737