Peoria Standard

Peoria County Board - Executive Committee met July 29.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Attendance

Present:

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

Staff & Guests:

Scott Sorrel, Shauna Musselman, Jennie Cordis Boswell, Rachael Parker, Brooke Sommerville, Heather McCord, Julie Kusturin, Gretchen Pearsall, Becca Cottrell, Robert Sinkler (Port District), Chris Smith (Port District), Chris Coulter (Liberty Steel), Mark Brachbill (Liberty Steel), Michael Malatt (Baker Tilly), Megan Bentley,

Absent:

Members: Member Kelch, Member Williams, Member Windish

1. CALL TO ORDER

1.1 Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dillon at 3:53 pm.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

2.1 June 24, 2025

A motion to approve the Executive Committee meeting minutes from June 24, 2025 was made by Member Salzer and was seconded by Member Daley.

Motion Carried. (12-0)

Absent: Member Kelch, Member Williams, Member Windish

3. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS / REPORTS / OTHER MINUTES / UPDATES

3.1 Springdale Cemetery Minutes

Chairperson Dillon moved to receive and file the informational items.

A. Long-Term Care Services Fund Report

B. Springdale Cemetery Minutes

C. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Summary

D. Peoria County Enterprise Zone Report

3.2 Heart of Illinois Regional Port District

Chairperson Dillon explained that Mr. Sinkler and Mr. Smith from the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District will be giving a presentation for an allocation of $50,000.00 for a three-year commitment of $150,000.00. This was not accounted for in the budget, and this would potentially need to be done in the future with a supermajority vote.

Mr. Sinkler provided a brief presentation regarding the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District. He stood for questions.

Member Rieker asked if they could articulate the uses of their revenues and how they are applied to achieve their goals.

Mr. Sinkler advised that part of it is focused on raising the profile and ensuring federal agencies and programs recognize that there are nationally significant ports, particularly on the Illinois waterway. He stated the ports on the Illinois waterway are regional special districts of government and have power and authority, as well as influence at a national level.

Member Rieker requested a link to more transparent data.

Chairperson Dillon commented that Member Allison and he had similar questions. He stated that there is a budget that was presented to the county in the past. He further stated he wanted to ensure the Board could have their questions answered and time to digest the information. Chairperson Dillon advised that the idea is to get them seed money to get them up and running, then eventually they would have long-term funding, as Peoria County is not a long-term revenue source. He stated that, if there are no objections, we will bring that resolution to the August 14th meeting as an appropriation. There were no objections.

Member Rosenbohm asked if the Board could get a list of all the money accomplishments. He commented that it seems like the Port District is helping secure money for the Corps of Engineers.

Mr. Sinkler confirmed and explained that the Corps of Engineers is like a federal construction company and has to have a customer; they perform better when they have a local customer that they are supporting.

3.3 Liberty Steel

Chairperson Dillon stated this is for a loan application that came through for the Keystone fund.

Member Blair advised that Liberty Steel has come to the county for a $2.65 million loan for very specific items. She stated this is part of a package they are receiving from other state programs to help with employment here in Peoria County. Their corporate headquarters will be moving to Peoria, including the CEO.

Mr. Coulter and Mr. Brachbill introduced themselves to the Board. Mr. Coulter provided a presentation describing the steel production process, the history of the company, Public Act 104-006, and their capital and funding plan. They are requesting a $2.65 million loan from the Peoria County Loan Committee.

Mr. Brachbill discussed the funding summary and the capital projects summary.

Mr. Coulter stated that they do have copies of the presentation available for the Board members. He stood for questions.

Mr. Sorrel advised that copies of the presentation would be distributed to the entire Board this week. He stated the owner equity in the deal for the county’s portion of the deal is $2,050,000.00, so it is a $4.7 million total project. This goes back to a traditional business development loan with a 10-year amortization schedule. The rate is locked in at 4.5% based on the county's loan parameters.

Our security is going to be in first position on equipment that is purchased with the loan dollars and secured with UCC1 filings. He stated that this loan meets all loan requirement parameters that the county has established for itself. The loan review committee did endorse the application unanimously when they met earlier in July.

Member Blair stated if there are questions to direct them to herself or Ms. McCord.

Member Rosenbohm asked if the $25 million grant from DCEO has to be paid back, and wanted to know what happens if they do not receive the grant. Mr.

Coulter advised that they do not have to pay back the grant if they don't receive the grant. They will have to demonstrate they are meeting specific thresholds and that they are investing the grant money, should they receive the grant.

Member Rosenbohm asked if they will be moving to Peoria or Bartonville.

Mr. Coulter advised that it will depend on the space in the main office on Route 24, but the mailing address is Peoria for the facility.

Member Rosenbohm asked if Liberty Steel owes money to vendors and whether they would be able to pay the money back and be in good standing.

Mr. Brachbill explained that as the mill was restarted in late April, the term loan and working capital have supported the company with both paying past due accounts payable and working capital. He stated that is why those two funding mechanisms were put into place.

Member Blair commented that the GPEDC, as well as the City of Peoria, are working with them, and it is important to them that they are either in Peoria or Bartonville.

Member Phelan asked if they could comment on their relationship with GFG.

Mr. Brachbill advised that GFG has a very active role both financially and management-wise.

Mr. Coulter stated that GFG is consolidating their U.S. footprint to focus on Peoria.

Member Ruhland noted the funding from the state grant is about 11 months away. He asked what the timeline is for final approval.

Mr. Coulter advised that they need to file their application on or before September 12th, and the process is 90 days to negotiate the terms.

Member Ruhland asked if they think approval will be prior to the end of 2025.

Mr. Coulter advised that that is what they are working toward.

Chairperson Dillon credited local Democratic and Republican legislators for the EDGE credit and the legislation that made this possible. He called for further questions from the committee. He stated, seeing none, this item will be on the August agenda.

4. RESOLUTIONS

5. DISCUSSION

5.1 Standing Committees

Chairperson Dillon moved to receive and file the Standing Committees.

The following Standing Committee meetings were summarized by their respective Chairperson as follows:

Infrastructure

The following resolutions were recommended to the County Board for approval.

• Smithville Road Culvert Lining Bid Letting

• Award of Contract for 2025 Pavement Marking Refresh - Deliver and Install Proposal

Ways and Means

The following resolutions were recommended to the County Board for approval.

• Monthly Delinquent Taxes

Land Use

The following were recommended to the County Board for approval.

Zoning Board of Appeals

• Zoning Case #ZBA-2025-0035, Petition of Trent Overhue

County Operations

The following resolutions were recommended to the County Board for approval.

• Collective Bargaining Agreement with Laborers (Local 165), Operating Engineers (Local 649), and Teamsters (Local 627)

• Tyler Enterprise Jury Upgrade and SaaS Migration

County Health

The following resolutions were recommended to the County Board for approval.

• Option to Lease Agreement for Solar Development at the Landfill Site

• Appropriation following Execution of Revised and Restated City County Landfill Agreement

Public Safety and Justice

The following resolutions were recommended to the County Board for approval.

• PCAPS Whitney Foundation Donation

• PCAPS ASPCA Grant

• Approval of Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) for Peoria County Sheriff

• Medicated Assisted Treatment/Medicated Assisted Recovery-Oriented Environment Discretionary Grant

Finance, Audit and Legislative

The following resolutions were recommended to the County Board for approval.

• Appropriation following Execution of Revised and Restated City County Landfill Agreement

5.2 Report from External Auditor on FY2024 Audit

Mr. MaLatt provided a brief overview of the FY2024 report. He recommended two sections of the report to read: the transmittal letter and the management discussion and analysis sections, because they provide the big picture. He stood for questions.

Member Daley recognized Ms. McCord for doing an outstanding job.

Chairperson Dillon also recognized Ms. McCord and her team.

Mr. Sorrel asked how many of their government clients provide their own financial statements.

Mr. Malatt stated only about two.

6. PUBLIC COMMENT

6.1 Public Comment

Chairperson Dillon called for public comments. There were none.

7. MISCELLANEOUS

7.1 Miscellaneous

Chairperson Dillon called for miscellaneous comments.

Member Reneau advised that FiredUp has concluded the contest for mini bison submissions and will go out on the 4th of September for public vote for 3 weeks.

County electeds will receive a survey to survey the final bison that will be turned into a full-size bison, which will be revealed at the October 4th block party. He stated that he and Member Groves Allison have two resolutions they would like to bring through the committee; one is a resolution that would give the

Chairperson to pause the no alcohol on the premises policy for a special event; the other is that the plaza is actually a county park and they would like to bring forth a resolution which would rename it as Bicentennial Park at the dedication.

Chairperson Dillon expressed his appreciation for Member Reneau and Member Groves Allison for the time and effort they have put into the bicentennial celebration. He also expressed his appreciation for Ms. Pearsall and her team.

Member Salzer asked if everyone on the Board received the WSP report discussed in the Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. Sorrel advised that the report would go out with the update on Friday.

Member Salzer suggested that the Board members read it and stated that the document is very thorough.

8. ADJOURNMENT

8.1 Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Dillon at 5:25 pm.

https://www.peoriacounty.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08262025-1799