Latest news with #PeoriaCityCouncil
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Peoria City Council approves $475,000 grant to demolish more vacant homes
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — An abandoned home demolition program in Peoria is getting nearly another half million dollars in state funding. Peoria City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the $475,000 grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA). It's the second round of funding for the Strong Communities Program. Joe Dulin, the city's community development director, said they demolished more than 90 blighted homes in the first round to make way for new affordable housing in the East Bluff and the Southside. This includes Church View Gardens, the Southside's first new housing complex in more than 20 years. Dulin said the additional funding will allow them to demolish 40 more homes. But there was debate among city councilmembers about what kind of developers they should work with. 'But I wish we would have a little bit more compassion for what really built our neighborhood and instead of how do we get the investors from Jersey to come here and make investments until their tax credits run out and the place becomes a disaster,' said At-Large City Councilman John Kelly. First District City Councilwoman Denise Jackson said rental developments should also be on the table to increase access to housing. 'You live in a community that has developed this infamous distinction as one of the poorest zip codes in the country, you have so much poverty as a result of years and years of disinvestment. And you come to the realization that folks living in this area, some of which are not in position to purchase a home,' she said. The Strong Communities Program is a state initiative that provides grant funding to local government agencies to address affordable housing needs and revitalize communities. The program is funded by the Rebuild Illinois capital plan and managed by IDHA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Could Peoria land a new Illinois River cruise option? Here's what to know
An advocacy group with ties to Washington, D.C., is working to bring a national cruise line to the Illinois River that would make a stop in Peoria. The Illinois River Cities and Towns Initiative, a group that advocates politically for cities and towns on the Illinois River, is in talks with American Cruise Lines to set up a cruise route that would travel the Illinois River and make a stop in Peoria. Representatives from the IRCTI told the Peoria City Council on Tuesday night that if the city agreed to spend $22,600 on a membership fee and join its group, it could become part of an initiative that, among other things, is trying to bring a cruise line to the Illinois River. While the proposed cruise line wouldn't be permanently stationed in Peoria, like the bygone Spirit of Peoria riverboat that left the city in 2022, members of the Peoria City Council said a cruise line stop in Peoria could bring back some of the energy and money the riverboat once provided to the city's riverfront. The proposed cruise line route — which is notably just an idea the IRCTI has kicked to American Cruise Lines — would fly guests to Chicago and then have them board a boat in Ottawa, Illinois. The boat would travel down the Illinois River and travel through Peoria on its way to the Mississippi River where it would then turn south to St. Louis or north to Minneapolis. More: Peoria will once again host largest fireworks show in Illinois. Here's what to know Bringing a cruise line to the Illinois River was just a small piece of the pitch the IRCTI delivered to the City Council on Tuesday. Ultimately, what the IRCTI said it would advocate for is making the Illinois River part of federal discussions around funding for environmental and business development programs that could tap Peoria into millions of dollars. To join the coalition Peoria, has to pay a $22,600 joining fee and then an annual fee every year it stays part of the group. The coalition includes cities such as Pekin, East Peoria, Ottawa, La Salle, Peru and Beardstown. The City Council voted 9-2 on Tuesday to pay the $22,630 membership fee to join the IRCTI. Councilmember Denis Cyr said he hopes the program is successful and does bring the millions of dollars to Peoria that was mentioned in the group's sales pitch, but he voted against the measure because Peoria is the only city on the Illinois River that has a mandate from the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce its pollution into the river. Councilmember Alex Carmona voted against the measure because he wants Peoria to find ways to be more "business friendly" that do not cost the city money. While he voted for the measure, councilmember John Kelly expressed skepticism that the advocacy group would succeed in its pitched endeavors to bring millions of federal dollars to Peoria. Kelly said he was not skeptical of the group's "intentions" but rather "what it can actually do." Mayor Rita Ali was joined by eight other councilmembers, including Kelly, in supporting the city's membership into the IRCTI. Ali said the initiative will "attract millions of dollars to Peoria." Councilmember Denise Jackson was excited at the idea of bringing a passenger boat back to Peoria. She said $22,000 was a "drop in the bucket" compared to the earning potential that having a cruise line stop in Peoria could bring to the city. More: Low inventory, high interest: The challenges of buying a home in the Peoria market This article originally appeared on Journal Star: New river cruise could come to Peoria, Illinois
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Peoria County accepting applications for civic leadership academy
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Applications are now being accepted for Peoria County's annual Civic Leadership Academy. The program, done with the city of Peoria, aims to help inform people how government at both the county and city level works. The free program meets weekly, usually at a city or county facility, and includes a presentation, tour, and time for questions and answers. This year's program will be on Thursday nights from Aug. 7 to Oct. 14. Sessions will start at 6 p.m. It will conclude with a graduation by proclamation at the Peoria County Board meeting and first Peoria City Council meeting in October. Topics and tours include the Peoria Police Department, Emergency Communications Center, Peoria County Coroner's Office, Peoria County Sheriff's Office, Peoria Public Works, Peoria Fire, and Peoria County Animal Protection Services. Participants must be 18 or older. Registration is online on the county's website. Paper copies of the application are also available at the Peoria County Courthouse in room 502. People must register by July 18. Details on the weekly sessions are subject to change, with the final schedule to be handed out at the first session. Space is limited, and applicants will be notified upon their acceptance into the program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Peoria Police Memorial honors fallen officers
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Peoria city officials and police gathered outside downtown to remember those who have served in law enforcement. The Peoria Police Department hosted their annual police memorial outside of city hall, in which they take the time to remember fallen officers. 'We don't want to forget that every day officers come in and put this uniform on,' said Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria. 'So let's not forget what they do. Let's not forget what happened in the past. We stand on their shoulders and we continue to push forward to keep our community safe.' Peoria City Council agrees to fund remaining PeoriaCorps term 15 roses were laid on the memorial stone to honor fallen Peoria officers. Echevarria explained the kind of unity all law enforcement share. 'You don this uniform on,' he said. 'Some of the uniforms may be green, some of them may be tan, some of them are blue. But, you know, at the end of the day, we're all police officers trying to do the right thing for a community. It's a very difficult job.' This is a part of National Police Week, where departments across the country take part in the same type of memorial. An awards ceremony followed the memorial service which included categories such as Livesaving, Chief's Appreciation, and Distinguished Service – Commissioned. Award winners included: 2024 Rookie of the Year Officer Terravis Ward 2024 Field Training Officer of the Year Officer Michael Wallace 2024 Supervisor of the Year Sergeant Todd Leach 2025 American Legion Meritorious Service Detective Brian Grice 2024 Officer of the Year Detective Nicholas Mason 2024 Lifesaving Awards: Officer Logan Jackson Officer Matthew Prest Officer Gavin Watland Officer Zion Whitehurst Officer Jia Zheng Officer Bryson Zolicoffer 2024 Civilian of the Year Mary Peterson 2024 Chief's Appreciation Assistant State's Attorney Terrence Muench Deputy Coroner Brandon Witt Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
April 1 election results final with tight races decided
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — For about two weeks, they have waited and now, it's official. Andre Allen was reelected back to the Peoria City Council as the representative of the 4th District and Alex Carmona will replace outgoing 2nd District Councilman Chuck Grayeb on the Horseshoe. UPDATED: One new face on the Peoria City Council as incumbents win their seats Mayor Rita Ali will also return to a second term in office as the city's mayor, beating At-Large Councilman John Kelly by a wide margin, according to numbers released by the Peoria County Election Commission. All led from Election Day until the final votes were tallied Tuesday and then certified on Wednesday. Incumbents Denise Jackson in the 1st District and Denis Cyr in the 5th district won by comfortable margins. Tim Riggenbach was unopposed in the 3rd District. With all the votes in, Ali beat Kelly garnering 60% or 11,006 votes to Kelly's 7,122 which was about 40%. Kelly, however, will not go far as his seat on the council was not up for election so he'll remain. Jackson got 77% of the 2,458 cast in the 1st district, while Cyr got 62% of the 5th District's 4,625 votes. In the 4th District, Allen finished with 51% or 2,212 votes to challenger Jamie Messmore's 2,091 votes or 49%. The politically active 2nd district was, by far, the most competitive with Carmona getting 1,478 votes to Estrella Diaz's 1,431, a difference of 47 votes. Former City Councilman Jim Montelongo won the race for city treasurer, while Latrina Leary got another term in office as the Peoria Township supervisor, beating two challengers. Overall, roughly 22% of the county's voters turned out. Some races had a greater percentage while others were less but the county's average was 22% of registered voters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
