After a ‘circus’ meeting, Washington City Council adopts Civility Pledge

The Washington City Council on Monday unanimously adopted the Illinois Municipal League’s Civility Pledge.

The action came in the aftermath of a sometimes contentious council committee of the whole meeting last week, during which there were heated discussions about a proposed $12 million amphitheater that would be built on a portion of the city’s “223” farmland property of U.S. Route 24.

The pledge reads, “I pledge to promote civility by listening, being respectful of others, acknowledging that we are all striving to support and improve our community, and understanding that we each may have different ideas for achieving that objective.”

Mayor Gary Manier said he placed the pledge item on the agenda after hearing from city staff members and residents about the tone of the previous week’s meeting.

“Speakers from the audience at council meetings should not be called out or interrupted by other audience members when they speak,” he said.

Alderperson Mike Brownfield called last week’s meeting a “circus,” and said he was disappointed in criticisms directed at city staff by audience and council members.

“We don’t have a city administrator right now. Staff is doing the best it can,” he said.

While the civility pledge applies only to elected officials, the hope is audience members also will adhere to it.

The amphitheater was a topic of conversation again Monday:

• Assistant City Attorney Derek Schryer said he won’t release the results of his legal opinion regarding a possible conflict of interest involving Manier and the Hengst Foundation, which wants to build and operate the amphitheater, because of attorney-client privilege unless directed to by the council. Manier’s wife, Lada, serves on the not-for-profit foundation’s board and is not paid for her work. A motion made by Alderperson Lilija Stevens to release the legal opinion results to the public was not seconded, so it did not come up for a vote.
• Appraisals of the amphitheater site and entire “223” property have been completed. An item on this month’s city bills and payroll report to the council lists a $2,500 payment to East Peoria-based Professional Valuation Technology for the appraisal work. Planning & Development Director Jon Oliphant said the appraisal results will be made public, as usual, “at the appropriate time.”
• City staff has been reviewing noise ordinances in other cities to see if changes can be made to Washington’s noise ordinance to address noise issues related to the amphitheater. Alderpersons Mike McIntyre, Jamie Smith and Stevens requested that staff research other noise ordinances.
• Manier said no date has set for a town hall meeting regarding the amphitheater. Council members have asked for a second time for a town hall. The previous request resulted in an open house Jan. 22 hosted by the foundation.
• There were four public speakers about the amphitheater. Jackie Mason said at least 133 letters have been turned into the city asking for a 90-day pause on a council decision about the amphitheater. Simon Petravick said he doubted that the amphitheater would be a success considering the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points Washington lost nearly $500,000 in 2023 as an indoor facility open 12 months a year. Beth O’Brien asked that the appraisal of the “223” property be released to the public before the council’s vote on the amphitheater. Mark Barra disputed several of the negative comments made about the amphitheater at the committee of the whole meeting.

Washington voters may get an opportunity to decide if the city’s mayor and alderpersons have term limits.

Council voted unanimously Monday to reject a term limit proposal and place it up for discussion at the council’s May committee of the whole meeting, after a new council is seated following the April 1 election.

At that time, the council also will discuss a request by Alderperson Bobby Martin III to place the term limit issue on a ballot. The next election in Illinois would be a general election on Nov. 3, 2026.

The only council member who chimed in on voters deciding the issue was Brownfield, who called it a “good idea.”

The proposal rejected Monday called for term limits of three elected four-year terms for the mayor and alderpersons. Appointments would not count. 

The city’s monthly check registry released Monday to the council lists a lump sum payment of $38,579 to former City Administrator Jim Snider. Snider, who was hired in November 2021, resigned in August.

According to the terms of his separation agreement, Snider was placed on paid administrative leave from Aug. 30 through Feb. 3. He received his regular pay and benefits during that time, plus $100. The lump sum, due Feb. 3, was his final payment from the city.

Washington has operated without a city administrator since Snider’s departure.

Manier is serving as the interim city administrator, as per city code, but City Engineer Dennis Carr and Oliphant have fulfilled city administrator duties during council meetings.

According to city code, the mayor appoints the city administrator with the consent of the council. The city will have a new mayor – either Brownfield or Stevens – in May based on the results of the April 1 election, so the hiring process won’t begin until then.

Brownfield suggested Monday that either Carr or Oliphant could serve as the interim city administrator until someone is hired. 

The council gave its informal approval Monday for the hiring of a new police officer and three new city employees during the 2025-26 fiscal year, which will begin May 1.

The officer is needed because Officer Nate Thompson was assigned to the police department’s busy investigations division last week. After training, Thompson will focus on financial crimes.

The other proposed hirings are a deputy finance director, planning/building & zoning coordinator, and office assistant.

The deputy finance director would eventually replace Finance Director Joanie Baxter after she retires in mid-2026 after 31½ years of service. The planning/building & zoning coordinator would replace Building & Zoning Coordinator Joe Boyer, who also will retire in mid-2026.

The office assistant could be a part-time summer employee or Washington Community High School co-op student.

Brownfield said the city could use a communications specialist to inform the public about city news.

Here are highlights of department head reports to the council Monday:

• Fire alarms are expected to be connected soon at the downtown square restaurant under construction. After that happens, a life safety inspector will inspect the alarms. If the alarms pass inspection, a certificate of occupancy for the building can be issued by the city.
• Building permit applications have been received for six new homes in Trails Edge Subdivision Section 9 and two new homes in Oak Creek Subdivision Section 7.
• The police department is conducting two unrelated death investigations. No other information was provided.

A $50,000 business improvement grant was approved unanimously Monday by the council for Washington Family Restaurant, 1269 Peoria St.

The grant will help cover the cost of a $136,900 project that included the removal and replacement of the front and side facades and deteriorating walls at the roofline.