Two Washington businesses were given the go-ahead Monday to have video gaming terminals in their establishments.
The Peak on Summit, 201 S. Summit Drive, and Blue Ox, 120 N. Wilmor Road, were unanimously approved for licenses by the city council. The businesses can turn on their gaming terminals May 1.
Also approved unanimously by the council were increases in the numbers of gaming establishments in the city — from 11 to 12, to accommodate The Peak, and gaming terminals in the city from 57 to 72, so each gaming establishment can have a maximum of six terminals.
Blue Ox inherited its gaming licenses from Katy T's, the previous business at that location.
The city's annual fee for a gaming establishment is $1,000, and the annual fee for each gaming terminal is $600. In each case, the fee must be split by the terminal operator and gaming establishment.
In addition to those fees, the city receives a small share of the revenue generated by each gaming terminal.
Here are the 12 establishments in Washington with video gaming terminals, including the Blue Ox and The Peak, as of May 1, and the number of the terminals at each location:
- Beck's: 6
- Bernardi's Restaurant: 3
- Blue Ox: 6
- The Brickhouse: 5
- Christy's Place: 6
- Kep's Sports Bar: 6
- Mariachi's Restaurant: 3
- Parish's Pub: 6
- Plaza Lanes: 6
- The Peak on Summit: 6
- Walker Danforth Post No. 9016 VFW: 6
- W-Down Under: 6
That adds up to 65 terminals out of the 72 permitted in the city.
The vote was 7-0 for The Peak on Summit and Blue Ox gaming licenses and increases in gaming establishments and gaming terminals in the city. Alderperson John Blundy did not attend Monday's meeting.
Five Points off hook for $75K
Five Points Washington won't need to make an annual $75,000 payment to the city for 2024 to help pay off a $5 million construction bond taken out by the city several years ago.
City Finance Director Joanie Baxter reported to the council that a 0.25% home rule sales tax enacted by the city to pay off the bond generated $647,479 in revenue in 2024, and the bond debt service for the the city's 2024-25 fiscal year is $360,812. That's a difference of $286,667.
In January 2024, the council approved an agreement that requires Five Points to pay the city $75,000 only if revenue from the sales tax fails to exceed the bond debt service by at least $75,000.
The city's 2024-25 fiscal year ends April 30.
Water rate study recommends increases
A typical Washington residential property owner with a 3/4-inch water meter using 4,000 gallons of water in a month would see an 8.3% increase — from $43.19 to $46.77 — in his or her monthly water bill if the city approves a recommendation made in a water rate study.
While the monthly technology fee of $3.85 would remain the same, the monthly infrastructure fee and volumetric charge would rise from $17.46 to $19.04 and $21.88 to $23.88, respectively, for the typical property owner.
The study recommends that customers with larger water meters get a larger increase in their infrastructure fee. The infrastructure fee currently is the same for all customers.
The increases are needed to pay for major water projects on the horizon, most notably an estimated $10.7 million for a water main relocation on Business Route 24, and an estimated $6.8 million to pay off an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency loan for work involving Water Tower No. 3, the Cummings Lane water main, and Well No. 13.
The rate study doesn't impact Washington residents who are Illinois American Water customers.
Chamber, Discover Peoria agreements
The council unanimously approved agreements with the Washington Chamber of Commerce and Discover Peoria [the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau].
The chamber will receive $35,000 from the city in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years, the same amount it received in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
It also will receive an additional $10,000 in the 2025-26 fiscal year to help cover the costs of event planning, production, marketing and logistics related to the celebration of the city's bicentennial.
The $35,000 breaks down to $20,000 for planning, executing and coordinating annual city events like the Community Prayer Breakfast, Good Neighbor Days and Small Business Saturday; $12,000 to promote and market Washington; and $3,000 for administrative expenses.
Discover Peoria will receive $25,000 from the city in the 2025-26 fiscal year, a $5,000 increase from 2024-25. A video, photos and shared promotions on the home page of the Discover Peoria website are included in the increased payment.
Public works storage building
What should the city do with the public works storage/former police evidence storage building at the corner of Main and Jefferson streets that was damaged by a fire last year?
About $340,000 is needed for repairs, which is covered by insurance. But city staff is looking into the cost of raising the roof of the building so large equipment can be stored there, or demolishing the building and having a new one constructed.
Council members said Monday they'd like to know the costs of raising the roof and demolition before they make a decision on the fate of the building.
Council member Mike McIntyre advocated for demolition and a new building.
“Raising [the roof], to me, that's just putting a Band-Aid on something,” he said. “So I would personally like to see a price on what it would be to demo it, so that we can make it something that’s going to be suitable for us long-term.”
Tangled Roots opening Wednesday
Here are highlights of Planning and Development Director Jon Oliphant's report to the council:
- Tangled Roots Craft Beer & Kitchen at 140 Washington Square is expected to open Wednesday.
- The May Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will include three public hearings for non-owner-occupied residential short-term rentals at 711 S. High St., 132-134 N Main St. and 1406 Westgate Road.
- The city is looking into applying for a grant that would allow it to plant trees in the new Nofsinger Road and U.S. Route 24 intersection.
- BLC Properties won't be using a city business improvement grant it was awarded for work at 290-304 Muller Road. The grant was for a not-to-exceed $3,274. The building owner is thinking instead about doing a beautification project that would add more curb appeal to the building.
New road paint, new curbs
Here are highlights of City Engineer Dennis Carr's council report:
- New paint on Nofsinger and Dallas roads will be removed and replaced by the contractor after some paint chipped off.
- Curbs on West Jefferson Street will be replaced before a mill and overlay project on the street in June.
- A bid opening will be April 30 for the next phase of the Catherine Street rehabilitation project.
Proposed budget available to public
A first reading of the city's $36.1 million budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year was held. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 14, before the council's committee of the whole meeting.
A vote on approval of the budget will be held April 21. The budget can be viewed at City Hall and can be accessed from the city's website.
