Washington joined the grocery sales tax crowd Monday.
The City Council voted 6-2 for the city to impose a 1% sales tax on groceries starting Jan. 1 to replace the state's 1% grocery sales tax that will end that day.
Peoria, East Peoria, Pekin and Normal are among dozens of communities across the state that have approved their own 1% grocery sales tax to make up for revenue that would have been lost without the 1% state grocery sales tax in place.
Revenue from the state grocery tax, enacted in the 1990s, goes to communities. It's been estimated that Washington would have lost $500,000 annually without the state grocery tax.
The second-to-last meeting of the current Washington City Council -- which includes outgoing 24-year Mayor Gary Manier -- was tense and contentious.
The new council, which will be seated after the current council's final meeting May 5, will have a new mayor (Alderperson Lilija Stevens, who defeated Alderperson Mike Brownfield), and four new alderpersons after a replacement for Stevens is named.
Alderpersons Brett Adams and Brian Butler did not run for re-election. Alderperson Mike McIntyre was re-elected. Michael Ernst, Todd Sluder and Brandon Moss were elected.
"I thought the politics would end with the (April 1) election. Apparently the political theater had one more act," said Adams, who questioned why three important items -- the city grocery tax, proposed increases in the city's water and sewer rates and changes to the city's procurement policy -- were placed on the meeting agenda for first readings Monday at the request of Alderpersons John Blundy, Jamie Smith and Stevens.
"The new council will have to deal with these issues. They should vote on it," said Adams, who noted that a decision on the city grocery tax didn't have to be made for five months. The deadline for reporting a vote to the state is Oct. 1.
Stevens said she believes the current council should vote on the items because it's more familiar with them.
A motion to waive the second reading for the grocery tax passed, so a vote was held. A similar motion on the water and sewer rates failed. There was no motion on the procurement policy.
Stevens and Blundy voted against the grocery tax, saying they wanted to give residents a break.
"It's disheartening to put something on the agenda to vote against it and make the other six alderpersons look bad," Manier said.
"It's painful to vote for this (city grocery tax), but no effort has been made to cut $500,000 from our budget. Someone has to do the dirty work, and I guess it's us," Butler said.
After the council approved the city's 2025-26 fiscal year budget by a 7-1 vote, Brownfield directed comments at Blundy, who cast the no vote.
"I commend you for being on this council and like everyone up here, doing what you think is best for Washington, but you make these meetings almost unbearable at times with your constant questioning of staff decisions," he said. "Staff is doing a great job."
Stevens said each council member recently signed a civility pledge written by the Illinois Municipal League and she's been disappointed by the disrespect and body language she's seen occasionally at the table.
Washington, Peoria, Peoria Riverfront Museum collaborate to bring George Washington sculpture to Five Points
A 4-foot-tall bust of George Washington created by renown sculptor Avard Fairbanks that was being stored in a closet in the Peoria Riverfront Museum will be on display at Five Points Washington through Sept. 5 as part of Washington's celebration of its bicentennial.
The sculpture, which originally stood on the George Washington University campus in Washington, D.C., is owned by the city of Peoria. It was displayed in Fulton Plaza from 1998-2022 before being loaned to the museum.
An intergovernmental agreement between Peoria and Washington approved Monday by the Washington City Council requires Washington to pay Peoria $195 toward its insurance premium while the sculpture is in Washington, and the $1,000 deductible if the sculpture is damaged and an insurance claim is filed. The sculpture is valued at $60,000.
The Peoria City Council unanimously approved the agreement Tuesday.
Manier said Five Points will cover transportation costs for the sculpture.
The Washington City Council vote for the intergovernmental agreement was 7-1, with Stevens casting the no vote.
Stevens said she's not against having the sculpture in Washington, but alderpersons were not made aware of the intergovernmental agreement until the council meeting agenda was released Friday "and we still haven't been told the complete monetary obligation of the city."
"As the mayor-elect and subsequently mayor during it's time here, having responsibility for a sculpture displayed in a private facility without being included in the negotiations/discussions is my objection," she said.
"I'm not nitpicking. It's not responsible to sign off on a project if all the details aren't known."
Police speed trailer is hitting the streets
The Washington Police Department's speed trailer is out of hibernation for the warm weather months and residents can make a request to have it placed in a trouble spot.
In their report Monday to the council, Police Chief Mike McCoy and Deputy Chief Jeff Stevens said residents can make the request by phone (444-2313), in person (115 W. Jefferson St.) or through social media. Problem, location and direction of travel are needed bits of information.
The trailer was most recently set up on the 800 block of Lincoln Street at Washington Park.
Also in their report, McCoy and Stevens said John Wipfler, clinical professor of emergency medicine residency for the University of Illinois College of Medicine, reviewed the police department's trauma response equipment recently and called the equipment top notch.
Here are highlights of other department heads' reports to the council:
- City Engineer Dennis Carr: 185 feet of curb on West Jefferson Street was replaced ahead of a paving project; new striping on Nofsinger Road was completed; a city council handbook is being compiled for newly elected alderpersons.
- Planning and Development Director Jon Oliphant: A permit to construct a new fire escape at the rear of a building at 114 Walnut St. should be issued soon. The former fire escape was removed during construction of the Tangled Roots Craft Beer & Kitchen in February 2024 and a temporary one has been in place since then; tall grass city code violations are being issued now that grass is growing rapidly.
City budget, 4% pay raises for department heads approved
In other news from Monday's council meeting:
- The city's 2025-26 fiscal year budget was approved. It calls for $35.6 million in expenses and revenue of $27.4 million. Those numbers for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which ends April 30, were $41.8 million in expenses and $31.9 million in revenue, but the projected numbers are $35 million and $33.3 million, respectively.
- Finance Director Joanie Baxter, Carr, Oliphant and Jeff Stevens each was approved for a 4% salary increase for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Other non-union employees received a 3% increase.
- TIF fund payments of $75,000 for property acquisition and $36,702 to reimburse interest costs were approved for the Tangled Roots developers.
- A $27,000 recycling grant from Tazewell County for the 2025 calendar year was accepted. Grant funds were used in the past for the city's Christmas tree recycling program, twice-yearly brush pick up programs, and the glass recycling program.
Each item was approved unanimously except the budget.
