The City of Peoria will provide funding for a sanitary sewer extension to connect the existing system to the Haven on the Farms and Pringle Enterprises properties along War Memoria Drive on the city’s northwest side.
The city council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a development agreement with Copper Creek Holdings, the Greater Peoria Sanitary District and Dean Custom Builders that clears the way for a necessary sanitary sewer easement.
City attorney Patrick Hayes said the new agreement was necessary because a “recapture agreement” with developers of the Sommer Place subdivision tied to the sewer route expired last year.
“We needed that link in order to link up this much larger sanitary sewer development through the IDOT property to the Pringle property and Haven on the Farm, all the way across [Route] 150,” said Hayes. “This agreement addresses the developers’ demands in order for us to get that attachment and the terms are reasonable from the city's perspective.”
Last September, the city approved annexation of some Illinois Department of Transportation [IDOT] properties between the Haven and Pringle businesses and the residential neighborhood to pave the way for the sewer extension.
Hayes said the city made some concessions in the agreement approved Tuesday that motivated the developers to “expedite the transaction.”
Under the agreement, the city will spend a total of $75,500, with $67,000 covering the value of a lot the developer will lose for placement of the sanitary sewer pipe. The remaining expenses cover the $4,500 value of the easement and $4,000 for crop loss and soil compaction.
Hayes said other terms have the city covering costs to install the sewer main and connections. Funding for the project will come from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act balance and a federal earmark tied to the sewer extension.
With the agreement approved, the project will continue as scheduled with completion targeted for next year.
CDBG public service funds
Council member Andre Allen sought clarification from Community Development Director Joe Dulin regarding the annual allocation of Community Development Block Grant [CDBG] public service funds, an item he pulled from the consent agenda.
“Peoria is an entitlement community, so based on the formula at HUD [U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development], they give us a certain amount of money and then 15% of that can specifically go towards public service,” said Dulin.
Peoria’s CDBG Public Services Commission reviews applications for the funding and makes recommendations to the city. It identified eight priorities for 2026: youth services for ages 13-19; child care services for 13 and under; services for persons with disabilities; crime awareness and prevention; food banks; mental health services; services for abused and neglected children; and services for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
The council unanimously approved the measure that includes an estimated $270,000 available for the 2026 fiscal year.
First readings
The council received and filed a pair of first readings that will be voted on at a future meeting, with the first amending the city’s ordinance related to whistleblower protections.
The measure will expand the definitions of “employer” and “employee,” in addition to clarifying terms such as “retaliatory action” and “public body.”
Hayes said the changes were needed after the Illinois legislature amended the state’s Whistleblower Protection Act. He said the city’s modifications bring Peoria “into compliance and consistency with those amendments.”
“Our employees have enjoyed these protections to date; I can't recall an episode where this issue has been brought to my attention where someone feels, for our organization, they need the protection of this act. But it's good that it's there,” said Hayes.
The other ordinance submitted for a first reading formally adopts the American National Standards Institute’s tree maintenance standards, as a necessary condition for the city to receive a $50,000 grant from the Morton Arboretum.
A review of the ANSI standards by city staff and a retained arborist concluded they are consistent with the city’s current practices and will not affect operational expenses.
Financial update
In detailing his report for the month ending May 31, finance director Kyle Cratty said overall general fund revenues are down 1.5% compared with the expected budget while expenses are down 1.7%.
“When we do have revenues a little bit lower, it’s also good to have our expenses going in the same direction,” said Cratty.
He pointed out that sales tax revenue is currently 15% higher than a year ago, although when considered in combination with losses in personal property replacement tax dollars, overall growth is actually in the 8%-10% range.
Cratty also noted that the current $11 million deficit in the general fund balance doesn’t yet raise a concern.
“We anticipated, budgetarily, that we'd be at a $13 million dollar deficit. So actually, we are performing better than we had anticipated,” he said.
Other business
Additional items approved on the consent agenda include:
- A consolidated five-year plan outlining needs and goals for HUD funding from the CDBG, HOME Investment Partnership, and Emergency Solutions Grant [ESG] programs, along with a one-year action plan for using the $2.6 million in grant funds for 2025;
- Awarding a $10 million contract to William Charles Construction for the MacArthur Highway improvement and rehabilitation, based on a low bid of $9.36 million and contingencies, along with an agreement with Illinois American Water to pay for the replacement of a water main;
- An agreement with IDOT to participate in the 2025 traffic signals project, with planned modernization of the stoplights at various intersections along War Memorial Drive and Knoxville Avenue, with the city’s portion of the cost not to exceed $21,201;
- A rezoning and short-term rental approval for a property in the 2700 block of Northeast Perry Avenue; and
- Accepting the committee reports from the June 17 special policy session on homelessness efforts and the combined sewer overflow [CSO] program.
The meeting’s only proclamation highlighted the Community Development department’s 10th annual Great Neighbor Appreciation Week that starts this weekend. Events will include citywide cleanups Saturday, days recognizing nonprofits and local businesses, and a community cookout next to City Hall at 5 p.m. Thursday.
