Normally the swearing in of a city clerk doesn't end with a standing ovation from the audience.
The swearing in Monday of Nicole Stewart as Pekin's new city clerk wasn't a normal occasion. Stewart, the city's deputy clerk for the past seven years, is replacing the beloved Sue McMillan, who held the city clerk job for 30 years until her death April 28 at age 73.
"You have some big shoes to fill," Mayor Mary Burress said to Stewart after the swearing in ceremony, which was followed by a standing ovation from city council members and city staff.
Stewart was appointed the city clerk by Burress with the unanimous approval of the council. City Manager John Dossey recommended Stewart's appointment to Burress.
"Given Nicole's dedication, experience, and deep understanding of the role, it was a natural decision to recommend her appointment as city clerk to the mayor," Dossey said.
"She's well prepared to carry out the responsibilities of the office thanks to the guidance and mentorship of her predecessor. This is a time of transition, and we're confident Nicole will continue to serve the city with professionalism and integrity."
Stewart will be making an annual salary of $95,000 in her new role. She formerly made about $70,000 as the deputy city clerk.
Emergency demolition cost for home approved by council
Among the other items approved unanimously Monday by the council:
• An emergency expenditure of $21,429 to demolish a home at 101 Henrietta Street after the home was severely damaged by a fire July 1 and posed a significant safety risk to the public. The home had been boarded up by the city in anticipation of future demolition.
• A contract with IT360 Inc., of Peoria for IT services including cybersecurity, compliance, networking, help desk support and project management. While the cost for the 2025-26 fiscal year will be $395,670, the net increase in spending will be about $173,000 because of reductions in the costs for in-house personnel and other contractual services.
• A three-year renewal of the city's Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, which allows the city to buy Microsoft products at a 15-45% savings compared to retail pricing and provides access to the latest software upgrades as soon as they are released. Renewal cost is $119,717.
• The appointment of JoElle Master to the Tourism Committee for a term expiring in 2027.
Vote delayed on garbage tote storage change
Items approved Monday by the council on non-unanimous votes include (dissenting votes are in parenthesis):
• delaying until the July 28 council meeting a vote on an ordinance amendment that would allow residents to store garbage containers at the front of their property (5-1-1, Jake Fletcher no, Peg Phillips abstain);
• approval of four-year contracts between the city and the union that represents employees in the solid waste and wastewater treatment departments (6-1, Rick Hilst);
• approval of the city's annual payment of $25,000 to the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, which promotes economic development in Tazewell, Peoria, Woodford, Logan and Mason counties. The GPEDC played a major role in bringing Epic Medical's $25 million medical equipment manufacturing facility project to Pekin's Riverway Business Park (6-1, Hilst);
• approval of an estimated $30,000 agreement with the Jacob & Klein law firm of Peru to do the legal work involved in making the entire Lutticken property part of the East Residential TIF district. Some of the property is already in the district. The TIF expansion would allow the city to offer TIF incentives to the developers of a proposed data center/technology park on the Lutticken property (4-3, Fletcher, Hilst, Dave Nutter).
Former Pekin police sergeant pitches cost savings plan for fuel
Joe Hitchcock, a former Pekin police sergeant who is now a partner with the Schooley Mitchell cost-reduction consultant firm, made a pitch to the council about saving the city money on its half-million-dollar-a-year bulk fuel purchase and delivery costs.
Now done through a single supplier without a contract, the fuel purchase and delivery would be done through a bidding process orchestrated by Hitchcock for a three-year contract. Before that happens, Hitchcock would analyze the city's fuel and delivery costs for six months.
The savings achieved through the analysis and bidding process would be split 50/50 between the city and Hitchcock.
Hitchcock retired from the police department in 2021. His Schooley Mitchell office is in Trivoli.
State senators coming to Pekin to meet with residents
Dossey reminded Pekin residents Monday about a "Coffee and Conversation" meeting Thursday with State Sen. Neil Anderson, State. Sen. Sally Turner and Burress.
The meeting will be from 9-10 a.m. at the Coffee Connection, 404 Court Street.
Pekin residents also are being asked to provide input for the city's comprehensive strategic plan. A public comment session is scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. July 22 in the council chambers at City Hall.
Waiting line at Five Below
Quotes from council members Monday:
• "I've seen 15-20 people waiting in line outside the new Five Below store (at the East Court Village shopping center) before it opened. I haven't seen that around here in years." — John Abel.
• "I'd like to see each council person say something positive about Pekin at each meeting." — Karen Hohimer.
Home developer considering Pekin
The city's Economic Development Advisory Committee met earlier Monday for its monthly meeting. Here are some highlights from the city staff's report to the committee:
• A visit has been scheduled for a developer who is interested in building up to 3,000 homes ranging in price from $200,000 to more than $500,000. The Lutticken property and other sites are being considered. The developer also has an interest in building out commercial areas along Veterans Drive.
• Staff met with a local developer who is interested in building downtown apartments. The developers' investors will visit the city soon.
• On the heels of Five Below opening earlier this month, Marshall's should open by Aug. 1 and Ross Dress for Less will open this fall at East Court Village. Cullinan Properties staff is working on leasing the smaller spaces at the shopping center.
• The renovation of the former Bob Evans restaurant at 3440 Court Street is nearly complete. Even though it hasn't been announced officially, Chipotle Mexican Grill is moving into the space.
• No major changes have been needed so far in the Court Street rehabilitation project.
