The Pekin City Council on Monday unanimously approved renewing the city's annual contract with Flock Safety for the 54 license plate reading cameras installed throughout the community.
The $163,000 cost is being covered by a multi-year state grant.
Pekin Police Chief Seth Ranney and City Manager John Dossey, the former police chief, praised the Flock readers, and dismissed concerns that they gather more information than a vehicle's license plate number.
"The readers are one of our most invaluable tools in investigating serious crimes, and narcotics trafficking investigations," Ranney said. "Instead of five or six officers driving around town trying to locate a vehicle, we're usually able to track down the vehicle in an expeditious manner."
Dossey said the readers are one way technology can help the police department do a better job at a reduced cost.
He also noted that while he was still police chief, "we were able – because of the readers – to resolve a criminal matter that resulted in the deaths of two people that we couldn't have resolved otherwise."
Council member John Abel said the city paying for the readers is a no-brainer.
"Every camera is another set of eyes on the street," he said.
Ranney said the readers average about 5.5 million reads per month, and the reads only show the rear license plate on a vehicle. They're not capturing information about the driver and passengers.
Deputy police chief retiring
In other news from Monday's council meeting:
• Dossey and Ranney praised Deputy Police Chief Courtney Hutchinson, who is retiring this month after a 20-year career with the department. Ranney said Hutchinson is "smart, articulate and has a wealth of knowledge" and will be missed.
• In response to a question from council member Dave Nutter, Public Works Director Simon Grimm said the traffic lights in the four-way stop at the intersection of Court Street and 5th Street in the heart of the downtown business district will remain flashing. "Traffic flow has been good there, and I haven't noticed any bottlenecks caused by the flashing lights," Nutter said.
• Council approved residential TIF funding for Steve Weibring, who recently closed on a home built at 1913 Velde Drive. Weibring will receive a maximum of $40,000 in property tax rebates over no more than 10 years for the home, which is valued at more than $400,000. The vote for the TIF agreement was 6-1, with Rick Hilst casting the no vote.
• Council unanimously approved the purchase of a rotary lift system for the vehicle maintenance department. The $78,268 system – NAPA Auto Parts, which has a store in Pekin, had the low quote – will replace the post mount lifts in the vehicle maintenance facility that are beyond their expected lifespan and not being used because of safety concerns.
Pekin library annual report
The Pekin Public Library provided a copy to the council of its annual report to the Illinois State Library. The report covers the Pekin library's 2024-25 fiscal year, which ended April 30.
Here are some highlights of the report:
LIBRARY USE
• Patron visits: 140,828
• Registered borrowers: 7,080
• Circulation of library materials: 181,242
• Program attendance: 22,139
• Meeting room rental attendance: 2,318
• One-on-one technology training sessions: 1,971
• Public computer sessions: 17,266
• Passports processed: 380 ($12,864 revenue)
• Notarized documents: 580
HOMELESS ISSUES
• Endowment funds were used to secure the Children's Garden with a gate.
• Rules for use of the library facility and grounds were strengthened.
• Additional security equipment was installed.
• Library staff received more than four hours of de-escalation training.
COLLABORATION
• The library partnered with area school districts and other local governmental bodies and not-for-profit organizations that have a stake in the literacy success of the community to form the Pekin Alliance for Literacy.
• The library teamed with several other Tazewell County libraries to raise funds through grants to bring Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to the county. In the program, children from birth through age 5 receive a new book each month. As of April 30, more than 600 eligible children from Pekin (25%) had registered for the program, and 2,612 eligible children from Tazewell County (37%) had signed up.
New life for eyesore motel?
Here are highlights of Josh Wray's report to the city's Economic Development Advisory Committee for its monthly meeting Monday. Wray is the city's economic development director.
COMMERCIAL
• City staff met with the new partner of the owners of the shuttered eyesore Motel 6 on Court Street. The partner is an experienced hotel developer/redeveloper and he plans to spend up to $15 million to bring the location back to life with a different brand.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill should open by the end of September.
• City staff met with a franchise owner of Scooter's Coffee, who is looking to build in Pekin. High morning traffic volume is the biggest need for the business.
INDUSTRIAL
• Epic Medical plans to finalize its construction contracts this month and company officials plan to visit Pekin the last week of August.
• City staff met with a wine distributor that wants to build a distribution facility in the Midwest. The distributor is looking for 3-5 acres for the facility with easy access to highways.
• City staff met with Vanilla Bug Spray officials to discuss options for expanding its manufacturing operations in Pekin.
• Ambient Fuels continues to plan its site and buildings.
RESIDENTIAL
• City staff hosted a developer who is interested in building up to 2,000 homes ranging in price from $200,000 to more than $500,000. The Luttiken property and other sites were discussed.
• City staff met for the third time with a local developer and his investors to discuss their plans for 60-72 apartment units in the downtown area. The plans include commercial spaces on the first floor of some of the buildings.
CITY PROJECTS
• The city is awaiting a decision on a $10 million grant application for Derby Street rehabilitation. Grant awards are expected to be announced by Sept. 1.
• IDOT has given its first approval on plans to resurface Broadway Street from near Parkway Drive to 14th Street. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2027.
• IDOT has given the city permission to continue with land acquisition for the Veterans Drive extension.
• The 8th Street through 10th Street portion of the Court Street rehabilitation project will include only water main work this fall. The road will be patched so it can be used during the winter.
