A request by Tazewell County Resource Centers for a TIF commercial building improvement grant to help pay for renovations at its downtown Pekin building was approved narrowly Monday by the Pekin City Council.
TCRC, a not-for-profit organization, offers programs and services that benefit central Illinois residents with developmental disabilities and visual impairments. It expanded into a former Busey Bank building at 33 S. 4th Street in downtown Pekin in 2023. TCRC also has a location in Tremont.
"I do not feel comfortable giving not-for-profits TIF funding. They pay zero into the TIF fund," said council member Dave Nutter, one of three "no" votes in a 4-3 decision.
City Manager John Dossey said what Nutter said is true, but "TCRC provides many services to the community."
"TCRC is a very meaningful place to many people," said Mayor Mary Burress, who voted for approval of the grant along with John Abel, Karen Hohimer and Peg Phillips. Jake Fletcher and Rick Hilst joined Nutter in voting "no."
TCRC was one of six applicants in the first round of the city's new TIF grant program, which can award up to $100,000 in grants this fiscal year – no more than $50,000 or no more than 50% of eligible project expenses per recipient.
Three of the six applicants remained in the running Monday for a grant and each was approved.
Grants for Pottsies Place and Phat Jax Custom Cycle were approved 6-1, with Hilst voting "no" on each request. Each business received a $10,000 grant for building renovations.
TCRC's original request for a $26,000 grant was reduced on a recommendation of the city's Economic Development Advisory Committee.
Three other grant applicants came up empty this round.
The Pekin Moose Lodge withdrew its application; Sangalli's Italian Steakhouse has applied for assistance from a different TIF program; and Tadoughs was removed from the applicant list by the council.
In another TIF-related item Monday, council voted unanimously to extend the Aug. 28 project completion deadline for Terri and Baylee Gambetti, who are renovating a building at 437 Court Street in downtown Pekin. Their contractor is waiting for materials. The deadline is now Dec. 31.
The Gambettis, mother and daughter, were approved to receive $55,000 in TIF funding for work at the historic Arlington Building, most recently the site of the Instant Replay Sports Bar.
"We want to bring more people to downtown Pekin, so we're hoping to put a retail store in there," Terri Gambetti said. "I want to thank Josh Wray and Nic Maquet for being so kind and patient with us. They've been so helpful in helping a blonde and redhead renovate a 130-year-old building."
Wray is Pekin's economic development director. Maquet is the chief building official.
Airport solar project shelved
A South Carolina company that planned to build a community solar development at the Pekin Municipal Airport shelved the project last month, blaming the federal government's passage of the "Big Beautiful Bill Act."
An option and lease agreement between Alder Energy Development and the city was approved by the council in 2024.
The farmland proposed for the development generates about $4,200 annually for the city. With the solar project on the property, the city expected to earn about $60,000 annually starting in the 2027-28 fiscal year.
A letter last month from Alder general manager Craig Knowlton to the city explained Alder's decision.
"The BBB severely shortened the available time to develop and build a solar project that receives federal tax incentives, which are essential to the financial viability of this project," Knowlton wrote.
"With the new policy, there simply is not enough time to apply for interconnection, wait in the multi-year Ameren queue, complete civil engineering and permitting work, procure materials and build the solar system.
"Community solar projects in Illinois' Ameren territory will not pencil-out without any federal tax credits, and projects that are not construction-ready during the next 12 months cannot secure financing anymore ... I expect that solar installations across the country will drop by 60-80% within the next few years as a result of recent law."
Council did not need to vote on Alder's decision.
Ground-mounted solar energy systems
An ordinance amendment that would have required a special use permit for a residential ground-mounted solar energy system and listed maintenance requirements for the system was defeated by a 4-3 vote.
Fletcher, Hilst, Nutter and Phillips cast the "no" votes.
"Just like my 'no' vote a while back on banning motorized bikes, I'm not in favor of taking away residents' rights," Fletcher said.
"Having people go through the special use request process for this is a lot to ask," Phillips said. "Anyway, solar is going to blow up (because of the anti-solar sentiment in the federal government)."
CityLink will stay in Pekin
Greater Peoria Mass Transit, better known as CityLink, will continue to offer public transportation in Pekin.
According to the terms of an intergovernmental agreement approved by the council, CityLink will provide transportation and vehicles, maintain the vehicles and other assets, and operate the transportation system.
Pekin will maintain the bus stops in the city, and pay CityLink no more than $210,000 through June 30, 2026.
CityLink's bus service in Pekin runs from 7:45 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Pekin-Peoria route, with costs split by the two cities, runs 12 times daily. Pekin North and Pekin South routes each run 11 times daily. CityLink offers a complimentary ADA paratransit service anywhere with 3/4 miles of the three routes.
According to CityLink, there are about 100,000 rider trips in Pekin annually.
Council members asked for information on how many Pekin residents ride CityLink buses, and if shelters could be placed at bus stops around town.
The vote for the intergovernmental agreement was 6-0, with Hilst abstaining because he needed more information about CityLink services.
Pekin has a new city logo
In other action (no votes in parentheses):
• The council approved a new city brand concept – and logo – created by McDaniels Marketing of Pekin that will serve as the foundation for marketing activities developed by McDaniels over the next three years. Variations of the logo, which has a marigold as its main focus, will be created for places like the Riverway Business Park. The logo will contain the city's new slogan, "Your Place to Grow." The brand concept will be incorporated into a new city website and marketing efforts done by Retail Strategies, which was hired by the city to help attract national businesses to Pekin. The vote was 5-2 for the new brand concept. The former city logo was created in 2010, also by McDaniels. The city slogan on that logo was "Community. Opportunity. Home." (Hilst, Phillips).
• The council unanimously approved an ordinance amendment that allows a small trailer to be parked on a residential driveway or approved parking surface as long as the trailer is well maintained, no greater than 20 feet from hitch to tail or encroaches on city right-of-way, among other requirements. Homeowners association rules supersede city regulations.
• The council approved entering into a service agreement with former Pekin Police Sgt. Joe Hitchcock of Crystal Creek Advisory Group of Trivoli, a subsidiary of Stratford, Ontario-based Schooley Mitchell Services, which is tasked with reducing the city's fuel costs through an active bid/negotiation process. The city is currently using a passive request for proposals process. Cost for the service is 50% of the city's savings, which is calculated by subtracting the new fuel price from a previously established baseline cost. The vote was 6-1 (Phillips).
• The council unanimously approved a contract renewal for air time for 110 school bus radios from Elgin-based Radilink for the 2025-26 school year, from Sept. 1 through June 30, 2026. Cost of the air time is about $30,000.
• The council approved a contract agreement between the city and the Teamsters Chauffeurs and Helpers Local Union 627 that will be in effect through April 30, 2028. The vote was 6-0, with Hilst abstaining.
