The city of Pekin is shutting down its school bus department after more than 20 years of providing transportation for Pekin Community High School students.
This is the final school year for the service. The high school has brought in city bus department director and assistant director Saskia Courtney and Ryan Giles to assist it with the transition.
By a narrow 4-3 vote Monday, the Pekin City Council approved paying Courtney and Giles a total of $10,000 in retention bonuses to help ensure they remain on the job until June 2026, when the city's contract for bus transportation with the high school expires.
"To some extent, the employment, it's an insurance policy," said city financial consultant Bob Grogan, noting it's more affordable than having to find replacements if they would leave. "It's a hedge against that."
The money for the bonuses will come from the high school in June 2026 after the transition is complete and if Courtney and Giles are still employed by the city.
The bonuses also are compensation for the extra work that will be done by Courtney and Giles over the next several months, even though "they'll be doing significantly the same work for the city and high school," said City Manager John Dossey.
Council members who voted for the bonuses said there would be financial and logistical consequences if Courtney and/or Giles leave before the end of the school year.
"If we have to hire someone to do what they're doing, it would cost a lot more than $10,000," said Mayor Mary Burress.
"They'll be doing two jobs," said council member Karen Hohimer.
"I look at the bonuses as a reward for staying until the end," said council member Peg Phillips.
"I don't see anything wrong with this arrangement," said council member John Abel. "Nothing is being done under the table."
Council members Rick Hilst, Jake Fletcher and Dave Nutter cast the no votes. Hilst called the bonuses "double dipping."
Fletcher said city taxpayers will still be footing the bill for the bonuses because they also pay taxes to the high school.
Nutter asked if Courtney and Giles will receive their usual city benefits while doing work for the high school during the transition period and was told they will.
Business openings announced
Also at Monday's council meeting:
• Dossey announced that the Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant at 3440 Court Street will open Sept. 23, and the Marshalls store in the East Court Village shopping center will open Sept. 25. Ross Dress for Less, also in East Court Village, has a tentative opening date of Oct. 10, Dossey said.
• Finance Director Eric Dubrowski said catch up work on required city financial audits is moving along quickly. The city expects to receive a draft of the 2022-23 fiscal year audit in October, then materials for the 2023-24 fiscal year audit will be submitted.
• The reasoning for an emergency demolition of a home at 219 Hamilton Street costing $24,730 was explained to the council. The home was severely damaged by a fire in the early morning hours of Aug. 26. After inspecting the home, Chief Building Official Nic Maquet and Pekin Fire Department officials determined it "posed an immediate and significant threat to public health and safety," Dossey said, so he authorized an emergency demolition in accordance with city policy. Peoria-based JIMAX Group did the demolition work.
