The 111-year-old Tazewell County Courthouse in Pekin is having some long-awaited work done.
The county board on Wednesday approved hiring Summit Masonry of Peoria, a subsidiary of P.J. Hoerr, to clean and seal the exterior of the building for a not-to-exceed cost of $120,000.
Some board members were not happy because the project wasn't bid out, even though it exceeded the county's $30,000 threshold for bidding.
County officials point to a long-standing strong relationship with P.J. Hoerr, with the company overseeing renovations and improvements at several county buildings. They also say a lack of bidders and unqualified bidders over the years made the courthouse exterior work a special case.
"We finally have a solution," said board Chairman Brett Grimm.
"Everyone wants this done properly," said Mike Schone, the county's facilities maintenance director.
Board member Greg Longfellow said the county has a procurement process in place for a reason.
"And it has served us well," said board member Russ Crawford. "I'll vote for this project, but I worry about it becoming a slippery slope. I'm going to vote 'no' the next time something like this comes up."
The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Other business
In other action during Wednesday's meeting:
• The board approved paying an additional $21,853 for materials and labor for a project to replace and repair exterior bricks at the McKenzie Building. The original cost of the project was $134,890, approved by the board in August 2024. Western Specialty Contractors of Springfield is doing the work.
• The board approved paying $47,000 to P.J. Hoerr to replace the public service counter and countertop in the circuit clerk's office in the courthouse.
• The board approved appropriating matching funds of at least $295,388 for a three-county guardrail improvement project. The Illinois Department of Transportation is splitting the cost of the project with Tazewell, Peoria and Woodford counties.
• The board approved a four-year salary schedule for the county treasurer. Hannah Clark is currently being paid $99,198. The salary will increase to $102,174 on Dec. 1, 2026, and eventually to $111,649 on Dec. 1, 2029, plus an annual $6,500 stipend from the state. Clark is up for reelection next year.
• The board approved changes to two Pekin polling places necessitated by the closure of Northside Community Church. Pekin Precinct No. 1's polling place is now First Christian Church, 1201 Chestnut Street, while Precinct No. 6's polling place is the Miller Center, 551 S. 14th Street.
• The board approved a road use agreement with Fast Ave. Solar for a 4.99-megawatt solar farm that will be built on approximately 37.7 acres at 33885 Fast Avenue in Mackinaw.
• The board approved a three-year contract with CliftonLarsonAllen of Peoria to do audit work. Annual fees range from $147,900 in the first year to $162,900 in the third year, plus a 5% technology and client support fee.
• Glen Gullette of Pekin was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a five-year term to fill a vacancy. Gullette is a former Tazewell County employee in the community development department and has done planning/zoning and building inspection work for several county communities.
"I've been watching the work of the ZBA since 1978. This is one of the best," said Crawford, a longtime board member. "They're dealing with many challenges because of the state. Glen will add to that wonderful work."
• Jeff Stevens, Abigail Hobbs, Michael Kemp, Steve Leitch, John Dossey and Ed Meister were appointed to the Emergency Telephone System Board for four-year terms.
Stevens is the Washington Police Chief; Hobbs is the director of Tazewell County Consolidated Communications; Kemp is with the Deer Creek Police Department; Leitch is a Morton Village Board member; and Dossey is the Pekin city manager. Meister is an East Peoria resident.
• Nic Maquet, Pekin's chief building official, was reappointed to the Lake Arlann Drainage District board for a three-year term.
