The Washington City Council has created a new city leadership role: Deputy city administrator.
It’s not an entirely new position, as the person taking the role must be a city department head.
The deputy city administrator responsibilities will be added to the person’s job description. The person’s salary will be determined by the council, and the individual must complete training in municipal government management and administration.
The city council's vote Monday to create the deputy city administrator role was 5-1. John Blundy cast the "no" vote, while Mike McIntyre and Todd Sluder did not attend the meeting.
“This is one of those, to me, that just kind of stands out right now as it’d be nice to have,” said Blundy. “But I don't see it as a [position] that we really need right now.”
One of the reasons for the deputy city administrator role is to provide continuity in case the city administrator leaves or is fired. Washington has had five city administrators since 2015.
The deputy city administrator will automatically become the interim city administrator if the city administrator position is vacant.
City code formerly required the mayor to become the interim city administrator if the job was open.
That will only happen now if the city administrator and deputy city administrator are temporarily absent or each position is vacant.
The deputy city administrator and mayor will remain in the interim positions until a new city administrator is hired, or an interim or acting city administrator is brought in.
Park District to annex ‘223’ property
In other action at the council's meeting:
• Council approved the Washington Park District’s request to annex the city’s “223” property along U.S. Route 24. The vote was 5-1-1, with Blundy casting the “no” vote and Brandon Moss abstaining because of his business' connections to the park district. Blundy said the city shouldn’t have to pay about $700 in additional property taxes annually because of the annexation. The city pays property taxes on the “223” land because it receives income from a cash farm lease.
• Council approved continuing its annual cash farm lease on the “223” property with Aaron Vercler that has been in place since 2018. The agreement for 2026 calls for a base rent of $376 per acre for about 200 tillable acres plus a profit-sharing formula for soybean production.
• Council approved submitting an application to the Illinois State Historical Society for the Candlewood Bridge to receive a state historical marker after repairs of the bridge are completed. The bridge was built in 1894 and named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
• Council approved allowing the mayor to remove a member of a city committee or commission who misses three consecutive meetings or has other attendance issues. Council can veto the mayor’s decision with a two-thirds vote.
• Council approved the police department’s purchase of policy services from Texas-based Lexipol for a not-to-exceed $30,000 for two years. The majority of the cost will be covered by grants.
• Council approved the city’s annual home rule sales tax revenue rebate for 2025 with Core & Main. Under the 2021 agreement, which is in the third of eight years following Core & Main’s completion of a project to build a new Washington location, the city must rebate Core & Main the home rule sales tax revenue it generates in Washington beyond $50,000 in a year up to a maximum of $20,000.
• Council honored the IESA Class 2A state champion Washington Middle School baseball team, and proclaimed Nov. 9 as Washington Historical Society Roots Celebration Day. Washington Community High School graduate John McLees, a former Chicago-based lawyer known for his efforts to reform the criminal justice system in Illinois, is this year’s recipient of the society's Roots award. McLees will be honored Nov. 9.
• First readings were held for a new solicitor ordinance; an ordinance amendment that allows a recreational vehicle or travel trailer equipped with a gas- or electric-powered refrigerator to park on a city street for 24 hours over a seven-day period; and a renewal of the city’s intergovernmental agreement with Washington Township for CityLift to provide paratransit bus service. Votes on the items are expected Nov. 3.
Sale of Tangled Roots buildings nears
Here are highlights of department heads’ reports to the council:
• The sale of buildings at 120 and 126 Walnut Street from the developer of the Tangled Roots Craft Beer & Kitchen restaurant on the downtown square to Baldovin Construction of Peoria should be finalized soon. The former Knights of Columbus Hall at 120 Walnut is expected to be converted into an event center and the 126 Walnut building, most recently Prep Freeze Cook, is expected to become a retail space. Those also were the plans of restaurant developer CLRED, which purchased the 120 and 126 Walnut buildings for $172,500 and $140,000, respectively, in 2022.
• The city has been awarded a $2,500 “Right Tree, Right Place” grant from Ameren. The money will go toward the purchase and planting of trees at the northwest intersection of U.S. Route 24 and Dallas Road. The trees will be planted in the spring.
• A soft opening is tentatively planned in November for J&J Toppers and Truck Accessories, which is moving from East Peoria to a new building at 1875 Constitution Street in Washington. Equipment and products are being set up inside the building.
• The police department’s new evidence building next to the Washington Fire Station should be completed by the end of October.
• The search has begun to replace longtime city finance director Joanie Baxter, who is retiring next year.
