Gas stations in Pekin have been given the opportunity to sell packaged liquor.
The Pekin City Council voted 5-1 this week to allow gas stations to apply for the requisite liquor license.
City staff and the city's liquor commission each recommended approval of the ordinance amendment, which will take effect May 1 to coincide with the city's liquor license renewal cycle.
"This change doesn't automatically grant licenses, but allows gas stations to apply for consideration under the same review and compliance standards as other applicants," said Josh Wray, the city's economic development director.
At least two previous efforts several years ago to allow gas stations in Pekin to sell package liquor failed.
During those discussions, Wray said, concerns were raised that lifting the ban would hurt existing liquor establishments.
"Municipal regulation should not be used to restrict legitimate market competition among licensed businesses," he said.
Council member Jake Fletcher agreed, saying, "We shouldn't cause hardship to a business."
Retail Strategies, the city's business recruitment consultant, projects the city will receive about $185,000 annually in additional sales tax revenue by allowing gas stations to sell packaged liquor.
Wray doesn't think it will be that much, but it will add to the city's bottom line.
Rick Hilst voted the lone "no" vote, while Karen Hohimer was absent.
Wray said Pekin was one of only a few area communities that banned the sale of package liquor at gas stations.
Recycling pickup change a 'disservice'
A staff decision announced earlier this month to change from weekly to bi-weekly recycling pickup has angered many residents, according to at least one council member.
Although the new collection schedule will begin Monday, the council will discuss the change at its March 9 meeting after receiving information about why the move was made.
Modifications to the change, which includes offering residents a larger recycling tote for $60, could be made as a result of the discussion.
Fletcher began a conversation about the switch at this week's meeting, saying he starting hearing complaints about the move before the council was aware the change was taking place.
"I didn't think I could get more negative emails than I have about the data center, but I was wrong," he said. "This recycling thing's not gonna work."
Fletcher then read an email from a resident he'd received earlier that day.
"'This is a disservice to the more conscientious people of the city, the people who choose to recycle,' Fletcher read. "Everyone should be encouraged to recycle more, not less.'"
Several residents wrote in emails to him that they were angry about the switch, Fletcher said.
"Not as angry as I am," he said. "I've been up here for nine months [since he was elected]. All I've heard is transparency, transparency, transparency.
"We [council] have received no information about why this was done. This change affects every residence in Pekin."
The change was made by Public Works Director Simon Grimm because a member of the city's solid waste department took a job in the street department.
"We're trying to achieve operational efficiency," said City Manager John Dossey. "Other communities around us like Peoria and East Peoria have gone from weekly to bi-weekly recycling pickup.
"We've been talking about doing this for two years. This is an opportunity to do it. We're not cutting service in half, as some have said."
City, high school bus talks continue
In other action this week, the council:
• Tabled a decision on a lease agreement with District 303 for Pekin Community High School's use of the city's school bus department office and parking lot. City and school officials are meeting this week to go over the terms of the lease. The city is handing over school bus transportation operations to the high school this summer.
• Approved a tax increment financing/business development district [TIF/BDD] agreement with Twisted Spoke Saloon, which is reopening at 251 Derby Street after being closed for 18 months. The business owner will receive an $85,000 forgivable loan with a five-year term to help cover building renovation costs. Among requirements for the loan are that Twisted Spoke must generate $17,000 in sales tax revenue for the city in each of the loan's five years, or the owner must cover the difference.
• Approved a TIF agreement with Pekin Alignment & Auto Body, which is moving from 25 S. 2nd Street to 716 Court Street because of business growth. The owners can receive as much as $125,000 in property tax rebates through the 2034 tax year.
• Tabled until March 9 an agreement with Lisa Fuller, owner of Olivia's Playhouse, to release her from a 2024 TIF agreement that provided her with a grant of close to $50,000 for building renovation work even though she's violating the TIF agreement by not staying at her downtown location at 341 Court Street for five years. She's moving to a larger building on N. 11th Street because of business growth. Council members had some legal concerns about that action.
• Approved a TIF agreement with Calvin and Martha Willard for their new $300,000 home at 23 Osprey Court. The Willards will receive up to $39,500 in property tax rebates over a 10-year period.
• Extended the due diligence period from Feb. 28 to June 30 for JPG Commercial Real Estate of Peoria, which plans to purchase city land in front of Menards on Court Street for commercial development. JPG is still negotiating with Menards for permission to access the site through the Menards property.
• Approved an agreement with Jeff Lynn to purchase a small city-owned property at the dead end of Coolidge Avenue and 13th Street. Lynn lives next door to the property. He wants to build a garage there. The sale price is $1, with Lynn agreeing to do improvements including sidewalk, curb and gutter work that will cost more than $10,000.
• Approved spending an additional $18,000 so Hoerr Construction of Peoria can do sanitary sewer lining work in problem areas identified by the city's street department and the company. Total cost for Hoerr for the 2025-26 fiscal year is now more than $145,000.
• Approved the city's recognition of February as Black History Month.
• Was informed about Christine Dunn's resignation from the tourism committee.
