The Peoria County Board on Thursday approved a road use agreement with Four Creeks, LLC to utilize county roads to construct and operate a wind energy facility.
This does not mean Peoria County will approve construction of the facility. The road use agreement is the first step in a long, multi-stage regulatory process — but it was enough to draw a packed room of supporters and opponents.
The proposed 650-megawatt project would include up to 113 turbines in the northwest part of Peoria County, including all or parts of Millbrook, Princeville, Jubilee, and Brimfield townships.
County attorney Andrew Kite emphasized the vote was procedural — not a verdict on the project itself. Under county ordinance, a road use agreement must be in place before Four Creeks can even apply for a special use permit, a stage that would trigger a full public hearing where any resident can appear, submit evidence, or cross examine witnesses.
"We're not at that stage right now. We're not even close to that stage right now," said Kite.
Travis Wheat, a township board member from Millbrook who runs a horse rescue, spoke in opposition.
"My little piece of heaven is on Lawrence Road, and right now there is no obstructions to my horses, which are prey animals that we rescue from kill pens across the United States … You can't have those around windmills, because they're prey animals," he told the board.
He also alleged that some county board members have family ties to landowners who would gain financially if the project was approved. "We've not been receiving money like the participating land owners, some of whose families are sitting on the board,” he said. “And I'd invite you to recuse yourself from voting. You need to. It's the right thing to do."
Tracy Fox, a rural northeast Peoria County resident and environmentalist, offered a counterpoint. "When I think about this project, I think that we need to spend more time thinking about the public benefits rather than private inconveniences," she said.
Fox argued the project would benefit families and local governments alike, citing homegrown energy that wouldn't require long-distance transmission, more stable electricity prices, and badly needed revenue for schools, fire departments and roads.
"Please approve this beneficial agreement, and feel good about it," she told the board.
The board approved the road use agreement 16-1, with member Brian Elsasser, District 14, casting the lone dissenting vote.
Four Creeks must still negotiate agreements with four affected townships before applying for a special use permit.
Budget item
In another matter, a debate over budget transparency rounded out the meeting, with member Steven Rieker, District 15, pushing back on the practice of bundling amendments into one resolution.
"I'm not a huge fan of doing a huge bill with a lot of things in it, I'd rather be more transparent and follow our process," Rieker said.
A $400,000 consulting fee line item with no named project attached passed 14-3 after administration explained the funds would require a separate board vote before being spent.
In other business
In other business, the board:
— Honored two local animal rescues. River Kitty Cafe, a woman-owned cat cafe on North University Street that marked two years in business and 469 adoptions through its partnership with Peoria County Animal Protection Services. Grafleman Farms Rescue celebrated 10 years as a volunteer-run foster organization, placing roughly 675 animals in 2025 alone.
— Recognized DLD VIP, a Peoria Heights firearms retailer founded by Dan Dolan, for 10 years in business and growth from a local shop into a national brand.
— Recognized Sheila Quirk-Bailey on her retirement as Illinois Central College's fifth president. A workforce program she led has lifted an estimated 1,800 people out of poverty over five years, with participants earning an average of $33,000 more annually after completing it.
— Approved $193,836 in road engineering contracts for Mossville Road and Kickapoo Edwards Road; and
— Noted the county coroner's office has earned accreditation from the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, one of only four offices in Illinois to hold the designation.
