East Peoria city leaders have agreed to spend $5.2 million for more than 270 acres of undeveloped farmland near the city’s northeast side in hopes of future residential growth.
“This is probably one of the smartest things we’ve ever done, and I want to do it again,” Commissioner Mike Sutherland said Tuesday shortly before the East Peoria City Council approved the purchase with a unanimous vote.
The three parcels, known as the Keil & Blye Farm, are located between Centennial Drive, U.S. 24, and Grange Road. The city submitted a successful bid after learning the property was headed to auction.
“We took swift action to make sure we participated in this auction,” said Mayor John Kahl. “It was a unanimous decision by this council to participate, and we were successful in our bid to secure all three tracts. That allows the city to control what that development looks like.”
Prior to the meeting, Kahl posted on social media that the city would not consider any use of the land for a data center or a commercial solar project. He reiterated that position during the meeting.
“I want people to rest assured, a data center is out of the equation. So is a solar farm,” he said.
Concerns over what the land would be used for stemmed in part from a private solar facility along Springfield Road, and a Dollar General store built in 2020.
“With the city owning the property, not only can we restrict what can go in there and what type of development would go in there, but we truly have the ability to listen to our residents as far as what’s allowed or what’s not allowed,” said Commissioner Seth Mingus.
“Where, if we don’t own that property, really we don’t have a lot of control outside of creating zoning that will or won’t allow things.”
“The State of Illinois has made it very difficult for cities to stop solar farms from going in in a place that the city would like to have residential growth,” added Commissioner Dan Decker. “So when this property came up, that was one of my concerns.”
While there are no firm plans in place for the property, Kahl said the hope for developing a new neighborhood ties into the 20-year comprehensive plan the council adopted earlier this year.
“Our areas of opportunity for residential growth are limited. This is one of few opportunities the city has left to expand residential,” he said.
The sale price amounts to $19,100 per acre, plus closing costs. The city was required to make a down payment of slightly more than $520,000. The council also voted unanimously to approve a supplemental appropriations ordinance to facilitate the sale.
CBA with police union
In another matter, the council voted unanimously to ratify a three-year collective bargaining agreement with union police officers, retroactive to May 1.
The contract negotiated with the Policemen’s Benevolent Labor Committee gives officers a 2.5% wage increase in the first year and 3% raises in each subsequent year.
Kahl also noted the new contract was built around regular 12-hour, straight-time shifts for the officers, a staffing plan that had already been in place on a trial basis.
“When they tried out the 12-hour shifts, from our perspective, they put more officers on the streets because you’re down to two shifts,” he explained.
“Basically, I felt like with public safety being as paramount as we’ve made it as a council, it was more imperative to have more officers on the street at any given time.”
