The two downtown pocket parks in Pekin are getting stronger security.
The city council this week approved the purchase and installation of a security-grade camera at each location for about $10,000.
"These will replace the home consumer cellular units currently providing motion-activated security coverage," said David Hess, the city's network support administrator.
"Because of the increase in vandalism, illegal drug use and vagrancy in these parks, there's a need for continuous coverage to help curb these activities."
City Manager John Dossey said the cameras will tie into the camera system the police department uses, so the videos can be used for evidentiary purposes.
East Peoria-based Heart Technologies will supply and install the cameras.
In a related action, the council approved replacing the eight cameras and recording system that document transactions at the payment counter at City Hall. Hess said the cameras and system were overdue for replacement, with one camera out of service.
The new system will have sufficient capacity to maintain a 60-day record of counter transactions, and a 30-day history for the pocket parks, said Hess.
"Combining both projects allows us to save money by sharing the recorder and increasing the drive size," he said.
Heart Technologies also will do the City Hall project at a cost of about $25,000.
Sidewalk grant
Pekin plans to apply for an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program [ITEP] grant that would cover 80% of the cost of a project to improve downtown sidewalks.
The council sets the wheels in motion for an application by approving a resolution that the city would cover the remaining 20% of the $2.5 million project cost.
"Anytime you can get 80% funding for something that to me is the most important thing that we're supposed to be working on, which is our streets, sidewalks and infrastructure, you do whatever it takes to get that done," said council member Jake Fletcher. "I'm all on board with this."
The proposed project focuses on the sidewalks around the Tazewell County Courthouse, as well as the intersection of Court and Capitol streets.
"There are some really bad sidewalks there," Fletcher said.
The scope and cost of the project can change.
Other business
In other action at this week's meeting:
- The council approved two changes to a land purchase option agreement with New York-based Ambient Fuels, which seeks to build a $550 million methanol production plant on about 50 acres in the Riverway Business Park. The option for Ambient Fuels to buy the land for $1 million was extended two years until 2029. Quarterly payments by Ambient Fuels to the city were increased from $7,500 in Year 1 and $16,750 in Year 2 to $18,750 and $21,250 in Years 3 and 4. The project has been delayed by the state's former moratorium on carbon dioxide lines that halted the development of carbon sequestration. The Ambient Fuels plant would not send out carbon dioxide. A small line would bring carbon dioxide into the plant.
- The council approved repairs to the traffic signal at Court and Parkway Street that was damaged by a lightning strike this summer. The $15,750 cost is covered by insurance.
- Dossey said state senators Neil Anderson and Sally Turner will meet with constituents from 8-9 a.m. Wednesday at the Coffee Connection, 404 Court. Pekin Mayor Mary Burress also will be there. Answering complaints on social media about the times for the session, Dossey said the state legislators, not the city, set the schedule.
- Dossey said a free bulky item drop-off will be held from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the street department building, 1208 Koch Street.
- Burress said the city's 2024-25 fiscal year audit is expected to be on a council agenda in October, with the 2025-26 audit to follow in early 2027. She also said revenue and expense projections for the 2026-27 budget are "spot on" so far.
