East Peoria celebrated the opening of its new city hall facility last night. A new foundation also aims to raise money for the surrounding land:
The more than $2 million city hall building on West Washington Street is joined with the Fondulac District library, and consolidates office space from around the city.
Officials also unveiled conceptual plans for the Civic Park adjacent to the city hall, that includes gardens, sculptures and a water feature. To that end, City Commissioner Gary Densberger says the newly-announced East Peoria Foundation is accepting donations from businesses and residents:
“I think it’s a great approach, because while I would love to see the Civic Triangle built out, I don’t think that’s something we want to do with tax money. We have a lot of other needs, but it’d be a great addition for the community.”
Both Morton Community Bank and Cullinan Properties each donated 80-thousand-dollars to the foundation. In other business, the East Peoria City Council voted to support a nearly one-percent property tax increase, that will cost the owner of a $150,000 home an additional $10 a year.