Pekin City Council

A request by Tazewell County Resource Centers for a TIF commercial building improvement grant to help pay for renovations at its downtown Pekin building was barely approved Monday by the city council.

The Pekin City Council on Monday unanimously approved renewing the city's annual contract with Flock Safety for the 54 license plate reading cameras installed throughout the community.

The 1,000-acre Lutticken property belongs to Pekin. Mayor Mary Burress announced Monday the city had closed earlier in the day on its $14 million purchase of the property.

Normally the swearing in of a city clerk doesn't end with a standing ovation from the audience. The swearing in Monday of Nicole Stewart as Pekin's new city clerk wasn't a normal occasion.

Low-speed gas-powered bicycles have been banned from Pekin streets and sidewalks. The Pekin City Council approved an ordinance amendment proposed by Police Chief Seth Ranney to ban the bikes.

Pekin officials said Monday the city is continuing efforts to seek foreclosure on the property at 2801 Court St. that formerly was the site of a Motel 6 and McCritter's Bar & Grill.

The Pekin City Council on Monday approved the sale of about 321 acres of the Lutticken Farm property to Western Hospitality Partners for $4.5 million so it can build a data center.

Three agenda items that failed to pass a week earlier were passed Monday by the Pekin City Council during a special meeting.

Four agenda items, including the city's proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget, went down to defeat Monday at a Pekin City Council meeting.

Pekin has landed a medical equipment manufacturing facility that's expected to create more than 100 jobs and generate more than $300,000 annually in property tax revenue.