Tazewell County Board

By a narrow 10-8 vote, the board denied a special use request from Unsicker Solar to build a five-megawatt solar farm on about 52 acres northwest of the intersection of East Idlewood Street and Schmidt Road, south of Illinois Route 98 (Birchwood Street).

The estimated "all-in" price tag of $44 million for the four-level, 79,000-square-foot annex that would be built north of the 91,000-square-foot Justice Center at 101 S. Capitol St., includes construction and architectural costs, surveying costs, permitting fees, fixtures, furniture and equipment costs and a 10% contingency.

Schmidgall asked the county board if Habitat could use the $100,000 to demolish a home at 1800 American St. in Pekin and refurbish a three- bedroom home at 1814 American for a veteran's family.

Board members voted 15-4 Wednesday to not put the question of eliminating the position on the ballot, instead giving William Funkhouser, the only candidate running for auditor, an opportunity to fill the post.

A month after voting down requests by Catmint Solar for a special use extension and Coyote Road Solar for a special use, the county board voted Wednesday to approve both requests after both were placed on the meeting agenda for reconsideration.

The Tazewell County board's executive committee held discussions Wednesday on the possibility of placing a referendum to eliminate the auditor’s office on the November ballot.

Salaries for Tazewell County officials who will be elected to four-year terms on Nov. 5 were set Wednesday by the county board.

Tazewell County Board vice chairman Mike Harris is expected to keep his seat as a District 3 representative, barring a recount.

After a late November cyberattack left Tazewell County employees and officials without access to much of their online and communication, the County is nearly back to business as usual.

The 2024 election season is officially kicking off as candidates begin filing their petitions for the March 2024 primary.