Tazewell County Board

Tazewell County's budget process received a shot in the arm Wednesday.

New County Board Chairman Brett Grimm ran his first regular monthly board meeting since taking the reins from David Zimmerman, who retired late last year after 27 years as chairman.

Brett Grimm is only a few weeks into his new role as chairman of the Tazewell County Board, adapting to the requirements of the position. The former county auditor is eager to guide Tazewell County in the years ahead, but he's also not planning to rush into making major changes.

Pekin Mayor Mayor Burress says she “cannot speak” to why her name was mentioned during a plea hearing Wednesday in Tazewell County Court.

A divided Tazewell County Board on Wednesday approved a guaranteed maximum price agreement with construction manager P.J. Hoerr for the construction of the county's Justice Center Annex.

Two former Tazewell County Board candidates pleaded guilty Wednesday to failing to comply with the Illinois election code.

Board members Wednesday approved the budget, which includes $137,721,219 in expenditures, a slight decrease from the $138,127,456 that's expected to be spent in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

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.