A proposed raise for city employees was doubled at Monday night s meeting.
An amended resolution establishing 2% cost of living adjustments (COLA) for non-union city employees for Pekin s Fiscal Year 2022 budget passed by a 6-1 vote, with council member Rick Hilst voting against the measure. The initial resolution called for 1.09% COLA for the FY-22 budget. Council member Lloyd Orrick moved to make the amendment, with Mike Garrison seconding.
“I really believe if we were talking about (2.5%) or 3% (COLA), I would vote to lower that,” said Orrick. “With that in mind, I would amend the proposal to make it 2%.”
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the city’s wellness committee to cancel last year’s health fair for full and part-time city employees. But the Pekin City Council’s unanimous approval of an agreement with Empower Health Services, LLC means city employees will have access to biometric screenings.
Pekin council debates alley plowing, approves revised city code
Pekin Daily Times
Pekin Mayor Mark Luft quipped that a discussion on plowing and salting alleyways at Monday’s Pekin City Council meeting came at an oddly opportune time.
“I have to speak to a Girl Scout troop (Tuesday) on what it takes to get something on the agenda for a city council and get something passed, and how a bill is created and passed in Illinois,” he explained.
Luft’s chance to review the process of getting an item on a city council’s agenda came at the conclusion of new business, when council member Rick Hilst brought up concerns that some of Pekin’s alleyways had not been plowed and salted after last week’s winter storm. Pekin City Manager Mark Rothert said the city has not plowed alleyways over the past several years due to limited resources.
Pekin Council approves Court Street TIF district
Pekin Daily Times
The Pekin City Council approved the creation a Pekin Court Street tax-increment financing district during Monday’s meeting.
Following Illinois Route 29 at the Pekin city limits, the Court Street TIF district encompasses the city’s Court Street and Derby Street commercial corridors. According to Pekin City Manager Mark Rothert, the use of Tax Increment Financing along the city’s major commercial corridors will help address such issues as deteriorating infrastructure; blight and deterioration; and an economic downturn aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“TIF Districts provide a means in which communities can financially assist in the development or redevelopment of a site or area” Rothert added. “Cities can utilize the incremental increase in taxes as a result of a redevelopment project to assist with qualifying development projects. Using the incremental revenues in the TIF District, a community can u
Pekin Daily Times
The Pekin City Council unanimously approved an amendment to a construction and maintenance agreement with Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, Inc., during Monday’s meeting. But each member hesitated before voting.
“Has anybody since we’ve been sitting here together heard such long pauses before they cast their vote?” asked Mayor Mark Luft, after about 30 minutes’ discussion on the resolution.
The amendment is for the purpose of installing a large diameter pipe under the railroad tracks on Front Street as part of the city’s combined sewer overflow project, according to City Manager Mark Rothert. The original agreement with the railroad did not specify track outages. City staff and Leander Construction have worked to develop a construction schedule which projects 60 days of railroad track outages.
Tim Shelley / Peoria Public Radio
The Pekin City Council approved the creation of a new Business Development District along the Court Street Corridor.
Council members didn t mince words Monday night, saying the city s previous reluctance to offer such incentives led to major retail developments heading instead to Peoria and East Peoria. This is an opportunity that hasn t come our way in a couple decades, said Pekin Mayor Mark Luft. And if we pass up this opportunity, we re either going to stay completely idle - where you see Pekin right now - or it s going to continue to move backwards. And that s just the reality of it.