PEORIA In two weeks, the city of Peoria could make history by having the first city-run land bank in the state.
The council had the first reading Tuesday of a measure that will create the land bank that would manage the vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties within the city limits.
Council members could give final approval to the measure at their next regular business meeting on May 11.
They initially had been asked to approve the measure Tuesday after a single night of discussion. However, multiple members wanted more community input and a public meeting is expected next week, though a date has not yet been set.
PEORIA
The Peoria City Council on Tuesday could vote to create a land bank as a way to help spur development on currently vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties.
And if it is approved, the measure will be the state s first city-run land bank, according to a memo to council members. It comes with $300,000 in funding from the state. I believe this money will allow the city to have a more focused and strategic process in place to deal with abandoned and blighted properties within the community, Joe Dulin, the city s assistant community development director, told the Journal Star on Monday. And this will allow the city to return properties back to the private market.
For years before this election and for weeks during the campaign, both finalists for Peoria mayor have been profiles in perseverance.
Now that election day has come and gone, Rita Ali and Jim Montelongo will have to persevere a little longer.
When votes were tabulated Tuesday night, there was no decisive outcome. Of about 16,000 votes cast, Montelongo was ahead by 73. He received 7,983 votes to 7,910 for Ali, a fellow City Council member.
Outstanding vote-by-mail ballots, due April 20, probably hold the key to deciding who will replace incumbent Jim Ardis. Updates to the count are scheduled for Thursday, Monday, and on April 14, 16 and 20.
Candidates are critical of big money spending in local politics.
Sid Ruckriegel was the biggest spender but didn t advance to the general election.
Experience. A track record. Building a diverse coalition. Even learning from a loss.
Those are among the factors that the two finalists in Peoria s mayoral race believe helped them to advance to the April 6 general election.
Both Rita Ali, who finished at the top with 39% of the vote, and Jim Montelongo, who finished second with 24%, said they thought voters rewarded their experience in public life.
Ali has served on the council for two years, but she said her experience runs deeper than that.
Jim Montelongo (L) and Rita Ali (R)
UPDATED 10 A.M. WEDNESDAY | With 100% of the vote in, At-Large City Councilwoman Rita Ali and current 4th District Councilman Jim Montelongo are the two Peoria mayoral candidates advancing to appear on the April 6 general election ballot.
Ali led the whole way as primary results came in Tuesday night, earning a solid 38% of the vote among a field of five candidates on the ballot and another three write-ins. We re very excited. Citizens are engaged, and we ve built a very strong, diverse coalition, and it s based upon progress, and new vision and change, Ali said. And people are excited. And I m very excited.