Daily Archives: June 23, 2011

City Council, City of Peoria, History

A curious appointment

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On the City Council agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting is a curious appointment by Mayor Jim Ardis to the Historic Preservation Commission: Steve Pierz. Pierz used to be the so-called “litter czar” in Peoria and by all accounts did a wonderful job. But then he got in a dispute with the City. He wanted to put vinyl siding on a house he owns in an historic district on High Street, but was denied by the Historic Preservation Commission.

So he sued them.

Mind you, he didn’t just sue the City. He sued each commissioner on the Historic Preservation Commission personally, many of whom are still on the Commission today. He ultimately prevailed. The City reached a settlement with him and his wife and reversed the Commission’s decision.

So now the mayor wants to appoint Pierz to the very same commission he sued, to work with the same commissioners he personally sued. Won’t that be a little awkward? And counter-productive, considering Pierz’s demonstrated contempt for the commission?

It’s just another indignity for the Historic Preservation Commission, which has seen its ordinance eviscerated and its attempts to preserve Peoria’s architectural heritage regularly thwarted by the City Council.

City of Peoria

Peoria has the perfect solution to Matthews’ inability to pay loans back on time

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The Journal Star reports that East Peoria taxpayers are having trouble getting their money back from Gary Matthews. He borrowed $150,000 from the city in 2007 to help him build the hideous monstrosity we know as GEM Terrace. He’s been paying that money back, but not exactly on time. He owes $24,862 in late payments.

The City of Peoria isn’t going to let that happen to taxpayers here. When Matthews finally builds The Wonderful Development, Peorians won’t have to worry about him making late payments. Why? Well, because the City isn’t loaning him any money. They’re planning to give him $37 million ($9 million of which will go directly into his pocket as a “developer fee”) as a grant. No repayment necessary. Aren’t we clever? While all the citizens have to check out HardMoneyLendersBoston.com and beg for payday advances and loans, Matthews continues to bumble about.

Matthews’ inability to hit deadlines has actually worked to Peoria’s advantage. We haven’t had to sell the bonds yet to come up with that $37 million because the Wonderful Developer has been unable to get the project started by the dates required on either of the redevelopment agreements he inked with the City in 2008 and 2010.

I, for one, hope Mr. Matthews continues his deadline-missing ways. It’s saving the taxpayers here a lot of money.