Daily Archives: August 24, 2009

City of Peoria, General News

News Summary 8/24/2009

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Good morning! It’s Monday, August 24, and this week District 150 school kids go back to class. Mothers all over Peoria are rejoicing. In other news:

  • School Board member Rachael Parker is planning a run for Bud Sous’s Peoria County Board seat. The election is in 2010, and if elected, Parker would have to give up her seat on the School Board.
  • The City of Peoria is going to intervene in the Illinois American Water rate case, protesting the rise in water rates. According to a recent Issues Update from the city, the cost to intervene and monitor the process is “minimal,” but “to hire an ICC Utility Attorney and present expert testimony, that would likely cost $60,000 to $80,000.” So the city is going to look at mitigating that cost by possibly partnering with other nearby cities, like Pekin and Champaign. “Certain issues may be different but other issues, such as return on investors’ equity, would be common to all.” Illinois American Water is asking state regulators to let them raise water rates by more than 28% in Peoria.
  • In a previous post, I mentioned that someone was polling residents with questions about the city and school district. Renee Charles of the Heartland Partnership said the company is aware of the poll, but after calling their subsidiary organizations (including the Chamber of Commerce), she went on record saying she does not know who is conducting the poll. The city and school district have also denied running the poll. So the identity of the pollster remains a mystery.
  • A press release last week announced, “Senate Bill 1512, sponsored by State Senator David Koehler (D-Peoria), authorizes the Secretary of State’s office to issue false identification to undercover law enforcement agents.” But the most interesting part of the release was this statement (emphasis mine): “For years the Secretary of State’s office issued false identification to the police with no real authorization or clear guidelines. The new law ensures that these fake IDs are properly distributed and used only for undercover investigations.” I wonder what else is being done with “no real authorization.”
  • At a press conference today, Democrat Carl Ray will kick-off his campaign to run against Congressman Aaron Schock for the 18th Congressional District of Illinois. There are two locations and times for his announcement: 10 a.m. at Five Points Washington (360 N. Wilmor Rd., Washington), and 2 p.m. at the Springfield Public Library (Carnegie Room South, 326 S. 7th St., Springfield). “There will be a 10-15 minute address, followed by time with the media and supporters.”
  • The proposed downtown museum still has a “several million dollar gap” in funding, and they’re still negotiating a contract with IMAX.
  • Invitations went out last week for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Peoria Public Library North Branch. The event will be held September 10, 2009, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Grand Parkway in Medina Plains Corporate Park off Townline Road.