On December 27, 2010, the Joint Review Board approved the East Village Growth Cell TIF unanimously. However, the legality of that decision is now in question because the makeup of the Board is not compliant with state statute.
The Joint Review Board is composed of one representative from each taxing body and includes at least one member of the general public. State law requires (65 ILCS 5/11-74.4-5[b]) that “If, as determined by the housing impact study [or] … based on other reasonable data, the majority of residential units [in the proposed TIF area] are occupied by very low, low, or moderate income households […] the public member shall be a person who resides in very low, low, or moderate income housing within the redevelopment project area.”
The public member of the Joint Review Board is Debbie Ritschel, who resides at 401 Water, which is not “very low, low, or moderate income housing” nor “within the redevelopment project area.” Therefore, City attorney Randy Ray says the Joint Review Board will have another meeting scheduled for January 31, and “the agenda will call for them to declare a vacancy based on current public member being ineligible. An eligible person will then be nominated and elected. They will then consider ratifying their earlier action re TIF eligibility.”
I wonder how they will go about finding an eligible person. If you live in “very low, low, or moderate income housing” within the proposed East Village TIF, I would encourage you to submit your name for nomination. The public member is selected by a majority of the board members present at the meeting. The members of the Joint Review Board (not including Ritschel) are:
- Dave Wheeler (Peoria Park District)
- Dave Kinney (Peoria Public School District 150)
- Joe Merkle (Sanitary District)
- Stan Browning (Sanitary District)
- Jim Scroggins (City of Peoria, Finance Director)
- Patrick Nichting (City of Peoria, Treasurer)
- Scott Sorrel (County of Peoria)
- John Stokowski (Greater Peoria Mass Transit)
- Glen Olson (Airport Authority)
- Edward Szynaka (Peoria Public Library)
How is it that this Debbie Ritschel is on every board and committee imaginable? This person must have a closet full of “conflicts of interests” as big as a house.
Debbie is on the way out, the list I have lists Bonnie Noble as the rep from the Park District (obtained from Bobby Gray’s office Tuesday morning), and my information is that Lisa Fischer is already to be instated as the next “Public Member”. Now I understand that Ms. Fischer lives on Hillcrest, which is certainly no where near representative of the East Bluff. 3 pm Monday at City Hall, anyone?
The “Hillcrest” neighborhood is just in the proposed TIF district. I agree that is not a cross section of the bluff, but hey they just need a warm body to make it all legal.Heck most of the homes there are relatively new compaired to the rest of the bluff. Ms Fisher I assumed had to submit income statements and resident proof.Wonder how many applacations they had (if any). Or was this person picked? The board must declare a vacncy and then elect the replacement. Funny they will also vote to adopt the report on the TIF. How can they vote to adopt it without the new person brought up to speed on this?
I thought about going to the meeting to see the giant rubber stamp they will use.
This TIF is a sure bet to be approved despite all of the questions and backroom deals with OSF and #150. Nothing sad by either parties in public meetings but there is somthing in the background.Somthing smells about the whole affair.
Meeting was a big joke. Board would not even vote upon anyone submitted other than Fisher. It was a set up. Meeting was a legal waist of time.
Welcome to the TIF railroad. Run over anyone and everyone in its path. Brought to you by OSF. Still Smells of sweet deal in the background for someone other than the residents.
Wonder if #150 gets there way for $$ what will be cut in the money plans ?