City of Peoria, Riverfront Village

Riverfront Village falling apart

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In June 2010, the City Council voted to replace the steps up to the Riverfront Village platform because they were all rusted out. That was blamed on the salt used to melt ice on the steps in the winter, and the basic design of the steps which apparently had insufficient drainage. Now it’s the concrete platform itself that’s falling apart — literally:

Concrete fell from underneath the Riverfront Village platform onto the parking lot below
Close-up of exposed rebar where concrete has fallen away

Hard to blame this on ice-melt, since, to my knowledge, the City isn’t salting the underside of the platform in the winter. This week’s Issues Update gives some more detail:

A portion of concrete fell from the ceiling of the parking deck about two weeks ago onto a car causing minor damage to the vehicle. National Garages was contacted and advised staff of this incident. In response, staff decided to check the other areas of the garage and have determined there were sections of loose concrete that could potentially separate from the structure and could fall. Currently, staff is removing loose concrete to avoid future incidents. As these areas are exposed, we will engage a structural engineer to review the work. We will also be working to remove some of the rust from the steel and repaint. Sealing these areas with new concrete is not yet planned as we need to determine the full scope and find a contractor to perform this work. We will most likely need to bring this forward to City Council as the costs will exceed $10,000.

Riverfront Village is twelve years old. Twelve years old and already falling apart. This has to be an embarrassment to the contractor/sub-contractor responsible for building this platform. It should be, anyway. Hopefully the City will take the time to look up who did the work originally and at least make sure they don’t hire the same company to fix it.

Best-case scenario: the structural engineer finds that the whole structure is unsound and must be razed. No offense to the tax-paying businesses on the platform; I’d like to see them stay in business downtown. But the platform never should have been built, and the riverfront would be better off without it. There are plenty of places nearby for the restaurants to relocate . . . like the retail space promised on Water Street by the new museum. If you find your home having damage like this and need help with claims, talk to experts like LMR Public Adjusters and get help.

Peoria County, Taxes

What do you think of your property assessment?

39 Comments

According to Peoria County, the value of my house has gone up. But I have friends, relatives, and neighbors whose home values have gone down. According to Supervisor of Assessments Dave Ryan, the County is expecting the equalized assessed value of all property in the County to go down by 1.5%. He doesn’t have a firm figure because there will be many people who will contest their valuations in the next few months, and that will affect the final percentage.

Some people I’ve talked to — even those who have seen their home values rise — feel that the process has been fair and reasonable. Others think it’s ridiculous to think anyone’s home value has gone up given the weak economy and the decline of the housing market starting in late 2006 nationally.

What do you think?

Redistricting, The Uplands

Uplands supports 10 council districts

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At the Uplands Residential Association meeting Thursday evening, residents voted to support establishing ten City Council districts to replace the current system of five district and five at-large representatives. Meeting attendees expressed several reasons smaller districts and the elimination of at-large representation would be better for the City. Smaller districts would:

  • Be more manageable for council representatives. Instead of 23,000+ residents per district, there would be less than 12,000 residents per district.
  • Provide more opportunity for minority representation. The current at-large/cumulative-voting system was established to increase minority representation, but has not accomplished that goal. Keeping the current system could end up reducing minority representation due to district expansion.
  • Provide more representation for the older neighborhoods. Under the current at-large system, a disproportionate number of council members have come from North Peoria.

The Uplands also voted to support eight districts with two at-large members if a ten-district solution is unachievable.

In other business, The Uplands expressed concern that the Pi Beta Phi Sorority (a.k.a. “Pi Phi House”), 1004 N. Institute Pl., which is for sale, is being listed as a multi-family residence for up to 29 people, or possible commercial location. In checking with the Planning and Growth Department of the City, the property is zoned R-4 (single-family residential), with a grandfathered sorority use. Thus, the property can only be used for a sorority or a single-family home. Any other use would require rezoning. It was decided to send a letter to the realtor explaining these facts so it can be listed accurately.

City of Peoria

Tomblin residency update

42 Comments

On Monday, the Supervisor of Assessments office was made aware that Tomblin has two properties in Peoria County — one in the City of Peoria and one in Dunlap — listed as owner-occupied. On Tuesday, adjustments were made to those properties. The Dunlap property (PIN 0815300023) is now listed as “Residential Non-Owner Occupied” for tax year 2011, and states under “Public Notes,” “Kent and Laura Tomblin live at 18-05-304-013 [1120 N. Maplewood] and is [sic] getting the owner occupied exemption on that parcel. Exemption removed from this parcel for 2011.” Similarly, on the Maplewood property (PIN 1805304013), it states under “Public Notes,” “08-15-300-012 is also owned by Kent Tomblin. That parcel was changed to Residential Non Owner Occupied for 2011. He lives at this parcel address and will receive the owner occupied exemption on this parcel for 2011.” Supervisor of Assessments Dave Ryan says that usually owner-occupancy is determined by whether the mailing address for the tax bill matches the property address. In this case, the property tax bill for each site is mailed to each respective address, leading to the confusion. He added that when mistakes like this are uncovered, the exemptions are corrected for future tax years, but no retroactive action is taken for the years it was incorrect — unless it was in the County’s favor, in which case they would reimburse the taxpayer for overcharges going back the last three years.

As far as the residency issue goes, Tomblin has legal cover, which is apparently sufficient for the City’s residency requirement. Tomblin doesn’t actually live at the Maplewood address, as the neighbors there will testify, but he has sufficient documentation to satisfy his superiors at City Hall. The County recognizes the house as owner occupied. The County, in addition to looking at whether the site and mailing addresses match, can also look at where the property owner is registered to vote. Tomblin is registered to vote at the Maplewood address. An inquiry made to Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich has so far gone unanswered, but according to other sources, the City’s stance is that they believe Tomblin lives at the Maplewood address.

So it appears that any management employee who wishes to skirt the City’s residency requirement can do so rather easily. It’s possible that they wouldn’t even have to go through the trouble of buying a house. One could simply rent a cheap apartment like those in apartments in columbia sc and claim it as one’s legal residence for tax and voting purposes, then actually live elsewhere in the tri-county area. It’s difficult at this point to understand why we have a residency requirement at all. If it’s not really important that a City management employee live in the City, then why not just get rid of that policy? Seriously, why put Tomblin in the position of having to fake his residency in the City if the City really doesn’t care in the first place? What’s the point?

On the other hand, if it is important that a City management employee live in the City, why don’t they enforce it? If they can’t because the wording is too weak or ambiguous, why not strengthen it?

Peoria Public Library

A review of the renovated main library branch

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The Peoria Public Library recently completed their renovation of the main branch on Monroe in downtown Peoria. The interior has been thoroughly modernized, so it no longer has that 1950s feel to it. But modern design is plain and unadorned, giving the library a rather sterile, utilitarian look. The new design has an open floor plan, which takes fewer librarians to oversee. That allowed some of the staff to be moved to the new north branch.

The entrance to the main branch has been moved closer to the parking lot, and the area of the old entrance has been turned into a cafe of sorts — although food and drink selections are limited to a couple of vending machines.

The book checkout area is now completely automated. Librarians don’t check you out anymore — you have to do it yourself. However, it’s a simple process. You scan your library card and put the books you wish to check out on a black pad, and the computer automatically puts the book on your account. You can choose to print out a slip reminding you of the due date.

My favorite part of the library is the local history and genealogy section. This has been moved from the main floor to the first basement — an area that until the renovation was not open to the public. Initially, the local history section had different hours than the rest of the library, but that has been changed. The section is now open the same hours as the rest of the main branch. After doing a quick survey of the materials, it appears that all of the local historical information is still there, but better organized. However, I did not see any “new” materials on the shelves — that is, materials that used to be kept in the back room accessible only to library staff, but now made available directly to the public. The microfilm has gotten a lot of new boxes and labels. The old, hand-crank microfilm readers have been replaced by more modern readers that all have printing capability (10 cents a page). There is even one microfilm reader (available to library staff only) that can scan a microfilm image to digital format. Best of all, the local history staff is still there, so patrons still get the benefit of their institutional memory.

The renovated library gives patrons plenty of space to sit and read, and lots of table space for oversize or multiple books for those doing research. And, of course, there are lots of computers available for online research as well. The library subscribes to many databases, giving patrons access to many materials it would be too expensive to access individually.

Overall, the updates have made the library more modern and functionally efficient.икони на светци

City of Peoria, Peoria Fire Department

Fire Chief receiving owner occupied exemption on two homes

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Peoria Fire Chief Kent Tomblin
I visited the Recorder of Deeds office at the Peoria County Courthouse today to check on the ownership of two homes that appeared to be owned by Fire Chief Kent Tomblin. The County’s website withholds the names of property owners, but those names can be obtained from the Recorder of Deeds’ office since it is public information.

Kent M. Tomblin is listed as the sole owner of 1120 N. Maplewood Ave. in Peoria (PIN #1805304013) and the joint owner with Laura L. Tomblin of 13104 N. Duggins Rd. in Dunlap (PIN #0815300023). Both homes are listed as “owner occupied,” giving the Chief a property tax exemption on both houses. Both the Recorder of Deeds office and the County Assessor office verified that, legally, a homeowner can only receive an owner-occupied exemption on one residence — that is, a homeowner in Peoria County can only have one primary residence. The County took the information on these two properties and said they would look into the matter to determine which residence is the primary one.

If the Dunlap residence is found to be primary, it would cause further problems for Mr. Tomblin since the Fire Chief is required to live in the City of Peoria according to City policy. When asked about whether the Chief is breaking the City’s residency requirement, City attorney Randy Ray said he would have to research it.

Peoria Public Schools

Police union decries ‘diminished authority’ of D150 campus police officers

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From my inbox:

Dear Friends of District 150 Campus Police & District 150 Union Leaders:

On July 25, 2011 the Peoria District 150 School Board passed a policy which jeopardizes the safety of every student, teacher, and staff member in District 150. Policy 5:400, strips the Campus Police Officers of their authority to make arrests, break up fights or effectively do their job. Our Union needs your support and assistance to express to the school board members and administration the seriousness of their decision and how this will place the children’s safety, and your own safety, in jeopardy.

In the last couple of days there have been several articles published in the Peoria Journal Star pertaining to this change. The articles addressed the prohibition of the District 150 Officers carrying their firearm off duty, and changing the officers title. Additionally, the policy removes their authority and ability to arrest, which has not been widely reported. This is the most important part of the policy.

Under the new policy, School Resource Officers can detain subjects only without “the use of material mechanical devices” (handcuffs) and only after consulting a supervisor. I don’t know about you – but with the fights that I have observed at Peoria 150 the ole “Please quit fighting and come with me” routine doesn’t work well. A police officer has to take control of these situations. Sometimes police work isn’t pretty – but order is restored and the school does what it is supposed to do – provide an education. Students, who have lost respect for the educational environment and who cause major disruptions, do not respond to “please” and “just come with me.” Unfortunately, sometimes they have to be arrested, and that requires police officers.

Has the Board of Education forgot that in 2005 a 16 year old student came into Woodruff High School and shot at another student several times? During that incident a cat and mouse chase continued through several floors of Woodruff HS as students were running outside, running into classrooms and ducking for cover, all while shots were fired in a school filled with kids. The school district cannot say “I hope nothing like that happens here” as if they have only seen it on television. It did happen here! It can and will happen again! The difference is now there will be no police in the schools to respond. Because of the actions of the Board of Education, police are being removed from the schools. The officers that remain are being stripped of the authority to arrest.

District 150 Police have been on the front lines of school safety since 1971. Over the years the demand for services has increased, with the busiest year being the 2010-2011 school year. As Union leaders we are charged with protecting the safety of our members. Actions by the Board of Education have placed every teacher, custodian, administrator, teacher’s aide, secretary, and home school facilitator in jeopardy.

I urge each one of you to contact each school board member and oppose any action that would diminish the authority of the campus police department and urge them to improve the safety in the learning environment. Ask them – If a kid doesn’t feel safe in a school, how is he going to learn? If you remove the police from Peoria Public Schools, how are schools any safer?

Sincerely – Kasey Groenewold, Campus Police Union President

Kasey Groenewold, Labor Representative
Policemen’s Benevolent Labor Committee

The Journal Star’s article on the policy change is here. They report that the vote for this new policy was unanimous, except for Laura Petelle who was absent from the meeting, and that it takes effect August 15. Their reasoning? They said part of it had to do with “liability,” but most of it is touchy-feely, as you can see from these quotes from recently-reelected board member Debbie Wolfmeyer, as reported by the Journal Star:

“There is no need for (officers) to carry their weapons when they’re off duty,” board President Debbie Wolfmeyer said.

The officers’ job titles also were changed. Henceforth, they will be known as “school resource officers.” […]

“From my own perspective, we’re looking for a more student-friendly type of culture from the officers,” Wolfmeyer said. “The board is looking for employees to not only take control of a situation and keep our children safe but also to work with our children rather than just physically detaining them or making arrests.

“We’re more for a culture of trying to work things out with kids.”

All together now: Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah . . . .

Interestingly, this goes against the advice of some experts. For instance, a 2001 article in the American School Board Journal said, “The decision to disarm a qualified officer generally lowers the law enforcement standard and places students and others at higher risk. As a result, the exposure to liability could increase both for the district and for those who made that decision.”

I think the new policy sounds perfect for any school with a gang problem . . . so long as this is the gang:

Peoria Fire Department

Fire Chief breaking City residency requirement

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Since November 19, 2002, the City Council has required by policy that “a person promoted to a management position must be or become a resident of the City of Peoria.” In August 2006, when then-Assistant Fire Chief Kent Tomblin was applying for retiring Chief Roy Modglin’s job, the Journal Star reported, “Tomblin, 50, a 27-year member of the department, lives in Dunlap but owns a house on Maplewood Avenue near Bradley University and plans to move there within the year, he said Wednesday.”

Tomblin got the job on February 19, 2007. He still owns a home at 1120 N. Maplewood. But he also still owns his home in Dunlap — at 13104 N. Duggins Rd. This is not one of those Dunlap addresses that is actually in City of Peoria boundaries. It’s outside Peoria completely. If you look up the tax records for both houses, they both say, “owner occupied.” So, where does the Fire Chief live?

One way to establish legal residency is by the address on your utility bills. The telephone is a utility, and in the phone book under “Kent Tomblin,” guess what is listed as his address? You got it: 13104 N. Duggins Rd., Dunlap — and a Dunlap phone number, too. I’ve heard from a reliable source that it’s the address that is on his personal checks as well.

It’s hard to escape the conclusion that the fire chief still lives in Dunlap over four years since he was promoted. Not only that, but one has to wonder how he can legally claim both residences as “owner occupied.” You can only occupy one house or the other.

Whether the City should have a residency requirement or not is a topic for another blog post. The fact is that the City does require it for the fire chief, and he should follow the rules. He should be setting an example for the men and women under his command.

What really gets me is the brazenness of it all. He’s listed in the phone book as a Dunlap resident. I mean, he isn’t even trying to hide it at this point, apparently because there are no consequences for breaking the rules at City Hall.

City Council, City of Peoria, Redistricting

City looks at 8- and 10-district possibilities

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As promised at Tuesday’s council meeting, the City has released maps showing how the City might look with eight or ten council districts instead of five. Here’s the explanation:

The Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council on Redistricting conducted several public meetings regarding criteria and possible maps for new boundaries of five City Council districts. The boundary changes are required to have nearly equal districts based on the 2010 Census data. Map 12 was selected by the Committee as an example of what the boundaries could be like for five districts. For five districts, the goal of each district was 23,001 people with a maximum deviation of 5% [21,851 to 24,151].

In response to recent discussion at a neighborhood forum in the West Bluff, the Administration has prepared maps with either eight or ten districts as examples of what that number of districts could look like. Note that for each map staff used the criteria of:

  1. Nearly equal population with a maximum deviation of 5%, with the lower range of population in those areas planned or expecting growth
  2. Compact
  3. Contiguous
  4. Keeping together neighborhoods
  5. Using major thoroughfares as boundaries, with more weight on keeping together neighborhoods

Please find attached six maps that are examples of how the City could be divided into either eight or ten districts….

  • Maps 14 – 16 are examples of eight districts, with the goal of 14,376 people with a maximum deviation of 5% for a range of 13,657 to 15,095.
  • Maps 17 – 19 are examples of ten districts, with the goal of 11,500 people with a maximum deviation of 5% for a range of 10,926 to 12,076.

Note that these maps, along with minutes and recommendations from the Committee, will be scheduled for discussion at a future Council meeting.

Any questions or comments about the maps may be addressed to the City of Peoria Planning Department, 309?494?8600 or planning@ci.peoria.il.us.

And here are the maps (PDF): 072911-Redistricting-MapsикониПравославни икони