Peoria County news briefs

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis

PEORIA

Tickets on sale for State of the City program

The  2020 State of the City luncheon will be held at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4  at the Peoria Civic Center ballroom, 201 SW Jefferson Ave.

Mayor Jim Ardis will reflect on 2019 and give his outlook for the year ahead.

Tickers are $50 per person or $400 for a table of eight.  Registration closes Monday, Jan. 27.

Go to https://business.peoriachamber.org for tickets and information.

 

Police Department lobby open for online transactions

As a reminder, the Peoria Police Department welcomes the use of the visitor parking lot (Walnut Street on the side of the Police Department, 600 SW Adams) as well as the lobby for the use of the public in providing neutral grounds and safer transaction locations.

Transaction locations meaning, for the exchange of goods and money for sales made on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, letgo, etc.

Residents are reminded all transactions remain civil and neither Commissioned Personnel nor Non-Commissioned Personnel shall intervene on either party’s behalf.

The purpose of using the Peoria Police Department as a transaction location is to provide a safe environment for the exchange of goods.

The lobby can be used for this purpose during the hours of 9 a.m. to  5p.m.

The Police Department also offers a second location at the Peoria Police Department Station 2 parking lot, located at 2011 W Altorfer Drive.

Officers will be present during the following times Sunday through Saturday, 6:45  to 7, a.m.,  2:45  to 3 p.m. and  10:45 to 11 p.m.

Please note, the parking lot has camera coverage 24/7/365. PPD Officers are present during shift change at the above times. There are periods throughout the day/night when no officer is on-site.

 

 Residents can apply for roof repair grant program

A lottery will be held for 20 openings for the 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Roof Program.  This annual program assists low-income homeowners who are unable to afford needed roof repairs.

Applicants can come to City Hall, 419 Fulton St., Room 203 (Development Center) to submit a household for the lottery by completing an entry form. Applications will be collected from Feb. 3r at 8 a.m. and close on Friday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Entry forms may only be submitted in person.

The lottery drawing will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. in City Hall Room 400 (City Council Chambers). Entrants are not required to be present. All entrants will be contacted via phone or mail by City staff in the days following the drawing.

The first 20 selected entries in the lottery must apply with all the required documentation by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6.

If the appropriate documentation is not submitted by that time, City staff will contact the next household on the list. There is a limit of one entry per household, but there is no limit to the total number of households that may enter the lottery.  An application help session will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 307 of City Hall.

To be eligible for the program, households must have an adjusted gross income at or below 80 percent of the area median income by household size, as calculated by HUD. The current income limit for a household of four people is $61,500.

Applicants must also meet all other CDBG eligibility requirements, including owning the home for at least one year, passing an interior and exterior inspection, and having active homeowners insurance. For complete eligibility, http://www.peoriagov.org/community-development/neighborhood-development-division/

Eligibility information is also posted in pdf form below.

For questions, contact the Cassie Belter, grants coordinator, Community Development Department at 309-494-8600.

 

EAST PEORIA

 League presents Republican primary candidate forum

The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria and the Fondulac District Library will be sponsoring a candidate forum for the Republican primary candidates in the 17th Congressional District.

The forum will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m. at the library at 400 Richland St, East Peoria, in the Levee District.

Both candidates have been invited, Bill Fawell, and Esther Joy King.  Written questions will be accepted from the audience.

The winner of the March Republican primary will likely face Democrat incumbent Cheri Bustos in November.

The event is free, and the public is invited to attend, to meet the candidates and submit questions to the moderator.

The League is a non-partisan, issues oriented, volunteer, member-directed organization committed to open, responsive and effective government brought about by informed, involved citizens, with membership open to both men and women in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. For more information, go to www.lwvgp.org.

REGION

 Ameren Illinois helps food bank combat hunger

The Midwest Food Bank received an early Christmas present when Ameren Illinois officials presented a donation to help area residents’ combat hunger this winter.

“Hunger never takes a break and the winter months can be a difficult time of year for many people,” said Monica Scheuer, president of Midwest Food Bank. “We are very thankful to Ameren Illinois for this generous donation to help us ensure that our local needs are met.”

The grant funds were made available through the Ameren Cares program, which connects Ameren Illinois with the communities it serves through charitable giving and volunteering.

A key focus of this program is to partner with nonprofit organizations such as Midwest Food Bank to give back to communities across the 43,700-square-mile Ameren Illinois service territory.

“These organizations work hard year-round to make sure families who struggle with food insecurities get the meals they need,” said Ameren Illinois Chairman and President, Richard J. Mark. “We are proud to support Midwest Food Bank in carrying out its mission and hope this donation has a positive impact on local families and communities not only during the holidays but into the New Year.”

Midwest Food Bank has 10 locations, eight in the United States, and one each in East Africa and Haiti. Its mission is to share the love of Christ, by alleviating hunger and malnutrition locally and throughout the world and providing disaster relief; all without discrimination. For more information, visit www.midwestfoodbank.org.

IDNR presents annual Eagle Day in Havana

The annual Fulton-Mason Eagle Day will be held Saturday, Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Activities will include live raptor programs, hands-on activities and crafts for kids, and bird watching in various locations in Lewistown and Havana.

The event is free and for all ages. For event schedule, sponsors and other details, visit this link: http://www.illinoisstatemuseum.org/content/fulton-mason-eagle-day-1