As Peoria Heights officials pursue solutions to the Village’s water system challenges, representatives of Illinois American Water Company pitched their services to the community at a recent Village Board meeting.
The Village has experienced ongoing infrastructure issues with its publicly owned water system, between beyond-their-prime underground pipes and consistent complaints of discolored water. As a result, Village leaders are taking steps to remediate those problems, including hearing offers from potential private buyers.
Earlier, the Village had entered into a contract with Missouri-based Woodard & Curran to analyze the water system and its needs and report back. By all accounts, the local system is in need of reinvestment.
In business since 1886, American Water Company, headquartered in New Jersey, is the nation’s largest publicly traded water company and runs many operations in Illinois, including Peoria’s and Pekin’s. The local utility is regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), which approves rates.
David Marfell, an operations director and superintendent for distribution with Illinois American (and former Peoria Heights public works superintendent) and Senior Operations Manager Kyle Smith addressed the board and outlined the process for a purchase.
The latter includes selecting three appraisers to evaluate the system with the goal of arriving at a market price. Then negotiations would begin. Any sale is wholly voluntary and exit ramps exist at every point along that road, said Illinois American officials. Typically, the process takes about a year and is overseen by the ICC.
Village trustees questioned both Illinois American and Woodard & Curran representatives, specifically about the complaints of brown water and how long it would take to address it, among other potential contaminants such as the “forever plastics” issue, along with the cost of doing so.
Trustee Brandon Wisenburg said it may be his most consistent constituent complaint. While the discolored water reportedly poses no health risks, “they don’t want to bathe their kids with it. They don’t want to cook with it.”
Concerns also were expressed about the replacement of lead service lines and the issue of local control over the water system.
Village trustees took no action but requested patience from Heights residents, as regardless of the option the Village ultimately pursues, addressing water quality issues is “a marathon” given the time necessary to identify the cause, said Trustee Elizabeth Khazzam. Meanwhile, rates will rise, regardless of the path forward.
In other action in the month of October:
The Village Board unanimously approved the creation of a new supplemental Class B1 liquor license that would allow the sale of package liquor in addition to beer and wine.
The liquor license had been sought by Beck Oil, which is building a new service station/car wash/convenience store development on War Memorial Drive. An earlier version of the ordinance had requested five new licenses until some trustees balked.
“Since I’ve been on this board, we’ve been adding (liquor) licenses left and right,” said Trustee Matt Wigginton, who urged the board to exercise more restraint and control over the process.
The Village Board created a Firefighters Pension Fund and a board to oversee it, while also establishing a Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
With the pending employment of full-time firefighters, the Village is required under state law to do both. The Village also has to fund the pensions, so it has the latitude if not the obligation to also levy a tax to do so. “You have to fund it one way or another,” said Village Attorney Mark Walton.
The Village Board okayed a contract with Farnworth Group, not to exceed $4,200, to do Phase 1 environmental site assessments of Poplar Lane Park and Al Fresco Park.
For years, the Village has sought to make greater use of the two local parks on the banks of the Illinois River, where development has been hampered by the potential for flooding. This is a first step toward accomplishing that.
“There’s a higher and better use of Poplar Park than we’re doing now,” said Mayor Michael Phelan.
The Village Board approved up to nearly $15,200 in beautification and life/health/safety grants through its Business Development District fund for property at 1306 and 1308 E. Seiberling Ave. – housing the Ten Thousand Villages and Sports Center businesses -- owned by Robert J. Kosczuta. The Village has typically helped fund beautification efforts, but this request also includes some additional work such as exterior doors and windows, said Community Development Director Wayne Aldrich.
Under the program, property owners within the boundaries of Business Development District 1 are eligible for matching grants up to 75 percent of their private investment, not to exceed $10,000. The Village implements an additional sales tax on property owners in that area to pay the costs of the program.
The Village Board unanimously approved the appointment of Heights resident Tanisha Cayson to the Peoria Heights Zoning Board of Appeals.