Employment Opportunity - Tower Park Attendant

VILLAGE OF PEORIA HEIGHTS POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Tower Park Attendant

DEPARTMENT: Tower Park

REPORTS TO: Village Administrator or designee(s) DATE UPDATED: March 2020

Under the general supervision of the Village Administrator or designee(s) and the Tower Park Manager, staffs the Tower Park ticket booth as a representative of the Village of Peoria Heights. The Village of Peoria Heights is dedicated to providing quality, personalized service to its residents and guests, and, as such, this position is part of the Village’s mission to provide a superior quality of life.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Greet and assist guests with a friendly and enthusiastic demeanor. Refer guests with inquiries outside Tower scope to Administration.

• Demonstrate ability to maintain effective working relationships and professionalism with staff, elected officials, and the general public.

• Demonstrate ability to work independently with minimum supervision.

• Sell tickets for the Tower and accurately make change.

• Use, monitor, and maintain all Tower elevator equipment to ensure all is in working order.

• Notify Tower Park Manager of any maintenance issues in accordance with policy.

• Keep the immediate area around the ticket booth clean, wipe down tables, open/close umbrellas, etc.

• Clean Tower Park restrooms according to schedule or as needed.

• Monitor ticket booth supplies and cleaning supplies and notify Tower Park Manager when items need restocked.

• General Tower Park maintenance as assigned.

• Performs other related work as necessary.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• Maintains a high level of customer service and provides polite, knowledgeable, friendly assistance.

• Ability to count and reconcile cash quickly and accurately.

• Excellent communication skills

• Proven problem-solving abilities

• Detail oriented

• Any combination of education, training and experience, which provides the required knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the essential functions of the job.

click here for application

Heights to host Spring Cleanup

The Village of Peoria Heights will hold a two-day Community Cleanup on Friday and Saturday, April 29-30, at its Public Works Garage, 3838 N. Boulevard Ave. in the Heights.

Dumpsters will be available on site from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on each of those days, said Village Administrator Dustin Sutton, who hopes to make it an annual event to coincide with the police department’s traditional spring code enforcement efforts.

The Village is working closely with its waste hauler, G&O Disposal, to coordinate the cleanup, which is a preemptive move aimed at preventing the littering of local alleys with large items that are not eligible for curb pickup.

That said, the landfill will not be accepting everything. Not eligible for disposal are tires, appliances (dishwashers, humidifiers, laundry machines, air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, etc.), electronics (televisions, stereo equipment, computer monitors, keyboards, etc.), large batteries, hazardous waste including motor oils and wet paints, propane tanks and yard waste, among other items.

Residents are permitted to drop off one mattress and box spring.

“I think it’s huge,” said Sutton, adding that beautifying the community and making it safe are major priorities for the Village. “It’s going to give code enforcement a big boost.”

Hydrant Flushing begins April 11th

The Peoria Heights semi-annual hydrant flushing program will begin on Monday, April 11, 2022 and continue through Friday, April 15, 2022 weather and schedule permitting. Hydrant flushing will occur on these days from 7:30am to 3:30pm. Use of water for laundry purposes is not advisable during flushing due to the possibility of discoloration. Iron remover detergent is available upon request. This condition does NOT pose any health hazard. For additional information, please call the Water Office at (309) 686-2375.

 

DATE & LOCATION

Monday, April 11                                                                       North of Seiberling, west of Prospect

Tuesday, April 12                                                                       East of Prospect from Glen to Voss including Grandview

Wednesday, April 13                                                                Galena area below the bluff

Thursday, April 14                                                                     West of Prospect from Hines to Toledo

Friday, April 15                                                                           South of Hines, west of Prospect

 

Thank you,

 

Emily Smesrud


Water Account Technician
Peoria Heights Waterworks

4901 N Prospect Rd  |  Peoria Heights, IL 61616
P 309.686.2375 | F 309.686.2387
www.peoriaheights.org

Village finances ‘exceptional’

The Village of Peoria Heights has unveiled a balanced budget for fiscal year 2023 that anticipates $4.6 million in spending on general operations, while continuing the trend of steadily increasing cash reserves. 

The water department budget, meanwhile, foresees $1.26 million in expenditures over the coming year.

The 2023 budget blueprint follows a year in which the Heights is likely to top $5 million in revenues for the first time, a figure nearly 21 percent higher than the board and administration projected a year ago -- and during a pandemic, at that.

“This has been an exceptional year,” said Financial Assistant Stephanie Turner, with sales tax revenues far surpassing expectations, “better than at any time since I’ve been here.

“We’re doing very, very well.”

The police department represents approximately 45 percent of Village spending, administration about 22 percent, streets 14 percent, waste disposal 10 percent, and the fire department nearly 8 percent, with the remainder going to Tower Park. 

Overall, budgeted spending for 2023 looks to be up about 12 percent over the current fiscal year, with the biggest increases coming in administration – mostly in marketing and economic development -- police and fire protection. That said, a significant portion of the increase is being offset by grants and by intergovernmental agreements, so it is not falling entirely on local taxpayers. 

On the public safety side of the ledger, the Village now has a paid fire chief – one who also has been quite successful in acquiring outside grants -- and is making a one-time contribution to the police pension fund of about $315,000. 

Finally, the Village is dipping its toe into a capital budget with a sidewalk maintenance program, though some very significant infrastructure investments are looming, regarding the water system in particular.

The Village also has made some progress in cutting costs, specifically by refinancing some long-term debt. 

The Village Board will finalize and vote on the 2023 budget in April. The fiscal year begins May 1.

In other developments: 

  • The Village Board recently approved bonuses of up to 2 percent based on evaluations for six non-union employees – totaling just over $6,000 -- with Fire Chief Donovan Thompson donating his bonus to travel expenses and training for his volunteer firefighters.

Trustee Matt Wigginton praised Thompson, calling his decision “a testament to your character and your belief in the fire department and the people you command. I’m very much impressed.”

  • The Board also renewed Thompson’s contract as fire chief for another year, noting dramatic improvements in recruitment and training.

“Since we hired Chief Thompson, I’ve been very pleased with his body of work,” said Village Administrator Dustin Sutton. “The whole culture has changed. It’s something I haven’t seen in the 28 years I’ve been here.”

  • The Board appointed Bill O’Neill to fill a vacancy on the Zoning Board of Appeals. He succeeds Janie Backs.

  • The Board approved the use of Tower Park for multiple events in the coming months. Friday Night Heights is back for a second year with drink, food and entertainment on first Fridays starting in May and running through October. The Lupus Walk/5K Run will be on Saturday, May 21. Bike MS will host its annual event there on Saturday, May 28. The Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk will use the park on Sunday, Oct. 22. The River Valley Big Band Concert series will take place on the third Friday of June, July and August.

Popcorn Works in Peoria Heights to have grand opening, ribbon cutting this week

Popcorn Works in Peoria Heights to have grand opening, ribbon cutting this week

Popcorn Works and Sweet Shop is inviting one and all to its grand opening, open house and ribbon cutting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24.

The confectionary is located at 1203 E. Kingman Ave., just north of the Village’s Tower Park. Everything in the shop will be 25 percent

off during that time.

The business, owned and operated by the Clarno family, held a soft opening last November in time for the Christmas holidays, and has enjoyed a steady stream of customers since, especially around Valentine’s Day. Traffic has picked up as the weather warms.

“So far, so good,” Pete Clarno said of his latest business venture. “We’ve got our soda fountain all fired up, and we’ll be introducing our shaved ice.”

Meanwhile, the outdoor patio is ready for visitors, along with a convenient walk- up window for those who wish to stroll or bike in, grab their order of a delicious hot dog – or two – and go on their way. The lower-level party room is prepared to become mighty noisy with birthday parties.

Among the main draws, of course, is the popcorn, 33 flavors on the board at any given time – “Baskin Robbins has nothing on us,” jokes Pete – who is nothing if not a risk-taker on that front. Indeed, among the flavors is “Spaghetti and Garlic Bread” and “Biscuits and Gravy,” along with holiday-themed varieties such as “Apple Shamrock” and “Lucky Leprechaun,” for St. Patrick’s Day, of course. Some “Go ILL” popcorn for the Fighting Illini’s recent basketball success is still available. Not to be left out, the Easter season will soon brag “Bunny Hop Pop” and “Bunny Bait.” From sweet to salty, The Works has it all.

In addition, there is a virtual smorgasbord of gourmet candies, gummies, taffy, fudge, boba beads, Pixy Stix, etc. Frozen treats from popsicles to ice cream sandwiches also will be available. Local dentists should be buying stock in the place.

Curiosity-seekers from all over the Midwest also have been making their way in. The building itself is worth a look, as it dates back to the Great Depression – 1934, to be exact – when it was constructed by President Franklin Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) as the Peoria Heights Pump House, providing the Village’s water.

For Clarno, it truly is a family affair as he works alongside his wife and daughters, and they’d like to share the place with some company. Come on out and have a look.

Popcorn Works and Sweet Shop is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, though it will be expanding its hours soon to 7 or 8 p.m. and to Sundays. If there’s an event at Tower Park across the street, expect to see the lights on even later.

Follow Popcorn Works on its website and on Facebook.