The Peoria City Council has unanimously approved an automatic aid agreement with the Peoria Heights Fire Department. This intergovernmental pact will ensure Peoria firefighters respond to specific high-acuity calls in the village, including structure fires, vehicle extrications, and cardiac arrests. The agreement aims to bolster the Peoria Heights Fire Department’s capabilities without displacing its personnel, with Peoria Heights covering all associated costs and benefiting from Peoria’s training expertise.
Key Takeaways
- Peoria City Council unanimously approved an automatic aid agreement with Peoria Heights Fire Department.
- Peoria firefighters will respond to structure fires, vehicle extrications, and cardiac arrests in Peoria Heights.
- Peoria Heights will cover all costs associated with the agreement.
- The pact includes training and education for Peoria Heights firefighters.
- The agreement is designed to support, not replace, the Peoria Heights Fire Department.
Enhanced Emergency Response
Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger emphasized that the agreement is not a takeover but a supportive measure to "prop up" the Peoria Heights Fire Department. The pact specifically targets high-acuity, but not high-volume, incidents. A review of five years of dispatch data indicated that Peoria Heights has single-digit annual calls for each of the three specified incident types. This means the automatic assistance will not unduly burden the Peoria Fire Department.
Sheridan Road Reconstruction Moves Forward
In other city business, the Peoria City Council approved funding plans for a significant reconstruction of Sheridan Road. An agreement with Peoria County will direct $250,000 in local motor fuel tax money towards engineering costs for the project. The county secured $10 million in state grant funding to rebuild Sheridan between Glen Avenue and Northmoor Road. Once brought up to city standards, jurisdiction will transfer to the city. Design engineering is slated for the next two years, with the city responsible for half of the estimated $1 million Phase II cost. Council member Tim Riggenbach highlighted the project’s importance in widening a section of Sheridan Road from two to four lanes north of Sherbrook Lane, addressing a known traffic bottleneck.
Pop-Up Chicken Shop Secures Liquor License
Following two previous denials, the Pop-Up Chicken Shop in the Warehouse District has received site approval for a restaurant liquor license. The Liquor Commission recommended approval, and the City Council’s consent agenda passage marks the third time the eatery has received site approval. Owner Aaron Francis’s prior applications were vetoed by Mayor Ali due to a past criminal record and a subsequent LLC formation with a new partner. The business, which started in Bloomington in 2017, opened its Peoria location in June 2024.
Other Council Approvals
The council also approved several other items, including:
- $100,000 for pavement marking paint.
- A $21,600 grant to purchase Axon Taser 10 energy weapons for the police department.
- An agreement with Peoria County for the reconstruction of Radnor Road.
- A service agreement not to exceed $200,000 with ClientFirst Consulting for information systems support.
- An extension of an agreement with the ATF for task force space.
- Amendments to a redevelopment agreement for a mixed-use project at 214 Pecan Street.
- An increase of $300,000 to a master professional services agreement with Thouvenot, Wade & Morchen for public works consulting.
- Support for a $4 million federal BUILD Planning Grant application for downtown "Complete Streets" improvements.
- Code amendments allowing Bradley University to proceed with campus gateway improvements.
- A special use allowance for the expansion of an outdoor self-service mini-storage facility.
- Three convenience store beer and wine liquor licenses for Shell stations.
- The appointment of Chris Setti to the Sister City Commission.
Additionally, the council approved a rezoning and special use permissions for the expansion of The Christian Center on Brandywine Drive after removing a specific landscaping condition.
