Latest news with #JohnKahl
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Center Street Crossing project amended by East Peoria City Council
EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Modifications to a project that plans to bring more entertainment options to East Peoria was approved by council members during Tuesday's meeting. East Peoria City Council approved the third amendment to the Levee District Overlay plan, which includes Center Street Crossing, a mixed-use development that will extend from behind Costco, past CEFCU, ending near City Hall. Certain businesses won't be allowed at Center Street Crossing. This includes smoke shops, cannabis dispensaries, and auto shops. There are also specific rules for landscaping, down to the trees and plants allowed. Mayor John Kahl described it as a matter of 'housekeeping' from the city. 'What we're amending is things that we'd like to see in there and more importantly, businesses that the city doesn't really have a desire to see within the overlay district in itself,' he said. The Levee District Overlay Plan also includes approval of 15-foot sidewalks to accommodate more outdoor dining and even beer gardens at the Levee District. Council members also approved its lead service line replacement program policy. The $50,000 grant program will replace lead pipes in homes around the city, and eligible low-income households could qualify for up to $1,000 in financial help. It's so they are in compliance with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency standards. Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The city is actively looking for federal and state grants to replenish the pot. Out of about 9,000 homes in the city, Kahl said about 270 have lead service lines. The Illinois Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act mandates the replacement of all lead service lines throughout the state by 2042. East Peoria identified lead service lines through a comprehensive process with resident surveys. In 1986, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to ban the use of lead pipes in new installations. Lead is a toxic metal that can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in children, leading to developmental delays, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Putting the onus on us': Washington latest Peoria-area city to discuss local grocery tax
Washington is the latest city in the Peoria area to discuss instating a local grocery tax increase to replace revenue lost when the state of Illinois removes its 1% state tax starting in 2026. East Peoria Mayor John Kahl announced last week the city would institute a 1% grocery tax to cover the expected $2 million shortfall, while Pekin also instituted a similar tax on November to make up for a estimated $1.5 million loss. Peoria Mayor Rita Ali said last year the city is working on a plan to cover the possible $4 million it will lose. City officials say Washington would lose $500,000 in annual revenue if its does not institute its a local tax. In response, the Washington council shared opinions about the tax, but no vote or action was taken. 'Adverse effect': East Peoria mayor criticizes Pritzker for ending Illinois grocery tax Councilmember Brian Butler said the council should not view the move as a tax increase, but rather a shift of burden from the state to the city. 'It's simply a move from the General Assembly washing their hands of it, because that's money that came to cities anyway. Now they're putting the onus on us,' Butler said. 'The tax is in effect now. I believe we need to keep it in effect, but it takes a hard decision on our part. We look like bad guys, but we have to do the tough work sometimes, and I believe we really need to. It's no impact on anybody.' Council member Bobby Martin III said if the city is going to lower taxes, it should do it from local property taxes instead since cutting the grocery tax would benefit the large number of non-Washington residents who come to the city to shop. Other councilmembers expressed concern about city services needing to be cut, or if taxes would need to be raised to make up for the money used to help feed Washington's police pension fund that must be paid by 2040. Council member Brett Adams said avoiding tax raises is unrealistic, and he worries the city would eventually be forced to levy an even bigger tax in the next few years to collect necessary money for city projects. Washington projects: Here are the road improvements slated for Washington in 2025 'To continually say that the answer is 'Just don't raise our tax,' then start thinking about the multitude of millions of dollars worth of things that you're not going to pay for, because it's not reality,' Adams said. 'Costs continue to go up every year.' Mike McIntyre said a 1% tax is a minimal amount of money, and he would hate to see the city have to push a Home Rule Sales Tax instead to recover if the grocery tax didn't pass. Despite support from half the council, concerns about grocery costs caused hesitation for other members. John Blundy said during his time on council he's seen taxes increase, but has hardly ever seen them go down. He said the city should wait until the money is really needed, since the grocery tax can be implemented any budget cycle. Mayor Gary Manier countered if the city waits until January 2026 to reinstate the tax, it will feel like a brand-new tax to citizens after a year without it. Washington council: Mayor breaks tie on release of legal opinion about own possible conflict of interest Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker defended ending the tax during an appearance in Peoria last year, calling it an "embarrassing" and "regressive" tax. Council member Lilija Stevens, running for Mayor, argued against the tax, saying not establishing it would help lower grocery costs even if minimally. She also pointed out a city bond from 2006 supporting Five Points, set to retire in 2029, will bring in $360,000 the city could use. 'I probably might feel differently if we were a city that would be losing a couple million dollars,' she said. 'I personally do not want to create another ordinance for this tax money.' This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Washington proposes 1 percent grocery tax after end of Illinois tax
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Riverfront TIF District approved by East Peoria City Council
EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A TIF district with plans to develop an area along part of East Peoria's connection to the Illinois River was approved unanimously by city council during Tuesday's meeting. The Riverfront TIF District will see the redevelopment of a corridor northeast of I-74 and northwest of state route 116, which includes the Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino. This comes as discussions have been had between Boyd Gaming, the parent company for Par-A-Dice, and the city of Peoria about moving the casino across the Illinois River as the city contends land-based gaming must be in Peoria. TIFs, short for tax increment financing, are an economic development tool often seen in areas considered blighted or underdeveloped. Simply put, a TIF uses property tax revenues from the district as a way to encourage development in that district. As the property taxes grow over time, taxes that are distributed to local taxing bodies are frozen, and any incremental growth in the property tax revenues can be used to pay for qualified redevelopment expenses. When implemented successfully, it can revitalize communities. East Peoria Mayor John Kahl was enthusiastic about the TIF district at the meeting. 'This sets the stage for future development. Super excited to see this thing moving forward,' he said. At a previous council meeting in February, city attorney Scott Brunton said the area meets several qualifications to become a TIF district, from several properties being considered blighted to others being more than 35 years old. Besides the Par-A-Dice, other properties within the district area include the old Burger Barge location and Hagerty Steel. The estimated costs that will be going into projects in the district will be $150 million for infrastructure including roadways, sewer and water mains and a bridge across the Farm Creek diversion channel. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
East Peoria plans to create a new 'entertainment district' in the city
A new major development district is in the works for East Peoria. East Peoria Mayor John Kahl announced during his State of the City Address on Friday that the city is moving forward with plans to create an entertainment district on Center Street, between Costco and CEFCU, called "Center Street Crossing." Kahl said the city has already been in talks with developers who "have made clear they're ready to go" in getting the development moving. The district will include both residential and commercial spaces along both sides of Center Street, Kahl said. Another parking garage will also be built. "More importantly, it's more of an entertainment district, multifunctional where we can close down that stretch of roadway and host community events, whether it's live music venues," Kahl said. Two developers have shown "strong interest" in moving ahead with development, including Indianapolis firm Flaherty and Collins, which is building the Bluetowne luxury apartment complex in East Peoria. "They had always talked to the city dating back six years that once the Bluetowne project got up and running, they'd be interested if the parcels were still available to do a second phase and that's what we had planned for Center Street," Kahl said. Kahl said he got the impression that the developers would like to break ground sometime this year if the city and the developers can reach a final plan agreement. Kahl did not have an estimate for what the financial impact of the district would be on the city, but he did liken it to the Levee District, which has been a financial boon for the city. "Look how East Peoria's benefitted from the Levee District," Kahl said. "What a lot of people don't understand — and I go back to the council at the time, those were very difficult decisions — that stuff didn't come free, there was a major investment and East Peoria invested over $130 million in revamping its downtown and it's paid for itself." The boundaries of the Centre Street Crossing district fall within the city's West Camp TIF District, which would mean developers could benefit from extra incentives. "When you look at stuff like that, you have to know going into it, you have to be responsible with taxpayer money so when you sit down and have those discussions, you're up front and transparent about 'hey, this is what the city is willing to do' so you're either in agreement with those terms and willing to make the investment — but it's always been what we've done here is a good public/private collaboration," Kahl said. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: East Peoria plans to create a new 'entertainment district' development
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
East Peoria mayor firm in stance on future of Par-A-Dice Casino, blasts Peoria
East Peoria Mayor John Kahl is steadfast in his stance that the city of Peoria is potentially straining the relationship between the two cities by its continued pursuit to lure the Par-A-Dice Casino to its side of the Illinois River. Kahl said as much to an audience at the Par-A-Dice Casino Hotel on Friday during his State of the City address in which he said he knew the emails he sent to Peoria Mayor Rita Ali about the casino would go public. In those emails he said Peoria was threatening to "forever strain" the relationship between the two cities, and on Friday he told the East Peoria audience at the casino that he stuck by those words. Kahl said during his speech that East Peoria would "protect" the rights of private businesses to make their own decisions and the city would not tell businesses "what to do" or "where you have to be," appearing to take a veiled shot at Peoria for its efforts to bring Boyd Gaming to its city. Kahl told reporters after his speech that he would support whatever decision Boyd Gaming makes on the location of its planned new casino. "Boyd, whatever their decision is they take in front of the gaming board, and they approve it," Kahl said. "That's their decision to make. I've made myself clear to Boyd a couple years back when all of this kicked up if you will, what East Peoria's position is. We've had a great partnership with them, and I like to think that speaks volumes." Kahl, too, voiced his displeasure with Peoria's efforts, which have included showing Boyd Gaming at least three possible locations it could build a new land-based casino. "Let Peoria keep running their mouth on whatever they hope to do, hope to see, can't speak for them," Kahl said. More: 'David vs Goliath': How East Peoria won the riverboat casino battle three decades ago A rift between leadership in Peoria and East Peoria has been growing for months after Boyd Gaming signaled last year that it was planning to build a new casino facility somewhere in the Peoria area. Boyd Gaming has operated the Par-A-Dice Riverboat Casino in East Peoria since 1993. However, where the battle seen between East Peoria and Peoria today stems from is a 1991 agreement signed between the two municipalities that dictated that if a land-based casino were to ever be built in the region, it would have to be on Peoria's side of the river. Last year when Boyd signaled it would be building a new casino — one that would likely be land-based — Peoria began an effort to entice the company to its side of the river and remind it of the terms of the 1991 agreement. Kahl, however, believes that Peoria is overstepping and is ignoring the benefit the casino brings to the region as a whole. Currently the gaming tax revenues generated by the casino are split equally between the two cities. "I think a lot of people have this misconception about the Par-A-Dice," Kahl said Friday. "The revenues are split 50% on each side. I don't know why they can't wrap their arms around that. Boyd has really done a tremendous job of supporting this entire region, and I hope people understand that." However, all the other taxes — such as those generated by property taxes, sales taxes and hotel taxes — stay in the host city. Kahl called Peoria's comments on the matter "nonsense." "There's a benefit to this region and for some reason, they don't see the benefit apparently based on some of their comments, which are nonsense," Kahl said. "Boyd's done a good job of supporting this entire region, and I can't say enough good things about the entire company." Boyd Gaming's CEO Keith Smith told shareholders in January that Boyd hoped to build a casino with an estimated price tag of $100 million to replace the Par-A-Dice Riverboat Casino in East Peoria. He said they hoped construction could begin in early 2026. More: Peoria, Boyd Gaming have discussed potential locations for a land-based casino This article originally appeared on Journal Star: East Peoria mayor says Peoria's casino comments are 'nonsense'
