Board of Trustees

Village of Peoria Heights Board of Trustees February 3, 2026 The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. Everyone stood for a moment of silence and the Pledge to the Flag. Upon calling roll, the following Trustees were present: Nate Steinwedel, Elizabeth Khazzam, Teresa Symmonds, Sarah DeVore, Brandon Wisenburg, and Jen Reichert. Others present included Mayor Matt Wigginton, Administrator Dustin Sutton, Village Clerk Stephanie Turner, Superintendent of Public Works Chris Chandler, Chief of Police Chris Ahart, Interim Fire Chief Austin Szentes, and Village Counsel Mark Walton. Trustee Symmonds made a motion to approve the Board minutes from January 20, 2026. Trustee Khazzam seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0. Mayor Wigginton opened the meeting to public comment. Hearing no public comment, Mayor Wigginton closed the meeting to public comment. The Board moved on to old business. Trustee Steinwedel made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-1786: An Ordinance Rescinding and Repealing Prior Ordinance 2025-1170 (passed October 7, 2025 overriding mayoral veto), Establishing New Article E Of Chapter 3 Of Title 3 Of the Peoria Heights Village Code Implementing a Municipal Grocery Tax. Trustee Khazzam seconded the motion. Trustee Steinwedel stated he had spoken to residents who are upset about the relocation of the grocery store, and those he had spoken to were upset about taxation in general. He noted his concerns that the primary election would have low attendance. Mayor Wigginton stated the ordinance was on the agenda because two trustees who had requested it be added. Attorney Walton explained the ordinance had been adopted by the Board of Trustees. The mayor vetoed the ordinance, and the Board voted to override the veto. He noted the ordinance was subject to modification at any time. He stated the Village doesn’t often reconsider ordinances in short time frame but it was requested by two trustees. He noted it wasn’t a reconsideration technically but the effect would be the same. Trustee Symmonds stated she wanted to hear from residents. She requested a special session the day following the referendum. Trustee DeVore questioned the process for the Board to start collecting data. The Board discussed a variety of options for requesting information from the residents including water bills, the website, and the notification system. Trustee Wisenburg noted the topic had been discussed at length and had been covered by the news. Trustee Steinwedel spoke to Attorney Walton about the second meeting in March. Trustee Wisenburg made a motion move the regularly scheduled meeting from Tuesday, March 17, 2026 and to Wednesday, March 18, 2026 and to defer Ordinance 2026-1786 to that meeting. Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. The Board approved the motion to move the meeting and defer 6-0. Hearing no additional old business, Mayor Wigginton moved on to the new business. Trustee Wisenburg made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-1785: An Ordinance Amending Title 6 Chapter 7 Of the Code of The Village of Peoria Heights Regarding Cannabis and Drug Paraphernalia to Prohibit Sale and Use of Kratom in the Village. Trustee Reichert seconded the motion. Trustee Wisenburg started by sharing what kratom is noting it has various effects based on dosage. Mayor Wigginton shared the topic was raised by a resident asking the Village’s stance. Trustee Khazzam questioned if kratom was currently being sold in the Village. Chief Ahart noted there were two businesses that are selling kratom. The Board then spoke about synthetic versus natural kratom as well as regulations for supplements. Trustee Wisenburg noted the State of Illinois is still moving on the topic. He stated he believes the Village should ban the sale but is concerned about criminalizing the substance. Trustee Symmonds expressed her agreement with Trustee Wisenburg’s stance. Administrator Sutton noted it depended on the Board’s opinion of the seriousness of the substance. He noted the Police Department already handles criminalization of drugs purchased from another community. Trustee Steinwedel suggested the law enforcement can use the ordinance for compliance. Trustee Wisenburg questioned how the ordinance works when the substance is legal elsewhere. Attorney Walton explained the Village isn’t criminalizing the substance, which it lacks the authority to do, but it is establishing a fine system for possession. Trustee Symmonds stated she didn’t believe the ordinance needed to address cannabis. Attorney Walton noted the ordinance was an existing ordinance that was trumped by State law regarding cannabis. He noted it’s linked to the existing ordinance as an enforcement method. Trustee Wisenburg asked if there was a consensus. The Board continued to discuss whether to restrict sale or possession. Trustee Khazzam asked Chief Ahart his experience. Chief Ahart shared it was an issue in Tazewell County. Trustee DeVore expressed she supported the ordinance. Trustee Wisenburg stated he believes it is a public health issue, but he was concerned how fining individuals struggling with addiction would benefit the public. Trustee Wisenburg made a motion to amend the ordinance to prohibit the sale only of kratom. Trustee Symmonds seconded the amendment. Attorney Walton noted it would require redrafting the ordinance, and he’ll need to bring that back if the Board approves the amendment. Attorney Walton and the Board discussed the legal implications of the amendment. The amendment was approved 4-2 with Trustee Steinwedel and Trustee DeVore voting nay. Mayor Wigginton stated the Board will vote on the motion as amended and the Board will ratify the ordinance at the next meeting. The ordinance, as amended, passed 6-0. Trustee Wisenburg made a motion to approve the street closure of Prospect Road from Kelly Avenue to Glen Avenue on Thursday, September 24, 2026 for the Taste of the Heights. Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. Mr. Steven Cook, president of the Chamber of Commerce, came forward to speak about the event. He shared the Chamber was requesting additional hours of closure in the morning due to an issue the previous year. Trustee DeVore questioned the proposed closure on the south end. Chief Ahart spoke to the typical road closure process. Mr. Cook explained the concrete barriers are at Kelly Avenue. Administrator Sutton cautioned Mr. Cook that the new parking lot on Seiberling Avenue which could be an issue and suggested Mr. Cook speak to the owners. Mr. Cook agreed he would once the date was set. Mayor Wigginton asked Superintendent Chandler to confirm the concrete barricades would be in place for the event, and Superintendent Chandler agreed. The Board approved the event 6-0. Trustee Khazzam made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-1784: An Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a TIF Redevelopment Agreement by And Between the Village of Peoria Heights, Peoria County, Illinois and SRP Capital LLC. Trustee Wisenburg seconded the motion. Trustee Khazzam shared the agreement was between the Village and the business who purchased the old Prospect Mall. The building has been updated to be ADA compliant including elevators in both buildings. Trustee Steinwedel stated he was opposed to approving a redevelopment agreement on a property that was bought to be fixed up. Trustee Khazzam noted the Village created the TIF and BDD districts as a tool for economic development. Mr. Nic Nelson, from the Economic Development Group, came forward and provided information regarding how TIF funded redevelopment agreements function. Trustee DeVore requested Mr. Nelson provide detailed information regarding how the Village works with the School District. Mr. Nelson explained TIF revenues. Mayor Wigginton agreed noting the School District gets additional revenue from the TIF provided by the Village. Trustee DeVore noted the calculations provided to the Board only estimate reimbursement of approximately $450,000. Mr. Nelson noted the projections are difficult due to the uniqueness of the situation, and the agreement is a pay-as-you-go so the redevelopment agreement has a maximum reimbursement of $1.5 million, but the developer will only be reimbursed what is generated in EAV. Trustee DeVore spoke about the history of the Village’s redevelopment agreements and how the Village has learned and grown. Trustee Steinwedel stated he’d like to see the development agreement contain clauses mandating sales tax generation. Trustee Khazzam noted how important sales tax is to the Village. She stated she was comfortable with the redevelopment agreement but she welcomed further conversation on future developments. Administrator Sutton reminded the Board the Village is known for being business friendly. He stated the pay-as-you-go development agreements have been very successful for the Village, and he was confident in the agreement. He noted the Village had to trust in its business owners and its success as a business friendly community. He cautioned the Board against getting too detailed and scaring away businesses. The Board approved the ordinance 6-0. Trustee Symmonds made a motion to approve the bid evaluation and notice of intent to award for lead service line inventory. Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. Trustee Symmonds shared Woodard and Curran reviewed bids in January. JC Dillion came in with the low bid of $49,955. The Illinois EPA has awarded the Village $40,000 in grant funding, and the Waterworks will be responsible for $9,955 of the project. Trustee Symmonds noted by inventorying it will reduce the amount of work done by contractors during the replacement phase. The Board spoke about the water main replacement process. Trustee Symmonds noted the Village is in compliance with all deadlines. The Board approved the motion 6-0. Trustee Reichert opened the discussion of the Village’s 250th Celebration Event by noting she had ideas but she needed input on a date and a budget. Trustee Reichert shared her for event theming as an old- fashioned celebration. She also shared possibilities while noting budget constraints. The Board discussed dates and refined ideas. Mayor Wigginton asked if there was a consensus to tentatively schedule the event for Saturday, September 26, 2026, and the Board agreed. Mayor Wigginton noted the Board had made progress by selecting a date and sharing ideas. He noted Administrator Sutton would be reviewing the budget soon, and the Board had provided some structure for that process. Hearing no additional new business, Mayor Wigginton opened the meeting to public comment. Mr. Adrian Tabner commended Superintendent Chandler and the Public Works crew for their quick response in the middle of the night to repair a water main break and clean up the mess. He noted no one likes to see their yard torn up, but he was so pleased the crew was kind, hard-working, and helpful. He shared his hometown allows golf carts, and he considers it a disaster. He supported those in enforcement who expressed dissent to the idea. Hearing no public additional comments, Mayor Wigginton closed the meeting to public comment. Mayor Wigginton asked for miscellaneous business. Clerk Turner read two communications. Congressman Eric Sorensen wrote thanking Mayor Wigginton for work with him on behalf of the Peoria Heights. Ms. Emily Cahill, Executive Director of the Peoria Park District, wrote a letter of support on behalf of the Park District for the reconstruction of Prospect Road from Kingman Avenue to War Memorial Drive. Administrator Sutton reminded the Board that the first presentation of the budget will be at the next meeting. He will be meeting with department heads next week. Trustee Wiseburg shared there will be Coffee with a Copy on February 27, 2026. Hearing no additional miscellaneous business, Mayor Wigginton explained the Board will adjourn the meeting to executive session. No action will be taken in executive session. Trustee DeVore made a motion to adjourn to executive session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)5 purchase of property. Trustee Steinwedel seconded the motion. The Board of Trustees voted 6-0 to adjourn at 7:10 p.m. ____________________________________ ______________________________________ Matthew Wigginton, Mayor Stephanie Turner, Village Clerk