Illinois Valley Times

City of Peru Committee of a Whole met Aug. 18

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

A Committee Of A Whole meeting was called to order by Mayor Ken Kolowski in the Peru City Council Chambers on Monday August 18, 2025, at 3:30 p.m.

City Clerk Jamey Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Edgcomb, O’Sadnick, and Lukosus, present. Alderman Payton, Sapienza and Moreno absent. Mayor Kolowski present.

PUBLIC COMMENT

MINUTES

Mayor Kolowski presented the Committee of A Whole Minutes of August 4, 2025. Alderman Lukosus made a motion that the minutes be received and placed on file. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion; motion carried.

PRESENTATION

None

PUBLIC WORKS (IT, Water & Sewer, TEST, Airport, Buildings and Grounds, Streets & Alleys, Electric, Engineering)

IT

None

WATER & SEWER

PSM/Fire Chief Jeff King reported on the city had received a lot of rain and the sewer system worked as intended.

Clerk Mertel reported that resident Jyll Janz called to commend the fire and police on their responses to the Progress Boulevard flooding.

TEST

Chris Perra, President of T.E.S.T. reported on sludge hauling quote and asked for formal approval on the next regular agenda. He also reported the WWTP blower will be installed this week.

AIRPORT

Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning reported on an upcoming meeting with Marquis Aviation.

BUILDINGS & GROU NDS

Alderman Lukosus recommended for approval a quote from Cruz Concrete sidewalk replacement on 9th Street from Fulton Street to Schuyler Street in the amount of $11,490.00 be placed on the agenda for next Regular Meeting.

Mayor Kolowski initiated a discussion regarding a dog park on Water Street and asked for formal approval at the next regular meeting.

STREETS & ALLEYS

None

ELECTRIC

Kevin Minnick, Electric Operations Manager, reported he will be attending the IMEA board meeting and updated the council on IMEA discussions.

ENGINEERING

Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning, reported on the following:

• Area 2 Phase 1 Sewer Separation area has been cleaned up from the storm and should be completed by fall.

• General Fund Street Program bid opening on Thursday, August 21st.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

PSM/Fire Chief Jeff King reported that he will be putting packets together to dispose of excess equipment.

PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE (Code Enforcement, Police, Fire, Landfill, Cemetery, Parks & Recreation)

CODE ENFORCEMENT

Committee discussed progress on code enforcement throughout the city.

PSM/Fire Chief King reported stakes will be put in on city property located at the southeast corner of Peoria Street and Shooting Park Road.

POLICE

None

FIRE

PSM/Fire Chief King reported the city did not receive the building grant and still waiting on two others; Safer Grant and Radio Grant.

LANDFILL

None

CEMETERY

Alderman Lukosus initiated a discussion on the columbarium. Clerk Mertel reported the original design voted on from 2005 was done with radius walls as a future expansion option. He has been in contact with Eickhoff Columbaria Inc. who was the original supplier.

PARKS & RECREATION

Adam Thorson, Director of Parks, Recreation and Special Events reported the back-to-school hours at the splash pad have started and the last day for the splash pad will be August 31st.

Alderman Edgcomb inquired about mobile machine to clean path around Baker Lake.

Committee discussed damage at Veteran’s Park left from the Pistol Shrimp party deck.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

None

FINANCE COMMITTEE (Finance, Human Resources)

FINANCE

Finance Officer Tracy Mitchell reported on the following:

• Aviation tax began on July 1st

• Video gaming tax is down year-over-year

• May sales tax is up 7.6%

• Cannabis tax is up

HUMAN RESOURCES

None

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

None

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

CLOSED SESSION

Alderman Edgcomb made a motion to go into closed session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity and meetings for setting of the price for sale or lease of real estate owned by the public body is being considered. Alderman Ballard seconded the motion. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Edgcomb, O’Sadnick, and Lukosus voting aye. Aldermen Payton, Sapienza, and Moreno absent. Motion carried.

Closed session began at 4:34 p.m. and ended at 4:56 p.m.

Alderman Tieman made a motion to reopen the meeting. Alderman Lukosus seconded the motion. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Edgcomb, O’Sadnick, and Lukosus present. Aldermen Payton, Edgcomb, and Moreno absent. Mayor Kolowski present.

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Tieman made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Alderman Lukosus seconded the motion and motion carried.

Meeting adjourned 4:56 p.m.

https://www.peru.il.us/government/agendas-and-minutes/minutes/committee-as-a-whole-1/committee-of-a-whole-minutes-2025/7026-committee-of-a-whole-minutes-08-18-25/file