A new entrance into the Market Square Shopping Center off Parkway Drive just north of the intersection of Parkway and Court Street in Pekin has been blocked off by traffic barrels.

The entrance, part of the Court Street rehabilitation project, was criticized by Pekin City Council members Monday after Pekin dentist Dr. David Kuban drilled the entrance in remarks during public comment.

Only one lane is available for a motorist heading north on Parkway from Court. The shopping center entrance is only about 75 to 100 feet from the intersection.

“I’ve seen a lot of mistakes in this city. This has to rank among the top two,” said council member David Nutter. “There’s a simple fix. Eliminate the turn. It won’t take an act of Congress.”

“We need to bite the bullet and correct this,” said council member Lloyd Orrick.

Council member John Abel said a Pekin resident told him the entrance “was the stupidest thing he’s ever seen” and council member Rick Hilst said he’s had multiple conversations with residents about the entrance.

City Manager John Dossey said Wednesday the barrels will remain in the entrance while he explores options to make the entrance safer.

City hires engineering consultant after city engineer’s resignation

Dossey told the council Monday that former Pekin Public Works Director Justin Reeise has agreed to be an engineering consultant until a new city engineer is hired. Reeise’s contract will be brought to the council for approval.

City Engineer Josie Esker resigned recently to take a job as a civil engineer for Peoria County. Her last day in Pekin was Friday.

Esker started working for the city in 2017 as assistant city engineer and was promoted to city engineer in 2020.

More work needed on TIF program for vacant, dilapidated homes

A proposal to create a new TIF program that would incentivize contractors to renovate vacant, dilapidated homes in the city was tabled Monday by the council until its March 10 meeting so changes in the program recommended by council members and the city’s Economic Development Advisory Committee can be incorporated.

Council member Karen Hohimer likes the program’s potential to add to the city’s housing options.

“This could give a young couple a chance to buy a home,” she said.

Procurement policy updated; school bus lease extended for a year

In other action Monday, the council approved:

• Updates to the city’s procurement policy that address concerns expressed by council members Dec. 9. The updates include a clarification that multi-year contracts should be considered in their entirety, electric aggregation programs must be approved by the council, and newspaper postings of sealed bids, requests for proposals and requests for qualifications are required unless the state no longer requires newspapers postings in lieu of a public notice website.
• A one-year extension in the city’s lease agreement with Midwest Transit Equipment of Kankakee for 10 school buses. The agreement will now expire in summer 2026, at the same time as another city lease agreement with Midwest Transit for 73 buses and the expiration of the city’s contract with Pekin school districts. Cost for the lease extension is $225,816.
• A payment of $379,524 over three fiscal years to TERRA Engineering of Peoria for professional services on a project to rehabilitate Broadway Street from 14th Street to just west of Parkway Drive. The city recently received $2.88 million in federal funding for the project, which mostly likely will be done in the spring of 2027.
• An agreement with Hanson Professional Services of Peoria for engineering work on the Veterans Drive extension from Sheridan Road to Interstate 474. The work should be completed by 2028. The cost of the work is $5 million spread over four fiscal years. A federal grant will cover $4 million.
• Allocating about $1.5 million in state motor fuel tax funds in the city’s 2025-26 fiscal year budget for the Stadium Drive to Hilltop Drive portion of the Court Street rehabilitation project.
• A payment of $16,473 to G.A. Rich & Sons of Deer Creek for the emergency repair of a sewer line break at a home at 1019 Augusta St. The break was discovered during demolition of a house next door. The sewer lines to the two homes were connected, which was not known by the city.
• The temporary appointment of Building and Community Development Director Nic Maquet as Lake Arlann Drainage District commissioner until a new city engineer is hired.
• The appointment of Economic Development Director Josh Wray to the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority, a local development tool for Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties.
• The appointment of Community Development Block Grant Program Manager Tina Hauk as a member and Wray as an alternate to the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Technical Committee, which focuses on grants.