Peoria County Board approves enterprise zone expansions and multiple resolutions; one member abstains

The Peoria County Board voted to expand both the Peoria Urban Enterprise Zone and the Peoria Rural Enterprise Zone and approved a series of standing-committee resolutions during its meeting.

Sally Hanley told the board that Amendment 10 to the Peoria Urban Enterprise Zone adds about 32 parcels ‘‘mostly [in] the city of Peoria and unincorporated Peoria County and then two parcels in Mapleton,’’ and that the primary incentives— a property-tax abatement (a descending five‑year schedule) and a building‑materials sales-tax exemption—remain in place. Hanley also noted a waiver of building-permit fees and said the enterprise-zone fee offsets the waiver, calling the package ‘‘kind of a wash in terms of the fee and accountability.’’ The motion carried with Member Paul Rosenbohm recorded as abstaining; Rosenbohm said he had a piece of property in the area and asked to be excused from that vote.

Hanley also presented Amendment 3 to the Peoria Rural Enterprise Zone, which brings in the village of Brimfield and a total of 36 parcels (17 in Brimfield and additional sites in unincorporated Peoria County such as areas by Princeville and the Peoria County Business Park). She said Brimfield has adopted an ordinance to participate and the change will require three applications to the state and modifications to incentives to accommodate the Brimfield waiver. The board approved the rural amendment by voice vote (all ayes).

The board received short standing‑committee reports and acted on related items. Danny Kelch reported the Mossville box covert resolution and said Stark Excavating was the lone bidder at about $105,000; Kelch said that resolution passed. Member Duncan reported the Ways and Means items, including the monthly delinquent-taxes listing for 2026 and a special homestead-exemption resolution for certain municipality-built homes under the citation noted in the transcript; Duncan said the homestead-exemption resolution passed unanimously. Paul Rosenbohm said a land‑use resolution to allow a horse facility on Kramm Road—with an on‑site veterinary workspace and a mobile unit—passed unanimously.

Member Jennifer Groves Allison reported two Public Safety resolutions related to PCAPS covering free adoption events, microchipping and adding an additional scanner device; the transcript records the report and discussion of staffing and retention measures but does not record a formal vote outcome for those two items. Member Sharon Williams said the 2027 budget discussion will continue and invited members to contact staff with questions.

There were no public comments. The board adjourned after a brief community-announcement reminder about Market After Dark at Bicentennial Park.

Votes at a glance
- Amendment 10, Peoria Urban Enterprise Zone: approved; Member Paul Rosenbohm abstained. (Sally Hanley; SEG 003–SEG 021)
- Amendment 3, Peoria Rural Enterprise Zone (Brimfield): approved, all ayes. (Sally Hanley; SEG 022–SEG 046)
- Mossville box covert bid: Stark Excavating (~$105,000): reported approved. (Danny Kelch; SEG 048–SEG 051)
- Special homestead exemption (transcript citation): reported approved unanimously. (Duncan; SEG 052–SEG 056)
- Kramm Road horse facility: reported approved unanimously. (Paul Rosenbohm; SEG 057–SEG 061)
- PCAPS adoption/microchipping and scanner device: reported by Member Allison; vote outcome not specified in transcript. (Jennifer Groves Allison; SEG 075–SEG 079)

Next steps and context: several zone additions require state applications and intergovernmental agreements; the county will work with involved municipalities to finalize maps and incentive details before state submission.