City Council rethinks fire department fees

Feb. 13--PEORIA -- City Council members raised concern Tuesday over the possibility the city's fire department would soon start charging for services when they respond to automobile accidents.

City Hall proposed the measure late last year to help fill a $200,000 hole in the 2019 budget. The council, in a split vote, voted to approve the overall budget that included the outline of the proposed fees, which would cover such things as putting out a car fire or extricating someone from a vehicle.

However, on Tuesday, a number of council members seemed unwilling to pull the trigger.

"I think we'll get a black eye if we do this," said 2nd District Councilman Chuck Grayeb, who said he couldn't support the measure. "It sends the wrong message about Peoria," he said.

The measure got its first reading Tuesday and not action was taken. A time table for when a final vote on the ordinance wasn't set Tuesday night.

Grayeb suggested hearing from local insurance people to better understand the ramifications of the ordinance.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting, Grayeb shared a letter from Todd Davis of the Davis Insurance Agency in Peoria, which indicated insurance policies likely wouldn't cover the fees Peoria is contemplating.

"I have first-hand knowledge that insurance companies regularly deny these type of expenses when submitted after a traffic accident," Davis stated.

At-Large Councilmen Zach Oyler and Sid Ruckriegel also questioned the size of the fees being proposed and the impact on insurance costs for residents even if they're not charged a fee by the city.

Ruckriegel also suggested Bradley University students would likely be viewed as out-of-towners in the event of an accident and incur further expense as a result.

5th District Councilman Denis Cyr said Mayor Jim Ardis, in his recent State of the City address, asked people to help define Peoria.

"I have my concerns how this ordinance defines us," he said.

Confusion over the city's new recycling policy continued when council members questioned a compromise suggested by City Manager Patrick Urich.

Urich said the 2,400 homes south of Forrest Hill Avenue could continue to recycle through the alley but would get service just once a month instead of every two weeks like the rest of the city, who get recycled materials picked up at the curb.

Grayeb and At-Large Councilwoman Beth Akeson didn't like that, suggesting it was discrimination against those using the alleys.

At-Large Councilwoman Beth Jensen also suggested the number of pick-ups shouldn't be reduced. "I hope we find a better solution," she said.

In other business

* Zach Gorman, the chief information officer at Bradley University, provided an update on the school's plan to partner with WGLT-FM, the public radio station in Bloomington-Normal with the public radio station that's been located on Bradley's campus for 49 years.

Gorman said the university wants to reduce costs through the partnership.

But Peoria attorney Lee Smith, during the public access portion of the meeting, called for BU to rethink the partnership idea, suggesting the Peoria community would be better served by staying independent.

* Pastor Marvin Hightower, president of Peoria's NAACP chapter, appealed to city officials to move beyond the bad press that Peoria has gotten in regards to poverty and segregation with the help of the African American community.

* Council members also heard about human trafficking from the Center for Prevention of Abuse including an account of how one 21-year-old Peoria woman was forced to perform commercial sex for five weeks before she escaped.

"Do you know who did this to you?" asked center director Carol Merna, explaining that the woman then revealed the name of the individual had been tattooed to her forehead.

"This is modern-day slavery, and it's happening right here in central Illinois," said Merna.

Steve Tarter covers city and county government for the Journal Star. He can be reached at 686-3260 or starter@pjstar.com. Follow him at Twitter@SteveTarter and facebook.com/tartersource.

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