Rick Stuckey next to the U.S. EPA Environmental Justice map,  with the BioUrja plant, which is included in the proposed Distillery TIF, behind the white building in the background. Photo: Joyce Blumenshine

By Joyce Blumenshine

The Distillery and Galena Road Industrial Park TIF projects will both be up for a vote at the Peoria City Council meeting May 14th at 6 p.m.

City staff have included wording recognizing environmental justice concerns for the Southside in the Distillery TIF. Southside group representatives and members of Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance also requested wording to include Southside representatives in Distillery TIF project reviews and prohibiting any TIF funds for CO2 pipelines or carbon capture and sequestration. However, those were not included.

HOI Group Chair Robert Rowe spoke and sent in comments regarding light and noise pollution concerns regarding the Galena Road TIF because the proposed property borders part of the Forest Park dedicated state nature preserve property. Tax increment financing projects divert increased property tax funds resulting from property upgrades and those funds are held for use to reimburse investments made in the TIF District, based on approval by the City Council.