EAST PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – East Peoria unanimously voted to spend $1.1 million to continue road repairs into 2024.
It’s in addition to the around $7 million they’ve dedicated to road repairs. The city said they’ve been patching and repairing multiple roads over the past year partly by reheating the old blacktop and mixing it with new material.
According to financial estimates, it will cost the entire $1.1 million to finish the work with an engineering firm. The funds come from the Motor Fuel Tax, which costs about 45 cents per gallon of gas. City Commissioner of Streets and Public Improvements Dan Decker said they like to get these funds in hand early so they can find the lowest cost provider for the repairs.
Multiple commissioners agreed the city needs to put more funds towards the roads in Tuesday’s board meeting.
“The street department can’t have enough money. they have been slighted for some 20-odd years. And there are really some roads that need to be up to speed,” Commissioner Michael Sutherland said.
Mayor John Kahl expressed concern about the funds given to cities and municipalities for road maintenance by the state, saying the popularity of electric vehicles might lead to less tax dollars from fuel sales.
“Understand motor fuel tax funds, these are taxes we pay at the gas pump for street maintenance, electric vehicles you aren’t paying that,” he said.
Kahl said it’s an issue he’s addressed with State Senator Dave Koehler. Kahl isn’t against electric vehicles but is concerned there won’t be necessary state funds to keep the roads drivable.
Electric vehicle owners do pay a higher registration fee in Illinois. The state’s electric vehicle rebate program announced it received more applications than the state could provide rebates for.
As for East Peoria roads, there weren’t any specific areas attached to the $1.1 million approved by the council, but a different agenda item did ask for $30,000 to be put towards fixing up Pinecrest Drive.
