Those who attended the East Peoria city council meeting July 15 expecting to see or hear Embassy Suites hotel owner John Q. Hammons were disappointed.

Hammons did not make an appearance. In fact, the issue Hammons would have addressed the council about was pulled from the agenda.

That issue is a Holiday Inn proposal for the East Peoria riverfront on 2-acres of land owned by the city.

The parcel is near the Bob Michel Bridge, Granite City restaurant and the Embassy Suites Hotel.

Embassy Suites general manager Joe Lomonaco attended the meeting. He said he was not aware the second reading for the Holiday Inn was pulled.

When asked if Hammons was coming to the meeting, Lomonaco, said, “not today.”

Likewise, Petersen Co.’s attorney John Elias said he found out at the last minute that the second reading, which would have set into motion the proceedings for the Holiday Inn, was pulled from the agenda.

Commissioner Tim Jeffers said some final details were being worked out concerning the hotel proposal. He did not provide any specifics.

“I wouldn’t view it as we’re buying time for Mr. Hammons,” Jeffers said. “This is a multi-million dollar agreement ... I think we’re 95 percent of the way there.”

Jeffers added the agenda item was pulled and the motion halted because it had “a lot to do with people’s schedules and travel.”

Petersen Co.’s president and owner Mark Petersen and his group were in attendance.
Elias said they were ready to do their presentation and to move forward with the document “as is.” Elias said he did not know what final details city officials are focusing on.

At the conclusion of the council meeting, Jeffers said, “I do what’s best for the city of East Peoria. We’re not here to champion business A over business B.”