The East Peoria Police Department will gain an extra member to its force, bringing the total to 43 patrol officers.
On Nov. 17, the East Peoria City Council approved increasing the strength of the department by adding a DUI enforcement officer.
Chief Ed Papis said the officer is already working and will only focus on impaired drivers and DUI enforcement.
The position was made possible through a Illinois Department of Transportation grant. The $111,133 grant will pay for the officer’s salary, fringe benefits, equipment and operation costs.
City commissioner Gary Densberger said at the end of October when the grant money is depleted, they will reevaluate the position.
In the meantime, since a current officer is assuming the DUI enforcement role, another officer will be hired to take his place as a patrolman.
Papis said if the DUI officer role is eliminated when the grant expires in October 2010, the department will keep the new hire due to attrition.
Deputy Chief Chris Hutt said the DUI officer is warranted.
“The district officers have a hard time directing their time to DUI with their calls for service,” Hutt said.
Papis added, “Calls for service minimize their attention to impaired drivers on the street. This will be a proactive approach.”
Papis’ advice to motorists who drink and drive is: “Do not do it. You drink, you drive, you lose.”
In other city council business, the council began the process of expanding the boundaries of the Camp and West Washington Street tax increment financing districts.
Darin LaHood of Miller Hall and Triggs said through legislation the TIFs will be extended from 23 to 35 years.
The boundaries will also change. Sixty more acres was added to the Camp Street TIF, bringing the total to 280 acres. The West Washington Street TIF will expand to include 51 additional acres, bringing the total to 180 acres.
The Downtown 2010 development project is within these TIF districts.
LaHood said a number of things have to happen before the final ordinance can be voted on, including a public hearing and three joint meetings.
The process should be completed by the end of February or March, LaHood said.
