West Peoria Residents' Association

With sadness and a sincere “thank you,” the West Peoria Residents’ Association wishes both Krystiana Bronny and Mical McFarland success as they leave their positions with the city of West Peoria to take on new careers and professional responsibilities.

Krystiana spent one year with the city as a Vista volunteer, working on over a dozen projects that benefit residents in simple, far-reaching ways. A great communicator and a very well-organized and creative person, Krystiana greatly assisted our WPRA’s Board of Directors in our efforts to improve the West Peoria News, to send out a membership survey, to improve our communication with the city council, to apply for grants, to develop block watch neighborhoods through the WP Neighborhood Watch, and to assist us in many other ways.

Mical McFarland, who began working with the city as a Peace Corps volunteer, has been the city’s Planning and Community Development Coordinator for three years and is responsible for the 2005-2006 MAPPING community meetings that helped energize the WPRA. Mical is a visionary thinker whose ambitious efforts for our community helped many of us step back from our daily lives to consider the future, long term direction for West Peoria. Mical was always very patient and positive with our requests and especially helped us become comfortable with basic internet communication skills. Mical will be leaving us to go to North Carolina. As president of the WPRA, I want personally to thank these two talented young people for all their efforts and to wish them both the very best. Our city is blessed with a city council and a staff who work very hard; their efforts deserve our respect and gratitude.

Gene Pratt, a marketing director with Three Sisters Park, will soon step into Mical’s shoes in West Peoria. We look forward to working with Gene to continue the improvements that both Mical and Krystianna have inspired.

As November elections grow closer, the WPRA’s membership meetings will feature several political candidates who have requested the opportunity to speak to us. These guests will speak for about twenty minutes following a short general meeting. In August, Darin LaHood, the Republican candidate for Peoria County State’s Attorney, will speak. In September, the speaker will be Joan Krupa, the 92nd District Republican candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives. In October, Jehan Gordon, the 92nd District Democratic candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives, will be the speaker.

In addition to these WPRA meetings where these individuals will be our guests, the WPRA is planning to host a Candidates’ Night in mid-October (date not yet finalized), and I hope many West Peoria residents and the public, in general, will take advantage of the opportunity to direct questions to these candidates who are seeking our votes.