In 1849, voters in Illinois counties adopted the township form of local government. Under this form of government, voters are given the opportunity to elect officials from their local communities to be directly responsible for conducting business on behalf of the community. Today 85 of Illinois’ 102 counties operate under a township government.
Illinois townships are required by law to perform three functions: general assistance for the needy, the assessment of real property for the basis of local taxation, and the maintenance of all roads and bridges outside federal, state, and other local jurisdiction. Many townships provide a variety of services beyond those functions, including programs to assist senior citizens, disabled citizens, and youth; health services; emergency help; maintenance of cemeteries; and environmental services.
A town board of West Peoria Township consists of the following elected positions: the supervisor, the board of trustees (4), clerk, and tax collector.
The supervisor, whose duties include being custodian of public monies, must annually prepare a statement of receipts and disbursements. With the approval of electors at an annual meeting, the supervisor makes any transfers of funds. When the trustees audit the township bills, the supervisor must pay the bills if the money is in the fund.
The supervisor has sole jurisdiction over the General Assistance distribution. He may appoint an employee to assist with the duties, and he also appoints the township attorney. The supervisor serves as the chair of the board of trustees.
The town clerk takes minutes at all township meetings and posts written notices of all meetings in three of the most public places at least ten days before a meeting. The clerk administers oaths and takes affidavits in all cases required by law or by township officials. The clerk officially certifies the amount of taxes raised for township purposes. The clerk must also be present at all bid openings and approves the supervisor’s bond. The clerk files the annual supervisor’s report and posts a copy of the statement at the place of the annual town meeting. The clerk reads the statement aloud to the electors present.
Five Illinois counties—Cook, Madison, Peoria, Sangamon, and Will—elect a township tax collector. Prior to entering the elected office, township collectors must execute a bond to be approved by the supervisor and the township clerk. The bond must be given for a sum equal to 110% of the largest amount of taxes collected in the preceding five years. The collector collects taxes and turns the money over to the county for distribution to the various entities, i.e., fire department, street department, etc. The township collector returns the tax books to the county collector and files an affidavit stating the taxes which are charged against each property and which are paid and unpaid.
The duties of the township Assessor are currently filled by the Peoria County assessor’s office; therefore, West Peoria Township does not elect an assessor. The highway commissioner’s duties are filled by the city of West Peoria’s street department.
Current Board Members
ROBERT DeSUTTER Robert DeSutter has served as the West Peoria Township Supervisor since 2001 and served as a trustee for six years prior to his current post. Bob took the office following his retirement from Caterpillar. Bob’s wife, Sandy, assists Bob with his office duties. They have resided at 2006 W. Barker since 1988. Earlier they lived on Ashland Avenue. Bob and Sandy have two sons.
In addition to his service with the township, Bob has worked with the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts for 28 years. He is currently the chairman of the Cub Scout Committee and is Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 11. Bob’s Cub Scouts were responsible for planting the line of beautiful pine trees along Sterling Avenue on what is now the Franciscan Property.
Bob, along with others, has worked hard to beautify the entrances to West Peoria as well as the corner of Rohmann and Sterling. Bob has been active in the Residents’ Association from its beginning. He has also been seen picking up litter along the way as he walks throughout the city.
JIMMY DILLON Jimmy Dillon currently serves as the township clerk. Jimmy is the son of the West Peoria’s Mayor Dillon and Laurie Dillon and has lived in West Peoria all his life. In fact, he chose to buy his first home on the same street where he grew up. He resides at 2613 Belle Vista Ct. Jimmy attended St. Mark’s grade school, Notre Dame High School and received his B.S. degree from Marquette University. Jimmy is a proud member of Plumber’s Local 63 and is employed by the family business.
Jimmy currently also serves as West Peoria’s representative on the Peoria County Board. Jimmy has always been interested in politics and community service. As a youngster, Jimmy and his brother Matt regularly volunteered for service projects such as Clean Up Day, the Fourth of July Parade, and the Jamboree.
Jimmy was first elected to the position of township trustee and later appointed to the clerk’s position upon the death of the late Mary Ellen Schmidt. He later ran for election to the county board when Sharon Kennedy retired after twenty years of service.
IMELDA KELCH Imelda (Mel) Kelch has served as the township tax collector for eight years. She has served as a Director for the Township Officials of Illinois in Springfield and has served for four years as president of the Tax Collectors of Illinois organization.
Mel moved to her current address at 2206 W. Barker some twenty years ago. Following her retirement from Caterpillar in 2000 after 30 years of service, Mel—who was not ready to sit home and be idle—accepted the position of tax collector. She has four children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
KELLY ABRAHAM Trustee Kelly Abraham moved to West Peoria 53 years ago. She and her late husband Ed owned several businesses in the area and raised eleven children in the house where she still lives on Laura Avenue. Kelly has served as a trustee since 1990.
She is enjoying her retirement years by frequent out- of- state visits to spend time with her children and grandchildren. She has 27 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Kelly worked at St. Joseph’s Home for 25 years prior to her retirement. She has been an active volunteer for many years at St. Mark’s Church.
JIM FLYNN Trustee Jim Flynn and his wife Trish live at 2703 W. Laura. Jim is enjoying his retirement after having served as the business agent for Plumbers Local 63. Jim served as an alderman when West Peoria first became a city. He was asked to serve out the remainder of the term vacated by Jimmy Dillon, who was appointed township clerk. Jim has since been re-elected to his township office.
Jim moved to West Peoria in 1950 with his parents. He graduated from Spalding Institute in 1952. Jim and Trish have five children and eighteen grandchildren, many of whom live in West Peoria.
Jim and Trish are active volunteers on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Association. Jim and Trish can often be seen at the community’s many Irish events, along with their daughter Peggy, who operates the Flynn School of Irish Dance located on Sterling near Rohmann.
MARCIA MILLER Marcia Miller was appointed as a township trustee in 1966 to fill out the term of Karl Niehbuhr, who moved out of the area. Marcia moved to West Peoria in 1981 when she and her husband Steve acquired their home on Kenwood Avenue. They still reside in this home which was Steve’s grandparent’s home built in 1928.
Marcia ventured into township politics, following in the footsteps of Steve’s grandfather, Herald Reichel, who once served as the township tax collector. He was also a charter member of the West Peoria Fire Department. Marcia says that some historical records state that Reichel named the streets of West Peoria and the grade school, which became Calvin Coolidge.
Marcia’s occupation has been in Human Resources. She was recently laid off from a corporation in Eureka as a result of the economic downturn and is seeking new opportunities.
SHARON KENNEDY Sharon Kennedy was elected to the position of township trustee in 1982. She moved on to serve on the Peoria County Board in 1986 and continued there for twenty years, retiring a couple of years ago. After Sharon retired from the county board, she was re-elected to the township board.
Sharon has lived in West Peoria for 34 years at the same address on Iris Court. She is currently the community relations specialist for Advanced Medical Transport.
Sharon serves on the West Peoria Liquor Commission and the Economic Development Commission. Sharon was active in the Residents’ Association in its inception and has recently consented to assist with some projects.
As with many of the local officials, Sharon was introduced to township government by a family member. Many years ago she helped her uncle, Dearl Morris, who was the tax assessor at a time when senior citizens were first granted the Homestead Exemption.
Sharon also was one of the original Greenway Board members, serving as an associate member from West Peoria. As with many in West Peoria whose children don’t move far from their parents, Sharon’s son Chad and his children chose West Peoria for their home a number of years ago.
