(From WEEK News 25) - Board members from Peoria's East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services met Wednesday with Peoria City Council members to discuss the organization's request for $60,000 in funds.
New loan regulations prevent the NHS from giving home improvement loans to East Bluff residents, as had been done in the past.
Councilman Tim Riggenbach advised using the money to pay police officers overtime for additional police presence.
The NHS Board insists the money must be spent through the organization and that Riggenbach's suggestion is illegal.
"That means the East Bluff residents are going to be paying extra for what they're already supposed to be provided by the city," says EBNHS Board President Simon Holly. "That means for them to be better protected or to have more influence, they're saying if you want more police influence you're going to have to pay for it, and that's not right."
After a heated discussion that included personal attacks against Riggenbach, the councilman offered to put his suggestion on hold and give the NHS more time to present an alternate funding proposal.
He plans to put the money in an escrow account until the board meets with him again in January.
"It's clear that there's a lot of passion for the East Bluff, and that's the thing we have to grab hold of," says Riggenbach. "Whether it's with an increased police presence or simply getting more people out on the streets, the important thing is that the East Bluff knows that we're here."
Riggenbach is councilman for the 3rd district on the East Bluff.
He will bring his motion before the other council members during the December 13th council meeting.
