As I thought about what to write about this month, I was struck by the following mantra: Imagine. Believe. Achieve. The City of Pekin lacked vision and action for so long, but our current team of Council and staff is changing that.

A few weeks ago, the City applied for two grants through Congressman LaHood’s office to help complete the rest of Derby Street and to help rebuild Fire Station 2. These projects represent more than infrastructure improvements—they represent our renewed commitment to planning for the future and investing in the safety and growth of our community.

Completing the Derby Street reconstruction will improve traffic flow and open the door for additional development opportunities as the first phase has done. Strategic infrastructure projects like this help ensure that Pekin remains a place where businesses can grow and families can thrive. It will remind the Pekin residents that the City cares about local needs while also signaling to the small business world that we are open for investment.

At the same time, rebuilding Fire Station 2 is an investment in something even more important: public safety. Our firefighters work tirelessly to protect our homes, schools, and neighborhoods. As call volumes continue to rise rapidly each year, providing our firefighters with modern, reliable facilities ensures they can respond quickly and effectively when our community needs them most.

These projects are included in the 5-year capital improvement plan that we started last year, and I am excited to see progress being made towards them and others. But, what excites me most is that these efforts are just the beginning. Across the city, our team is working to strengthen infrastructure, support local businesses, find operational efficiencies, and identify new opportunities that will help Pekin move forward with purpose and pride. The truth is that progress does not happen by accident. It happens when people are willing to imagine a better future, believe that it is possible, and work together to achieve it. That is exactly what we are doing today in Pekin.

Our residents deserve a city government that plans ahead, acts decisively, and never stops striving to be better together. With the dedication of our Council, staff, and community members, I am confident that Pekin’s best days are still to come.