May 16, 2024
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Peru applies for $1.5 million brownfields grant with 3 La Salle County communities

Grant will help city identify possible environmental impediments to developmental properties

By Maribeth M. Wilson
An aerial view of the storage area behind the historic Westclox building on Monday, July 17, 2023 in Peru. The building caught fire last Friday when an unattended fire behind the the building was the cause of the larger fire in the building.

An aerial view of the storage area behind the historic Westclox building on Monday, July 17, 2023, in Peru. The city of Peru will apply for a brownfields grant, which can evaluate properties in the community for potential environmental concerns. One applicable property that was mentioned is the Westclox area. (Scott Anderson)

Peru will join three other La Salle County communities in applying for an Environmental Protection Agency grant to assist in identifying brownfields.

The U.S. EPA defines a brownfield as a property that may be complicated by the presence or potential of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.

Peru will work with the North Central Illinois Council of Governments to apply for the grant.

Peru corporate counsel Scott Schweickert said the grant will help the city identify any impediments to future development on select properties.

Schweickert said he believed it would be money well spent. Peru would be partnering with Marseilles, Mendota and Streator to seek up to $1.5 million in grant funding. Peru’s share of the application fee is $1,625.

“We’ve been looking at several areas of the city, including along the waterfronts and the location of the burnt-out portion of Westclox,” Schweickert said.

In July, the former historic Westclox factory caught fire after a small fire was left unattended behind the building, leading fire departments from around the Illinois Valley to fight the blaze. The fire was put out in less than two hours but left $5,000 worth of damage.

Peru Mayor Ken Kolowski asked the council if there were any questions or discussion to be had about the project, noting that it seemed like a reasonable investment.

Alderman Tom Payton said he was all for Peru taking advantage of receiving a potential grant.

“Any time that we can get someone else to look at our properties and go in and have grant opportunities, we should take advantage of that,” he said.

The motion was approved unanimously.

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