[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6078096,"mediaKeyId","2962107-f188a47bd79ed398ae7592f8d4b4b096","parentId",2962107,"title","Votes at a glance: board approves minutes and zoning; settlement vote not recorded in transcript","audioSeconds",97,"startMs",3230000,"endMs",3327000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2962107-f188a47bd79ed398ae7592f8d4b4b096&start=3230&end=3327","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2962107-f188a47bd79ed398ae7592f8d4b4b096/thumbnail_3230000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6078096/Peoria-County/Illinois/Votes-at-a-glance-board-approves-minutes-and-zoning-settlement-vote-not-recorded-in-transcript","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078096-08409e1c3ca56851eb7324a2c0b0d50d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170251&Signature=nb24jn89HHDA909Yb3NQtp6dfENpESBHVTDTG3L-I2wUOEfK2knWDqAnQBmpv7A3oPNX4XL-dZrjCEnpmd3n0GTrikiXIx5vmYjNe2xrsxeQifzX08UHmlMzm6eqZDZGMcWV1ZWBlYW67t3vol7Iyl52KDA9M85wPTdmY7idBZcewKVQ1aJXhWgmqIABhL4QR1BRSStQQjYHmvzIUt4A2GVeMGjLdsFaQOMryr0O0SmMm~beM1eY2G5VXUi3H5URbzgPDdcEQ0mGFqGZAsDs1x80bXIgTlwyi-eqIlJrQkA6ddsZFsY-tTs50fWaW65E7QquLA94ugEbyeymMHz0Ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Peoria County, IL","date","2025-04-11T12:04:18Z","article","At the meeting the Peoria County Board recorded several formal actions during the consent and zoning portions of the agenda and considered — but did not record a final vote on — a litigation settlement.

Approved items recorded in the transcript

- Approval of minutes for March 13, 2025: The transcript records the motion to approve the minutes with Member Williams and Member El Sasser identified on the motion. The board recorded “16 eyes” in favor when the vote was completed.

- Zoning case ZBA 2025-001 (petition of Lauren M. and Scott D. Mumburg): The petition sought to rezone 8.34 acres from I-2 (heavy industrial) to A-2 (agricultural) in order to convey property to an adjacent landowner. The transcript records the board vote as “16 eyes” in favor.

Item placed on the floor but final vote not recorded in transcript

- Resolution from the executive committee recommending approval of a settlement of civil litigation in the amount of $625,000: Member Marsha Blair moved to put the resolution on the floor and Member Ruland seconded. The transcript shows the motion and that members were asked to vote, but a final tally and an explicit record of approval or rejection are not contained in the provided transcript excerpt.

Notes: Where vote tallies or formal adoption are not recorded in the transcript excerpt, this summary marks the outcome as not specified and recommends consulting the official minutes or the county clerk’s certified vote record for the conclusive action and any related documents (settlement agreement, judge’s orders, and executive-committee report).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Peoria County Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Peoria County Board approved routine minutes and a rezoning petition; the transcript records a resolution to consider a $625,000 settlement being placed on the floor but does not show a final vote or adoption.","taxTitle","Peoria County, Illinois","taxId",2551,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078097,"ACLU urges Peoria County to end use of restraint chair at county jail, cites more than 350 uses over five years",357,2492000,2849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2962107-f188a47bd79ed398ae7592f8d4b4b096&start=2492&end=2849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2962107-f188a47bd79ed398ae7592f8d4b4b096/thumbnail_2492000.jpg","/articles/6078097/Peoria-County/Illinois/ACLU-urges-Peoria-County-to-end-use-of-restraint-chair-at-county-jail-cites-more-than-350-uses-over-five-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078097-59f1068cb55b1cf8210d92ceddb6629e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170251&Signature=MHJSmI18ygw-UI~8lB5GXAfjN3vjy4gVmnzOLUTpfkoClyCnrXa3iLEe36ZqKT7eu4edJ-tWTNTV4Iijbf3st569qRDV2u7wMFO1SeCtQIeKev9-xWHaXsM3M77omNAZT7JnTvyIE~8qXrJbcWcsvw9ERR64NMVl66LpkVkKJKUQsfS-49sJX~QxjJdz2ZqXjnqGAFcvpyunOh7GxIkY8nrVO6aWDafWKPBUhDl0ourMCl~ONw~u-8Gh1rxMrKxmNu4QsZDKgKz0GR3xfIxjwIsow0vgn0LwmwkusDQEovnKxagQdjh4RektjRFZ0vx9zoOiz885BDmod5xG-i-vVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cathy McNeil, representing the Peoria chapter of the ACLU of Illinois, urged the Peoria County Board during public comment to “immediately end the use” of the restraint chair at the Peoria County Jail, calling the device an “inhumane tool” and saying it is often used on people experiencing mental-health episodes.

McNeil said an analysis by the Illinois Answers Project found Peoria County Jail officials had used a restraint chair more than 350 times between 2019 and 2023 — “more than once a week on average for every week during those five years,” she said. McNeil also cited sworn statements from plaintiffs in two lawsuits alleging that individuals were tied to the chair and left for extended periods, in some instances more than 24 hours and, in one instance referenced by the speaker, more than 72 hours.

McNeil described conversations with the sheriff and the jail superintendent and said county officials told the ACLU that, aside from the chair, their only other option was to refer individuals to the Illinois Department of Human Services. “We know that state facilities and resources are not adequate now and rarely are available on an emergency basis,” McNeil said, arguing for local solutions and for the county board to take a leadership role. She urged the board to “investigate this matter and make a priority of creating additional resources designed to care for incarcerated individuals who suffer from severe mental health problems.”

The ACLU representative told the board it stands ready to work with county officials on “humane, sustainable solutions” and called the conditions at the Peoria County Jail “deeply troubling.” The transcript records McNeil’s remarks but does not show immediate board directives or votes on the issue during the meeting excerpt.

The public comment adds to an ongoing national conversation about restraint devices and treatment of people with mental illness in county jails. The transcript does not include responses from the sheriff about the specific allegations of extended restraint periods beyond McNeil’s account, nor does it include jail records or the lawsuits’ pleadings; those documents would be needed to independently verify the claims presented to the board.","A representative of the ACLU of Illinois told the Peoria County Board the county jail’s use of a restraint chair is ‘inhumane,’ citing a review that found more than 350 uses from 2019–2023 and sworn statements alleging extended restraint periods.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078099,"Peoria County board puts $625,000 civil settlement on the floor amid objections from families of fallen officers",710,2734000,3444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2962107-f188a47bd79ed398ae7592f8d4b4b096&start=2734&end=3444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2962107-f188a47bd79ed398ae7592f8d4b4b096/thumbnail_2734000.jpg","/articles/6078099/Peoria-County/Illinois/Peoria-County-board-puts-625000-civil-settlement-on-the-floor-amid-objections-from-families-of-fallen-officers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078099-51d7361dc8419a16735980f5c532dbaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170251&Signature=PcS8BpTbZAKTKxyrCX7F6vQl3ITKaU2XmL-A9kcIFNak~CRfXYBM97TjoHfbfEiMISky7njtKbrDkIzl3CZZZBxzgTzZmliOn3BcOkLUTwsDeymo33j0qF92WlAJbnnCSlvFiSWUFyTBlH7AaJqWBTG7nNczOQVAGyejLc8zUmrk8BF~5DRutsiADj~6QNz2hGtvC~h~L6zZz6Tl3hxpUcGpzatxc5KXhYLkTuYdIRrbC9RJDNxn4f5KjPxvtWwBudUsFpoPbpxsnOPom0HbEq3VY3cnWvAFbcqr1fkAQMuaL4xDMdYMz6tsUT8vs5OURXVFxOh0mrHDpunN0iatKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Peoria County Board on April moved a resolution from its executive committee recommending approval of a $625,000 settlement in pending civil litigation onto the floor for a vote, drawing public objections from family members of officers killed in the line of duty.

The matter was described on the agenda as “a resolution from your executive committee recommending approval of a settlement of civil litigation in the amount of $625,000.” Member Marsha Blair moved to place the resolution on the floor and Member Ruland registered as the second. The transcript does not record the final vote tally or formal outcome of the motion.

Why it matters: the payment amount is large enough that family members and other residents addressed the board during the public comment period, saying a settlement is inappropriate given prior court rulings. Wendy Hipsen, who said her father was Lieutenant Paul Hibzer of the Peoria Police Department and who identified herself as speaking against the proposed settlement in the Cleve Heidelberg case, told the board she opposed paying the sum after a federal judge had previously dismissed the lawsuit. “Why would you pay $625,000 on a lawsuit that’s been thrown out?” Hipsen said. Phyllis Espinosa, who identified herself as the daughter of Sergeant Raymond Espinosa (a fallen officer named earlier in the meeting’s law‑enforcement proclamation), said she was “very sad” and urged the board to back officers rather than settle.

Hipsen and other speakers said a federal judge previously dismissed the case on grounds that the plaintiffs had already been compensated and could not sue again; that fact was raised in public comment and is reflected in the transcript but the transcript does not include the judge’s written order or a citation to the decision. The speakers urged the county to reconsider settling and to support officers instead of paying a large settlement.

Board procedure and next steps: after the public comments, the executive-committee resolution was placed on the floor. The transcript records Member Blair as the mover and Member Ruland as the second; it does not record a final tally or whether the board ultimately approved the settlement during this meeting. The resolution text on the agenda was brief and identified the dollar amount but did not provide settlement terms or identify the plaintiff(s) by name in the recorded excerpt. The transcript therefore does not specify whether the settlement includes confidentiality terms, release language, or any nonmonetary conditions.

Context and community reaction: speakers at the meeting said that the city has a history of settling lawsuits rather than litigating; some public commenters characterized that approach as “burying” issues. Those objecting stressed the personal impact on families of officers killed in the line of duty and objected to settling what they described as a dismissed suit.

Documentation and evidence: the board agenda item was introduced verbally as a recommendation from the executive committee for a $625,000 settlement; the public comments opposing the settlement appear in the transcript earlier in the meeting during the citizen remarks period. The transcript does not include the written settlement document or the executive committee report that recommended the payment.

Votes at a glance from this meeting are summarized separately in the board’s public record and in a companion ‘Votes at a glance’ article produced from the same meeting transcript.","The Peoria County Board moved a resolution recommending approval of a $625,000 civil litigation settlement onto the floor for a vote after public comments from family members of fallen officers who opposed the payment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: board approves minutes and zoning; settlement vote not recorded in transcript

ACLU urges Peoria County to end use of restraint chair at county jail, cites more than 350 uses over five years

Peoria County board puts $625,000 civil settlement on the floor amid objections from families of fallen officers