The Peoria County Executive Committee voted to adopt a 2026 strategic plan designed to guide the board's priorities year over year. The plan identifies five strategic goals'financial stability; infrastructure maintenance and improvements; community investment; communications and marketing; and workforce and organizational development'and includes foundational elements such as vision, mission, values and proposed metrics for each goal.

Melissa, who presented the plan to the committee, said the document is intended to "stand the test of time" and that staff will return next month with a separate action plan that lists specific tasks staff will implement to advance the strategic goals. Members asked whether departments would be engaged in financial-stability metrics and whether the public could view progress; Melissa said an online dashboard is the ultimate goal and that adopted actions will be posted and tracked online.

After limited discussion and no requested amendments, the committee voted to adopt the 2026 strategic plan. The committee chair called the vote and recorded the motion as carried with "all ayes." Staff said the Board will update the action plan annually or as needed and will present web-tracking tools so members and the public can follow progress.

The committee's adoption of the 2026 plan is procedural and sets direction for staff work; the next procedural step is the action plan presentation, expected at the board's meeting next month.