CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

MAYOR, CITY OF PEKIN

11. What are your thoughts on the completion of Veterans Drive all the way to I-474.

Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce: The City should continue to be the lead agency, working with Tazewell County, Marquette Heights, North Pekin and Creve Coeur, to advocate for the construction of Veterans Drive from Sheridan to Fisher Road, with an interchange at I-474. The City should use 2 cents from the local gas tax as a local match for state and federal funding of the construction.

Mark A. Luft: Although we have many serious priorities in front of us as a community, I do believe the completion of Veterans Dr. to I-474 is necessary for the future vision of Pekin.

John McCabe: Now that Veterans’ Drive South is completed, Pekin must work with other neighboring communities to place more focus on the completion of the overall project. Veterans’ Drive North will benefit these other communities, and we need to work closely with those affected to ensure that all the communities in the area share not just the benefits of the project, but the costs as well. Interest in the completion of Veterans’ Drive North has waned because of cost overruns and the extended time caused by changes in state requirements. The city council needs to help maintain the interest in the project so that some day, it will be completed.