PEORIA, Ill. – A problem the City of Peoria allegedly has with a local not-for-profit helping local homeless and others who may need food and other supplies may soon be close to being resolved.
“[Community Development Director Joe Dulin] said as long as you get it cleaned up, we’ll inspect it and see what it is, and we’ll go from there,” said Charles Martin, vice president of Porch Pantry.
“From my understanding, they got it cleaned up,” said Dulin. “We’re happy to work with anyone to get violations corrected, and dismiss the citation, and they won’t have to show up for the hearing.”
The issue is a notice Porch Pantry received the other day claiming there would be a fine because litter and debris was in their yard.
“It caught me by surprise, because I’m like we always…my boys and I…we’re always out there picking stuff up and picking trash up, and stuff that’s not even ours. But we pick up trash for the neigborhood because we want to better the neighborhood.
Martin says he’s vigilant about keeping the yard clean. He says something went wrong with the city’s process.
“If anybody knows anything about the City of Peoria, they will always usually write you a big, blue ticket,” said Martin. “They post it on your door. They give you so many days to fix it, or else you will get a fine.”
Martin says he never received that big, blue ticket.
Dulin, who was travelling at the time he talked with WMBD News, says he can’t comment on that, but says that’s the usual procedure before a letter comes in the mail.
In the meantime, Martis says he and wife Kelli need continued help keeping Porch Pantry stocked with non-perishables and other things homeless and low-income people need. It’s located at 1122 N. Ellis St. in Peoria, near UnityPoint Methodist Medical Center.
You can CLICK HERE to donate money to Porch Pantry, or CLICK HERE for their Facebook page.
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