Peoria County is healthy, safe, financially sound and growing.  That was the message in the county’s first ever State of the County breakfast meeting.  About 140 state and local leaders turned out to hear the remarks of Peoria County Board Chair tom O’Neill and Administrator Lori Curtis Luther.

O’Neill says hiring Luther was a success of 2011. Luther says the theme of success in Peoria County Government is largely a product of collaboration.  She says no unit of government, no matter how large or small, can boast quality public services unless multiple units of governments can boast the same. Luther says working in collaboration serves the public well, and the public benefits best when the private sector joins us.

She says the MAP steering committee is a great example of a public-private partnership that identified local priority health issues that include obesity, oral health and reproductive health.  Peoria County Government is also collaborating to create the Riverfront Museum and is also constructing a new County-owned senior care center on Heading Avenue in West Peoria.  The new facility will replace Bel-Wood Nursing Home.