Possible litigation between a former Peoria employee and the city has revealed a political drama that significantly altered the city’s upper ranks over many months leading up to and after the swearing in of Mayor Jason Beck in January.
The city of Peoria has filed a notice of claim against former City Attorney Vanessa Hickman asking that she pay back a severance payment in the amount of $138,795 she received when she resigned from the city on Jan. 5.
Former mayor Cathy Carlat is also named on this claim.
