Pekin, Peoria Children and Family Services offices to merge

PEKIN, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services plans to close its office in Pekin and merge it with the department's office in Peoria.

The Pekin Daily Times reports (http://bit.ly/1DMQIMp ) the office will close in March when the current lease expires. DCFS spokesman Andrew Flach says the state will save about $122,000 by combining the offices. He says no jobs will be lost and DCFS' Pekin workers will continue to cover Tazewell and Woodford county cases.

The state and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union have a meeting scheduled to discuss the closing.

AFSCME Local 51 President Lori Gladson says she's concerned about the affect the merger will have on workers and the public.

Flach says DCFS didn't have any comment on the union's concerns at this time.

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Information from: Pekin Daily Times, http://www.pekintimes.com