“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.”

Samuel Adams

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

For Your Information

Some of you have asked for the question and answer format for this election. I have Ald. Mayszaks permission to use her FB question to Mike Hart on the Peru Town Forum.


Sherry Lierly Mayszak
Would you be in favor of volunteers helping beautify the city like the City of Ottawa does? They have a great volunteer program, but I've felt some resistance when I asked about this idea here.



Mike Hart for Mayor Anyone who would like to volunteer would be welcome. The old saying. " Many hands make light work."
Monday at 13:30 ·

Mike Hart for Mayor I believe the resistance could be that the project would still be completed without the use of public employees. Also it may bring out more individuals with more and possibly better ideas on how to beautify not only the downtown areas but the parks. The city has a horticulturist but I have never seen him in Centennial Park doing any weeding or transplanting of flowers. Besides weeds growing with flowers near the gazebo there is poison ivy. I assume the parks ; Rec. Dept. would have to approve this.
Yesterday at 08:54 ·

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like Sherry and Mike ideas. Lets get everybody to clean the streets and plant flowers. Like the pool fundraising group that Sherry was involved with.

Anonymous said...

I don't see why the Rec Board would have to approve this idea. They don't do the work in the parks. I too think it's a wonderful idea and would volunteer myself but I would first like to see the employees that we pay to take care of our parks doing their jobs. Too many times grass that doesn't need cutting is being cut, garbage cans that are overflowing are not being emptied, children's playground equipment is in dire need of repainting and repair, etc. Would like to see a mayor who will take control of the reins and move this city forward. Many people have wonderful ideas but they fall on deaf ears unless you're someone influential.

Anonymous said...

Mike H. I would like to answer the question and save your energy for other topics. Sherry, he is running for Mayor not to replace Mr.Roeper(florist on 3's company). If you would like to get a group together to plant flowers, please go ahead. You have been placed as a sitting alderwomen, what's taking you so long to act on your save the flowers campaign.

Peru Town Forum said...

1:36 PM

If you knew the amount of money Peru spends on maintaining a green house for its horticulturist and how much money is spent yearly on flowers, trees etc., I don't think you would be so flippant. Volunteerism is dead in Peru and one of the reasons, no one takes any interest or pride in this community. Ald. Mayszak referenced Ottawa and I suggest you take a trip through their parks and down town when the flowers are in bloom. Esthetics do matter and it sure gives travelers and residents a better impression of how the people do care for their city. But in fact parts of this city might be what they are because past and present mayors have not chosen to take an interest in encouraging those volunteers to step up and make the city look like a nice place to live.
By the way heard another new business is leaving town, leaving from our down town.

Sherry Mayszak said...

1:36. I have gotten a small group of volunteers together to plant flowers at the fire station and the airport. One of the volunteers was an LP student working for gold cord hours. She did a great job, and I'm very proud of what we accomplished in one summer. Have you been to Ottawa lately? Their downtown is so beautiful because they have a group of 60 volunteers. So much could be done to make Peru look better. I went to a seminar this morning, and Mr Reid Wilson spoke about the work done in Ottawa. He stressed the two most important things on revitalizing a downtown is approval and backing from the mayor and volunteer participation. So in my opinion, this is an important question for all mayoral candidates. Please contact me any time at 815-488-0562. Thanks! Sherry Mayszak

Anonymous said...

How big can elections signs be in Peru? I have just rode by some big ones?

Justin Loger said...

3:02 32 square feet is the maximum allowable sign dimensions in Peru

Anonymous said...

Very nice in volunteering to plant flowers at the fd. However, don't understand why fireman who get paid to show up for a fire call couldn't or wouldn't TRULY VOLUNTEER several minutes each to plant a minimal amount of flowers at the station. It's not like it would take hours, unless its solely done by one person. Does someone volunteer to water them too? Thanks to all the true volunteers. And yes OTTAWA is beautiful in it's flower department. Go to ottawas river front and check it out. How's Perus river front look? Meaning waterstreet. It's a total disgrace and embarrassing to have company from out of town and go down on waterstreet to show them the river front. Doesn't seem department heads who should be overseeing this is doing their job. Wasted taxpayers money for this position in my opinion. Goodness sakes!

Anonymous said...

Peru's campaign sign ordinance is a joke ! It is unconstitutional and can't be enforced if the signs are on private property. This is Taylor's brain child and being that he knows nothing it went into effect. The city cannot say there is a limit on campaign signs! Period!

Anonymous said...

It's different when you have a set of railroad tracks running through downtown waterstreet. Ottawa has none

Anonymous said...

This came up 2 years ago in neighboring towns. Campaign sign limits are unconstitutional and cannot be subject to city ordinances. They can't be enforced by local police. Peru cannot legally make limits for campaign signs. I agree Taylor is a fool!
So is Harl and the rest of the council for passing such an ordinance.

Sherry Mayszak said...

4:50. After my mom and I weeded and planted at the fire dept, the firemen took over weeding and watering. I don't know if you've stopped to see it, but there are 3 stepping stones leading up to the bell. If it wasn't for the firemen, those stepping stones would not be there. I had the idea, but I didn't have the knowledge or tools or muscle to get them in the ground. I think it is beautiful. Plus in the fall, the firemen added festive fall decorations to that area. I can't wait til spring to see the perennials that we planted last year. Maybe this year we will tackle the police dept because it looked pretty bare last year!!!!
Sherry Mayszak

Anonymous said...

WHY ARE WE PAYING $50,000 A YEAR FOR A HORTICULTRIST? NOTHING WILL BE PLANTED UNTIL THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL, AND HE OVERLOOKS WHAT THEY DO. HE DOESN'T EVEN WATER THE PLANTS. HE ACTS LIKE HES THE BOSS. GET RID OF HIM, HE IS USELESS.

Peru Town Forum said...

9:51 PM

Along with paying the horticulturist which is not the correct name because he is not actually a horticulturist as he does not have the education or credentials to be one, is what I understand.
We know need to start asking why the city of Peru allows him to keep a greenhouse (at the cemetery) and pay for the upkeep for it. Thousands of dollars are spent each year for flowers in the city which are usually purchased somewhere else and not locally. They most definitely are not grown there at the greenhouse. Everyone should drive through and take a look. There is no oversight on anything growing here as we can see we are continually replanting trees that are planted and then ignored.

Peru Town Forum said...

correction
should be "We now need" not "we know" in the third sentence.

Anonymous said...

It's quite obvious that Ottawa's riverfront doesn't have railroad tracks along it's waterfront! DUH! Here's an idea for Peru's waterfront to start with: 1) whoever owns the junkyard looking property by boat club, needs to clean it up 2) fix potholes on waterstreet 3) how about new gravel on south side of waterstreet street adjacent to the tracks 4) concrete parking sections lined up 5)a bunch of concrete flower plots lined up with planted flowers- plant perennials in pots( save$ yearly-plants come back yearly)- this would
spruce up water street a little. A BUNCH OF WEED KILLER WOULD DO WONDERS TOO!

Anonymous said...

Ihave mentioned several times, why that eyesore of a lot West of Burger King, can't be cleaned up?

Peru Town Forum said...

11:26 PM

My understanding is that a bank in Mendota had purchased that lot at auction maybe about a year ago with plans to build. Never heard anymore about it and as you said, it looks just like one more eyesore in town.

Anonymous said...

Mike Hart has lots of questions to answer to get my vote and so do the others. Fire Chief? Police Chief? Public Works? Electrical Department? Just as important as being the Mayor is the management behind him? I want change and to get my vote you will need to step out and show that not side-step it. I am disappointed to hear the waste at the Fire Department ex. the snow plow truck $32,000 for what? Police Department? Do we need a police chief that is tied directly to the Democratic party and is running for an election and makes the most money in City of Peru, people beat up on Weberski for trying to hold two political offices but this takes the cake! I have heard numerous reports about the City Electric Manager using the Peru taxpayer vehicle for personal time. Public Works has no control last summer a seasonal city worker was charged with alcohol law violation and was allowed to continue to work for the city even though it was in the paper! The last 4 years seem to be like a C rated horror flick will they ever end! Lois, we really appreciate you giving us the info that doesnt make the paper or the radio and this Blog will be the difference in the election. If people running for office dont take an active part they will miss out

Anonymous said...

About that eyesore lot I understand that it is owned by Atty.Tony Raccuglia.