“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

Friday, April 19, 2013

Utica side of the Dee Bennett Road to Naplate

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

City is hosting open house 6pm Monday for flood related questions. On News Trib web site, twitter.

Peru Town Forum said...

Peru officials will make themselves available at a public forum at 6 p.m. Monday April 22 at City Hall. Residents can ask questions about any flood-related matters. We can ask and I hope those residents that have once again received flood damage will get answers.

Anonymous said...

gee 5 years ago flooding was talk of the election and how change was going to fix things??? i know this is unusual but nothing is fixed-did we really think anything would? haha

ak said...

There isn't anything that could fix the water problem people had all over Illinois. The only fix would have been the power to stop all the rain. I work with the public and everyone I talked to had water of some sort. Some people have never had water in their basement before. Not one of them complained, as they realized no matter what they had, it was nothing like Water Street businesses or the people and businesses of Utica and surrounding areas. 7:43 could be helping sand bag areas or help the Red Cross that has had people manning shelters 24/7 instead of complaining. Maybe he/she has great insite to fixing overflowing creeks and rivers too!

Anonymous said...

Only Harl can take a disater and turn it into a Photo Op, courtesy of his lackeys at the tribune.
Wirh all of our city workers having nothing to do, so we have to give them busy work building a BB gun range, we need Harl to carry a sandbag?
Where is the levy plan to stop the North side of theriver from loading? Where is the development plan for Water Street?

Anonymous said...

@6:45am

Ok, so if nothing is said then you you would say he didn't care.
As far as city workers go then you would want to know who is paying them to help protect individual businesses.
For a levy, you would complain that Peru can't afford that and that the kids need a pool first.

I'm not a Harl fan but the more posts that I see like yours makes me wish I had voted for him just for you!

Anonymous said...

6:46. WOW. The mayor lends a hand with the emergency situation on Water Street and you still find something to complain about. I am fully convinced that this blog will spew negative rhetoric towards any elected or appointed official, no matter how good their deeds are. I for one did not vote for Harl, but he most certainly has earned my respect for showing this act of generosity towards this natural disaster.

Anonymous said...

Damned if you do or don't, huh? People dont want money spent but want a pool. Want pprojects but dont think they need to pay engineers or union. Takes money to fix these problems. Dont get built by themselves unless council approves work.

Peru Town Forum said...

11:57 AM

I guess what people are saying is that if mayors elsewhere were doing their fair share which I am sure they were, it was not pictured. Personally I believe it should have shown no faces but it should have pictured the city workers doing what was needed in a time of need.

Anonymous said...

4:06 So it is Mayor Harls fault for what the NewsTrib wants to put in their newspaper? Sorry, but I don't believe that to be true. In any case, every time I see ANYTHING done, its always Mayor Harls fault, doesn't matter how good the consequences were. I'm not surprised elected officials don't come on this blog. They could donate a kidney to a dying child and it would be seen as a publicity stunt to gain votes in the eyes of this blog. What a shame.

Peru Town Forum said...

5:36 PM

I don't know what your problem is, it was only picture that different people have different opinions about. Why so touchy, it wasn't you, I don't believe. Let it go.
Maybe not good politics at a time of disaster.

Anonymous said...

6:10. That's the problem. You say it's "not good politics in a time of disaster". Why does this blog make everything into political shenanigans? I don't believe it was political anything, just someone doing something right for their community, but according to this place everything must have some deep underlying secret or alternate motive...

Peru Town Forum said...

8:02 PM

I just blogged a heading titled Harl Campaign War Chest and when you explain that to us, we will explain why everything is political. When this kind of money is brought into a political campaign in a small community, everything from now until the next election will be political, I guarantee you.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, the mayor of Boston got a picture of him shooting at the 2nd suspect, Emmanuel was baling water at the Deep Tunnel, and Harl brought his sandbag for the news trib reporter.
If we could just get some aliens to land here, maybe they could get a shot of the mayor firing his phaser.
The mayor never misses a chance for a photo op, get over it. His war chest will be big enough to buy the paper at this rate.

Anonymous said...

I want to know how the news tribune knew he was out there sandbagging to get a picture of him in the first place? Also why not a call out for volunteers to help? I'm sure there are many concerned citizens who would have been happy to help. Volunteering makes a person feel good and creates a sense of community, especially during a natural disaster.

Peru Town Forum said...

Ottawa asked for volunteers for sandbagging at their waste water plant and also by the high school and they were pictured in the Ottawa Times, did not see the mayor or if he was there, the name was not.

Anonymous said...

I just read the NT article, Harl claims to have sent out a call to volunteers, but it must have only been to river rescue volunteers. Just think how quickly they could have gotten done with citizen volunteers.

Anonymous said...

Were any of the aldermen there helping, or did the mayor do it all himself? If the aldermen were there, why didn't they get any credit?

Peru Town Forum said...

Through this whole flooding disaster, I watched how other cities handled the call for volunteers and think both Peru and La Salle did not do well. Facebook seemed to be the venue of choice for Oglesby by the city, Marseilles by the city and Ottawa thru the Ottawa Times. WLPO did some and I see little by the N.T. Peru has a FB page but it doesn't really do that much that I can see.

Anonymous said...

I never heard a call for volunteers in Peru. And I'm a peru employee.

Peru Town Forum said...

9:10 POM

The mayor was solidifying his votes on the council and I will see that we see the names. Two are his expected favorites with always a yes vote. You all can guess those 2.

Peru Town Forum said...

8:02 PM

Mayor Harl made this political, not me or other employees or residents of Peru.

Anonymous said...

I definitely liked this blog a lot better when it about Peru and not about who you want elected.
Lois with all the foias brought credibility to this blog but between insane comments made by people and now already working on an election campaign it's going downhill fast.

I'm still hoping for some normalcy on this blog soon.

Anonymous said...

LOIS NO MATTER WHAT HARL WOULD DO, YOU WOULD FIND SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. THE ELECTION IS OVER, TRY TO LIVE WITH IT. PLEASE QUIT RAKEING HARL OVER THE COALS. I HONESTLY THINK HE IS TRYING TO DO A GOOD JOB. BUT PEOPLE ON THIS BLOG, TAKE EVERYTHING AND MAKE IT NEGATIVE.

Anonymous said...

What everyone needs to remember when you are an elected official you always have what the mayor stated at the debate " a target on my back". Not only the mayor but every elected official throughout the state and country. If you did not know it before you ran for election you will find out very quickly after, and you either live with it or quit. So as the old saying goes, if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen.

Anonymous said...

7:43 What is upsetting is the amount of money that was spent five years ago, and apparently nothing was accomplished. Do not fix the roads before what is underneath is fixed.

Anonymous said...

7:16 One of the main criticisms of the Mayor is that he tends to be overly self serving, involved with getting pictures with important people and spending time with only those who can help him politically, never opposition or ordinary people.

When you do spend time getting your hands dirty, helping at a sandbagging, you can do it quietly or set up a photo op. Stop pretending this stuff is not staged and claiming the blog is anything but observation of his regular pattern. A man of the people he is not. Trying to do a good job? 65 percent of voters said he wasn't.

You want the blog to let up? I say more blogs, more transparency, more attendance at meetings and relentless exposure of the things that are wrong, because you can count on the Trib to keep feeding us the same crap for four years.

The people cannot let Bakers toxic legacy be this last worthless campaign for false pride. If the minorities cannot agree and elect someone, then the minorities must do battle in every way they can and reject this message that Harl won, let's all just get along now. I say fight at every turn UNTIL some sense of compromise is shown from this guy. You cannot be a minority Mayor with the stubborn pride and lack of compromise that he shows.

Anonymous said...

Amen 9:03. Harl has consistently shown a bulldozer attitude to anybody who gets in his way. He is stubborn and does not care about the little guy, even if the little guy happens to be a long time Peru business owner. He won the election by default. Lets see next election who jumps in at the end to split votes, like Giordano did this time. I talked to somebody yesterday who said he spoke with Harl and thought he was a personable guy. I said try bringing up something he is not in favor of and watch his face get red and shut you out.

Linda said...

To those who read this blog and blame it for being political remember one important fact - IT IS THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN WHO ARE EXPRESSING THEIR POINTS OF VIEW AND NOT THE BLOG ITSELF! Lois is the creator of it but she allows you and I the freedom to express how we feel about each and every thing that is going on in Peru. The trouble is that most of us blog anonymously while she signs her name to each and every one of her own posts. This puts her out there for people to attack and criticize her yet she keeps allowing us the freedom to say how and what we feel. I thank you Lois for this opportunity.

Anonymous said...

This comment is intended to express the thought in a manner to alert anyone with the thought of investing money along Water Street because the property is inexpensive, don't. Besides the lumber yard and Mertels has any other business been on Water Street longer then ten and a half years. All those which which are on it knew what they were going to encounter and accepted such. They started their businesses with the knowledge that they could win or lose and selected the location as their first investment of the business. For the city to increase their expenses on Water Street would be foolish. Mertel's cement trucks are the biggest factor in the roads deteriation and should be repaired by them on account of this reason. If Mertels does not want to donate the cement cover needed areas of the road with gravel.
It is thoughtful to consider building a levy but if one was to get a estimate of construction they will be stunned.

Anonymous said...

I hope to tell you that the cost of building a levy along Water Street will stun you if it can be done. But above all a levy, if possible, would spoil the beautiful scenic riverfront view. Who owns the property where the riverfront railroad tracks are located and do you really think the Army Corp. of Engineers will allow a levy?
Years ago the South Shore Boat Club was on the south side of the river ask if they are ever going to get a river location again from the Army Corp of Eng. after having to move to the north side or try to recieve permission to build a dock along the river.

Anonymous said...

Does Chamlain Engineering design levies? That would be worth a fishing trip around the world and two jeeps!

Anonymous said...

GO BACK TO 2007_ THE 100 YEAR FLOOD SO TO SPEAK. READ THE COUNCIL MEETINGS PERTAINING TO HAVING STORM SEWAGE IMPROVEMENTS!!!! THIS WAS BAKERS ADMINISTRATION. NOTHING DONE ! THEN HARLS TERM- NOTHING DONE!!!! 2007 we had alot more rain if I remember than the recent rainfall. SO, WHAT'S GONNA BE THE B.S. STORY THIS TIME? The residents up by baker lake in 2007 had a spokesperson whose actual job was sewers. HIS OWN HOUSE GOT FLOODED IN 2007. CITY OF PERU, you are taking advantage of taxpayers! NOT HOLDING UP YOU END!!!

Anonymous said...

Peru gets tax revenue from mertels and employs several people! How about flint hills? Do semis deliver there? The city will say this was the 50 year flood this time not the excuse used in 2007 as being the 100 year flood. If all the homeowners that have been affected by this would refuse to pay their property taxes, maybe something would be done by the city.

Anonymous said...

1:30 All the affected homeowners should attend the meeting tomorrow night at city hall and voice their concerns. If no one shows up nothing will be done, you can bet on that. Now if a hundred residents show up that number can make a difference. Even if you did not have flooding attend the meeting and support others that did, it could be you next time.

Anonymous said...

The "great flood" was in the fall of 2008, not 2007

Anonymous said...

7:16 AM You did not run this blog down 4 years ago when you were contributing to it in order to get Harl elected. Face facts!

Anonymous said...

What a sad commentary. Some of you people are just sick. Good for the mayor for helping out. Of course the newspaper will run a picture of a public official helping out. What's the big deal?

KUDOS to Peru because our flooding situation is MUCH better than the last time. Remember the disaster along Church Street the last time? It held and that is with the school in place. The school district might have something to do with that but the point is it could have been a lot worse.

The biggest problem in Peru is not our mayor or council. It is people who just spew venom in every direction at elected people who try to do the right thing. What a joke.

Did anyone else think that our town fared pretty well in the flood?

Anonymous said...

8:53 Just a curious question: How would the newspaper know that the mayor was on Water Street sandbagging if someone didn't call them?

Peru Town Forum said...

I "heard" that Kemp Smith was in the area. Guess he was notified before the rest of the aldermen were not.

Anonymous said...

8:53 I may be sick, but I am not stupid. I can smell a staged press pic a mile away. Sure his honor was doing a good thing. You don't see the press snapping away when he doing less than honorable things, or answering tough questions about his ethics or record. We just don't do those things round here in Mayberry do we? Just venom is all it is. Nasty venom.
That's the problem. All the mean people asking questions and making comments. Bet you were the same poster who asked the insightful question after the mayoral debates, "why si Mike Hart so mean?"
My question, when is the electorate going to wake up?!

Anonymous said...

The 100 year flood was is august 2007, as was told to residents by the city. In July of 2008 was also a problem with rain.

Anonymous said...

2008 was the record holder, not 2007. Just because the city wasn't adequately prepared with sewer systems in 2007 and basements backed up doesnt make it the worst. 2008 was, which was now surpassed by 2013

Anonymous said...

Who is going to push for passing the legislation to set up a PRIMARY for the next Mayoral Election?

Anonymous said...

Let's just have some more concerts and get drunk. Go 150!

Peru Town Forum said...

3:48 PM

You are probably going to get your wish.

Anonymous said...

In the 7 plus years that I have known The Big H, I don't recall once when he physically worked as a volunteer for any project. He may have stood behind a table making the usual meet and greet bs, but there was never hard labor involved. The paper was notified of the sand bagging efforts and trust me, they were not volunteers that showed up. They were all paid for their time. You've all been sand bagged. I am reading on Facebook every hour about stories of volunteers offering their efforts to all the towns involved. So sad, not one story from Peru, IL. NOT ONE! Businesses in other towns are giving away free or low cost services to anybody in need that suffered in this tragedy. Peru? Not one business offered SQUAT! Way to go Peru. You must be so proud. If it don't line your wallet, you don't give a crap. Starts from the leader and moves down the line!!

Anonymous said...

10:16 Very well said! If the Union isn't doing the job it isn't done right. That Union Membership (especially the pin) makes you real smart and qualified to do anything! WHAT A JOKE!