This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“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
Off subject, sorry. Haven't heard much in regards to concerts lately. FBI should investigate those. Including how they are promoted and the use of an airport. And then the IRS also should do an audit. And every concert venue such as the performers manager/agency should be called to see how these concerts were promoted to the booking agent. The reason is because a lot of the public was under the assumption ALL proceeds goes to charity. Which is so very untrue! Easy to google artist and get information.
What will be doing is this. When the concerts are announced I am going to send an email to the band and tell them I will not attendt the concert along with the reasons. If enough people do this, the band just might cancel.
Off the subject: go figure another cutting edge move by illinois Unionize collegate athletes Wow Obvioulsy a stellar move by less than capable athletes to protect themselves from less than capable performance Sort of like operators teamsters and other less than capable people with the ability to stand individually on their own merit More of the demise of America God help us
7:26 that is a great idea and I will do the same, as well as pass the word. Go through the proper channels and build your own venue rather than use our tax dollars to profit! I wonder what they would say should another citizen request the use of the airport for being a venue for their event for a private profit? Maybe we should test this road and then should they say no file a lawsuit of some sort against the City.
The FBI generally does not investigate matters of potential consumer fraud. The Illinois Attorney general is the responsible agency. They generally do not investigate such matters unless there is a news story or investigative report, due to a lack of interest and also political connections.
The IRS also is politically motivated. In this case, the high cash transactions involved make it difficult for them to establish a trail, and although arguably the business has advertised and presented the concerts as benefit or charity for many years , it apparently has never registered as such. The ordinance is particularly confusing, as it seems to state all proceeds are for charity, and the correspondence with the FAA also seems to promote the activity as a charitable event., widely supported by the community. It has been well established in past cases that a business needs to be quite clear in marketing fund raising activities, and there are clear mechanisms for businesses to register as for profit fund raisers in Illinois.
The city and sponsors have always donated labor, volunteers etc, as if it were a charity, but it is hard to believe they did not know it was a for profit endeavor.
The FBI would be unconcerned with how the promoter presents it to Entertainer acts... The acts themselves would have to voluntarily disclose the details... It is two business entities simply entering a contract.
It might cause their front men some concern if they were made aware of any fraud concerns, simply because there is a long history of phony charity concerts and using bands popularity in unscrupulous ways. In the end tho money talks, if they are guaranteed their money they will come.
The main resources for citizens to complain would be the AG, IRS, and the Illinois labor relations board, as there is a very strong case, and history, of using volunteeer labor unpaid to man and work for a business, potentially violating labor laws. By mixing the idea of a benefit event and a for profit endeavor, the business and the city open themselves to a wide range of liability.
This city believes it is well connected Politically and well represented legally, but truly pushes that to the limit. The local media is actually a sponsor of the events, and will protect them in very way possible.
It is a very unique case, taking advantage of a local culture that has constant fund drives, fund raisers, charity events. I believe the business and their attorney believe as long as they give some part of the ticket sales to the chatty if costs are covered, they can legally make money of concessions using free labor. It is clear the concessions are where the true profits lie, and they have been all cash. Many people around here have no problem with this at all. Just a fact.
The culture in the Illinois Valley has long been that the rich people rule and know what's best for the humble little folk. And as another blogger stated , it's home rule, we do it our way, and we don't like outsiders telling us what to do. Usually it takes a lot of little folks to rise up and get attention from far away, like this FBI investigation. I encourage people to ask questions and share concerns with the proper authorities. But do not expect Big Brother to do your work for you. You have to do more than post on blog sites.
Hiding behind charity has always been some of the worst acts imaginable. How can anyone be against the troops, school kids, and little leaguers? It's is down right un American. It is hard to even ask questions without people being offended and feeling sorry for the business. They count on that.
if you are going to push for sunlight and disclosure, be ready for backlash.
The FBI should investigate the concerts? Lol! And you are going to e-mail a rock band and tell them you are not going to the concert? Who are you people?
ANON 8:58 AM Thank you for the excellent comment. You have not only cited fraudulence , you have also mentioned the downstream short and long term results of this local fraudulent act, and the personal backlash if one becomes openly involved. Knowing that there are many other outstanding minds besides your own in the group of bloggers that contribute to the Peru Town Forum would they please take time to answer a very serious and scary question? When Peru city officials become involved in private business adventures utilizing their political position and the properties they control through this elected political position or eliminating a debt owed to the taxpayers fund (in this instance a debt of over $20,000). ARE THEY REPRESENTING THEIR CONSTITUENTS AS A DEMOCRACY, A SOCIALIST OR A COMMUNISTIC STRUCTURE OF ECONOMICS AND GOVERNMENT. Although many organizations identify themselves as being of democracy in structure, they also lean more to a form of socialism or communism in practice.
"Crony capitalism is a term describing an economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials. It may be exhibited by favoritism in the distribution of legal permits, government grants, special tax breaks, or other forms of state interventionism. Crony capitalism is believed to arise when business cronyism and related self-serving behavior by businesses or businesspeople spills over into politics and government, or when self-serving friendships and family ties between businessmen and the government influence the economy and society to the extent that it corrupts public-serving economic and political ideals."
More study is needed from anon 12:39. City Officials compared to a Socialist form of government. What are these private business practices that are being utilized by political positions that are fraudulet? I do understand that a few minor minions have set up a plan of action that attempts to undermine anything positive in the City of Peru. Most understand that those submitting the highly offensive, extreme comments are doing it for the purpose of creating some stir from those that can and will be manipulated into thinking that anybody successful has achieved success by illegal means. My advice for those is WORK hard, educate yourself and earn the American Dream. Stop complaining and learn a little more about communism, socialism, prior to your next post. Tell us about your government aid program!!!!!
enough with the crap - wake up and get a clue as to what is going on in this town! keep arguing about what type of government you have instead of trying to get together and compromise on something important or we will end up with bernabei/king as mayor (at what cost one can only guess)!
2:18 I am 8:58. I am hardly against Peru, nor did I say anything highly offensive,
I simply said where people should lodge complaints rather than expect the FBI to investigate a charity concert. That's not their thing.
If you want tp pretend that the concert is not Crony Capitalism, that's your right. But it's no conspiracy to look at the revenues, the risks, and the city's involvement and ask why. People need to demand answers and opinions from all current alderpersons, past, and all new contenders. Even the alleged rabble rousers seem to be quiet on the topic of these events. I want to know why.
These are not free city celebrations. They are not in any way charity events. But in many ways they are promoted and publicly supported as if they are.
What's stopping you from going to City Hall and asking the questions, pick up a phone, ask your Mayor-City Council rep. Don't plant lies, Don't call names, Don't cry fraud, Ask the questions!
It seems to me that the appropriate time for the question would be when the mayor and council are in session during the comment time. When people ask questions, the mayor cuts them off and says this is only comments not questions. Why not? Everyone meaning the mayor, council, department heads and treasurer are usually present as are representatives of TEST and Chamlin. Why have 10 or 100 people going through the trouble of trying to reach those people and we would not have to be concerned as to whether everyone got a different answer from the government.
Topic posted was specifically a City of Peru splash pad and so far the only comment regarding splash pads was a comment telling us Oglesby needs one. It is well known that a small group of Peru citizens have worked hard to accumulate funds at first for a swimming pool and upon falling short have decided upon a splash pad. The proposed splash pad and parking lot will cost over 1/4 of a million dollars. The city will be expected to fund half of the cost plus site location. Therefore I believe that it is only fair to allow the city to pick out a 2014 location rather than the footprint of 1927 under a unsightly communication tower. Peru Centennial Park would be a perfect location and already has parking. There is no rule set in stone that the splash pad and swimming pool will have to be in the same location. At some date further down the road a location for the swimming pool may be determined upon. What are the present feelings of the Peru Alderman Public Property Committee , Mayor and City Council as we will not have a splash pad until the city kicks in or a private citizen donates it.
Lois am I understanding you correctly? I have taken for granted that if a person appeared and asked a question in public comment that he would at least be recognized with a answer. Sounds as if the person who asked about democracy, socialism and communism knows what he is talking about. Can't wait to hear the city hall version Friday or next Monday , nothing will be entered Friday or Saturday during non payable hours.
$250,000 for a splash pad? Must be payoffs from Peru to China. Mayor Harl is retired out of Local 150 and is capable of asking the various trades to donate time to build a beautiful splash pad. There is no need to get a professional splash pad builder. Ottawa build their own for less than $100,000 a few years ago and recycles the water for their plants and flowers.
5:58 I agree completely that the worst possible location for a splash pad is under that cell tower. I cannot believe that is even being considered. Centennial park or Washington park by the playground should be considered. Think people think before you spend the money.
Getting volunteers to do something is not the "Peru Way." The "Peru Way" is to inflate the project and make sure as much money as possible flows to the friends in your crony capitalist circle.
Volunteers did help Peru with the airport, and many of them were operators from local 150. At the time, many of those volunteers had been laid off and still said yes to Peru and did the work for nothing. Some of those volunteers did not live in Peru, and had no ties to the airport. Maybe the reason people don't volunteer more often is because of the lack of gratitude . A better approach than what I see in these posts would be: thanks for what you did in the past and could you help us again? I see union bashing all the time on these posts, and then criticism from the same people about the lack of volunteers to build various things. You can't bash the people that you are depending on for volunteers.
Centennial Park would be a great location for a splash pad. It is so ready to be the "Family Park" of Peru. With planning I think a Frisbee golf project in the park would be added recreation. Centennial Park also has parking. Washington Park has been ate up by baseball, with a few tennis courts and soon to be a pickle ball court. The unsightly communication tower will always limit further development of this park. Let's start Centennial Park as Peru's Family Park with a splash pad, and grow from there. If Peru is going to develop lets develop with fresh and open ideas.
6:12 March 27th Citizens are allowed at the end of a meeting to speak but they are not allowed to be answered. The mayor simply replies "this is public comment" "not question and answer" "next". I, for one, cannot understand the reluctance in letting someone on the council answer the questions. They are never that complicated or derogatory. I have also heard that some citizens have been criticized for asking specific questions.
centennial park would not be s perfect choice - are you aware of all the traffic running up and down west street? add all the kids running back and forth across the street and riding their bikes - it is an accident waiting to happen.
Last I knew Washington Park was also bordering on West Street and it is a lot more congested around there during the summer with all the other activities taking place. There are stop signs and I am going to bet that the 2 stop signs on West next to the park are the most ignored in the city. People blow through them all the time. I think that people recommending Centennial are thinking more toward the unused West side of the park, I think that is Putnam Street.
I think the pool committee is doing a wonderful job but with regards to this grant my first step would be to make sure that the city (the aldermen) are willing to put forth the $400,000 needed to match the grant. If they are unwilling to do so why continue with all your hard work? I applaud your efforts but still believe you need council approval and assurance that they will foot their share of the bill before moving forward. Good luck!
The cell tower in the park needs to be removed. I can't believe we allow that type of RADIATION around kids - let alone in a residential area. Cell phone towers should not be allowed inside the city - THEY CAUSE CANCER! There is more RADIATION coming from a cell phone tower than having a chest XRAY everyday!
To 1:36 pm, You are very much mistaken. The city council has every right and authority to use your tax money for a pool or splash pad after "you" voted No to the idea. Hence the term "Advisory Referendum". However, while they have always had the authority to fund a pool, they are acutely lacking the "courage" and forethought to do so because they are cowards and refuse to risk being voted out of office if they spoke in favor of a pool or splash pad. They did the most cowardly thing possible by placing the question on the ballot because they knew full well it would fail and bail them out. They are much more concerned about staying in office than anything else. Look how they scrambled to save their asses by working against the at-large referendum. They will waste "my" money in any number of frivolous ways but they can't even muster up enough courage to take a damn position on the pool one way or another. The worst decision is no decision at all. That's what qualifies Peru aldermen as the "worst" around.
3:44 Anon, your right but the taxpayers said NO. The group behind the at-large referendum could of utilized those same resources to support the pool referendum. That's a damn shame!
Why don't we just give subsidized memberships to the YMCA? Or maybe run a bus from Washington Park to Hegeler Park? It is time for local governments to STOP duplicating services. We should work with our neighboring towns - not compete with them. Together, LaSalle-Peru is larger than Ottawa. If we where to combine, our share of State and Federal money would be larger than Ottawa and we would be able to combine services. It is time to think to the future. Otherwise, LaSalle and Peru will be nothing but backwater little bergs - run by a bunch of short sighted "old guys" suffering delusions grandeur.
5:52 No facts could back it up since all legitimate studies have shown no link, and the radiation dispersion radius is les than some natural background radiation levels at street level.
But if people want ro believe that things are dangerous, there is no scientific argument that will dissuade them .
The recent advisory referendum was in reference to the raising of property taxes to pay for a swimming pool. As a citizen of Peru I have never seen or had the opportunity to express a vote on a splash pad. If I had a vote it would be a YES. Peru has a entire age group which has no summer recreation and for 5%, yes 5% of the cost of a swimming pool they could have a splash pad. There is not one good reason why Peru does not have a splash pad for its children already being built for this summer. Soon the trades will be working and they will have no one able to volunteer if asked. I read where Local 150 donated time and skills at the Peru airport and never Thanked. What was the project of the volunteer work?
It must be remembered that the Peru Airport is not a big deal with most of the citizens and they believe the enormous amount of money spent on it is a WASTE. But I as a citizen of Peru as many others do who have volunteered their time and skills without any acknowledgements or Thank You know how you feel and refrain from volunteering again. I being a private citizen of Peru Thank You for helping the city. Sadly many in our area do not know of the amount of volunteer work performed by the local union trades and their generosity when asked. It must be remembered that in the construction field one must be on the clock when the sun shines for the opportunity of earning a living is not spread over a 365 work day season. Therefor if a project which tends to be of the volunteer nature it has to be done in a trades off season, such as right now. Once again I want to Thank You for volunteering your extensive skills and time.
I know that Chamlin Consultants are in charge of all engineering projects in Peru. What I don't know is who checks up on this work two and three years later. Resurfacing of asphalt done in my block less than three years ago is already deteriorating and water accumulates around in puddles next to the curb rather than flowing to the sewer. Scheduled maintenance must be performed on roads similar to oiling a motor must be performed, or is Peru always a day late and another dollar spent.
Anon 4:23 Where do you find any similarities to the Advisory pool referendum and the Referendum of reduction in number of aldermen with 2 at large. Each to be clearly stated has to stand on its own merits. As for any similarities, the only one was in conclusion that at the end of the election they both lost and personally I believe they would have lost by much more if combined.
@6:50 PM I do not want to believe that these towers cause radiation problems which creates cancer and other health risks. Would you please submit your references that support the locating of these towers in highly populated areas and how they have no health risks. As for artistic value they are the ugliest thing in the park and have limited the ball diamonds use also. To have located the big ball field in Veterans Park is ridiculous. It is the most miserable field I have ever watched a game in and impossible to have a good game on. It is windy, dirt from the fields blowing at the players as the wind has as much effect on the pitch as does the pitchers delivery, There is never enough parking and you have to walk forever to get to the stands. Worst park I have ever attended a game at in the spring and fall, and no shade in the summer. It takes a ball game and turns it into a nightmare. The only type of person who would locate a ball field in this location had to spend their high school and college years in the closet cutting out paper dolls.
8:15 read the entire discussion. Take a look at the statements. The radical cancer scare tactics... Cell Towers cause cancer has NO proof to back it up. The radiation is identical to the type in call phone usage, and a recent huge study has shown no link.
These are taken directly from the ACS site.
In one large study, British researchers compared a group of more than 1,000 families of young children with cancer against a similar group of families of children without cancer. They found no link between a mother’s exposure to the towers during pregnancy (based on the distance from the home to the nearest tower and on the amount of energy given off by nearby towers) and the risk of early childhood cancer.
In another study, researchers compared a group of more than 2,600 children with cancer to a group of similar children without cancer. They found that those who lived in a town that could have exposed them to higher than average RF radiation from cellular phone towers in the previous 5 years had a slightly higher risk of cancer, although not of any certain type of cancer (like leukemia or brain tumors). This study estimated the children’s possible exposure based on the number of towers in their town and how strong the signals were from the towers. It did not look at actual exposure of any individual child based on how far their home or school was from a tower. ( It did not take into account the fact that such towns had likely more industrial development and pollution risks as well. )
One study looked for signs of DNA and cell damage in blood cells as a possible indicator of cancer-causing potential. They found that the damage was no worse in people who lived near a cell phone tower as compared with those didn’t.
The amount of exposure from living near a cell phone tower is typically many times lower than the exposure from using a cell phone. About 30 studies have looked at possible links between cell phone use and tumors in people. Most studies to date have not found a link between cell phone use and the development of tumors, although these studies have had some important limitations. This is an area of active research. For more information, see the document, Cellular Phones.
That tower was all about the money. No concerns for the residents that live around the park, the kids in the park, the swimming pool that Used to be there, and beautiful Washington Park itself. That ugly thing has become uglier over the years with buildings and fences. Does the city have no control on what can be added? Where were the aldermen then and where are they now? Do not put that splash pad next to that tower! Actually don't put anything.
I read the same article and as with all studies, there is some truth and some untruths. Putting tje tower in the midst of a large population and especially a park inhabited by mostly young people and children was not the best thing to do.
I do believe as with all radiation there is some danger. Even humans exposed to much xray radiation have a greater risk of some types of cancer. Something is causing the increased cancer rates and choices seem to be the environment, things we are exposed to individually or what we are eating. Take your choice.
As with any study, if you look you will find one expressing the opposite point of view. That was done with the cell phone study. Someone is always watching out for someones posketbook.
I just heard a jet take off from the airport. How long have they allowed jets? Isn't that dangerous? When was the city going to tell us that jets are using the airport?
1:38 here. I worked for the ACS for four years as a clinician one oncology nutritionist. I deeply resent whenever someone makes a blanket statement about studies being paid for or biased. The ACS is filled with people like me who care, have lost loved ones to cancer, and could give a rats ass about anything corporate or related to money.
As I said Lois. You have already made up your mind. You believe there is a danger in all radiation. Who can logically dispute that. No one.
I simply responded to a post that was a blatant lie. They said cell towers cause cancer. They said they expose people to greater than an Xray daily (no specification as to what X ray, of course, since the degree varies from the dentist to the chiropractor by hundreds of orders of magnitude).
They cannot state that as fact , because not only is it not supported by fact or reliable study, it has many independent studies showing the opposite.
You state cancer rates are increasing, so something must be to blame. Well in some areas they are some they aren't and some they are decreasing... Which is why real dedicated scientists are going to work everyday to study it, and reproduce results of tests . There is no doubt that radiation has been proven to causes mutation that leads to some cancers. But if you want to ignore the facts that cell tower radiation is identical to the radiation from your cell phones, and that people are exposed to much more of that type of radiation every day from cell phone usage , making it almost impossible to blame the minuscule radiation at street level from a shielded cell tower, you will do it.
Don't post this. I never like to argue with non scientists who have already made up their minds. You see I haven't made up my mind, but I do like to look at facts and science first, and value degrees in science and the work and study that goes into them. Counter theories are always welcome, but too often they come from the position, I don't understand it, it's not natural, so undoubtedly it is to blame for my kids cancer, or autism, or whatever the calamity du jour may be.
Blaming is always easier than real science. And fear is so much easier to sell than reason.
1005...you are kidding I hope. Jets have been in and out and FAA approved for years. get a life or move out of town. You are hurting the credibility of the blog.
Don't jump on me for my opinions, I worked as a Registered Nurse and saw cancer first hand more than I want to think about. How many times have you heard of a study being done and at the end of the claim, they state it was paid for some large corporation that would benefit from the results if you believe them.
I didn't saw the cell tower caused cancer, I stated that reasons I believe cancer is so extensive and as I write this I just came from a funeral of a cancer victim and my daughters friend just lost her husband to cancer this week.
I do remember when one of my daughters had a doctor ask her if she was sure she wanted the MRI done on one of her young sons because they increase the risk of cancer later in life
The people in this world have not figured out so many things and everyone and that includes me have right to our beliefs and opinions.
I did not say that all radiation causes cancer so please don't waste your time making accusations against me, it shows that for some reason other than this topic you dislike and resent me.
My dad died at age 56, was a two pack a day and a painter in the 30s and 40s who used lead paint and saved money by cleaning paint cans by burning them out. No doubt he inhaled plenty of that smoke also. So there are reasons for his cancer, but it wasn't as prevalent as is today. Pets are getting the same ailments as humans today and are being fed processed foods by the large corporations. My dog in the 40s ate table scraps, slept outside in a doghouse and lived to a long old age. Never took him to a vet. Vets in those days were for horses, cows, pigs, etc. So, in my mind, there is a compelling argument that some of what we are eating and drinking today is affecting the biologic systems certain people have. We are living longer today but if you visit the nursing homes, you can hardly call that 'living'. If you have your health and mind I call that luck.
I know how we can pay for a pool, or at least a large portion of it. First, we need to put a surcharge on water use. There could be two types, residential and commercial. The residential customers would need to pay an extra 10 to 15 cents per gallon. The commercial users would be required to pay an extra 35 to 50 cents per gallon. The commercial customers would just pass this on to their customers anyway, so it won’t hurt them at all. This money would be collected and transferred in to a special pool operation fund that can only be used to run the pool The next thing to do will be require a special pool permit for all privately owned pools in the city. This permit would be required for all above ground and in ground pools including hot tubs and saunas. The permit cost for an in ground residential pool would be $1000 for the initial permit and $500 a year thereafter. For a residential above ground pool, the permit would cost $650 for the initial permit, and $325 a year thereafter. For hot tubs and saunas, the residential cost would be $500 for the initial permit and $250 a year thereafter. A for profit business would be required to pay $5000 a year for each pool and $2500 a year for each hot tub, and $3000 for saunas (steam rooms). A not for profit business or school would pay $2500 a year for each pool, $1500 a year for each hot tub, and $1000 a year for each sauna (steam room). This would be a fair way to pay for the public pool. It would only effect the wealthy. The businesses and non-profits can just increase their fees.
If the cell tower is so SAFE why don't they put one at Baker Lake? Why? Because Peru's 1% live up there and told the council to keep the UGLY and DANGEROUS stuff away! I say - fill in the lake and put a dog pull track, cell tower, and POOL at Baker Lake park!
I think that once we elect them, people should leave the leaders alone and not question what they do. They know best because they where elected - the people should not second guess them and let them do what is best.
10:03, I'm sorry but did you take too many meds? Elected to office with some scratching each other's backs and being fake. My mute (dog) is smarter than a majority of people.
What is in the water today? With 12:18's and 10:03's comments I am starting to lose hope in the citizens of Peru. Please someone tell me this is not the general consensus here in Peru.
Lois. Don't jump on your opinions? I even asked you not to post my reply, as I did not WANT to get into public debate on the topic.
I had only issue with the previous blogger stating as FACT , not opinion, that cell towers cause cancer and deliver more ground radiation daily than x rays.
Those statements simply are not true. They are not even the same EMR as X rays. I have no problem with your opinion that placing a cell tower near where kids play is unwise. I expressed a problem with your implication that the studies referenced on the ACS site are biased. That is not the case, and the studies referenced are always vetted very carefully before presentation to the public.
You say you saw the actual study, and disagree with it due to who sponsored it. Which study of those referenced did you read and what sponsorship did you question? I would be happy to contact the actual person who wrote the public info section at the ACS and give you there response as to why they included it as valid.
As far as liking or disliking you for any reason, I have no opinion one way or the other. I do think you have some responsibility to point out opinions on the blog that cannot be assumed to be factual if you allow them to go past moderation. That also is only an opinion of mine.
On subject, sorry. Whenever I hear of a proposed project in the area I like to play a game: “how could that project be arranged to achieve multiple goals to provide the most ‘good.’” I’m curious about the details and square footage of the splashpad project.
Currently the splashpad project is an isolated project towards a single goal: build a splashpad for the kids. What if we combined with other community goals? Low hanging fruit that I can think of would be traditional neighborhood reinvestment. Wouldn’t it be neat to place the project in a more traditional part of town to attract people, especially children there, such as Rotary Park or Nickeloid Park (if a park setting is the goal). It would be nice to get kids to love and appreciate the older parts of town. We keep moving our amenities further and further from the traditional centers and what we end up with is a dysfunctional town.
I don’t see why it couldn’t be combined with downtown revitalization; it is a central location. It could be located on one of the vacant lots or underutilized lots (parking lots) downtown. It could even go in the street right-of-way north of Maud Powell Plaza (which might be a pretty nice effect). Downtown it could be combined with some synergistic business developments, perhaps a small ice cream shop, children’s party venues, toy shops, children’s clothing shops, additional educational spaces.
I must admit surprise at the parking concern... I do not recall there being a dedicated parking lot for the former pool. Is this part of the city’s parking requirements? I have trouble forseeing a parking demand that would be greater than on-street parking and the nearby parking lots could handle. Are the kids expected to drive separate cars from the grandparents that take them?
You people make me sick. You set behind your screens & cut the Hearts out of people. & don't care who you hurt. The Pool group works there butts off & all you can do is cut them to pieces.
I am in total agreement with you and its not that Washington Park is not a fairly central location, but it has become the only location for everything. Do some internet searching and you will find cities that are doing exactly what you are writing about. Yesterday I was looking at a project being done in a city named Zeeland and believe it may have been in Michigan and they also have a FB page if you are a member.
Your kind of thinking is what the city needs to be hearing and we really do need and I hate to say this a park district or a park director which could be a part time job. We need people that have thinking that goes beyond baseball and encompasses the entire city and not someone whose thinking is like a ward aldermen with ward mentality. Come to think of it an at large alderman with an interest in the park system would have been a perfect choice. Please come back and blog again.
Is still a sad thing that the city does not have a pool I am grateful when my kids were growing up they had that pool for summertime fun was such a safer happier time 20 years ago this city now is just darned depressing and I know I am not alone in my thinking
Anon 7:56 Certainly the city not having a pool is not the reason that you believe it was such a safer happier time 20 years ago. What do you and others believe is making Peru damned depressing? I believe that a national and local need is definitely jobs. I also realize that financial conditions at times call for both parents to be employed, but this is not creating a positive for the offspring and a strong family existence.
People where happier twenty years ago becase they had a job! Now, the published unemployment rate in the Illinois Valley is over 10%. The real unemployment rate is probably closer to 16%. But don't worry, we are getting more retail stores to spend the money we don't have.
Anon 10:56 If we are getting more retail stores we should be getting more jobs. The more money spent at these retail stores the more people they will employ. The more people employed the less people that there will be to spend the money that we don't have. Your statistic of the real unemployment rate being closer to 16% in Peru is alarming and has to be addressed with drastic measures. What will lower this rate? JOBS. Is Illinois in a job crisis in some way on account of Chicago? What are the positives and negatives for the reasons that Illinois is attractive and unattractive to the creation of jobs? I agree that only jobs feed a family and questions and reasons are only a start to solving the problem but at least it is a start. A start in which the majority will gain and a definite few will lose.
Cell Towers causing cancer, taxing the wealthy for a pool, referendums to eliminate public officials. There is a lack of brainpower that lerks in the alleys of LaSalle-Peru. If you were looking for a place to live and needed some information on Peru and you reviewed this blog, what would you find?
Just because we have people working retail at the mall and big box stores, does not mean they live in Peru. Guessing at least 50% live in other cities outlying the Peru borders.
and here lies another problem. The one we keep comming back to. The average age of a Peru IL citizen is over 43 years old and the average income of a Peru IL citizen is less than $50K. Our population is getting older and older and they younger people that remain here are not making enough money to keep feeding Peru's golden goose - retail sales taxes. Everyday in this country, 10,000 people turn 65. Everyday, most of these people exit the work force and they are NOT being replaced by younger people - the work is just being done by other employees.
Anon 3:349 PM Your comment, "Retail=Low Paying part time jobs . We need industry." is a path not walked anymore. At a 16% unemployment rate our area needs jobs. Presently we need any type of job that we can attract. At a 16% unemployment rate it would be best to accept any and all jobs available, prove the worth of our workforce and build from there. A available job makes it is much easier to get a job and prove that a person can get another job if he already has a job. It must be remembered that no corporation moves a branch or division with the thoughts of raising the employees hourly rate or for the simple sake of creating jobs. Also the movement of industrial jobs from the U.S. to other countries, technological advances, lack of strong tariffs, NAFTA, senseless laws not helping either the employer or the employee plus a rapid communication method have decreased industrial occupations in the U.S. by huge numbers. This fact has made it even harder to obtain a good mix of different types of jobs, industrial, service, retail etc. I agree with 12:02 P.M. and often times become confused when I hear we could get more jobs but we do not have the proper background to get them and than 10 minutes later hear that the only job that some of our college graduates qualify for if flipping hamburgers. By the way congratulations to those who have accepted that hamburger flipping occupation you have entered the job market and started your way into the future.
Go drink your bitter coffee 6:53. The POINT IS that Peru's economic development plan is based completely on increasing retail - thus increasing retail sales tax. Period, that is it, from top to bottom, Peru is only concerned with increasing sales tax. What we need is an economic development plan centered on increasing industrial and professional business in general. And by the way, with the prolifereaion of cheap energy, manufacturing is on the rise in the US. Go drink your coffee, and watch Peru's retail golden goose die along with all the babyboomers.
Anon 8:01 PM Get Real! The POINT IS that first you need a personality seminar on diplomacy. Secondly you lack any form of understanding of what are the up most needs of Peru are. You mention cheap electricity. 8:01 to Mars! Don't you realize that telling someone something as go drink your bitter coffee in each paragraph you comment is immature. Where in the US have utility bills decreased? With proper management Peru's retail tax and electrical power will be its golden goose for a long time. I'll leave you to deal with the ignorant comment about the baby boomers and death on your own.
10:43. keep drinking the coffee. I said cheap energy - we have more oil and natural gas in North American than the middle east, and we are finally extracting it. It just so happens that this area has vast resources in material required to extract that oil and naturan gas - its called sand. That is just one industry that we need to take advantage of. But, digging up sand dosen't put money in Peru's coffers. And getting more tax money is all that Peru is and has been concerned with. Peru is not conecerned about attracting good paying professional and industrial jobs to the area. Peru leadership views this as bad becasue it attracts outside influences. So, 10:43, go drink your bitter coffee and reminisce about the good old days and complain about those meddling kids messing up all your plans. But remember, once the babyboomers are all in the ground, who is going to go shopping and pay that sales tax? No good jobs, no people. No people, no sales tax. No sales tax, no Peru. Just about 20% of LaSalle County's population is retired! The overall population of LaSalle Coutny is declining. Almost 80% of the population was born in LaSalle County. A declining and aging population without new population moving in should tell our Dear Leaders somthing - but they refuse to listen.
10:43. what makes you an expert? Typical elitist tactic, attack without really saying anything. Cheap energy and abundant resources are what made our economy and what will save it. It is not about what it costs to heat your home - it is about what it costs to run a steel mill, manufacturing plant, or any other industrial facility. Peru should be lowering the industrial electric and water rates - not raising them. Its like anything else. If you purchase in large quantities, you should get a discounted rate. Low quantity users, like residential users, should pay more. But since Peru's electric is being run by self serving politicians, they artificially keep the residential rates for water and electricity down and increased the commercial and industrial rates. Unless something happens, the Peru's great retail legacy is going to die on the vine in a decade or so. It is hard for our population to support the existing retail. When it starts to fall off, it will fall off fast.
From a Peru Employee - I can guarantee that the Mayor never plans beyond 90 days and he doesn't care about anything that doesn't produce tax money that he can - in his words "spread around." In fact, we (the employees) need to check before we spend money to be sure we are "buying from the right people." Somebody tried to institute a cost savings reward program a few years ago. Well that went bust because the boss said we still had to purchase from his "approved sources."
10:43 You need to get real. The comment you are bent out of shape about is not that mean spirited. And unlike yours, reflects some substance.
No one is allowed to criticize in Petu unless they follow some unknown respect for your elders, kiss their rings diplomacy. Otherwise they get mad and no bid contracts. They show us!,
On one hand you guys spout cheap energy here, then when someone says, no you are wrong, you reply 'show me where prices have not gone up. They are less elsewhere, that's the point. And those towns don't need to devout major resources and planning to running a damn power plant.
Maybe Peru could make cheaper shoes for us. Or how about raising some bananas? I would bet you, with our home rule we can make bananas better n cheaper than Walmart sells them. And cars too... We can get together in the old KMart and build cars for everyone.
That was sarcasm. I have to say that, otherwise Vickrey and Harl might start buying banana plants, just to cover their butts and say it was their idea first.
There is always deflection, never a real rebuttal. Always say the upstarts are mean. I guess it does not matter that they are right. They are not diplomatic enough for you.
Actually for all of you who do not understand the basics of economics, retail sales are an excellent revenue source regardless of income. We don't have high end shopping malls. We have retail goods that everyone needs and this is not a bad thing.
Of course we need higher paying jobs and a plan to get there but stop ripping on the retail base we have here. Every community around would give their left leg to have half of what we have. They celebrate when they get a Dollar General.
Let's talk positive about how we can build for the future and stop criticizing the good things we do have here. It really gets old and accomplishes nothing.
unless it is food or I need it the same day, I purchase almost everything on-line. Automatic 7% savings - and no, I don't put any of that on my state income tax. Another trick - if you order on-line through Walmart or Kohls, you can avoide the Harl Tax and only pay the state part of sales tax. Every penney counts when you work around here.
3:19 I do understand economics. Retail does not generate jobs that can sustain the households and workers. It generates tax revenue to be used for things like graft, waste and padding pockets.
It gives a stronger revenue source to the local government. The dollar multipliers from surrounding area shoppers do not boost our economy much. Retail, , especially big box and chain retail, offers some of the lowest multipliers and highest leakage rates. They used to offer benefits, but now are stripping them. And it does NOT supply quality household incomes and benefits. These are Facts. The retail cash cow helps government , not families around here.
Also - remember that some of these stores demand a sales tax rebate for a period of time. All of the stores located around the Peru Super WalMart are on a sales tax rebate program. Not sure how much or how long. I would guess that the new CVS has some sort of deal also.
The sales tax rebates are incentives to bring businesses here. Are the crazies going to start tearing into this as well? That is a fairly common practice in competing for businesses.
94 comments:
Off subject, sorry. Haven't heard much in regards to concerts lately. FBI should investigate those. Including how they are promoted and the use of an airport. And then the IRS also should do an audit. And every concert venue such as the performers manager/agency should be called to see how these concerts were promoted to the booking agent. The reason is because a lot of the public was under the assumption ALL proceeds goes to charity. Which is so very untrue! Easy to google artist and get information.
What will be doing is this. When the concerts are announced I am going to send an email to the band and tell them I will not attendt the concert along with the reasons. If enough people do this, the band just might cancel.
Oglesby needs a splash pad.
Off the subject: go figure another cutting edge move by illinois Unionize collegate athletes Wow Obvioulsy a stellar move by less than capable athletes to protect themselves from less than capable performance Sort of like operators teamsters and other less than capable people with the ability to stand individually on their own merit More of the demise of America God help us
7:26 that is a great idea and I will do the same, as well as pass the word. Go through the proper channels and build your own venue rather than use our tax dollars to profit! I wonder what they would say should another citizen request the use of the airport for being a venue for their event for a private profit? Maybe we should test this road and then should they say no file a lawsuit of some sort against the City.
Lois, Please don't let the topic be sidetracked by these people.
I don't approve of the concerts either, but can we please have some order here?
The FBI generally does not investigate matters of potential consumer fraud. The Illinois Attorney general is the responsible agency. They generally do not investigate such matters unless there is a news story or investigative report, due to a lack of interest and also political connections.
The IRS also is politically motivated. In this case, the high cash transactions involved make it difficult for them to establish a trail, and although arguably the business has advertised and presented the concerts as benefit or charity for many years , it apparently has never registered as such. The ordinance is particularly confusing, as it seems to state all proceeds are for charity, and the correspondence with the FAA also seems to promote the activity as a charitable event., widely supported by the community. It has been well established in past cases that a business needs to be quite clear in marketing fund raising activities, and there are clear mechanisms for businesses to register as for profit fund raisers in Illinois.
The city and sponsors have always donated labor, volunteers etc, as if it were a charity, but it is hard to believe they did not know it was a for profit endeavor.
The FBI would be unconcerned with how the promoter presents it to Entertainer acts... The acts themselves would have to voluntarily disclose the details... It is two business entities simply entering a contract.
It might cause their front men some concern if they were made aware of any fraud concerns, simply because there is a long history of phony charity concerts and using bands popularity in unscrupulous ways. In the end tho money talks, if they are guaranteed their money they will come.
The main resources for citizens to complain would be the AG, IRS, and the Illinois labor relations board, as there is a very strong case, and history, of using volunteeer labor unpaid to man and work for a business, potentially violating labor laws. By mixing the idea of a benefit event and a for profit endeavor, the business and the city open themselves to a wide range of liability.
This city believes it is well connected Politically and well represented legally, but truly pushes that to the limit. The local media is actually a sponsor of the events, and will protect them in very way possible.
It is a very unique case, taking advantage of a local culture that has constant fund drives, fund raisers, charity events. I believe the business and their attorney believe as long as they give some part of the ticket sales to the chatty if costs are covered, they can legally make money of concessions using free labor. It is clear the concessions are where the true profits lie, and they have been all cash. Many people around here have no problem with this at all. Just a fact.
The culture in the Illinois Valley has long been that the rich people rule and know what's best for the humble little folk. And as another blogger stated , it's home rule, we do it our way, and we don't like outsiders telling us what to do. Usually it takes a lot of little folks to rise up and get attention from far away, like this FBI investigation. I encourage people to ask questions and share concerns with the proper authorities. But do not expect Big Brother to do your work for you. You have to do more than post on blog sites.
Hiding behind charity has always been some of the worst acts imaginable. How can anyone be against the troops, school kids, and little leaguers? It's is down right un American. It is hard to even ask questions without people being offended and feeling sorry for the business. They count on that.
if you are going to push for sunlight and disclosure, be ready for backlash.
The FBI should investigate the concerts? Lol! And you are going to e-mail a rock band and tell them you are not going to the concert? Who are you people?
ANON 8:58 AM
Thank you for the excellent comment. You have not only cited fraudulence , you have also mentioned the downstream short and long term results of this local fraudulent act, and the personal backlash if one becomes openly involved.
Knowing that there are many other outstanding minds besides your own in the group of bloggers that contribute to the Peru Town Forum would they please take time to answer a very serious and scary question?
When Peru city officials become involved in private business adventures utilizing their political position and the properties they control through this elected political position or eliminating a debt owed to the taxpayers fund (in this instance a debt of over $20,000).
ARE THEY REPRESENTING THEIR CONSTITUENTS AS A DEMOCRACY, A SOCIALIST OR A COMMUNISTIC STRUCTURE OF ECONOMICS AND GOVERNMENT.
Although many organizations identify themselves as being of democracy in structure, they also lean more to a form of socialism or communism in practice.
12:39 your statement is bizzare. What are you getting at? Who, what,when? Not another conspiracy from the Twighlight zone.
12:39 - It is Crony Capitalism.
Here is the book definition:
"Crony capitalism is a term describing an economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials. It may be exhibited by favoritism in the distribution of legal permits, government grants, special tax breaks, or other forms of state interventionism. Crony capitalism is believed to arise when business cronyism and related self-serving behavior by businesses or businesspeople spills over into politics and government, or when self-serving friendships and family ties between businessmen and the government influence the economy and society to the extent that it corrupts public-serving economic and political ideals."
More study is needed from anon 12:39. City Officials compared to a Socialist form of government. What are these private business practices that are being utilized by political positions that are fraudulet? I do understand that a few minor minions have set up a plan of action that attempts to undermine anything positive in the City of Peru. Most understand that those submitting the highly offensive, extreme comments are doing it for the purpose of creating some stir from those that can and will be manipulated into thinking that anybody successful has achieved success by illegal means. My advice for those is WORK hard, educate yourself and earn the American Dream. Stop complaining and learn a little more about communism, socialism, prior to your next post. Tell us about your government aid program!!!!!
enough with the crap - wake up and get a clue as to what is going on in this town! keep arguing about what type of government you have instead of trying to get together and compromise on something important or we will end up with bernabei/king as mayor (at what cost one can only guess)!
2:18 I am 8:58. I am hardly against Peru, nor did I say anything highly offensive,
I simply said where people should lodge complaints rather than expect the FBI to investigate a charity concert. That's not their thing.
If you want tp pretend that the concert is not Crony Capitalism, that's your right. But it's no conspiracy to look at the revenues, the risks, and the city's involvement and ask why. People need to demand answers and opinions from all current alderpersons, past, and all new contenders. Even the alleged rabble rousers seem to be quiet on the topic of these events.
I want to know why.
These are not free city celebrations. They are not in any way charity events. But in many ways they are promoted and publicly supported as if they are.
2:18 - you cannot disagree that cronyism is a way of life in the Illinois Valley. You could tell in Sappy's voice when arguing about the flower pots.
What's stopping you from going to City Hall and asking the questions, pick up a phone, ask your Mayor-City Council rep. Don't plant lies, Don't call names, Don't cry fraud, Ask the questions!
3:48 PM
It seems to me that the appropriate time for the question would be when the mayor and council are in session during the comment time. When people ask questions, the mayor cuts them off and says this is only comments not questions.
Why not? Everyone meaning the mayor, council, department heads and treasurer are usually present as are representatives of TEST and Chamlin. Why have 10 or 100 people going through the trouble of trying to reach those people and we would not have to be concerned as to whether everyone got a different answer from the government.
Topic posted was specifically a City of Peru splash pad and so far the only comment regarding splash pads was a comment telling us Oglesby needs one.
It is well known that a small group of Peru citizens have worked hard to accumulate funds at first for a swimming pool and upon falling short have decided upon a splash pad.
The proposed splash pad and parking lot will cost over 1/4 of a million dollars. The city will be expected to fund half of the cost plus site location. Therefore I believe that it is only fair to allow the city to pick out a 2014 location rather than the footprint of 1927 under a unsightly communication tower.
Peru Centennial Park would be a perfect location and already has parking. There is no rule set in stone that the splash pad and swimming pool will have to be in the same location. At some date further down the road a location for the swimming pool may be determined upon.
What are the present feelings of the Peru Alderman Public Property Committee , Mayor and City Council as we will not have a splash pad until the city kicks in or a private citizen donates it.
Lois am I understanding you correctly? I have taken for granted that if a person appeared and asked a question in public comment that he would at least be recognized with a answer.
Sounds as if the person who asked about democracy, socialism and communism knows what he is talking about. Can't wait to hear the city hall version Friday or next Monday , nothing will be entered Friday or Saturday during non payable hours.
6:12 PM
The answer would be "this is public comment time". And then "anyone else public comment".
$250,000 for a splash pad? Must be payoffs from Peru to China.
Mayor Harl is retired out of Local 150 and is capable of asking the various trades to donate time to build a beautiful splash pad. There is no need to get a professional splash pad builder. Ottawa build their own for less than $100,000 a few years ago and recycles the water for their plants and flowers.
5:58 I agree completely that the worst possible location for a splash pad is under that cell tower. I cannot believe that is even being considered. Centennial park or Washington park by the playground should be considered. Think people think before you spend the money.
Getting volunteers to do something is not the "Peru Way." The "Peru Way" is to inflate the project and make sure as much money as possible flows to the friends in your crony capitalist circle.
Volunteers did help Peru with the airport, and many of them were operators from local 150. At the time, many of those volunteers had been laid off and still said yes to Peru and did the work for nothing. Some of those volunteers did not live in Peru, and had no ties to the airport. Maybe the reason people don't volunteer more often is because of the lack of gratitude . A better approach than what I see in these posts would be: thanks for what you did in the past and could you help us again? I see union bashing all the time on these posts, and then criticism from the same people about the lack of volunteers to build various things. You can't bash the people that you are depending on for volunteers.
Fix the roads!
Centennial Park would be a great location for a splash pad. It is so ready to be the "Family Park" of Peru. With planning I think a Frisbee golf project in the park would be added recreation.
Centennial Park also has parking.
Washington Park has been ate up by baseball, with a few tennis courts and soon to be a pickle ball court. The unsightly communication tower will always limit further development of this park.
Let's start Centennial Park as Peru's Family Park with a splash pad, and grow from there. If Peru is going to develop lets develop with fresh and open ideas.
6:12 March 27th
Citizens are allowed at the end of a meeting to speak but they are not allowed to be answered. The mayor simply replies "this is public comment" "not question and answer" "next". I, for one, cannot understand the reluctance in letting someone on the council answer the questions. They are never that complicated or derogatory. I have also heard that some citizens have been criticized for asking specific questions.
centennial park would not be s perfect choice - are you aware of all the traffic running up and down west street? add all the kids running back and forth across the street and riding their bikes - it is an accident waiting to happen.
9:43 AM
Last I knew Washington Park was also bordering on West Street and it is a lot more congested around there during the summer with all the other activities taking place. There are stop signs and I am going to bet that the 2 stop signs on West next to the park are the most ignored in the city. People blow through them all the time.
I think that people recommending Centennial are thinking more toward the unused West side of the park, I think that is Putnam Street.
I think the pool committee is doing a wonderful job but with regards to this grant my first step would be to make sure that the city (the aldermen) are willing to put forth the $400,000 needed to match the grant. If they are unwilling to do so why continue with all your hard work? I applaud your efforts but still believe you need council approval and assurance that they will foot their share of the bill before
moving forward. Good luck!
11:43 The City Council has no right to use my money for a pool-splash pad after we just voted No to the idea of funding that project.
The cell tower in the park needs to be removed. I can't believe we allow that type of RADIATION around kids - let alone in a residential area. Cell phone towers should not be allowed inside the city - THEY CAUSE CANCER! There is more RADIATION coming from a cell phone tower than having a chest XRAY everyday!
To 1:36 pm, You are very much mistaken. The city council has every right and authority to use your tax money for a pool or splash pad after "you" voted No to the idea. Hence the term "Advisory Referendum". However, while they have always had the authority to fund a pool, they are acutely lacking the "courage" and forethought to do so because they are cowards and refuse to risk being voted out of office if they spoke in favor of a pool or splash pad. They did the most cowardly thing possible by placing the question on the ballot because they knew full well it would fail and bail them out.
They are much more concerned about staying in office than anything else. Look how they scrambled to save their asses by working against the at-large referendum.
They will waste "my" money in any number of frivolous ways but they can't even muster up enough courage to take a damn position on the pool one way or another. The worst decision is no decision at all. That's what qualifies Peru aldermen as the "worst" around.
3:44 Anon, your right but the taxpayers said NO. The group behind the at-large referendum could of utilized those same resources to support the pool referendum. That's a damn shame!
Why don't we just give subsidized memberships to the YMCA? Or maybe run a bus from Washington Park to Hegeler Park? It is time for local governments to STOP duplicating services. We should work with our neighboring towns - not compete with them.
Together, LaSalle-Peru is larger than Ottawa. If we where to combine, our share of State and Federal money would be larger than Ottawa and we would be able to combine services.
It is time to think to the future. Otherwise, LaSalle and Peru will be nothing but backwater little bergs - run by a bunch of short sighted "old guys" suffering delusions grandeur.
3:23 Can you back your statement up with actual facts?
5:52 No facts could back it up since all legitimate studies have shown no link, and the radiation dispersion radius is les than some natural background radiation levels at street level.
But if people want ro believe that things are dangerous, there is no scientific argument that will dissuade them .
The recent advisory referendum was in reference to the raising of property taxes to pay for a swimming pool.
As a citizen of Peru I have never seen or had the opportunity to express a vote on a splash pad.
If I had a vote it would be a YES. Peru has a entire age group which has no summer recreation and for 5%, yes 5% of the cost of a swimming pool they could have a splash pad. There is not one good reason why Peru does not have a splash pad for its children already being built for this summer. Soon the trades will be working and they will have no one able to volunteer if asked.
I read where Local 150 donated time and skills at the Peru airport and never Thanked. What was the project of the volunteer work?
It must be remembered that the Peru Airport is not a big deal with most of the citizens and they believe the enormous amount of money spent on it is a WASTE. But I as a citizen of Peru as many others do who have volunteered their time and skills without any acknowledgements or Thank You know how you feel and refrain from volunteering again.
I being a private citizen of Peru Thank You for helping the city. Sadly many in our area do not know of the amount of volunteer work performed by the local union trades and their generosity when asked.
It must be remembered that in the construction field one must be on the clock when the sun shines for the opportunity of earning a living is not spread over a 365 work day season. Therefor if a project which tends to be of the volunteer nature it has to be done in a trades off season, such as right now.
Once again I want to Thank You for volunteering your extensive skills and time.
I know that Chamlin Consultants are in charge of all engineering projects in Peru.
What I don't know is who checks up on this work two and three years later. Resurfacing of asphalt done in my block less than three years ago is already deteriorating and water accumulates around in puddles next to the curb rather than flowing to the sewer. Scheduled maintenance must be performed on roads similar to oiling a motor must be performed, or is Peru always a day late and another dollar spent.
Anon 4:23 Where do you find any similarities to the Advisory pool referendum and the Referendum of reduction in number of aldermen with 2 at large. Each to be clearly stated has to stand on its own merits. As for any similarities, the only one was in conclusion that at the end of the election they both lost and personally I believe they would have lost by much more if combined.
@6:50 PM I do not want to believe that these towers cause radiation problems which creates cancer and other health risks.
Would you please submit your references that support the locating of these towers in highly populated areas and how they have no health risks.
As for artistic value they are the ugliest thing in the park and have limited the ball diamonds use also.
To have located the big ball field in Veterans Park is ridiculous. It is the most miserable field I have ever watched a game in and impossible to have a good game on. It is windy, dirt from the fields blowing at the players as the wind has as much effect on the pitch as does the pitchers delivery, There is never enough parking and you have to walk forever to get to the stands. Worst park I have ever attended a game at in the spring and fall, and no shade in the summer. It takes a ball game and turns it into a nightmare. The only type of person who would locate a ball field in this location had to spend their high school and college years in the closet cutting out paper dolls.
8:15 read the entire discussion. Take a look at the statements. The radical cancer scare tactics... Cell Towers cause cancer has NO proof to back it up. The radiation is identical to the type in call phone usage, and a recent huge study has shown no link.
These are taken directly from the ACS site.
In one large study, British researchers compared a group of more than 1,000 families of young children with cancer against a similar group of families of children without cancer. They found no link between a mother’s exposure to the towers during pregnancy (based on the distance from the home to the nearest tower and on the amount of energy given off by nearby towers) and the risk of early childhood cancer.
In another study, researchers compared a group of more than 2,600 children with cancer to a group of similar children without cancer. They found that those who lived in a town that could have exposed them to higher than average RF radiation from cellular phone towers in the previous 5 years had a slightly higher risk of cancer, although not of any certain type of cancer (like leukemia or brain tumors). This study estimated the children’s possible exposure based on the number of towers in their town and how strong the signals were from the towers. It did not look at actual exposure of any individual child based on how far their home or school was from a tower. ( It did not take into account the fact that such towns had likely more industrial development and pollution risks as well. )
One study looked for signs of DNA and cell damage in blood cells as a possible indicator of cancer-causing potential. They found that the damage was no worse in people who lived near a cell phone tower as compared with those didn’t.
The amount of exposure from living near a cell phone tower is typically many times lower than the exposure from using a cell phone. About 30 studies have looked at possible links between cell phone use and tumors in people. Most studies to date have not found a link between cell phone use and the development of tumors, although these studies have had some important limitations. This is an area of active research. For more information, see the document, Cellular Phones.
That tower was all about the money. No concerns for the residents that live around the park, the kids in the park, the swimming pool that Used to be there, and beautiful Washington Park itself. That ugly thing has become uglier over the years with buildings and fences. Does the city have no control on what can be added? Where were the aldermen then and where are they now? Do not put that splash pad next to that tower! Actually don't put anything.
1:38 AM
I read the same article and as with all studies, there is some truth and some untruths. Putting tje tower in the midst of a large population and especially a park inhabited by mostly young people and children was not the best thing to do.
I do believe as with all radiation there is some danger. Even humans exposed to much xray radiation have a greater risk of some types of cancer. Something is causing the increased cancer rates and choices seem to be the environment, things we are exposed to individually or what we are eating. Take your choice.
As with any study, if you look you will find one expressing the opposite point of view. That was done with the cell phone study. Someone is always watching out for someones posketbook.
I just heard a jet take off from the airport. How long have they allowed jets? Isn't that dangerous? When was the city going to tell us that jets are using the airport?
1:38 here. I worked for the ACS for four years as a clinician one oncology nutritionist. I deeply resent whenever someone makes a blanket statement about studies being paid for or biased. The ACS is filled with people like me who care, have lost loved ones to cancer, and could give a rats ass about anything corporate or related to money.
As I said Lois. You have already made up your mind. You believe there is a danger in all radiation. Who can logically dispute that. No one.
I simply responded to a post that was a blatant lie. They said cell towers cause cancer. They said they expose people to greater than an Xray daily (no specification as to what X ray, of course, since the degree varies from the dentist to the chiropractor by hundreds of orders of magnitude).
They cannot state that as fact , because not only is it not supported by fact or reliable study, it has many independent studies showing the opposite.
You state cancer rates are increasing, so something must be to blame. Well in some areas they are some they aren't and some they are decreasing... Which is why real dedicated scientists are going to work everyday to study it, and reproduce results of tests . There is no doubt that radiation has been proven to causes mutation that leads to some cancers. But if you want to ignore the facts that cell tower radiation is identical to the radiation from your cell phones, and that people are exposed to much more of that type of radiation every day from cell phone usage , making it almost impossible to blame the minuscule radiation at street level from a shielded cell tower, you will do it.
Don't post this. I never like to argue with non scientists who have already made up their minds. You see I haven't made up my mind, but I do like to look at facts and science first, and value degrees in science and the work and study that goes into them.
Counter theories are always welcome, but too often they come from the position, I don't understand it, it's not natural, so undoubtedly it is to blame for my kids cancer, or autism, or whatever the calamity du jour may be.
Blaming is always easier than real science. And fear is so much easier to sell than reason.
1005...you are kidding I hope. Jets have been in and out and FAA approved for years. get a life or move out of town. You are hurting the credibility of the blog.
10:29 AM
Don't jump on me for my opinions, I worked as a Registered Nurse and saw cancer first hand more than I want to think about.
How many times have you heard of a study being done and at the end of the claim, they state it was paid for some large corporation that would benefit from the results if you believe them.
I didn't saw the cell tower caused cancer, I stated that reasons I believe cancer is so extensive and as I write this I just came from a funeral of a cancer victim and my daughters friend just lost her husband to cancer this week.
I do remember when one of my daughters had a doctor ask her if she was sure she wanted the MRI done on one of her young sons because they increase the risk of cancer later in life
The people in this world have not figured out so many things and everyone and that includes me have right to our beliefs and opinions.
I did not say that all radiation causes cancer so please don't waste your time making accusations against me, it shows that for some reason other than this topic you dislike and resent me.
My dad died at age 56, was a two pack a day and a painter in the 30s and 40s who used lead paint and saved money by cleaning paint cans by burning them out. No doubt he inhaled plenty of that smoke also. So there are reasons for his cancer, but it wasn't as prevalent as is today. Pets are getting the same ailments as humans today and are being fed processed foods by the large corporations. My dog in the 40s ate table scraps, slept outside in a doghouse and lived to a long old age. Never took him to a vet. Vets in those days were for horses, cows, pigs, etc. So, in my mind, there is a compelling argument that some of what we are eating and drinking today is affecting the biologic systems certain people have. We are living longer today but if you visit the nursing homes, you can hardly call that 'living'. If you have your health and mind I call that luck.
I know how we can pay for a pool, or at least a large portion of it. First, we need to put a surcharge on water use. There could be two types, residential and commercial. The residential customers would need to pay an extra 10 to 15 cents per gallon. The commercial users would be required to pay an extra 35 to 50 cents per gallon. The commercial customers would just pass this on to their customers anyway, so it won’t hurt them at all. This money would be collected and transferred in to a special pool operation fund that can only be used to run the pool
The next thing to do will be require a special pool permit for all privately owned pools in the city. This permit would be required for all above ground and in ground pools including hot tubs and saunas. The permit cost for an in ground residential pool would be $1000 for the initial permit and $500 a year thereafter. For a residential above ground pool, the permit would cost $650 for the initial permit, and $325 a year thereafter. For hot tubs and saunas, the residential cost would be $500 for the initial permit and $250 a year thereafter. A for profit business would be required to pay $5000 a year for each pool and $2500 a year for each hot tub, and $3000 for saunas (steam rooms). A not for profit business or school would pay $2500 a year for each pool, $1500 a year for each hot tub, and $1000 a year for each sauna (steam room).
This would be a fair way to pay for the public pool. It would only effect the wealthy. The businesses and non-profits can just increase their fees.
Jets using the airport? OH NO!
Having a splash pad by a cell tower? OH NO!
An engineer who graduated from a university in Illinois? OH NO!
WHEN are you going to stop the insanity and actually use this forum to do some good?
ANYTHING the city does will be the wrong thing. Unless it is Rodney's idea, then it is clearly brilliant.
COMMENCE with the accusations that I am either a city worker or a city council member. Lol!
12:18 - how long have you been "drinking the coffee"?
If the cell tower is so SAFE why don't they put one at Baker Lake? Why? Because Peru's 1% live up there and told the council to keep the UGLY and DANGEROUS stuff away! I say - fill in the lake and put a dog pull track, cell tower, and POOL at Baker Lake park!
12:18 ARE YOU OFF OF YOUR MEDICATION?
A pool/ splash pad should be at baker lake. So all people can enjoy! Everybody pays taxes. Enlighten room for parking, etc...
Oh boy 7:08 Nothing goes in at Baker Lake unless......you know!
I think that once we elect them, people should leave the leaders alone and not question what they do. They know best because they where elected - the people should not second guess them and let them do what is best.
10:03, I'm sorry but did you take too many meds? Elected to office with some scratching each other's backs and being fake. My mute (dog) is smarter than a majority of people.
What is in the water today? With 12:18's and 10:03's comments I am starting to lose hope in the citizens of Peru. Please someone tell me this is not the general consensus here in Peru.
Lois. Don't jump on your opinions? I even asked you not to post my reply, as I did not WANT to get into public debate on the topic.
I had only issue with the previous blogger stating as FACT , not opinion, that cell towers cause cancer and deliver more ground radiation daily than x rays.
Those statements simply are not true. They are not even the same EMR as X rays. I have no problem with your opinion that placing a cell tower near where kids play is unwise. I expressed a problem with your implication that the studies referenced on the ACS site are biased. That is not the case, and the studies referenced are always vetted very carefully before presentation to the public.
You say you saw the actual study, and disagree with it due to who sponsored it. Which study of those referenced did you read and what sponsorship did you question? I would be happy to contact the actual person who wrote the public info section at the ACS and give you there response as to why they included it as valid.
As far as liking or disliking you for any reason, I have no opinion one way or the other. I do think you have some responsibility to point out opinions on the blog that cannot be assumed to be factual if you allow them to go past moderation. That also is only an opinion of mine.
I hope your kidding 10:03. That's how this mess in all levels of government came about.....we left them alone.
On subject, sorry. Whenever I hear of a proposed project in the area I like to play a game: “how could that project be arranged to achieve multiple goals to provide the most ‘good.’” I’m curious about the details and square footage of the splashpad project.
Currently the splashpad project is an isolated project towards a single goal: build a splashpad for the kids. What if we combined with other community goals? Low hanging fruit that I can think of would be traditional neighborhood reinvestment. Wouldn’t it be neat to place the project in a more traditional part of town to attract people, especially children there, such as Rotary Park or Nickeloid Park (if a park setting is the goal). It would be nice to get kids to love and appreciate the older parts of town. We keep moving our amenities further and further from the traditional centers and what we end up with is a dysfunctional town.
I don’t see why it couldn’t be combined with downtown revitalization; it is a central location. It could be located on one of the vacant lots or underutilized lots (parking lots) downtown. It could even go in the street right-of-way north of Maud Powell Plaza (which might be a pretty nice effect). Downtown it could be combined with some synergistic business developments, perhaps a small ice cream shop, children’s party venues, toy shops, children’s clothing shops, additional educational spaces.
I must admit surprise at the parking concern... I do not recall there being a dedicated parking lot for the former pool. Is this part of the city’s parking requirements? I have trouble forseeing a parking demand that would be greater than on-street parking and the nearby parking lots could handle. Are the kids expected to drive separate cars from the grandparents that take them?
You people make me sick. You set behind your screens & cut the Hearts out of people. & don't care who you hurt. The Pool group works there butts off & all you can do is cut them to pieces.
8:52 AM
I am in total agreement with you and its not that Washington Park is not a fairly central location, but it has become the only location for everything. Do some internet searching and you will find cities that are doing exactly what you are writing about. Yesterday I was looking at a project being done in a city named Zeeland and believe it may have been in Michigan and they also have a FB page if you are a member.
Your kind of thinking is what the city needs to be hearing and we really do need and I hate to say this a park district or a park director which could be a part time job. We need people that have thinking that goes beyond baseball and encompasses the entire city and not someone whose thinking is like a ward aldermen with ward mentality. Come to think of it an at large alderman with an interest in the park system would have been a perfect choice.
Please come back and blog again.
@9:14 that's a pot calling the kettle black
9:14 AM
Just went thru the posts and I don't even see the FFPP mentioned in any derogatory manner.
People do have a right to disagree with the location but that should have nothing to do with the FFPP.
Remember the word Democracy.
Is still a sad thing that the city does not have a pool I am grateful when my kids were growing up they had that pool for summertime fun was such a safer happier time 20 years ago this city now is just darned depressing and I know I am not alone in my thinking
Anon 7:56 Certainly the city not having a pool is not the reason that you believe it was such a safer happier time 20 years ago.
What do you and others believe is making Peru damned depressing?
I believe that a national and local need is definitely jobs.
I also realize that financial conditions at times call for both parents to be employed, but this is not creating a positive for the offspring and a strong family existence.
People where happier twenty years ago becase they had a job! Now, the published unemployment rate in the Illinois Valley is over 10%. The real unemployment rate is probably closer to 16%. But don't worry, we are getting more retail stores to spend the money we don't have.
Anon 10:56 If we are getting more retail stores we should be getting more jobs. The more money spent at these retail stores the more people they will employ. The more people employed the less people that there will be to spend the money that we don't have.
Your statistic of the real unemployment rate being closer to 16% in Peru is alarming and has to be addressed with drastic measures. What will lower this rate? JOBS. Is Illinois in a job crisis in some way on account of Chicago? What are the positives and negatives for the reasons that Illinois is attractive and unattractive to the creation of jobs? I agree that only jobs feed a family and questions and reasons are only a start to solving the problem but at least it is a start. A start in which the majority will gain and a definite few will lose.
Cell Towers causing cancer, taxing the wealthy for a pool, referendums to eliminate public officials. There is a lack of brainpower that lerks in the alleys of LaSalle-Peru. If you were looking for a place to live and needed some information on Peru and you reviewed this blog, what would you find?
Retail = Low paying, part time jobs. We need industry.
Just because we have people working retail at the mall and big box stores, does not mean they live in Peru. Guessing at least 50% live in other cities outlying the Peru borders.
and here lies another problem. The one we keep comming back to. The average age of a Peru IL citizen is over 43 years old and the average income of a Peru IL citizen is less than $50K. Our population is getting older and older and they younger people that remain here are not making enough money to keep feeding Peru's golden goose - retail sales taxes.
Everyday in this country, 10,000 people turn 65. Everyday, most of these people exit the work force and they are NOT being replaced by younger people - the work is just being done by other employees.
Anon 3:349 PM Your comment,
"Retail=Low Paying part time jobs . We need industry." is a path not walked anymore.
At a 16% unemployment rate our area needs jobs. Presently we need any type of job that we can attract. At a 16% unemployment rate it would be best to accept any and all jobs available, prove the worth of our workforce and build from there. A available job makes it is much easier to get a job and prove that a person can get another job if he already has a job.
It must be remembered that no corporation moves a branch or division with the thoughts of raising the employees hourly rate or for the simple sake of creating jobs. Also the movement of industrial jobs from the U.S. to other countries, technological advances, lack of strong tariffs, NAFTA, senseless laws not helping either the employer or the employee plus a rapid communication method have decreased industrial occupations in the U.S. by huge numbers. This fact has made it even harder to obtain a good mix of different types of jobs, industrial, service, retail etc.
I agree with 12:02 P.M. and often times become confused when I hear we could get more jobs but we do not have the proper background to get them and than 10 minutes later hear that the only job that some of our college graduates qualify for if flipping hamburgers. By the way congratulations to those who have accepted that hamburger flipping occupation you have entered the job market and started your way into the future.
Go drink your bitter coffee 6:53. The POINT IS that Peru's economic development plan is based completely on increasing retail - thus increasing retail sales tax. Period, that is it, from top to bottom, Peru is only concerned with increasing sales tax. What we need is an economic development plan centered on increasing industrial and professional business in general. And by the way, with the prolifereaion of cheap energy, manufacturing is on the rise in the US.
Go drink your coffee, and watch Peru's retail golden goose die along with all the babyboomers.
Anon 8:01 PM Get Real! The POINT IS that first you need a personality seminar on diplomacy. Secondly you lack any form of understanding of what are the up most needs of Peru are.
You mention cheap electricity. 8:01 to Mars! Don't you realize that telling someone something as go drink your bitter coffee in each paragraph you comment is immature. Where in the US have utility bills decreased?
With proper management Peru's retail tax and electrical power will be its golden goose for a long time.
I'll leave you to deal with the ignorant comment about the baby boomers and death on your own.
10:43. keep drinking the coffee. I said cheap energy - we have more oil and natural gas in North American than the middle east, and we are finally extracting it. It just so happens that this area has vast resources in material required to extract that oil and naturan gas - its called sand. That is just one industry that we need to take advantage of. But, digging up sand dosen't put money in Peru's coffers. And getting more tax money is all that Peru is and has been concerned with. Peru is not conecerned about attracting good paying professional and industrial jobs to the area. Peru leadership views this as bad becasue it attracts outside influences. So, 10:43, go drink your bitter coffee and reminisce about the good old days and complain about those meddling kids messing up all your plans. But remember, once the babyboomers are all in the ground, who is going to go shopping and pay that sales tax? No good jobs, no people. No people, no sales tax. No sales tax, no Peru. Just about 20% of LaSalle County's population is retired! The overall population of LaSalle Coutny is declining. Almost 80% of the population was born in LaSalle County. A declining and aging population without new population moving in should tell our Dear Leaders somthing - but they refuse to listen.
10:43. what makes you an expert? Typical elitist tactic, attack without really saying anything. Cheap energy and abundant resources are what made our economy and what will save it. It is not about what it costs to heat your home - it is about what it costs to run a steel mill, manufacturing plant, or any other industrial facility. Peru should be lowering the industrial electric and water rates - not raising them. Its like anything else. If you purchase in large quantities, you should get a discounted rate. Low quantity users, like residential users, should pay more. But since Peru's electric is being run by self serving politicians, they artificially keep the residential rates for water and electricity down and increased the commercial and industrial rates. Unless something happens, the Peru's great retail legacy is going to die on the vine in a decade or so. It is hard for our population to support the existing retail. When it starts to fall off, it will fall off fast.
what are "up most needs"?
From a Peru Employee - I can guarantee that the Mayor never plans beyond 90 days and he doesn't care about anything that doesn't produce tax money that he can - in his words "spread around." In fact, we (the employees) need to check before we spend money to be sure we are "buying from the right people." Somebody tried to institute a cost savings reward program a few years ago. Well that went bust because the boss said we still had to purchase from his "approved sources."
10:43 You need to get real. The comment you are bent out of shape about is not that mean spirited. And unlike yours, reflects some substance.
No one is allowed to criticize in Petu unless they follow some unknown respect for your elders, kiss their rings diplomacy. Otherwise they get mad and no bid contracts. They show us!,
On one hand you guys spout cheap energy here, then when someone says, no you are wrong, you reply 'show me where prices have not gone up. They are less elsewhere, that's the point. And those towns don't need to devout major resources and planning to running a damn power plant.
Maybe Peru could make cheaper shoes for us. Or how about raising some bananas? I would bet you, with our home rule we can make bananas better n cheaper than Walmart sells them. And cars too... We can get together in the old KMart and build cars for everyone.
That was sarcasm. I have to say that, otherwise Vickrey and Harl might start buying banana plants, just to cover their butts and say it was their idea first.
There is always deflection, never a real rebuttal. Always say the upstarts are mean. I guess it does not matter that they are right. They are not diplomatic enough for you.
ha ha I just got it. Go drink the bitter coffee :) Classic. Maybe buy a lotto ticket at the same time.
Actually for all of you who do not understand the basics of economics, retail sales are an excellent revenue source regardless of income. We don't have high end shopping malls. We have retail goods that everyone needs and this is not a bad thing.
Of course we need higher paying jobs and a plan to get there but stop ripping on the retail base we have here. Every community around would give their left leg to have half of what we have. They celebrate when they get a Dollar General.
Let's talk positive about how we can build for the future and stop criticizing the good things we do have here. It really gets old and accomplishes nothing.
all the eggs in one basket makes a bad omelet.
9:35 Thank you for your comment. It sounds like the "Old Baker Era" all over again.
unless it is food or I need it the same day, I purchase almost everything on-line. Automatic 7% savings - and no, I don't put any of that on my state income tax. Another trick - if you order on-line through Walmart or Kohls, you can avoide the Harl Tax and only pay the state part of sales tax. Every penney counts when you work around here.
3:19 I do understand economics. Retail does not generate jobs that can sustain the households and workers. It generates tax revenue to be used for things like graft, waste and padding pockets.
It gives a stronger revenue source to the local government. The dollar multipliers from surrounding area shoppers do not boost our economy much. Retail, , especially big box and chain retail, offers some of the lowest multipliers and highest leakage rates. They used to offer benefits, but now are stripping them.
And it does NOT supply quality household incomes and benefits. These are Facts.
The retail cash cow helps government , not families around here.
Also - remember that some of these stores demand a sales tax rebate for a period of time. All of the stores located around the Peru Super WalMart are on a sales tax rebate program. Not sure how much or how long. I would guess that the new CVS has some sort of deal also.
I believe on the last disbursement we gave Wal-Mart $91,000. Not sure how often that is billed though.
Just looked at the 2014 budget. It looks like we are giving back $540,000 a year in municipal sales tax rebates.
The sales tax rebates are incentives to bring businesses here. Are the crazies going to start tearing into this as well? That is a fairly common practice in competing for businesses.
I understand about the tax rebate incentives but can someone tell me how long they last (in Peru)?
The point is that shopping local doesn't necessarily mean the municipal sales tax stays local. So, it is actually just a priced increase.
Post a Comment