Municipal Aggregation FAQ
This is the same web site which lists the cities taking advantage of aggregation but there is a whole lot more to it. I'm sure that we all have received the annoying phone calls about electrical providers and we all said but we are municipally owned as if it was the best thing since ice cream and now maybe we are finding out not.. Has anyone reading accessed the $22,000 study done by the IMEA a few years ago?
26 comments:
Does anybody know or heard about the FBI investigation as to the status of it? I know this isn't the topic of this blog, but curious.
Are we sure the FBI is or was in town? Remember the mayor said he wasn't aware of their presence.
Are we sure the FBI is or was in town? Remember the mayor said he wasn't aware of their presence.
You will not hear any accurate information about this investigation unless and until an official report and or charges are filed. I can't imagine the people doing the investigating are saying anything to any city employee or elected official. They are just going about their business of looking at records, documents, ordinances, etc.
As for the elected officials, I suspect they are communicating amongst themselves at a feverish pace. I also believe that most of the elected officials in Peru as well as some of the usual Peru insiders are trying to figure out how to "squash" this investigation before it goes too far. I believe they have probably "discreetly" reached out to anybody they think might have enough influence to make the investigation go away. That is what political hacks do when they are flushed out into the light of day. Fortunately for the citizens of Peru the agency conducting these investigations is so far beyond the political influence of anybody in the county and possibly even the state. But I don't think that will stop them from trying. The mayor and the "Gang of Seven" aldermen thought they had this whole mess nicely "swept under the rug".
It's very comical to think that Peru's little fish might actually think they wield enough political stroke make the Feds disappear.
Very interesting episode of American Greed on CNBC last night reporting on the Dixon IL Comptroller fraud scandal.
FBI agents interviewed stressed the fact that the primary reason the theft of almost $50 Million dollars of city money was possible was because of "the lack of checks and balances" which was a direct result of a lack of professional leadership. Meaning elected officials with little or no actual professional skill or know-how to run a city of 15,000 people.
Sound familiar Peru residents? I personally have absolutely NO confidence in any of the elected officials in Peru to provide the necessary checks and balances that were lacking in Dixon, IL.
We need a professional city manager with the authority to run Peru in the professional manner that the current elected officials continuously demonstrate they have no skills or abilities to do.
Don't get excited 12:43 b/c you could be wrong. Peru is directly connected to Obama's 2008 transition team. Governors Quinn's mother is from Arlington and it's rumored Senator Durbin purchased land up North near Mendota a few years back. So I agree favors may be called in and IF the FBI is in Peru regarding Peru politics/payroll it could very well be terminated.
Don't count on the Miller Media Group to report anything substantive about this.
@1:22 PM
How is Peru directly connected to Obama's 2008 transition team? Because Gov. Quinn's is from Arlington and Sen. Durbin is RUMORED to have purchased land near Mendota a few years back what makes you think that they would interfere with a FBI investigation. Both political officials would have nothing to gain and everything to lose. They most likely don't personally know any of our Peru City officials.
Peru for many years has run in tandem with Dixons lack of a check and balance system. City Clerk Bartley would be a political official who would know how deep and how much we were lacking a check and balance system because of the fact that he held the position of City Treasurer for 4 years before the last 5 that he has been City Clerk.
Treasurer Hylla took over for Bartley approximately 5 years ago and was Treasurer at the critical transition period during the time frame in which Peru had a exchange of Mayors.
Anon 2:33 PM What makes you think that until the FBI comes to a conclusion of its investigation that the Miller Media Group will have anything substantive to report on the investigation. I am sure that everything that you hear about the FBI Investigation until they release a final conclusion will only amount to guesswork.
OMG, this is just nuts. Are you listening to yourselves? Now the city is going to call in Quinn and Obama to sweep it under the rug? What the heck? It gets crazier every day.
If Blago, Ryan and Jackson couldn't escape the wrath of the Feds what makes anyone think a little boy like Scott Harl can get this swept away? Hahaha silly! Plain silly!
The Mayor could be hauled away in hand cuffs and the Miller Media Group would not report why.
7:30 and 8:31
Your mentality is exactly why progress does not occur in Peru: take the rose colored glasses off. Do you honestly believe activities in the Illinois Valley would be "overlooked" for all these years if there was no clout? You have some of the longest Illinois serving politicians who "serve" Peru. There was Baker, Mautino (who is Madigan's right handman) Madigan to Durbin to Chicago Mayor Emanual (former chief of staff to President-president who was an Illinois Senator)...
Schweickert did meet with the Obama transition team in Dec. 2008. The bill exists. And NO I did not say in anyway the President or the Governor was going to get involved personally. If you truly believe they are not aware of Peru's issues (past and/or present) you should bury your head back in your hole.
It is amusing many on this blog complain about the "symptoms" of government but refuse to acknowledge or "treat" the disease.
Anon 9:14 Do you have one of those children's famous Number 8 Black balls that you turn upside down to find the same set of answers to all of your questions.
How much time do you believe national or state politicians spend on anything that involves a town that had a voting turnout of 2100 at its last election?
Similar to Peru's city representation who routed the last Centennial parade from the airport to 8th Street and than for a few hours at a local park and never including downtown Peru, the state officials during election time do a fly over boasting about what they spent in LaSalle County in their last administration at the airport and immediately fly out not even knowing the Mayors name, as for national recognition President Bush was in Washington Park, Ottawa, Il. and when LaSalle had a train station Senator Barry Goldwater stopped and gave a speech off of the caboose. Recognition? Barry Goldwater ran for President against LBJ in 1964, that's half a century ago and LaSalle no longer has a train. station.
Now do you still really believe that Peru, Illinois is common dinner time talk at the Governors Manson or the White House?????
The shame is that you have taken the easy way out with complaints but no methods of acknowledgement or treatment of the disease also.
When it is constantly the same 6 or 7 citizens at a city council meeting or the same 1 or 2 at most at a committee meeting and a local vote struggling to surpass 20% you are going to receive very little recognition from any form of government. Simply put you, as a citizen, are only going to get out of the present or any government what you put into it!
The state government and the national government gives us local city autonomy and the powers to utilize or NOT to utilize the autonomy and powers. These are your powers. Right now I don't believe we are doing too good with them.
This Morning I have heard the Budget Director has asked for more revenue in the coming year to cover expenses. This should surprise no one as the blog and a small group who have made several unsuccessful efforts to inform all of the spend, spend and spend philosophy of Peru's government. With the retail sales in Peru there should never have been a need of continuously misusing Home Rule to borrow from the electrical fund to stock the general fund.
Alderman Potthoff has been actively supporting a mandatory financial fund to be put aside for the electric dept solely out of the electric dept. Thankfully he accomplished this a couple of years ago. Before this fund was created and before Mayor Harls tenure the electric department was no more than a big, fat pig to feed off of.
1:14 -9:14 here. All politicians focus on issues as they arise; don't classify all participants of the blog as naive.
Trust me when I tell you friend; I have been working behind the scenes to treat the disease for many years and IF I was in involved in the last election voter turnout would have been over 50%! I only state the facts my friend.
Anon 2:15 PM
50% - 20% = 30% Increase in voter turn out.
you must have a through understanding of where all the skeletons are buried and prepared to reveal each. GET INVOLVED in the next election, better yet call the FBI while they are still investigating Peru.
To 1:14 pm, Not sure where you get your information about Dave Potthoff initiating an effort to put money aside for electric department infrastructure but that has never happened. It has never happened becuase Potthoff knows as well as anyone the city has to feed off thar fund to continue to operate. Aldermean Potthoff may have you fooled with the typical Peru "slight of hand" shananigans, but I know better. The Electric Operations Report provided proof positive of years of neglect and mis-management of the Electric Department and over those many years (20 plus) Dave Potthoff was one of Don Baker's puppets on the Electric Committee. I watched it all play out for years and years as Joe Prazen used the department as his own personal construction company as he amassed a fortune in pension benefits while the physical condition of the department continued to erode year after year. All of this happened while Dave Potthoff sat on his hands on the Electric Committee so don't even try to tell me that Dave Potthoff is any better than any of the current know-nothing aldermen. In fact, due to his ridiculously extended tenure as an alderman he is more responsible than any other current elected official for doing nothing to protect that department for so many years. I hold him more responsible than anybody for the decline in the Electric Department and the city of Peru itself.
8:22 more conspiracy from you? Anybody who has a slight knowledge of the City of Peru will understand that the strength of Peru finances is a result of the Electric sales. Review any audit from the last 30 years, its plain and easy to read.
Your comments about mis-management borders on insanity, not conspiracy. If you had watched the electric department play out over the years you would find a healthy surplus, innovative technology, trained and able employess, consistent power and economical rates. And renewable green power with a hydroplant in the City's portfolio. Your comments amount to nothing more than personal attacks that have nothing to do with low-cost, reliable power that Peru residents have been invested in for years.
10:18 am, I never said the Electric Fund is not profitiable. In fact, I clearly indicated Electric Dept. profits are used to subsidize much of the rest of the city's financial needs. My point remains that the department has been mis-managed as proven by the fact that Peru was selling power to several industrial users at a loss for many years. Yes, overall the fund was profitable, but still poorly run and inadequately capitalized for future system upgrades and improvements. These are indisputable facts revealed in the BHMG Consulting report a few years ago. I am an advoctate and supporter of the Peru Electric Department. That is why it's such a shame to realize how profitable this department could be if it were run professionally by a qualified Electrical Engineer with leadership skills, experience and knowledge of operations, generation, distribution, capital planning, and a vision of market trends for the future.
Like it or not 10:18, the Peru Electric Department and elected officials have lacked the qualities I just mentioned for a very long time. In fact, they may never had them all along.
11:29 am, let's get your facts correct. Peru Electric has been profitable for residents and business for many years. Peru Power employees are and have been very dedicated and knowledgeable. You need to know that Peru has a modern system with backups to handle the details of electric power with quality control. The power distribution system is both modern and effective. Selling electricity at a loss so these big powerful industrial users can make higher profits is another poor pathetic conspiracy. Like it or not those who were involved in the electric area of Peru have been a key for many years. And the current staff and elected officials have done a good job. Like every government agency and every city, there are issues. However, your really grasping for straws when you look under rocks for a story about Peru Electric. Stick to something you feel comfortable with like waste hauling. Peru Power has enabled many to enjoy more money in there pockets, created industry that creates jobs for many! Name calling won't change the progress, it only undermines your creditability.
1:50 PM
Peru Power was never an issue I was interested in until recently and there is a lot for the average citizen to learn about and grasp all the important details. They have a very good and knowledgeable workforce, agreed.
But now that aggregation is with us and I and many others see cities purchasing their power for as low as 4.25 per KWH and we are paying 11 cents per KWH, that seems like a pretty big discrepancy and to say the Peru residents are getting low rates in comparison to other cities does not add up. Frankly I don't understand your math.
To 1:50 pm, I'm not going to waste any more of my time on you other than to ask you to offer up your "expert" impression of someone who I am convinced contributed immensely to the downfall of Peru's Electric Department. Share with us your thoughts on the man who used the department more than anyone for his own personal gain for many, many years. Please elaborate on Mr. Joe Prazen. Well, we're waiting!
2:21 its tough to argue with stupid comments bent on ruining others for your own vindictive exsistence and personal gain.
Anon 3:10PM Putting both your comments and the comments of 2:21 aside and considering only factual history of certain city employees and their fellow elected officials why is it that the same names return and return and return under the subject of questionable practices?
By law a person is innocent or guilty but some become more proficient at exploring and eventually practicing the gray area until they become identical to the dog that bites the hand of the owner who feeds them.
Some puppies if nurtured within their same clan and with numerous years of interbreeding become powerful enough to set the rules by which they themselves are living under i.e. State Senators and their pensions or possibly ????????.
How far can some people go? To live ones retirement life under questionable practices of working within the same occupation for the same people and being retired at the same time and drawing a pension from the same people. This person or anyone else realizes that the next question is what took place during the years that this person was employed? Than one questions the what took place in all levels during the time this person was a supervisor and represented the city nation wide.
9:48 What are you talking about? Do you consider that someone who works along side soemone else collecting a pension should not collect one for themselves? The courts determined that is a unfair practice.
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