Some of the comments this morning have been been so illogical. Think about the history of recent Peru events, say the last 50 years. What organization has been in back of most of them. Has it been the Community Service Organization (CSO)?
And for how many years have all of the aldermen been members of the CSO? How many are currently members?
Who puts up the Christmas decorations and who hosts the bands and beer tent for the Fourth of July?
This all male organization has been in bed with our City Hall and its inhabitants for as long as I can remember.
Remember the Peru Businessmen's Association? And the Peru Downtown Redevelopment Organization which must have been under the control of the Peru Mayor because he disbanded it in order to form a committee over which he has control.
The Volunteer Beautification Committee fell apart and the reason was NO support by the city government.
In order to have an event put on by an organization it is necessary to have the support and approval of the City in which it is to take place. The Recreation Board has not lived up to its original intent and the July 4 Fireworks is a perfect example. The location was not available and they could not find another place to locate it, so you might as well say it is toast because our location of Water Street is located right adjacent to the Illinois River and it has a habit of flooding many times in late spring or early summer which often includes July 4. No back up , no fireworks.
Now give me a few more reasons why Peru has no events. I hope the naysayers here realize it takes a cooperative city.
The city had no problem helping out at the airport for the concerts and they jumped in feet first even having a coordinator between the city and the sponsor. This city encourages what it wants to and finds ways to end those they do not.
19 comments:
The "Concerts for a Cause" are a perfect example. They where a profit making event. Very little of the overall revenue generated by the event was for charity. It was / is a money making scheme.
The fireworks event is a case study in how "Group Think" can overcome logic. We all know there are multiple - I count 7 - alternative locations for this event.
1. LaSalle Rotary Park
2. Mall Parking Lot
3. old K-Mark Parking Lot
4. Baker Lake
5. Airport
6. On water street - launching from "our side" of the river or even from the bridge
7. Use new technology and have a light show off the bridge.
Granted - these alternatives would take a little more coordinating than ordering portable toilets, renting a tent, and buying a few kegs of beer.
1:03 2 pyrotech experts have proclaimed Baker Lake to be an ideal and safe location for our fireworks show. I, too, consider it to be the prime location. There are easy solutions to the few obstacles (such as lighting) that the location presents. However, the president of the rec board feels Baker Lake is a much more dangerous location for children than the Illinois River and Water Street because of the Lake itself. I cannot even begin to compare for safety reasons the difference between the calm, peaceful and serene Baker Lake to the rocky, rapid moving, undercurrent waters of the Illinois River.
BAKER LAKE WOULD BE IDEAL! BUT THE CSO WOULD NIX IT, DO THE BEER
TENT, THEY COULDN'T HAVE. TIME TO GET SOME YOUNGER BLOOD IN THE CSO.
OR GET MAYOR GROVE TO HELP YOU PLAN IT. THEY NEVER HAVE ANY PROBLEMS IN LASALLE PLANING THINGS. ALSO THEY HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE DOING THE PLANNING. WE IN PERU NEED HELP LIKE THEY HAVE.
The city provided ample lighting for the concert parking, so the same could have been done at Baker Lake. The city also provided snow fencing at the concerts, and that same thing could have been done around the lake. For some reason, the rec board just wanted to cancel it.
So, the lake is more dangerous than a moving freight train? When I heard that statement on the news, I about fell off my chair laughing. Anyway - I won't happen at Baker Lake. The people that live around it don't want the riffraff milling about "their park." They think it is bad enough that it is open to the public in the first place, but they can't stop that. Now fireworks, they can argue. and they will argue with lawyers. To bad - but instead of wasting valuable resources getting it cleared, other places should be sought out.
someone is telling the rec board the decisions that need to be made, not necessarily the decisions they want to make.
The CSO was involved in the Centennial celebrations and did outstanding work. The CSO puts up xmas lights, family picnic, car shows, clean up and more.
Who cares how many Alderman are in the CSO or for how long. What is the relevance?
The Peru so called beutification group was a group that put flowers in downtown Peru. I don't think it was anything more and that's all we hear about is that the city didn't recognize the work of this group. I do remember a presentation at a city meeting! Apparently a few are involved in planter plantings and they look great.
Many were involved with the concerts, the Maude Powell event, Central States. Peru Park group has also had many activities. The river flooded and no fireworks! Is this the biggest story in Peru? Those few that lost elections will continue to fly dark clouds in Peru. That won't go away. Most of those same newly invented fireworks fans were the same ones that considered it to be a drunkfest and waste of money. Please find another topic.
3:46, that someone is probably right. Everything goes back to the council for a "vote." So people keep posting that they don't want the mayor an council planning events because their time is to valuable. But every event goes in front of the council for approval. Go figure.
The Peru Centennial Celebration was in 1931. I doubt any of those CSO members are still involved.
What's all the fuss over a location for the fireworks? As long as they have shot off across the river there was always a rain date set. So what if we have to wait until Labor Day. That's no big deal. It's not going to flood every July 4 is it? So everybody just relax and don't try to move the fireworks to a place where we might get more trouble than we bargain for.
8:42 PM
The last 2 years were flood dates and since they don't want to do anything but the days before or immediately after July 4 and other days later in the season are now off the plate. Mother Nature gives no assurance that it won't be a common happening. It needs to be moved. A rain date is no problem, a dry land date is. This is something the city cannot control. My suggestion is to go to another city for the July 4 fireworks and I understand that Grand Bear Lodge has them every weekend in the summer and you might watch those. Peru's problem won't be solved but yours will.
Lois, I don't have a problem so I don't need anything solved. I believe you are mistaking me for someone else. I have nothing to do with city or rec plans. I think it's hilarious how everyone is suggesting places that are undesirable or not workable. As far as I'm concerned the city could give everyone a sparkler and have them parade around city hall July 4.
11:07 PM
I happen to agree with you about the sparkler and parade. Peru has provided the expensive entertaiment called Fireworks for close to 60 years give or take a few years, I believe for the entire Illinois Valley.
La Salle did not have until this year and Oglesby did not either until recent years and think you could add Spring Valley also.. (correct me if I am wrong on those cities)
So let's sit back and watch while others put on the show. After all it can be seen from a distance since it is located where it is visible in the heavens in all cities. Go to Hennepin, Utica Ottawa or Streator. Make a day of it as they have lots of other things going on.
Why are the recommendations undesirable? I think the mall parking lot would be a good place - if the owner lets it happen. Why does it have to be 100% on city property?
But I also agree that we need to think regionally. It is pretty stupid for LaSalle, Oglesby, Peru, and Spring Valley to each have their own fireworks display.
11:07 What places that have been mentioned are undesirable or unworkable?
I don't repost coments under all the different headings, it is needless duplication. And the person you want to do something on the rec board cannot because and you might want to ask the president why. I have been to their mtgs and I have personally seen the interaction or lack of between the president and the balance of the board which is not fair and balanced.
Lois
In response to your not re-posting that's fine but please don't claim to be fair and balanced.
2:03 Jeff Grove did not plan the rotary Park event or the Art fair.
As for the CSO I understand that they do allow women to join but not one has asked. they are having an event this Sunday at Centennial Park.
I also read on another thread that the downtown beautification committee
( Rodney and Cronies) Will not be doing this anymore since he is not an alderman anymore? Is this true? If it is he is just like everyone else. "what's in it for me"
We need to have more family friendly events
To:11:51
From:Rodney Perez
I guess you were mis-informed:-) we planted downtown flowers in May, and continue working with cub scouts in cleaning up Peru, and have been since the election. No worries about me not volunteering anymore because we have so much more to do... In fact, we haven't even started yet! So much more to come:-)
PRIDE IN PERU!!
RODNEY PEREZ:-)
I guess Lois will not post my comment about Rodney and the use of Fire Dept. Equipment
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