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
You have to admire how Boss Harl has this set up. Multiple stages so nobody gets wise as to the total cost. And they burry the ruults in the back of the paper on a holiday weekend. Yup - that's how the Illinois Democrat Partly likes to do things. In the dark, like cockroaches.
Keep in mind folks. This bid was only for "metals, precast concrete panels and building earthwork." It is NOT for the entire project.
So its adding up to $1.2 Million for the first part of the project.
Next comes electrical, plumbing, inferior finishing (walls, flooring, etc.). And of course, unknown project overages.
This is on its way to $3 million fast. With no budget.
Has the ASM worked up a cost analysis to compare if it would be less expensive to exchange squad cars from shift to shift rather than each individual officer having one of their own and to buy a existing storage building rather than buy a new one. Also the city can store a vehicle in many different buildings rather than build a new one.How many vehicles does the city own and where is a list of how each is used? There has to be a questionable problem in that H.J. Tobler ran a large sized truck line , tractor and trailers, in the same garage that is too small for Peru Street Dept.
That is 1 vehicle for every citizen of Peru. If all city employees of Peru were considered (200) it would be a newer vehicle for 1 out of every 4. With online shopping increasing at a rapid rate in the near future it will be i out of every 50. Peru government tends to get fat when things are good and not save for tomorrow. Without planning it is going to be hard to readjust and reload for the coming years.
200 vehicles in the city? Why does anyone believe or actually post something like this on the site? It must be getting pretty boring for the group of naysayers to find any real substance to complain about. It's funny........
Anonymous 2:50 PM "200 vehicles in the city"? No it is not funny when someone in 2015 cannot read. A very good recommendation for them is to reread for a 2d, 3d or 4th time the comment they are attempting to answer until the believe they have it correct. Your mistake I would forgive a thousand times over your smart ass attitude is what is unforgivable.To take someone elses comment and twist it around to your own words and than answer the same comment is the lowest form of intentional falsehood.
Its not hard to believe 200 vehicles - they have 4-wheelers, riding lawn mowers, earth moving equipment, trucks of all sizes, police cars, fire trucks, ambulances (ok not technical owned by the city). I'd say there is at a minimum two pieces of rolling stock for every employee - full or part time.
9:35 Please stop the intentional falsehoods. Is this a subject? How many vehicles does the city own? Who cares? And what is the importance? You have a fixation on things with wheels. Should we residents place a maximum on number of wheels?
I agree with 11:00, if there buying vehicles for safety reasons it's a good thing. We are far from having 200 vehicles. 12:37, how many vehicles do you own, counting mowers rec vehicles etc.
11:00 & 5:02 If the city is buying vehicles for safety reasons they reached overkill 5 years ago. Peru is so far out of touch financially that years ago they had a battery operated truck which was a laugh of the state and recently they purchased a dilapidated float for city officials to ride on in parades. Either of these should be made a door prize to whomever finishes last in Peru's horseshoe tournament. I am speaking of the horseshoe pits in Centennial Park build for out of towners. The other should be raffled off at a 50/50 drawing at Concerts for a Cause. Than the money raised could be used to give certain city appointments raises.
5:02. I own and SUV and a self propelled snow blower. That is all.
The reason people complain about the vehicles is because they are generally not in any budget. Come on - they know if they need a fire truck or a new police car. Just put it in the budget! I think one time that we purchased a police car, the excuse was the Ford was discontinuing the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and it would be our last chance to own a new one, so we should get it now! Barnaby Jones was quoted in the paper saying that. The Boss asked if we have enough in the checking account and the motion passed!
I am convinced that he council and the mayor simply do not want the people to have easy access to any detailed information. The hide behind the Open Meetings Act - using every loophole that the Democrat Legislature built in to the hollow law. They like being big shots with other peoples money.
And take a look at the clown Brian Towne - Spending drug money on vacations and booze parties for the "task force" and calling it training!
What I don't understand is why do all our well paid, salaried personnel not only need their own vehicle but huge gas guzzling SUV's to drive around town? And, they get to take them home. Why should we pay for their gas while their going for their own groceries or shopping or out to eat?
If it was up to me, every city vehicle (except police and fire which are already well marked) would be painted in the ugliest color I could get. Bright pink or lime green. Put the city seal on both front doors. Put a large vehicle number on the hood and trunk. Then I would publish a one page advertisement and mail it out with every utility bill - "We will pay your bill this month if you send in a city owned vehicle being used for unofficial business."
Its funny - I see city trucks in the summer being used to haul furniture. Then there was the truck found in the nature preserve. Somebody got to drunk to bring it back I guess.
5:36 The "expensive" SUV's that you say you see in a school parking lot are not paid for with your tax dollars. Those that sit at city hall or that personnel get to use and take home are. See the difference in your comparison?
But, 4:10, the difference is that those in the school parking lot are being paid for from the salary the teachers earn. Those that the city personnel have are given to them in addition to their salary and they don't need to pay for insurance, gas, and maintenance. The teachers are responsible for their own vehicles. See the difference?
4:10 PM Why are they expensive SUV"S and not the small gas saving mini variety of cars? How does Peru government purchase fuel for these cars ? When was the last cost analysis made to compare the economy of all vehicles gas and electric? What is the average life of a city owned vehicle? Because I pay for these questions I believe that I am deserving of answers from some assistant of a assistant.
10:25, because people that work for the government are higher class now. They expect more luxurious cars than the average citizen in this area. Same goes for the teachers. They are being paid very high salaries, so they can afford expensive cars and houses.
Were talking about police cars patrolling Rt 6? And how many cars the city has? What a waste of time. We need police presence and we need city vehicles for the service they provide. Does anybody realize how pointless these complaints are?
What services does the city provide that can't be accomplished cheaper by the private sector? I say outsource everything. The city should not own ANY vehicles. Hire out a police force, fire department, and public works. Let the contractor worry about the O&M costs. Let them worry about the insurance, let them worry about contracts, scheduling, and everything else dealing with human resources. Write one check a month.
10:10, they are. Just Google it. There is a city in Georgia that has about 4 employees. Everything is outsourced. It is a rather successful city to boot - parks, recreation events, full time fire department, police, etc.
I saw our city owned "command vehicle" and other city owned vehicles parked at Maples on saturday night-probably another tax payed christmas party! I wonder if there was drinking involved? I do not feel that thisis ethical behavior of our city officails using city owned vehicles
36 comments:
You have to admire how Boss Harl has this set up. Multiple stages so nobody gets wise as to the total cost. And they burry the ruults in the back of the paper on a holiday weekend. Yup - that's how the Illinois Democrat Partly likes to do things. In the dark, like cockroaches.
Keep in mind folks. This bid was only for "metals, precast concrete panels and building earthwork." It is NOT for the entire project.
So its adding up to $1.2 Million for the first part of the project.
Next comes electrical, plumbing, inferior finishing (walls, flooring, etc.). And of course, unknown project overages.
This is on its way to $3 million fast. With no budget.
this comment was meant for the other post.
A fuel additive production company. Interesting. They better upgrade the sprinkler and security systems.
Has the ASM worked up a cost analysis to compare if it would be less expensive to exchange squad cars from shift to shift rather than each individual officer having one of their own and to buy a existing storage building rather than buy a new one. Also the city can store a vehicle in many different buildings rather than build a new one.How many vehicles does the city own and where is a list of how each is used?
There has to be a questionable problem in that H.J. Tobler ran a large sized truck line , tractor and trailers, in the same garage that is too small for Peru Street Dept.
Peru owns and operates around 200 vehicles.
Anonymous 4:37
ouch! That is 1 city vehicle for every 50 people. Peru doesn't have a voter turnout for elections that high.
That is 1 vehicle for every citizen of Peru. If all city employees of Peru were considered (200) it would be a newer vehicle for 1 out of every 4. With online shopping increasing at a rapid rate in the near future it will be i out of every 50. Peru government tends to get fat when things are good and not save for tomorrow. Without planning it is going to be hard to readjust and reload for the coming years.
Yes, but the owners of all the local automobile dealerships always vote.
200 vehicles in the city? Why does anyone believe or actually post something like this on the site? It must be getting pretty boring for the group of naysayers to find any real substance to complain about.
It's funny........
Anonymous 2:50 PM
"200 vehicles in the city"? No it is not funny when someone in 2015 cannot read. A very good recommendation for them is to reread for a 2d, 3d or 4th time the comment they are attempting to answer until the believe they have it correct. Your mistake I would forgive a thousand times over your smart ass attitude is what is unforgivable.To take someone elses comment and twist it around to your own words and than answer the same comment is the lowest form of intentional falsehood.
2:50
Remedial reading courses are offered at IVCC night classes. Strongly suggest that you take all offered.
7:27 Is there such a word as intentional falsehood as opposed to unintentional falsehood?
Its not hard to believe 200 vehicles - they have 4-wheelers, riding lawn mowers, earth moving equipment, trucks of all sizes, police cars, fire trucks, ambulances (ok not technical owned by the city). I'd say there is at a minimum two pieces of rolling stock for every employee - full or part time.
9:35 Please stop the intentional falsehoods. Is this a subject? How many vehicles does the city own? Who cares? And what is the importance? You have a fixation on things with wheels. Should we residents place a maximum on number of wheels?
11:00, people care because every time we turn around, Peru is buying another wheeled vehicle. Which automobile dealership do you work for?
I agree with 11:00, if there buying vehicles for safety reasons it's a good thing. We are far from having 200 vehicles.
12:37, how many vehicles do you own, counting mowers rec vehicles etc.
11:00 & 5:02 If the city is buying vehicles for safety reasons they reached overkill 5 years ago. Peru is so far out of touch financially that years ago they had a battery operated truck which was a laugh of the state and recently they purchased a dilapidated float for city officials to ride on in parades. Either of these should be made a door
prize to whomever finishes last in Peru's horseshoe tournament.
I am speaking of the horseshoe pits in Centennial Park build for out of towners.
The other should be raffled off at a 50/50 drawing at Concerts for a Cause. Than the money raised could be used to give certain city appointments raises.
5:02. I own and SUV and a self propelled snow blower. That is all.
The reason people complain about the vehicles is because they are generally not in any budget. Come on - they know if they need a fire truck or a new police car. Just put it in the budget! I think one time that we purchased a police car, the excuse was the Ford was discontinuing the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and it would be our last chance to own a new one, so we should get it now! Barnaby Jones was quoted in the paper saying that. The Boss asked if we have enough in the checking account and the motion passed!
I am convinced that he council and the mayor simply do not want the people to have easy access to any detailed information. The hide behind the Open Meetings Act - using every loophole that the Democrat Legislature built in to the hollow law. They like being big shots with other peoples money.
And take a look at the clown Brian Towne - Spending drug money on vacations and booze parties for the "task force" and calling it training!
What I don't understand is why do all our well paid, salaried personnel not only need their own vehicle but huge gas guzzling SUV's to drive around town? And, they get to take them home. Why should we pay for their gas while their going for their own groceries or shopping or out to eat?
If it was up to me, every city vehicle (except police and fire which are already well marked) would be painted in the ugliest color I could get. Bright pink or lime green. Put the city seal on both front doors. Put a large vehicle number on the hood and trunk. Then I would publish a one page advertisement and mail it out with every utility bill - "We will pay your bill this month if you send in a city owned vehicle being used for unofficial business."
Its funny - I see city trucks in the summer being used to haul furniture. Then there was the truck found in the nature preserve. Somebody got to drunk to bring it back I guess.
Just look in a school parking lot and you will see some pretty expensive SUV's.
5:36 The "expensive" SUV's that you say you see in a school parking lot are not paid for with your tax dollars. Those that sit at city hall or that personnel get to use and take home are. See the difference in your comparison?
yes they are 11:00 AM. I pay the salary of the people buying those expensive SUV's.
4:10 PM You are correct , this is a significant fact almost always forgotten by our employees and most of those who are paying for them.
But, 4:10, the difference is that those in the school parking lot are being paid for from the salary the teachers earn. Those that the city personnel have are given to them in addition to their salary and they don't need to pay for insurance, gas, and maintenance. The teachers are responsible for their own vehicles. See the difference?
4:10 PM Why are they expensive SUV"S and not the small gas saving mini variety of cars? How does Peru government purchase fuel for these cars ? When was the last cost analysis made to compare the economy of all vehicles gas and electric? What is the average life of a city owned vehicle? Because I pay for these questions I believe that I am deserving of answers from some assistant of a assistant.
10:25, because people that work for the government are higher class now. They expect more luxurious cars than the average citizen in this area. Same goes for the teachers. They are being paid very high salaries, so they can afford expensive cars and houses.
oh... forgot to mention 9:07. The teachers are not paying for that gas, insurance, and maintenance. The taxpayers are paying in in inflated salaries.
Oh... sorry... "its for the Children..."
Were talking about police cars patrolling Rt 6? And how many cars the city has? What a waste of time. We need police presence and we need city vehicles for the service they provide. Does anybody realize how pointless these complaints are?
What services does the city provide that can't be accomplished cheaper by the private sector? I say outsource everything. The city should not own ANY vehicles. Hire out a police force, fire department, and public works. Let the contractor worry about the O&M costs. Let them worry about the insurance, let them worry about contracts, scheduling, and everything else dealing with human resources. Write one check a month.
Anon 2:24 PM Results of the success that cities which furnishes its services through the private sector should be easily obtained.
10:10, they are. Just Google it. There is a city in Georgia that has about 4 employees. Everything is outsourced. It is a rather successful city to boot - parks, recreation events, full time fire department, police, etc.
12:52
Are you saying that are teachers are over PAID???
1:34: Yes, for what they do, they are generally over paid with the exception of the first five years or so. After that, they are definitely over paid.
Now flame on. But consider this. They have very good job security. They have good benefits.
5:57 Have you ever taught? For several reasons,to be precise everything you have said, is incorrect!
I saw our city owned "command vehicle" and other city owned vehicles parked at Maples on saturday night-probably another tax payed christmas party!
I wonder if there was drinking involved? I do not feel that thisis ethical behavior of our city officails using city owned vehicles
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