“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

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Thank You Debbie and Anita, Friends of the Peru Pool

From WLPO:
Debbie Noonan and Anita Kapinski turned in their resignations Monday night to the Peru City Council as co-presidents of the Friends for Peru Pool Committee. Noonan and Kapinski say “Mayor Harl and council members have stated a swimming pool is a luxury that they can’t afford, we felt it was a necessity”. The city council plans to send Noonan and Kapinski a thank you letter.

And when a pool looked to be something not attainablle, they turned their eyes toward a Peru Splash Pad and at that point sought a grant from the state of Illinois. At that point, it turned out that the state had become fiscally irresponsible and could not even pay their debts let alone give out grants to cities. I believe the city would have had to fund the splash pad but then would be reinbursed by the state. The fund I believe contains something in the amount of $150,000 which itself would build a small splash pad but they certainly needed the assistance of the city of Peru. The company they were interested in using was Vortex who has a good reputation and their web site shows what they can do with a small city to a very large private organization. I think with the money already available and the cities cooperation we could have had something but the City Council has no enthusiasm for the things enjoyed by the residents.

Can you tell me one thing the city has done to improve our Peru parks within the past few years? I also want to add that if you noticed that the Peru planters along Rte 6 are filled with flowers and greenery from one end of town to the other on 6. Please thank 3 Peru residents for getting it done: Sherry Mayszak, Rodney Perez and Tom Riordan as they took time from their busy lives and did most of plantings.  A few were privately planted by business owners who had them in front of their bldgs. No elected or appointed official did any of this work but volunteers did. 

Anyone know if the new bleachers have been installed at McKinley park?

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

If indeed a thank you letter will be sent to these women I think that is the least the city council and mayor can do. However, it is my understanding that after these ladies read their letter of resignation not one word was spoken and the mayor went on with business as usual. Not one thank you from at least one alderman? Disturbing to say the least. I think it's time that someone start thinking about running for mayor at the next election.

Anonymous said...

Your wrong! The City Mayor did thank those who left the committee, check the tape. You have a Park Board and there has been plenty of activity and a new playground will be up soon. If the quotes are correct and they blamed the Mayor and city council for quitting that looks to be politically motivated. Nothing more. Maybe the two of them will run for office? It's easy to spend taxpayers money.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Anita and Deb will start a committee to get rid of the Mayor and Alderman. The election is just months away. Way to go girls.

Anonymous said...

Really 12:23? A new playground will be up soon? I hope you're right because that would be great. Do you know where it will be placed? Perhaps the vacant land where Washington School stood?

Anonymous said...

Blame the taxpayers. Its wasn't that long ago that Peru vote not to fund a pool. And the wind blew to focus on a splash pad. The State has no money and that put the project on hold. So a few of the members of the committee got mad and left the committee. Should the city officials listen to the two members who feel mad or respect the vote of the taxpayers. Typically they will listen to the vocal two on the committee. I would expect that with elections around the corner we will see a new focus on that pool. It's only a few million dollars and if we just hike the water and electric fees we can pay for it.

Anonymous said...

I have seen Jim from landscaping company redoing all the flower beds in the parks stearsts trimming trees and russ s installing all new benches in the parks. seem like tons being done. plus many more postive things in our parks lois you are not being straight with your views or not looking around.

Anonymous said...

Where are these benches being installed and where did we get these new benches 2:05?

Anonymous said...

Yes, the planters look wonderful! Thank you to the volunteers and businesses that took the time to make the downtown look nicer.

Anonymous said...

Who said anything about the planters 8:48? Who did them?

Anonymous said...

Lois: I can tell you that a set of what appears to be new bleachers is sitting in the lot by the park barn.

Anonymous said...

FYI: No video posted as of yet from Monday's meeting.

Anonymous said...

10:55 Did you read the article?

Anonymous said...

no.

Anonymous said...

Heard a former peru aldermen wants back his donation to FFPP!

Anonymous said...

Yes 9:20
Rodney Perez asked for the money back!!

Anonymous said...

I think it was absolutely horrible for Pothoff to publicly announce Rodney's request in the paper. Totally uncalled for and unprofessional. Did dave have a smug look on his face when he did it? Not always a fan of some of Rodney's style, but that disclosure of information was wrong and pothoff knows it. I wonder if pothoff ever donated anything? or was it donated through the Y's books?

Anonymous said...

7:10
That is funny since all Dave did was answer a question, and said it is in the disbursements and it was Rodney. He (Rodney) deserves the grief he is getting you don't take back a charitable donation.



I know Lois you won't post this but please tell the other 10 people what was written.

Peru Town Forum said...

10:03 A.M.

When the donations were first started for a "pool", it was publicly stated that IF the pool could not be built because of lack of funds or interest, people could ask for their donation back because of the lack of total funding available. If I had made a donation I would be asking for mine back.

It looked from the beginning like the possiblity of a pool being built was small and the referendum for the city to build was defeated.
What is the point of large donations being held in a fund for no reason.
IMO, the city should have stepped forth a long time ago and built the splash pad for the kids and then people would have genuinely been interested in donating money. As long as the city remains uncommitted there really is not much sense in a pool fund or a splash pad fund. Depending on the state to fund your wants is pretty much a GONE DEAL.

Anonymous said...

agree with you Lois. the original statement was that people could ask for their funds back if the pool was not built. I think everyone should be refunded if the pool or splashpad is not coming. same as an escrow.
10:03 - a kind professional would have not disclosed the details of the request in public. These funds are not public funds and don't require the same level of scrutiny as taxpayer dollars. Are the names of every single individual posted in minutes and discussed in the meetings each time money comes in? No. Then the same courtesy should have been given when disbursements are going out. It was a jab and he knows it. Previous post asked about dp's generous donations to this fund??? If it's a matter of public record like he likes to blurt out, then by all means, can someone tell me how much dp has donated so far?

Anonymous said...

9:11
The Answer was written in the disbursements for all to see. As for how much DP has donated he does not have to disclose that since it was a donation and not a disbursement.

And I am so tiered of this blog only posting things that are in the Admin.
comfort zone. I posed many comments about the township and who is running. What the outcome will be, I questioned the donors motives and yet LOIS who claims to be fair and OPEN is nothing but a puppet to the haters.