Staying 6 Feet Away .....Stay Safe

Election Day is April 2, just a few days from today and throughout this campaign I have heard so many comments about Term Limits not only on the national stage but here on the local level also. Our Peru City Council has several members who would be ineligible for running for office if we did have that law  but we don't have that law here in Peru so it is up to the registered Peru voters to express their thoughts on this subject.

The Fourth Ward has only Dave Potthoff on the ballot altho there are actually 2 people running for that seat. The other candidate is Aaron Buffo whose candidacy was protested by Ald. Potthoff with the aid of the city both monetary and otherwise. Aaron Buffo is running as a write in candidate in the Fourth. Evidently Dave was opposed to any competition.

Ald Potthoff has served the city as an Alderman in the Fourth Ward for 29 years.  He father before him also served on the city council. So this has become like a family tradition.


If you believe in term limits and live in the 4th Ward, you will have an opportunity to express your views.

The 3rd Ward has a contest between Alderman Dave Waldorf and Kristen McDaniel.  Dave has been on the city council 15 years  and if you favor 2 or 3 terms at the most,  you have an opportunity to vote for someone else.  Kristen recently established a law practice in Peru and hopes to serve the city in which she and her husband have to chose to reside in.

Evidently Mayor Harl is silently promoting Waldorf as he remains silent, he has put a Waldorf election sign prominently in his front yard.

Fourth Ward Battle for Alderman......Current Alderman versus Write In Aaron Buffo....

Peru Residents Will Decide on April 2 What Aldermen Will Be on the City Council

The cold weather has been rather difficult for all the candidates running for Peru City Council. Ground has been so frozen and even signs are hard to place in yards but they are beginning to crop up as we look forward to hopefully better weather.

First Ward: John McLeod against current Alderman Jeff Ballard

Second Ward: Tom Riordan against current Alderman Tom Payton

Third Ward: Kristen McDaniel against Alderman Dave Waldorf

Fourth Ward: Aaron Buffo against current Alderman Dave Potthoff. Buffo is not on the ballot but will be running as a write in candidate. Remember that this is the race where Potthoff challenged the petitions of Buffo and incurred thousands of dollars of legal fees paid for by the City of Peru so that Buffo's name would not be on the ballot. Potthoff must believe his constituents are so dumb that they can't write in the name.

Watch your doorknobs for hangers placed there by the candidates and probably walking the wards looking to speak with you and ask for your vote. If you have questions contact any of them and they will be happy to speak with you about your concerns.

Peru Electoral Board - How Fair is This City and Government

As I sat through this long and rather tiresome meeting, knowing full well before the first word was spoken what the results would be, I thought this is nothing more than a show of power by the Mayor and one of his aldermen.

I recently heard the word of "swamp" in reference to the Peru City Government and tonight I actually thought that was appropriate terminology with reference to the members of this extremely prejudicial board.  What else did anyone expect other than for Mayor Harl and Tony Ferrari to support their fellow  alderman Dave Potthoff in his attempt to disallow a fellow Peru resident to challenge him for one of the aldermanic seats in the fourth ward.

You will find all pertinent details of the meeting and decision in our local News Tribune so I will suggest you go there for details.

One of my first meetings in a really long time, other than the first court proceedings on this issue.

To let you know how unwelcome I was, this is what took place. I went with a friend to to the meeting in the packed city council chambers.  About three quarters of the way through the discussions a police officer came up to my friend and I and told us not to talk to each other.  Now keep in mind that almost everyone in the chambers said a few words or more to those around them and people came up to me afterwards and asked what the police officer said to me. I told them and people sitting close by said they certainly could not hear me. And then I found out the reason the officer did this was because he was instructed to do so by his superior. We were targeted for nothing more than who we are and not because of anything  we did.

PRESS RELEASE

The Peru Municipal Electoral Board will convene on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. to address the objection to the petition for nomination filed by Mr. David P. Potthoff. 

Mr. Potthoff is objecting to the petition of nomination filed by Mr. Aaron Buffo, who is seeking election to 4th Ward Alderman in the City of Peru. Mr. Buffo is seeking election at the April 2, 2019 Consolidated Election.

The Potthoff/Buffo hearing will begin at 5:00 p.m., January 2, 2019. The hearing, which is open to the public, will be held in the Council Chambers of the Peru Municipal Building, 1901 4th Street, Peru, IL

The complaint is evidently concerning inproperly or missing page numbers and 3 names that the complaintant  believes are incorrectly written on the petition to run as an alderman of the 4th ward.

And Across the River from Peru and La Salle is Oglesby

And Across the River from La Salle Peru is Oglesby

And all of this is happening and true. Nice job Oglesby which has the luck to be located near to  two much visited state parks: Starved Rock and Mathiesson also known locally as Deer Park.

Shared Services Peru and La Salle Ilinois Encountering Delays.

http://www.newstrib.com/free/cities-disagree-on-timeline-for-shared-police-services-agreement/article_99e47622-dd17-11e8-8bc1-e76df09ce000.html




Delays in the Agreement and Construction of a New Facility.l

Continuation of Possible Consolidation (Shared Services) La Salle and Peru Only

http://www.newstrib.com/free/la-salle-stays-on-board-with-shared-policing-study/article_ae0933b4-aac6-11e8-8f7e-37a3906edf2b.html
Is this happening because of poor fiscal management regarding the  pensions of retired police officers?

Will this really solve the issue or just create new ones?

Ogesby to Remove Itself from the Shared Services (Police)

Oglesby to Remove Itself from the Shared Services (Police)

Map of Proposed Casey Convenience and Nearby Residences

Additional Information of Area:

People of Peru and the IV were aware that a Casey’s wants to be built at the corner of Rt. 251 and Shooting Park so many who don’t live in that area might think who cares it’s not near my house. The proposed zoning change does not just relate to this B2 zoned parcel of land. If the language of the B2 ordinance is amended then it changes all B2 zoning to include a Casey’s or the like. This is a zoning map of Peru. The Red area is currently zoned B2. This area is northeast of a very beautiful and expensive residential area of Peru. provided by Julie Ajster.

Before Oglesby there was La Salle Officials on Board But Are the Police Officers?

http://www.newstrib.com/free/la-salle-oks-cost-sharing-for-study-on-shared-police/article_cc5d6596-8970-11e8-96cf-c71b0966bed3.html

Oglesby Chips in Funding to Study Location for SSLOP

http://www.newstrib.com/free/oglesby-ok-s-for-shared-police-station/article_fe882752-8a9e-11e8-ab1e-5f9adb223d2d.html


At the last meeting of the SSLOP Commissioner Argubright was present and asked some questions. More questions need to be asked by the La Salle and Oglesby representatives. As we know Peru will not publicly ask any questions of their Police Chief/City Administrator.-Manager.
La Salle also had a Alderman present not as part of the committee like Ald. Potthoff of Peru but as a member of the public asking.

LOPSS Committee Possibly Coming to a Standstill

http://www.newstrib.com/free/shared-police-committee-tables-spending/article_9f2584b2-7a13-11e8-a35a-8fb489bc9990.htmlLOPSS Committee Possibly Coming to a Standstill

It Is a Matter of FOIA and the LAW

Peru Police Chief Douglas Bernabei does it again. Remember when Officer Buffo spoke up at a SSLOP meeting about IVRD 911 and then a few days later this PR piece appeared in the News Tribune saying how the dispatchers foiled a Facebook scam. Well, at the time I questioned the accuracy of the article and Bernabei's account of the events so I sent a FOIA request to the Peru Police for the incident report, CAD, etc. This request was denied by Bernabei claiming it was on ongoing investigation. Bernabei denied the request because he didn't want me fact checking his News Tribune PR piece. Here is what happens:

May 30, 2018 a lady reports to the Peru Police Department that she sent $3,000 to Florida as a result of a Facebook request and now she believes she was scammed. The complaint is investigated by Peru Police Officer Damron not IVRD as Bernabei claims in the article. Damron asks IVRD dispatcher Sienkiewicz to submit a request to the post office to stop the package. Presumably because IVRD has internet access. Package is tracked and is going to be returned. No further investigation or activity.

June 4, 2018 Victim came into the Peru Police Department to say that she received her money back and thank the officers. From May 30-June 4 no further investigation is done.

June 4, 2018 Douglas Bernabei provides the News Tribune with the "details" of this foiled scam.

June 5, 2018 article appears in the News Tribune the facts of which seem odd since dispatchers don't investigate crimes.

June 5, 2018 I send a FOIA to the Peru Police Dept for the incident report and other documents.

June 6, 2018, after receiving my FOIA request and more than a week after the initial complaint came into the department, Bernabei transfers the case to a detective for him to review.

June 6, 2018, I receive a denial of my FOIA request saying it's an active investigation.

June 7, 2018, I send a complaint to the Attorney General's Office as a result of the Peru Police Department's denial of my FOIA request.

June 18, 2018, Attorney General sends letter to Peru Police Department via email regarding my FOIA complaint. The AG's letter asks for explanation for the denial of my request because a pending prosecution or active investigation is not a valid reason to deny a FOIA.

June 19, 2018, after the AG's scathing letter and 13 days after the case was assigned to a detective, a peru detective makes a few calls to some post masters and then says no further leads, case closed. Mind you this detective did no work on this case from June 6-June 19.

June 19, 2018, I receive a response to my FOIA request and an email saying that the case was closed 6/19/18 as no further leads and here are your records.

It is clear from this timeline, that the Peru Police Department opened an investigation for the sole purpose of denying my FOIA request because the documents produced in response to the FOIA clearly show that Chief Bernabei misrepresented to the News Tribune the actual facts of this incident. After receiving a letter from the Attorney General's Office which clearly tells PPD that even an active investigation doesn't negate my being entitled to the documents pursuant to FOIA then and only then does Bernabei admit defeat and give me the documents.

It is disgusting that Bernabei gives IVRD all the credit with no mention of the police officer or detective.

A Chief of Police lying to a News Paper and the public and intentionally denying FOIA requests should be grounds for immediate termination. ...Julie Ajster.

This Is An Abbreviated Version of the SSLOP Shared Service LPO

http://www.newstrib.com/news/oglesby-and-peru-pitch-possible-sites-for-shared-police-station/article_0cbd10d8-6e9f-11e8-8837-bf5acdd72513.html


This is the meeting as seen through the eyes of our local media.

June 12 @ 6 PM SSLOP Meeting in Peru TONIGHT

Tuesday June 12, 2018 at 6 p.m. there will be a meeting at the Peru City building where the building and grounds committee of SSLOP will discuss possible locations of the new police station; Old Jewel or IVCC

Why can't this committee get its self together and plan and announce their meetings at least a week in advance.  Truly seems to be in favor of only communicating with its members and not the people who will be most affected by their decisions.

Bernabei was heard to say NO REFERENDUM. Maybe this needs to be taken to a higher level and seek actual legal input on the activities taking place.

Quad City Coca Cola Facility to Move to Walcott Iowa

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/coca-cola-distributor-relocating-facility-143-jobs-to-iowa-from-rock-island/

An indication of what is happening to areas where cities are border cities. So easy to move from the Quad Cities to Wolcott Iowa. This is an ongoing problem and will continue until and when Illinois once again becomes competitive with the border states with regard to taxing business.

Sure it will affect a small number of people in Illinois but we are being hurt not only in the Quad Cities on the Mississippi but even as far inland as the Illinois Valley when business does this.

Hey Jim, I always remember why you moved to Iowa, lower taxes. Didn't understand at the time but do now.

The New Beginnings Taking Place in Peru at the Westclox Complex

http://www.mywebtimes.com/2018/05/30/westclox-resurgence-more-than-20-businesses-call-old-peru-factory-home/a9908lm/

If you like me have not informed about all that is going on in the Westclox bldg., you will enjoy reading this article from the Ottawa Times.

SSLOP Known as Shared Services La Salle Oglesby Peru

SSLOP committee appears to be charging ahead full speed without the approval of the citizens being affected by the changes and if it does as it appears to be on target for change, the only choice will be for the people to take it to the ballot box.  Logically there needs to be a referendum in La Salle, Peru and Oglesby to determine what the people who will be affected by the change think about it. That would be the democratic way but I somehow believe that is not what the committee has in mind.

And perhaps it is not the way that those most affected by the Bernabei Solution want the police departments managed in their cities.

Comments Being Moved to FB

All future comments to any PTF blog can be written on the Peru Town Forum Blog Facebook page. I will continue to post here but due to the animosity being shown by specific individuals under the guise of ANON it was necessary to make changes.  Certain people have chosen this venue as a way to get back at any information posted that they do not want to see the light of the day. The only difference will be names will be shown on FB.
Most of us don't like to shadow box with people and those that are being derogatory don't have the courage to put their names on the page and others fear retribution by the power brokers in town. Sad to see but the situation requires changes.
Thanks for all that posted in a positive and honest way. And to those with ill intent who wish to destroy any honest discussions for whatever your fears may be  can talk among yourselves.

I would like to add that I recently had a conversation with someone who was looking to buy a home in Peru because our schools are so good also said that I hear your politics are not so good. That is correct our politics are not so good here in Peru.

Just Asking. Will You Be Keeping the New Oversize Garbage Cans in Peru?

We have  our brand new shiny plastic garbage totes and find them to be too big, way too big. Storage is a problem as is the cumbersome issue and all this for not more than one bag, sometimes small and sometimes enough to fill the old metal can we have used for years. So we are calling for an exchange.

Perhaps we should have been surveyed or been obliged to call for the size most convenient for each family or individual. Your thoughts on this.

Peru City Council

http://www.newstrib.com/free/peru-attorney-says-she-plans-to-take-city-to-court/article_ca1aa686-58ab-11e8-8d20-2f65d96a8f8f.htmlhttp://www.newstrib.com/free/peru-attorney-says-she-plans-to-take-city-to-court/article_ca1aa686-58ab-11e8-8d20-2f65d96a8f8f.html

What Streets in Peru are Being Resurfaced??

I just watched a short video put out by the City of Peru showing all the repairs being done and most looked to be in the St John's subdivision. Is your street on the repair list?

Looks like most of the East End of Peru which has some very bad streets and a couple are major thoroughfares are being ignored. Several people have commented that one of the streets being resurfaced is the one that Alderman Payton lives on and a few more in the Marquette Manor II subdivision.

In times past Aldermen were allowed to suggest repairs to a certain number of streets in their ward but evidently that is old news and they no longer are doing that.

Do you live on a street that is being ignored or on a street being repaired?

Pontiac Illinois is Opening a Sports Theme Splashpad at What Cost

http://www.pontiacdailyleader.com/article/20150618/NEWS/150619561