Maybe this letter will answer some of your questions or it might create more of them.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
What we Might Have Had
We could have had this:
But instead due to lack of foresight we got this
I went to the Recreation Committee meeting last evening and listened to the Aquatic Design companies information and looked at the pictures of projects they have done throughout the Midwest. One of the companies was Ballard & King that designed the YMCA aquatic facilities.
Another was Burbach Aquatics and if you are interested in seeing the projects they have done this is the link to their website.
This shows a really nice display of pools done in Illinois and Iowa. The one I have pictured is from Shelbyville IL. population 4.605
Our pool has not been in good condition for many years but it has always been a patch here and a patch there. And now there might even be some safety concerns about the pool that I will try to get more information on. This was mentioned both by the Mayor and by one of the designers.
I don't mean to slight the other companies but I did not get any information from them.
More to follow:
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Peru City Council Had a Meeting Monday March 29
The Peru City Council met last night as required by ordinance that they meet each week and since a change in the ordinance several weeks ago, it was also a formal meeting.
It lasted approximately 30 minutes and they discussed absolutely nothing that was of immediate concern or could not have waited until next week. The cost to the city was 760.00 or just about 25.36 per minute for the 8 aldermen to be in attendance at the meeting. .
Since the aldermen are opposed to any more increases in taxes to get the city out of debt maybe they should seriously look at and propose a change in the number of meetings which they are paid to attend which would cut the city expenses.
It would only take 4 of the aldermen to vote yes on this proposal and I believe that Mayor Harl would break the tie with a yes vote.
The matter of their biggest concern last evening was whether Bob Vickrey who will be retiring from his position as VP of the News Trib., and has volunteered his time and abilities to the City of Peru , as a Community Development Director, should sign a paper indicating he will not benefit from that position financially from anything he does. This is a position that appeared to have developed out of thin air and I don't know whether Mr Vickrey proposed the title or whether it came from the Mayor or Council. This is definitly uncharted territory for the city.
It lasted approximately 30 minutes and they discussed absolutely nothing that was of immediate concern or could not have waited until next week. The cost to the city was 760.00 or just about 25.36 per minute for the 8 aldermen to be in attendance at the meeting. .
Since the aldermen are opposed to any more increases in taxes to get the city out of debt maybe they should seriously look at and propose a change in the number of meetings which they are paid to attend which would cut the city expenses.
It would only take 4 of the aldermen to vote yes on this proposal and I believe that Mayor Harl would break the tie with a yes vote.
The matter of their biggest concern last evening was whether Bob Vickrey who will be retiring from his position as VP of the News Trib., and has volunteered his time and abilities to the City of Peru , as a Community Development Director, should sign a paper indicating he will not benefit from that position financially from anything he does. This is a position that appeared to have developed out of thin air and I don't know whether Mr Vickrey proposed the title or whether it came from the Mayor or Council. This is definitly uncharted territory for the city.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Mirror Building Has Been Appraised!
Hometown Bank in LaSalle, the holder of the mortgage on the Mirror Building has had an appraisal done and on the current market the value is $590.000 and our loan is 772.000.
Recreation Committee Meeting with Swimming Pool Architects
Alderman Ferrari announced that Tuesday March 30 at 7:00PM there would be a Recreation Committee Meeting with 3 Pool Archiectects in attendance to give presentations on a new swimming pool.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Peru's Busiest Streets Must be Repaired First
Wednesday brought lots of discussion on the condition of our city streets Decisions must be made soon so contracts can be let out for bid. They must also decide how much money will be left to the the curb program.
I don't know all the details of how the street programs were handled in the far distant past, but I did overhear that there was no division of money per ward but that the SPW decided which streets in the city needed to be repaired first with the money that was available. Just the way it should be done, common sense tells us that. But somewhere along the line the Council decided that every ward should get the same amount of money regardless of that fact that some of them had very few major thoroughfares. That decision has left us in the mess we have now with our roads.
I want to thank Ald. Mikyska for being able to see the whole picture and saying that maybe we should let Supt. Bleck decide what streets need to be repaired first with the available money. This should be a situation where the Aldermen put their own wants on the back burner and do the right thing for our city.
I don't know all the details of how the street programs were handled in the far distant past, but I did overhear that there was no division of money per ward but that the SPW decided which streets in the city needed to be repaired first with the money that was available. Just the way it should be done, common sense tells us that. But somewhere along the line the Council decided that every ward should get the same amount of money regardless of that fact that some of them had very few major thoroughfares. That decision has left us in the mess we have now with our roads.
I want to thank Ald. Mikyska for being able to see the whole picture and saying that maybe we should let Supt. Bleck decide what streets need to be repaired first with the available money. This should be a situation where the Aldermen put their own wants on the back burner and do the right thing for our city.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
For more information on drug raid
http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=400369
I think most of you might have already read the News Trib. if not it is also online.
I think most of you might have already read the News Trib. if not it is also online.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Can the City Council Help the City Save Money?
There have been several posts made recently about the possibility of the Peru City Council reducing the number of times they meet per month. At present they meet every week and each meeting is a cost of $760.00 if all are present. They do not get paid for committee meetings. The Mayor and City Clerk are salaried and I question whether the City Atty. gets paid per hour for each meeting he attends and how much.
All this came to mind today when I read an editorial in the News Trib today that was from an AP reporting from the Freeport Journal Standard titled "Legislature should meet less often, do more" You will find the full story in the News Trib or the archives of the Journal Standard for March 9, 2010. There is an amendment being proposed by Senator Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) to reduce the number of times state lawmakers gather in Springfield.
A few comments from that article are:
"Those familiar with the workings of Springfield will tell you that the number of times state legislators meet has absolutely nothing to do with what is accomplished"
"No, we cannot measure what lawmakers accomplish by the frequency of their meetings."
"Bivens plan would allow some of the these elected officials to get closer to constituents or actually work at something other than getting re-elected"
"Let's give our legislators more to do and less time to do it. Much like the rest of us face in today's hard driving economy"
Could we apply some of the same considerations to our present Council and save the city of Peru money in the process?
The web sites of other local cities indicate they meet twice a month with the exception of "Special meetings" called by the Mayor.
All this came to mind today when I read an editorial in the News Trib today that was from an AP reporting from the Freeport Journal Standard titled "Legislature should meet less often, do more" You will find the full story in the News Trib or the archives of the Journal Standard for March 9, 2010. There is an amendment being proposed by Senator Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) to reduce the number of times state lawmakers gather in Springfield.
A few comments from that article are:
"Those familiar with the workings of Springfield will tell you that the number of times state legislators meet has absolutely nothing to do with what is accomplished"
"No, we cannot measure what lawmakers accomplish by the frequency of their meetings."
"Bivens plan would allow some of the these elected officials to get closer to constituents or actually work at something other than getting re-elected"
"Let's give our legislators more to do and less time to do it. Much like the rest of us face in today's hard driving economy"
Could we apply some of the same considerations to our present Council and save the city of Peru money in the process?
The web sites of other local cities indicate they meet twice a month with the exception of "Special meetings" called by the Mayor.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Looking Back to 125th Celebration in Peru Unbelievable
Tonight I just happened to pick up a scrapbook that I thought was empty but when I opened it up I found that it was full of newspaper clippings from 1960 when Peru celebrated their 125th. Those who know me would not be surprised as I happen to have many vintage items. This book was put together by former Mayor Robt. Potthoff or his wife and was sold at auction.
As I read through the articles, I was totally amazed at the events and the involvement of the community as a whole. In a nutshell this was the article on the first page.
The 125th anniversary of Peru will be observed during the first four days of July with celebration features scheduled both at Washington Park and in the business district. Among the events slated for the various types of entertainment, political figures, street dances, parades, a water show "water street" day, featuring open house at the newly enlarged municipal power plant, concessions and carnival rides, skits by school students and the sundry other items that make up celebrations. Gen. Chairman Alex Ptak said that an effort is being made to interest local organizations and schools to take part in the celebration. Any group wishing to participate may contact either Ptak or progress chairman Harry Welch Sr. Tentative plans call for Friday and Saturday features of the celebration to be downtown with the other 2 days events in the park.
So my big question is "What happened in Peru in the last 50 years to the city and the residents that we no longer can join together and plan a celebration as good as that or better? Or after all the work was done, was it not a success?
The article was dated 2-22-60
As I read through the articles, I was totally amazed at the events and the involvement of the community as a whole. In a nutshell this was the article on the first page.
The 125th anniversary of Peru will be observed during the first four days of July with celebration features scheduled both at Washington Park and in the business district. Among the events slated for the various types of entertainment, political figures, street dances, parades, a water show "water street" day, featuring open house at the newly enlarged municipal power plant, concessions and carnival rides, skits by school students and the sundry other items that make up celebrations. Gen. Chairman Alex Ptak said that an effort is being made to interest local organizations and schools to take part in the celebration. Any group wishing to participate may contact either Ptak or progress chairman Harry Welch Sr. Tentative plans call for Friday and Saturday features of the celebration to be downtown with the other 2 days events in the park.
So my big question is "What happened in Peru in the last 50 years to the city and the residents that we no longer can join together and plan a celebration as good as that or better? Or after all the work was done, was it not a success?
The article was dated 2-22-60
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Lions Club to Work on McKinley Park
Mayor Harl announced at the Council Meeting that the Peru Lions would like to add McKinley Park to their list and to maintain and "beautify" it. This will be in addition to Baker Lake which they already do. The Council agreed.
Do you think the Council would allow any volunteer help in any of the remaining parks. Mayor, there are citizens that would like to do something without belonging to an organization, can we get something together for them
Do you think the Council would allow any volunteer help in any of the remaining parks. Mayor, there are citizens that would like to do something without belonging to an organization, can we get something together for them
A Wake Up Notice to Peru Council Members
Thank you Ald. Waldorf for your realization that our city cannot fulfill the usual curb and street requests. There are very few curbs that cannot wait for another year, mostly it is an aesthetic concern and not a safety concern as are the problems we are now facing with the streets. Of the aldermen that spoke up most but not all seemed to understand.
When the treasurer was asked if we were going to be able to come up with more money for streets....the answer was no, we don't have it.
And I believe our city credit cards are all maxed out.
And don't forget we still have the pool to consider. Most definitely a lack of communication between the departments and the recreation committee on this one..
It sounded like SPW Bleck and Ken Drennan have been doing some behind the scenes problem solving on the pool and having pool architects looking the situation over. And no one bothered to inform the recreation committee who has been doing most of the problem solving and planning. I certainly hope they all get their act together.
It looks now like regardless of whether they figure out where the water is going or not, the pool will open.
If the pool has been leaking for years and no one has been able to figure out why, why are people all of a sudden saying, lets do this or try that when they had all the opportunity in the past to do just that and save the city the water loss which is money. It makes it look like in years past, we just accepted the water loss as something we could do nothing about and now we are going to find the answers.
None of this makes any sense.
When the treasurer was asked if we were going to be able to come up with more money for streets....the answer was no, we don't have it.
And I believe our city credit cards are all maxed out.
And don't forget we still have the pool to consider. Most definitely a lack of communication between the departments and the recreation committee on this one..
It sounded like SPW Bleck and Ken Drennan have been doing some behind the scenes problem solving on the pool and having pool architects looking the situation over. And no one bothered to inform the recreation committee who has been doing most of the problem solving and planning. I certainly hope they all get their act together.
It looks now like regardless of whether they figure out where the water is going or not, the pool will open.
If the pool has been leaking for years and no one has been able to figure out why, why are people all of a sudden saying, lets do this or try that when they had all the opportunity in the past to do just that and save the city the water loss which is money. It makes it look like in years past, we just accepted the water loss as something we could do nothing about and now we are going to find the answers.
None of this makes any sense.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Community Involvement Illinois Valley City of Utica and LaSalle
LaSalle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r57Mzwa0SiY
and
Utica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQTiv3qzqAM
If I have done this right you should be able to view 2 parades from last Saturday, celebrating St Patricks Day
Just an example and we could do it to, just need the opportunity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r57Mzwa0SiY
and
Utica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQTiv3qzqAM
If I have done this right you should be able to view 2 parades from last Saturday, celebrating St Patricks Day
Just an example and we could do it to, just need the opportunity.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Is It Time For Peru to Become One City and Not 4 Separate Wards
At last nights meeting Ald.Waldorf who is head of the streets and alleys committee brought up the subject of the Curb Program and told his fellow aldermen to get their lists ready for this project.
My first thought was CURBS? I don't drive on the curbs but I do drive on the streets which are in extremely bad condition. With limited money due to our debt, do we need to worry about our curbs? Possibly this is the year to say we are putting all available money into making our streets driveable again without falling into potholes the size of a tire. Leave the curbs alone unless they are a danger to the residents.
And on second thought Get RID of the old fashioned idea that we parcel out money to each ward, for each aldermen for his ward for x number of curbs. Please! we are ONE city and most of us don't know when we leave one ward and enter into the next. It is not important that each alderman gets the same amount of money to show his constituents that he is working for them. As said before some wards don't get as much traffic as others and they should not each get the same treatment. We are not children who need so much candy doled out to us. That idea is so archaic and yet year after they follow the same routine like lemmings to the sea.
When it comes to street, sidewalk and curb repair ignore the ward boundaries and do what needs to be done for the City of Peru, not Ward 1,2,3 and 4.
My first thought was CURBS? I don't drive on the curbs but I do drive on the streets which are in extremely bad condition. With limited money due to our debt, do we need to worry about our curbs? Possibly this is the year to say we are putting all available money into making our streets driveable again without falling into potholes the size of a tire. Leave the curbs alone unless they are a danger to the residents.
And on second thought Get RID of the old fashioned idea that we parcel out money to each ward, for each aldermen for his ward for x number of curbs. Please! we are ONE city and most of us don't know when we leave one ward and enter into the next. It is not important that each alderman gets the same amount of money to show his constituents that he is working for them. As said before some wards don't get as much traffic as others and they should not each get the same treatment. We are not children who need so much candy doled out to us. That idea is so archaic and yet year after they follow the same routine like lemmings to the sea.
When it comes to street, sidewalk and curb repair ignore the ward boundaries and do what needs to be done for the City of Peru, not Ward 1,2,3 and 4.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
When is Our City Of Peru Going to Have a Family Day
Tonight as I read the paper I came across the ad the city of LaSalle put in the News Trib about the planned Irish Fun Day on March 13. As I read through the events I was just a wee bit jealous. Why? because other than the July 4 events, I don't remember our city of Peru doing anything like this.
What impressed me is that this was for children and their families. Doesn't a parade of leprachauns sounds like fun and what child wouldn't have fun with that and even free bowling for the leprachauns!
Please remind me what have I overlooked here in Peru or just plain don't remember.
Story telling at the LaSalle Library. I can just hear some of those in our city government saying "over my dead body" if they were asked to participate at such an event at the Peru Library.
I have talked to other Peru residents prior to this and they have voiced a similar opinion. Do you think that families who live in Peru would not enjoy an event planned for them that was alcohol free? And something not orchestrated by the CSO?
What impressed me is that this was for children and their families. Doesn't a parade of leprachauns sounds like fun and what child wouldn't have fun with that and even free bowling for the leprachauns!
Please remind me what have I overlooked here in Peru or just plain don't remember.
Story telling at the LaSalle Library. I can just hear some of those in our city government saying "over my dead body" if they were asked to participate at such an event at the Peru Library.
I have talked to other Peru residents prior to this and they have voiced a similar opinion. Do you think that families who live in Peru would not enjoy an event planned for them that was alcohol free? And something not orchestrated by the CSO?
House with No Plumbing on 7th Street is No More
The house on seventh street that caused so much talk last Spring and Summer has been taken down by family. It is now just a pile of rubble waiting to be put into the 2 huge dumpsters.
A For Sale sign has been in the yard for about the last 6 months. Hopefully the land will not be sold to a local real estate individual who has more homes than he is able to take care of well in and around LaSalle Peru. So one less problem for the city to be concerned about at least for awhile. Seeing as how I believe it is the family who has taken down the home, they will retain title to it and the city will not be owning ANOTHER piece of property.
A For Sale sign has been in the yard for about the last 6 months. Hopefully the land will not be sold to a local real estate individual who has more homes than he is able to take care of well in and around LaSalle Peru. So one less problem for the city to be concerned about at least for awhile. Seeing as how I believe it is the family who has taken down the home, they will retain title to it and the city will not be owning ANOTHER piece of property.
Monday, March 08, 2010
How Does the Debt of the City Affect You
Our debt clock shows that Peru has 19,580,000 worth of General Obligation Bonds. Until I was put into a position of needing to know what exactly they were, I just read the words and it meant very little but sure sounded like a lot of money.
General obligation bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the municipalities that issue them and the default risk is low since the municipality has the option of raising taxes to meets its obligations and that means us the residents of Peru .OR it is possible for a municipality to to repay the bondholders by borrowing more money. When the interest rates fall, they may call a bond issue and repay the principal before the bonds mature and refund the debt by making a new bond issue at a lower rate of interest.
How do cities pay off the General Obligation bonds?... They use sales taxes, license fees and other types of fees.
Doesn't all this sound familiar? We began to get into trouble here in Peru when our revenue dropped. We were not prepared for a rainy day.
General obligation bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the municipalities that issue them and the default risk is low since the municipality has the option of raising taxes to meets its obligations and that means us the residents of Peru .OR it is possible for a municipality to to repay the bondholders by borrowing more money. When the interest rates fall, they may call a bond issue and repay the principal before the bonds mature and refund the debt by making a new bond issue at a lower rate of interest.
How do cities pay off the General Obligation bonds?... They use sales taxes, license fees and other types of fees.
Doesn't all this sound familiar? We began to get into trouble here in Peru when our revenue dropped. We were not prepared for a rainy day.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Monday, March 01, 2010
This Was The He Said This and No You Said That Council Meeting
After this evenings Peru City Council Meeting you wondered who knew what and who was actually telling the truth or actually knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were right.
Ald. O'Beirne evidently took it upon himself to conduct an informal survey about the swimming pool and he used city worker K. Drennan as the go between because he is the one person who has "worked" on both the indoor pool and the outdoor pool. O'Beirne says that the figures of the recreation department are all wrong because Drennan comes up with different figures that are much less than the ones I quoted earlier and much less than the previously generally accepted figures. In fact so low that he claimed the cost to the city per day at the pool was only $92 and not the 1,041.62 given out by the Recreation Committee last week. Oh did I say that O'Beirne and Drennan are friends and it is commonly rumored that he has done work on O'Beirnes rental property. It is now Mayor Harls turn as he tells O'Beirne that he was out of order in doing this on his own and breaking the chain of command. The Mayor then quotes different figures on water loss using the water meter readings from several summer months from a previous summer. Ald. Ferrari got his 2 cents in also by initially confronting Drennan as to why didn't he speak out at the recreation meeting last week and then apologizing if he was in error. It seems pretty evident that someone is covering up the truth and the true figures or there are few people who cannot put 2 + 2 together and get 4... But if the pool is closed and do check back from my earlier posting about the salary that Drennan got for the Peru City Pool work, how would that affect the type of work he would be doing in the city water dept.
Some how I don't believe we have heard the end of this story! As for me I would prefer the truth.
Ald. O'Beirne evidently took it upon himself to conduct an informal survey about the swimming pool and he used city worker K. Drennan as the go between because he is the one person who has "worked" on both the indoor pool and the outdoor pool. O'Beirne says that the figures of the recreation department are all wrong because Drennan comes up with different figures that are much less than the ones I quoted earlier and much less than the previously generally accepted figures. In fact so low that he claimed the cost to the city per day at the pool was only $92 and not the 1,041.62 given out by the Recreation Committee last week. Oh did I say that O'Beirne and Drennan are friends and it is commonly rumored that he has done work on O'Beirnes rental property. It is now Mayor Harls turn as he tells O'Beirne that he was out of order in doing this on his own and breaking the chain of command. The Mayor then quotes different figures on water loss using the water meter readings from several summer months from a previous summer. Ald. Ferrari got his 2 cents in also by initially confronting Drennan as to why didn't he speak out at the recreation meeting last week and then apologizing if he was in error. It seems pretty evident that someone is covering up the truth and the true figures or there are few people who cannot put 2 + 2 together and get 4... But if the pool is closed and do check back from my earlier posting about the salary that Drennan got for the Peru City Pool work, how would that affect the type of work he would be doing in the city water dept.
Some how I don't believe we have heard the end of this story! As for me I would prefer the truth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)