Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Explanation of the Core Soil Samplings Next
The pictures below are the 4" core samplings. Please start at the bottom picture and click and enlarge to see the diagram and locations of the pictured cores. C-1 was done in the deepest part of the pool, C-2 on the east side, and the last on the west. Except for the last, there are 2 pictures of C-1 and C-2. The light grey is the gunite that has been used as patching material in years past. You can see the original pool layer separating from the gunite in C-1, you can see almost total separation in C-2 and the west core sampling is the best but still shows disintegration of the original pool floor.
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21 comments:
The core samples provided do not compare to the original drawing of the pool when constructed. The question is , when the pool may have been originally constructed it is very possible that the specifications were different thickness for different areas because of the pressure of water because of different depths.
If that is the fact, these core samples may be tested as originally constucted.
The original drawings must be available, Can we find them and compare ?
That was one of the first things Williams asked for was records and as we have discussed early on, none are available. Comments made by many people do not equate with having the paper in hand as it all amounts to conjecture.
It absolutely amazes me that we don't even have records from the 1980's. Supposedly they were destroyed by a deluge of water in the city bldg on Peoria St. earlier this year.
I did see where the date of the drawing on the bottom of the schematic is 3-27-96 by Chamlin and in the recent past they are the only engineering firm who has done most of the cities work. Prior to them I don't know and have never heard who might have done engineering in the city.
To Lois,
Per your remarks ,8:35, how does williams aquatics match up against Chamlin past or current inspections ? I think Chamlin may have more credibility then williams Aquatics, since they have passed our inspections for the state so many years in the past. All of the inspection reports need to made available to compare where we are today.
This is a very serious situation and lot of money at stake. All avenues of past records must be reviewed and not to take a current one snapshot and condemn the pool.
Chamlin although a good and prominent engineering firm in the Il. Valley does not have the qualifications that Williams does regarding swimming pools. As far as I know Chamlin has never designed or constructed a swimming pool.
I would imagine that they did tell the city the same thing. Again as far as I know Chamlin never inspected our pool for compliance or code violations.
If we have any reports they were never brought to the light of day. Perhaps we would have to contact the state for their records.
Chamlin engineering does have one engineer on their staff that previously worked as an engineer with Burbach Aquatics and he did work in conjunction with Williams during this inspection process.
What upsets and frustrates me are some of the comments made by individuals who obviously do not attend meetings.
1. Someone mentioned Chamlin with regards to the pool. If they had been at a meeting they would have heard Mr. Chamlin himself state that the base of the pool is 3 layers thick. Apparently not any more!
2. Many of the parties who were present at the last 2 meetings were only interested in the security of jobs for their own children. They were not at all concerned about the safety of all our children.
3. Once Mayor Harl provided jobs for these individuals they were content. They did not care about the pool at all.
4. As Lois said if people were at the meetings they would know that there is no paper work anywhere with regards to this pool. Claims were made that pipe testing was done but no one could come up with proof. It was stated that the main drain grate met with VGB regulations but no one had the proof.
5. No one wants to have to spend this amount of money for a new pool but what alternative do we have? Let the existing pool collapse and quite possibly harm our children? This is just another example of what happens when issues are neglected.
6. And, I am not putting the blame on Mayor Baker because if you were also in attendance at the meeting you would have heard Mayor Harl state that the former mayor brought this issue up many times. Apparently your aldermen did not want to commit back then either.
Pool Decision ?
I want to make three points of this pool issue !
1. The mayor and elected officials are elected to make decisions, Not to have an issue in front of them like the pool , "AND WANT TO HAVE A REFERENDUM FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE ON IT " that is a total cop out and put the responsibility on someone else.
Lets get a refund of the Mayor salary of $30,000 if that happens.
2. If a referendum vote will occur "HOW DO WE CONTROL THE VOTERS TO ONLY BE THOSE THAT PAY THE BILL IN THE WAY OF REAL ESTATE TAXES (those who own property) not only RENTER PEOPLE IN TOWN.
We can not have someone voting that does not pay the bill.
3. Look at what the Mayor has accomplished in year;
A raised water and sewer rates
B raised property taxes
C increased garbage bags prices
D increased debris bag prics
E eliminated the revenue from the airport as a give away
F shut down the Peru pool
G probably will raise electric bills
H lost businesses in town, indoor pool, many others(brought no business to town)
I lost the jobs of the indoor pool but gave jobs to kids from the pool , depriving the regular students from summer jobs, (this is patronage to the fullest)
J gave jobs to older folks (friends) instead of regular summer help kids.
K finally shutting down the pool, notice todays news trib where the surrounding cities are greatfull for peru's shutdown.
Finally, in summation , if LaSalle,Spring Valley,Oglesby handle all of the kids from Peru with plenty of room to spare ,WHY DOES PERU NEED A POOL IN THE FUTURE. Keep it closed. READ MY LIPS AND WORDS, "NO NEW TAXES"
ANON 5:38 I can understand your frustration but don't you just wonder what would have happened if the old administration had remained in office. Would we have been made aware of the code violations and deterioration of our pool? Would we have been told we're $45 million in debt? Would we have made the necessary cuts to try to save money? Would we have the very competent Treasurer we have today (actually we all know the answer to that question)?
What we all need to understand is that our current state of disrepair is an accumulation of many years of neglect and band aid fixes. We cannot put the blame for these problems on our new mayor, city clerk, or treasurer. We can, however, question many of our aldermen as they have held their seats for quite some time. Why not ask them why our pool, streets, infastructure, curbs, etc. are crumbling beneath our feet?
This should no longer be about the Harl supporters versus the Baker fans. It should be about open government, a new beginning, and working together to rebuild Peru - all of Peru (the old and the new).
To 9:43pm
I like your comments and your thinking but lets not be blind to the fact that this is not about doing things for the city of Peru. What this is all about in my opinion is factually that the mayor did not win the election fairly, made many campaign promises to folks of his support and he is trying to NOW give them jobs and be the nice guy.
It is also about legacy of the mayor and the building of his patronage team. He is not focused on WE THE PEOPLE. If you really think the three positions of mayor ,city clerk,treasurer are doing the right thing for the city then you should re-elect them but at the same time HOLD ON TO YOUR WALLET.
The mayor does not know how to run a city of $30,000,000 or balance a check book in a fiscal manner but TO RAISE ALL TAXES . Sounds more like a libral.
Thats all I hear from the mayor and his supporters are the neglect of the past 40 years, well if it was so bad to spend the money for a new city hall, WHY NOT ASK THE MAYOR TO MOVE HIS OFFICE OUT OF THE NEW BUILDING AS WELL AS THE CITY CLERK AND LET THEM GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS LOCATIONS.
No I see how they enjoy the new facilty and the supporters as well. I don't hear anyone going to the city council meetings or the committee meetings and saying ,lets relocate back to the top floor of the mirror building.
So, as you said, lets get off this kick of blaming Mr Baker and the aldermen of the past actions, because I am feed up with not moving this city forward but the constant ,gotch yuh moments. The trival issues do this city no go but bring attention to the ineptitude that is brought to the times and the issues of this city.
VOTE NO TAXES FOR A POOL OR ANYTHING ELSE. Live within our means.
When reading the comments about building a new pool verses not having a pool, I think a lot of citizens of Peru need to take a step back and look at what the pool is and does. How many Peru, Spring Valley, LaSalle....citizens learned to swim at the Peru Pool? How many of you spent every hour the pool was open during the summer at the Peru Pool? How many friendships have been made at the pool? Most summers I included the parents and their children were at Washington Park by 8:00 AM, tennis lessons, T-ball, swimming lessons. A lot of young people learned to swim and went on to earn their Lifeguard certification at the pool and went on to work there. How many of you would not have had a summer job if it was not for the Peru pool?
The pool has served as a gathering place for our young people. If they do not have a place to go what are they going to do? This year they can go to LaSalle or another place. But we need to think about next year.
Put a committee together to come up with some kind of pool fund to raise the $ for the pool. I think if we work together we could accomplish more than spatting back and forth.
Lois, you do not have to post this but why was the Peru Green house people planting flowers by the Maud Powell statue? I thought we had someone that did that.
And 9:43: This should also be about the aldermen accepting a new mayor and trying to work with him. There are 7 who smirk and give signals back and forth to each other while the mayor is speaking. They should have more respect. I was at the last meeting, my first and I could not believe the disrespect they show. They do no like if questions are asked of them. They then call you troublemakers. We want open government.
7:39AM
I do get the feeling that many of us could rebut your premises all day long and it would not change your mind.
I suggest you start attending Finance Committee Meetings held 2x a month on Wednesday at 3:30PM and this is always on the Wed., they are holding a council meeting. It is there you will see how and whom approves expenditures. Doing that has helped others understand what is going on and I think you would benefit from being a visitor to the meeting.
Many of us have repeatedly said, we would be happy to be attending meetings at the Mirror bldg. The only comment I have is that the large top floor could be divided a bit as to make the room smaller and more appropriate to serve as a city council chambers. And since the entire building is empty, the city clerks office could be located on the bottom floor along with any offices that the public frequently visits.
To Anon 8:36 AM
I agree with your last paragraph, put a fund raiser committee together.
Then I strongly recommend to live within the means collected.
We build a pool the size accordingly to what is collected and which MUST BE PAID FOR UP FRONT.
No more pay as you go. No accural accounting method. Cash is the name of the game.
I wonder how much we could collect?, $4,000,000. Wouldn't that be great..
I think what you are remise in mentioned ANON 7:39 A.M. is that it's too late to move into the Mirror Building. If we can't sell it for $800,000 or less what makes you think we could sell City Hall for $4 million? Remember the old saying LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. What good would it do to move into one empty building and vacate another?
To those supporting a fund raising effort for a new pool:
I would suggest one idea I think as a better alternative.
SELL THE POOL & the rights to a private company to own, run, manage.(they would pay the city taxes- - Revenue $$)
Let them put the dollars into a new pool or rejuvinate the old one. Selling the existing pool and future maintenance, upkeep etc would no longer be an expense of the city..
Let the private firm charge admitance fees to support their investment, what ever that was to either make a profit or at minimum break even.
To: 1:39 PM May 27
What a great idea!
You already know a private company will never build this Pool and that is exactly the point.
4 Months of income at $3.00 per person is not a business opportunity.
7:39AM
You wrote this quote:
I am feed up with not moving this city forward but the constant ,gotch yuh moments.
It has been documented that Peru was almost 40 Million in Debt on election day.
When you admit this is a fact you may say it was your “goch yuh moment”.
Then write something worth reading.
Isn't someone running the airport now for the city? Maybe they can do the same with the pool.
To Anon 2:39 from Anon 7:39
At least there are two of us smart enough to undetstand the business point of the pool issue.
Frankly, it is becoming a farse because people have NO FINANCIAL UNDERSTANDING.
Who in there right mind would have an asset like this pool , old or new, on there books and ONLY OPEN 3 MONTHS FOR BUSINESS.(and there are some days that it rains when the pool is closed)
The city clerk has a resturant. Would he run his business for only 3 months?
Is there any other business people reading this blog and can offer there comments on the financial issue here?
Looks like some of the folks need to stop in at the Library and pick up the book "ACCOUNTING 101". The library should have the book, they just got more money.
I am glad someone brought up the airport. How much does the city spend on the airport per year and how many PERU citzens actually use the airport? How many PERU citzens actually use the pool? I bet more use the pool in the 3 month period than the airport. Also does the airport make enough to operate on its own? The same question can be asked comparing the airport to the library. I can say that I have used the pool and the library.
Those that read this understand I am NOT bashing the airport I am just making a comparison. I think the airport is a good thing. But how is the city able to finace the airport and not something like a pool or library were more people go and use on a daily basis?
5:38
L He gave perfectly good playground equipment away valued at $20g.
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