Just last year for the first time, citizens questioned the need for city officials en masse attending the annual Illinois Municipal League Convention at the cities expense. It was brought to the attention of the Council last July and August that it was an unnecessary expense to the city for all to go to Chicago on the cities dollar.
I reported that the Council did approve on June 30 2010 paid expenses to the convention by City Officials this year. What they did not tell us was how many were going and how much money was being budgeted for the trip. Was this an open ended expense allotment? Like anything goes.
I did some research on past conventions since 2004 and how much it cost Peru for those trips annually.
2004 -8986.01
2005 - 6630.86
2006 - 10,200.03 (like to hear an explanation of this year)
2007 - 9862.64
2008 - 9117.45
New administration New Mayor
2009 - 1025.33
And to think that all these expenses were approved like they all deserved this bonus fun time. I am sure that most of the citizens were not aware of this yearly fest. Lets see if we can again convince our officials to be conservative and only send a few at city expense and others at their own expense if they feel a need to go.
We must remember that most times wives went along also.
29 comments:
Hopefully for that amount of money, in the past, they brought back some valuable information that saved the city money.
I think you are jealous because you did not go. More power to them all who attend.
They should go and network with others to understand the working of a city without the input of citizens jeering at them all of the time. They should learn how to deal with the outspoken citizens at meetings.
I am all in favor of spending the money. The mayor should also go to learn something and network with responsible elected officials and hopefully learn how to run a city of our size.
The Mayor has been networking with other Mayors since he was elected and he does not find it necessary to spend that amount of money in order to do it.
Jealous surely you jest. Most of the officials have gone to the IML many times through the years and since we keep find ourselves in increasing debt, I would say whatever information they are bringing back is not working for our city.
Or maybe they could cut their City Council Meetings down to twice a month like most other cities and the extra money, almost 200 dollars each could be used for such purposes and meetings.
I can only imagine how many bloggers are laughing at your posting.
It does sound like you don't believe in open and honest government that is transparent and really does work for the city and its people and not for the officials themselves. You know kind of like the people who have put this country in the shape it is in.
ANON 10:42 No one is jeering at our aldermen! If anything, citizens have had to tolerate some pretty nasty comments from their aldermen! And, for your information, a citizen posing a question is not being an outspoken citizen. Instead, they are a concerned citizen who would like to see the town of Peru forget the past and look toward a brighter future. Is that so terrible? Apparently, according to you, it is!!
Has anyone been reading the newstribune website regarding Mr. Merriman? I just read the comments about this article. I can't believe that people can call themselves human beings and be so cruel and uncaring. I also can't believe that the Peru Ambulance can refuse to transport an individual. I realize his size was an issue but, surely a solution could have been reached (have him sit up like Oglesby ambulance service did, accompany Mr. Merriman and his wife to Peoria). To just refuse service seems wrong to me. How do others feel?
Previously and including 3/10/10 PUBLIC COMMENT was included in the city council meetings both immediately after roll call and before adjournment.
Since 3/17/10 PUBLIC COMMENT has been limited to right before adjournment. I personally feel that it is very important to have PUBLIC COMMENT after roll call and again before adjournment. This gives the public an opportunity to discuss their viewpoint before a vote is taken on the topic. I am sure the aldermen appreciate knowing the public's opinions and concerns.
All viewpoints are important whether they differ or not. I would like to see some "positive" feedback about this subject. (Positive being the optimum word - whether you agree or disagree please state it constructively.
Art, I agree with you totally. I have always felt that the public should have an opportunity to discuss issues before they are voted on. I'm just not so sure that our aldermen would appreciate our opinions being voiced in public. I think it would make for a positive connection between our officials and the citizens they represent. You might even begin to see more interest in our government from the general public. Especially if they felt they could comfortably voice their opinions and thoughts.
I totally agree, with both Art and Linda. I hope the council will agree to this.
10:30AM
I think that perhaps this is something that the ambulance service should have been aware of before the incident occurred. Perhaps checking with other cities in LaSalle and Bureau counties to see if they have any equipment that could be "borrowed" if needed or "rented".
Surely in LaSalle or Bureau County there would be more than one person who would need this larger carrier and how would all prepare for the eventuality of the problem occurring.
If the transfer was to be to Peoria, could they have contacted a service in Peoria to come for this patient?
After all helicopters come on a frequent basis. Should we also look into ground transport for people we don't have the means to move to an out of the area hospital.
"when we don't have the means to move them to an out of the area hospital"
Regarding a bariatric cot apparently there is one available in the area because someone responded on the tribune blog that Streator transported him twice using the cot. Wouldn't you think all area ambulances would be aware of this?
Yes you would think so. It should be no different than the Police Dept. needing a dog when theirs is unavailable, they reach out to other departments to come with one.
All ambulance crews should be aware of what other ambulance services have available to share and the department head should keep that list available for all the crews in case of need.
This almost sounds like a management issue.
I will not post comments that rant and rave about the Mayor and offer no constructive criticism. To those who seem to have a personal vendetta with certain members of the Peru City Government and continue to deride them, your comments will not be posted because you do not offer any facts to back up what you complaining about. Enough is enough. Your posts will continue to be rejected.
To Lois 8:27pm
I don't blame you for not posting things about the Mayor anymore, because he really does not do anything anyway and why tell the rest of the city of Peru of His failures. After all for the next election people MIGHT get the wrong impression of the mayors accomplishments.
Like I stated in the past and will continue to say that this blog is ONLY FOR THOSE WHO WILL AGREE WITH YOU.
So much for freedom of speech and the right of democracy.. You are a terrific American, one sided at that! (You must be a republican and one you will only say NO!)
Looks like I need to come back and really let the citizens know what has been going on
But 7:32AM
If it is you making the comments on a frequent basis and always the same old thing over and over. My readers aren't interested in that and I am certainly not. If you can say I don't approve of what the Mayor said about "this" or "did" about that or didn't do. That will always be posted because it is not a posting about someone you don't seem to like personally. Make sure you can back you comments up with facts.
I am not one sided and vote as an independent always, looking at both sides of the issue before I make any decisions.
This blog is for everyone that has something to say and I will not deal in personality issues. All the complainers make blanket statements over and over again.
If there is a topic you wish to discuss please put it forth.
Lois or Steve,
Maybe one of you can answer this question; what would the summer help be doing in the Kohl's parking lot? I was there today and saw the city truck with 3 girls driving around the parking lot. Are they painting the lines in the parking lot?
Information: Recently learned (at a finance meeting) that our Director of Parks and Recreation receives a salary of $12,500 and that this salary has not been adjusted even though half the responsibilities were eliminated with the closing of the pool and concessions.
ANON 2:04 I don't have an answer for you but I too have witnessed a lot of the summer help in groups doing what appears to be nothing. I have never witnessed any of the adult supervision that was hired to watch over these kids. We all know that if given the opportunity kids will be kids. It seems as though there's an awful lot of riding around and little work being done. Also, many don't seem to be following the rule - shirt and long pants. This isn't fair to those who do work and do obey the rules. They need supervision.
Change for peru is coming back? More entertainment and deceit from one of peru's finest, hang it up change you offer no progress! lol!
Lois 9:45 am.
It seems the mayor has been using tax payer money for note cards, envelopes and postage, along with using the deputy mayor to write and send notes to residents on our dime. Please investigate and report on this issue.
9:45AM
I would expect the city to pay for envelopes, note cards and postage sent out regarding city business and I would expect that the correspondence would be done by his assistant as part of her job of being a secretary. It is my understanding this it is business correspondence, a normal part of maintaining a city. I also would surmise that these supplies are bought in bulk to get the best price.
I just had some pictures made and the business send a lovely thank you note for having them do the work. A normal part of business.
So perhaps he is thanking a resident for something done for the city, just a courtesy gesture.
to Lois 9:45am
When are we going to have the Mayor speak for himself and talk about his failures ? Can he handle a computer? I think he is an adult who could speak for himself and do not need you always to fabricate answers to cover his bottom..
9:45am
Of course you are trying to be funny? When was the last time you heard anybody expounding upon his failures? When you find that person I would like to meet him or her.
The Mayor uses a computer and what answers was I fabricating? If you are referring to the post above yours, it was an answer to an earlier question.
Anything else you need an answer to?
Lois 11:33AM
You need to get out of your bias shell. I am not kidding ? Listen to people in the local gathering places, and you will know how bad it is and how far you are off base.
Just watch as this mayor starts messing with the local job producers taxes,rates and just see when they will MOVE OUT OF THE PERU AREA.
THERE GOES THE JOBS. MORE UNEMPLOYMENT, property value will go down, you will probably be much happier when that happens.
I don't know where you live but your property will not stay stable, the taxes will go up and the value goes down. What a great combination.
Great vote !
11:33Am Correction
Left one word out of the whole post and it distorted the entire meaning.
It should have read "When was the last time you heard anybody expounding upon his own personal failures?" And that means you or me or anybody else.
7:14Am
I need a little more information from you. Can you give me a list of the "local gathering places" ? So that I will know where to go for my information.
7:14 I too would like to know where these "local gathering places" are and if you don't want to divulge your sources then tell us what they're saying and quit beating around the bush. If you have some substantial information pass it on.
I understand that some of us bloggers are very passionate about our views on local politics. But when some annonymous citizen is foaming at the mouth while pounding out their blog entries, it's hard to take them seriously. The words spewing from your fingers are so random and reckless, I can't make sense of them. You may have an intelligent thought but I can't find it.
Settle down, put some thought into your words, and proof read before you hit the enter button.
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