Monday, September 27, 2010
"Greetings from Chicago. We're so glad you're not here"!
I recieved a small token of "appreciation" from the Peru aldermen who attended the IML Convention last week. It arrived in my mailbox on Saturday afternoon in the form of a ticket to the Annual Banquet of the IML on Saturday night at the Hilton Chicago featuring "The Ultimate EAGLES Experience. Face value $100.00. I have to admit, I am somewhat impressed that one of them actually may have come up with the idea to "jab" me a little bit because of my criticism of their attendance at the convention. I would not be surprised if it was one of the aldermanic spouses or someone else who actually suggested the prank. They got my address right but then mis-spelled my name. So to whoever it was I say, well done! I appreciate anyone with a similar sense of humor. If I had recieved it a few hours earlier I would have had the last laugh because I would have showed up and sat down at their table and had dinner with them. Now that's funny. I can only hope they pooled their money in order to purchase the ticket for me. Surely they would not attempt to pass the cost of a practical joke on to the taxpayers of Peru. Or have they already done just that?
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25 comments:
Are you serious Steve? I can't see anyone wasting $100 on something like that unless we, the taxpayers, are footing the bill.
To me Steve I think that shows you make them nervous! Like your a threat to them; intlleigence, savy, knowhow, and respect for the citizens of Peru! Something each an everyone of the alderman lack!!! If you remember these alderman are prone to be funny people; like the time ole Jackie Boy put a letter on the seats of citizens telling them not to come to meetings!!!Or better yet Jackie boy congratulating Krist Mriki for finding a water leak, great stuff!!! Show birds of a same feather flock together!
Frankly Steve, I am offended both for you and for the Citizen's of Peru. These good old boys are thumbing their nose at you and at the Citizen's of Peru......they are saying "So what are you going to do about it. We can do whatever we want". What an awful political system is in place here in Peru and we are paying the tab.
Personally, I believe LaSalle and Peru need to band together, have 1 Mayor and Aldermen elected by districts to serve the people. Less tax money will be wasted and hopefully a democratic aldermanic council will serve the will of the people and not themselves.
I encourage everyone to educate themselves prior to election time and to vote. I would also suggest that they study the past records and to listen to what they are promising in the future.
Well put ANON 9:08. "We can do whatever we want" is exactly the attitude they bring to each and every meeting (council and committee). They won't even listen to or think about a suggestion presented to them by a citizen. They actually seem to resent it. And yet, people who sit at home and do not become involved believe they are doing the best they can. Citizens of Peru - become involved in your government. It's your right!
From what I hear, no one from LaSalle council went to the conference. If they did they had to pay their own way. I think Peru, as Leader of the Valley, could learn a lesson from LaSalle.
Peru is in deep debt, but our aldermen, just don't care. If I was a younger person, I would run for a seat on the council. I know I could be more understanding, and listen to the people who have a problem. We sure don't have that with these 8 council members, they do what they want. It really is sad.
I truly cannot believe we are in "DEEP DEBT" because if that were the case our aldermen would surely not be so adamant about the swimming pool. Surely they realize that even if we get the 75% of 2.5 million dollar grant we'd have to come up with the money up front plus the 25% of $2.5 not covered by the grant plus whatever extra the pool may cost. Maybe they plan on selling some of our assests (i.e. streets, sidewalks, buildings, etc.) I just don't understand their train of thought and their list of priorities.
They just don't care what the people think. They have such big egos. They think they know what is right for the citizens. If this goes through you will see an increase in taxes, because there is no money to pay for a pool.
Just because we are broke we can hire a new employee for $50,000 per year.
I guess both Lois and Steve will address this issue as a positive move and probably is needed.
If it was Mr Baker making this hiring there probably would be an outrage of wasting money but for Mr Harl I guess it is OK, even if we have to borrow money to pay the persons wages.
Are we really looking out for the people of peru and their pocketbooks ? I suspect it is a power grab issue for the Mayor to get more support.
9:25PM
You have again judged me wrong, not in favor of a new employee. Still too much non work going on in that department. It is too bad that the city engineer was not hired and the out of town spw.
ANON 9:25 I too do not agree with the hiring of a new employee the reason being that at this time we apparently don't have the financial means. I also agree with Lois that there appears to be much non work going on in the PW department. But, you must remember that Mayor Harl did not vote for or against this employee nor was he head of the committee to hire him (I believe that was alderman Mertel). The mayor does not vote on these issues unless there is a tie and that did not occur so, leave the Mayor out of this issue and put the blame where it rightfully belongs - with the aldermen.
Anybody who thinks there is non-work going on any dept. in the city is out of touch and not informed what each dept. does. give me a break!
Linda you are correct in your response but remember it is the Mayor who is to lead the city council. He did that with the pool issue and stated he would NOT open the pool over the city council voting for the positive.
That is what I am talking about with the Mayor. The Mayor did NOT say no to the aldermen but let there vote go and consequently went along with the vote. Therefore HE is badly wrong in supporting the vote and is just as guilty as the city council and must bear the responsibility.
8:46PM
Riding about in a truck or car you don't really see a lot that doesn't get taken care of and if the people in their own neighborhoods are not taking the initiative and the city cannot, it looks unkept.
I'm sure the subdivisions are fine but some of the older parts of Peru have broken down sidewalks, trash in the streets and a general unpleasant look. IMHO Seventh Steet which we walk frequently has junk on it especially east of West Street and all the way to LaSalle. Lots of people and cars travel here and you know what happens in that case. Just for example there was shirt tossed into the former St Mary's school yard at the corner of 7th and Rock for weeks and weeks and it may still be there. That is ust one small example and many times around the seventh street overpass, you find toss away things.
I don't know if this is the responsibility of the city and its workers or not. I do know we pick up stuff around our house at all times.
ANON 9:29 Your comment makes sense and I guess I would have to agree with it to a certain extent.
to 8:25PM
Don't look for this post because you won't find it. I just had someone write in complaining because the people who ran Crafters Village opened their business in Utica and not Peru. They felt it is Mayor Harl's fault that this happened. I actually find it hard to believe that people that stupid live in Peru and not even a new swimming pool will help our image when you have people like that opening their mouth with opinions.
Lois, people like that will probably even think the Mayor was responsible for the fire at Crafters Village. It's hard to believe that the die-hard Baker supporters just can't let it go. How many businesses left town or closed their doors while he was in office? How can we expect to move forward when we can't even admit that the present situation is a result of our poor economy and poor planning in the past. Let's just try to put our prejudices aside and work toward a better tomorrow. We all need to listen, watch, and work harder than ever to put Peru back on the right track. We need to be a team and not a bunch of individuals.
rumor has it the unliscened plumber put a furnace in crafters village before the fire! Mabe he shouldn't be working for Peru!!! Fire em!
The previous prejudices is further proof why the city of Peru continues to decrease in population. No knowledge to run a city is the equation to failure.
Those people that comment with such stupid statements not knowing HOW to retain businesses in town are a true testimony destined to failure and to continue on the path to move towards a GHOST TOWN STATUS.
If you want to blame the ecomony , get your suitcases packed but if you want to be positive and leave a city for your kids, WAKE UP! LEARN !
(A swimming pool is NOT the answer)
I would only hope before these citizens depart this world they would see the light.
Praise the Lord & give them the fruit of vision !
IMO it seems that the former owners of the Crafters Village were looking for a location closer to the tourist traffic that heads to Starved Rock because that is the people who would be looking for the products they will be selling. It had nothing to do with staying in Peru but simply that the type of location they were looking for was on a major highway (rte 178 right off rte 80) and they found it just north of rte 6 and on rte 178. If you are going to have a business that needs tourists Peru is probably the last place you would look to.
Steve feel honored being on the end of the prank you received from whomever. It qualifies you as the only citizen of Peru who received any form of report from the IML Convention, unless you consider the aldermens expense accounts. Could these accounts be made public on the blog?
Well could they? Sounds like a great idea. Would like to see what each alderman turned in for a expense account, by name. Also would like to know who went to what seminar. Lets than compare the seminar to the committees they are on. Next year only two newly elected alderman should be allowed to attend and no others.
Definite guidelines and requirements should be put on all travel and seminars. Unfortunately it is the aldermen who vote on these. Somehow its like putting the fox in the hen house.
ANON 6:45 I like your idea "2 NEWLY ELECTED" aldermen should attend.
When I was on the school board many years ago we were told before we left for the convention to be prepared to give a report at the next board meeting. And we did.
ANON 11:33 Appreciate you sharing your professional experience on the school board. Do you have the belief that having to give a report made you more attentive at the meetings, increased your personal understanding and the knowledge of those who you gave your report to,and left historical evidence for others to refer to in the future? .
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