Ald. Mikyska is so obsessed with the image of Peru, it is hard to understand. He believes that someone will not move to our town because we lack a swimming pool and our IMAGE will be severely damaged. His suggestion for money was to add $5.00 to your utility bill each month until we have the cash.
Personally I believe that the pool went down under their watch and now we are the only Illinois Valley town to be without a pool and that is what people will remember them for. Peru has so many other problems that the pool is miniscule in comparison.
When I commented to the council that $5.00 each month could hurt those who are on a fixed income and those who are unemployed and already having difficulties, I was rudely interrupted by Ald. Potthoff telling me that they had done nothing yet regarding the increase. Sorry to tell you Dave that I sat through the whole meeting and I was well aware of what was taking place. This is the Alderman who always professes to be watching out for the residents. I guess he believes that 5.00 a month is a pittance. To him it may be but let me remind him that 5.00 might very well be the cost of a prescription or a meal.
It looks like the property tax will need to be raised to be able to continue to contribute in the needed amounts to the police pension fund. To be announced later.
Tonight after watching this performance, I could only be thankful that there will be an election in about 6 months.
21 comments:
Mayor Harl has threatened veto of the grant resolution until the aldermen prove there is a way to fund the pool project and until there is an actual ordinance in place that provides a plan for funding. Sounds reasonable right. Apparently not to some of the aldermen. This means that the alderman will have to officially place a line-item charge on every utility bill to fund a new pool. They know they have to go on record by voting on this fee and they don't like it. Even "Mr. I will never support any additional fees or taxes on the citizens of Peru" was awfully quiet and accepting of this proposed "Pool Fee" suggested by Alderman Mikyska. The mayor has flushed the aldermen out into the open and now it's time to see their willingnes to place a fee on the people of Peru to fund a pool we're not even sure the majority of people would support.
My question, to the majority of the same aldermen who sit before us today, is - "Why didn't you pursue a new pool during the Baker Era when money was supposedly abundant?" "Why did you wait until we were handed a huge deficit and then adamantly pursue something we don't need and can't afford?" I sincerely believe that citizens are tired of bailing out governments who want to spend beyond their means. We have to live on a budget why shouldn't you?
Chicken Little,
The little man in the big chair offered three solutions.
1. Raise Taxes
2. Raise Taxes
3. Raise Taxes
Who got flushed out?
2:25PM
And he said that why? The big spenders who sit on the council want to spend and spend with no money to be had unless they tax the residents. Our credit is in the tank and yes they want to continue spending but the safe is empty. So it is time to go back to the people and say we need more money, this time to reestablish our image as the Leader of the Valley.
Reality check: No new taxes for something that is not absolutely necessary. A pool is not one of those things.
Start a POOL FUND and start saving and when you have the money you can have your pool.
Amen Lois!! Perhaps the Aldermen that dined at the Chicago Steak House and Hooters should step up and reimburse us by starting the pool fund and contribute out of their own wallets first.
Wow!!! I briefly looked at the receipts and will have to go back to look at the rest. I sure hope Alderman Waldorf enjoyed his vacation!!!
It appears "you" got flushed out.
When you slackers vote to add that
"Pool Construction Fee" on our utility bill you won't be able to pin it on the Mayor.
You will try, but it can't stick.
This is your baby!
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't one of our alderman state that he was not elected to raise our taxes and would refuse to do so? This may not be labeled a tax but it's no different.
I want to make three comments on the pool issue.
1st-
Steve you are dead wrong about who is to blame here for ANY increase in payment methods for a pool to the people of peru. It will ALL BE ON THE MAYORS SHOULDERS AND IT WILL BE HIS FAULT. Why,? It was his decision to override with a veto the aldermen recommendation of fix and open the pool . ( A dumb decision and now a situation the Mayor can only remark , raise taxes - not once but 3 times)
2nd -
Lois I agree with you to start a pool fund and only afford a pool once funding is available. No tax increase or no assessment billing.
3rd -
The process for this pool funding is THE ABSOLUTE WRONG PROCESS. Who running any business ask for $3.5M to build a pool WITHOUT A CONSTRUCTION DRAWING PLAN and estimate of costs? Answer, the Mayor(a construction employee??-- go figure)
Looking at one of the recommendations of a request for $3.5M will not stand as we all know the possibility of cost overruns.
But lets take a look at one of the funding options of $5 assessement per month.
This means $60 per year to realize $336,000 against the total cost of $3.5M (not counting interest) would mean that we could have a swimming pool PAID FOR IN 10.5 YEARS.
I guess we can WAIT 10.5 YEARS before we have a pool again in the city of peru.
The one advantage with this proposal is that at least there is a possiblility of STOP FUNDING once the pool is paid for.
But with any tax increase , THERE WILL NEVER BE A RECIND OF ANY TAXES ONCE THE POOL IS PAID FOR BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THEY WILL SPEND THE MONEY ON IN THE FUTURE.
People of Peru
Lets get real, we do not need a new pool.
I am sure if we could have afforded a new pool in the past, other then repaired, we would have had one .
Mr Baker and his team were very progressive for the city and the pool was up for consideration in the past but was not the best place for our city revenue to be spent or could we have afforded.
Why should the citizens of Peru have to constantly bail out poor decisions made by our council? This pool issue should have been taken care of years ago. Why didn't they?
AON 8:27 Do you think the best place to spend our money was to build a new, smaller city hall? That money could have been used to build a pool. I most certainly do not feel that the new city hall was the best place to spend our city revenue.
Most people on a fixed income, should not be charged a $5.00 surcharge. So if you young ones want a pool, you pay for it.
Lois is right, start saving for a pool, if you have to wait 10 years, so be it. I have to save when I need something. The aldermen, could put in the first donation, with the money they received for a weekend party.
AMEN 9:58AM..
By the time the young ones start saving for a pool they will be 10.5 years older and probably will not live in PERU and would not use the pool anyway..
Speak up youngsters !
I already have to spend 156 bucks a year on garbage stickers. Now another 60 a year on a pool. Stop already
From ANON;
Comments ?
Ask Steve if he would bring up the idea to replace city workers with a professional company. He is the guy in the back of the room at the council meetings that has shakes bobs his head up and down as the mayor talks to the city attorney the entire meeting
5:01
Why??
Looks like the city just took on Liberty Fire as city employees, why would you bring in a professional company to do work that the city handles without problem. Your comment needs a bit more explanation or are you looking for some confrontation.
Personally I believe we have too many professional companies now involved in city business. What city can you show us that has done that successfully and saves money in the process?
The fact of the matter is all the employees in Peru are the backbone of the city! The knowledge of the electrical, water/sewer, police dept., firefighting and so on is a great asset to to the people of Peru. The employees in our city make it happen. Unfortunately members of our council do not represent the city in the same fashion. The next election is crucial to getting new "blood" on the council. For instance in the 4th ward Alderman Potthoff has been in office for 20 years(correct if wrong)It is time for new ideas and a new perspective on things, that is what term limits are intended for. People who are informed about the city realize it is not the 4th ward only, it is ALL of them. The second ward will have new blood(finally), so progress their potentially. I hope the people vote and we have 4 new sitting alderman come next April. That can only BENEFIT the city!
m.jagger - I like your style.
To M. Jagger 9:17 in addition there needs to be a new mayor, one who knows how to run a city..
This guy needs some education.. along with steve.
8:27 - Ouch! That smarts a little bit.
Hope you feel better. Thanks for your comment.
Anon 8:27 Oct. 24th
Bravo!
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