I had a conversation with a friend last evening and he believes that due to the fact that the alderman spent money in the amount of $2000 for a grant to be written that they believe that a new pool is very important for the IMAGE of Peru and will find some way to finance even if the grant is not obtained.
My point was that certainly the people in Peru would not agree with that but we know that a city election is just around the corner next Spring and all those running for re-election are looking for something to hang their hat on. Some of the aldermen were very unhappy when Treasurer Hylla went public with our 41 million dollar debt. Because as we all know city government in Peru was a very well kept secret for 40 years and no one had a clue as to the predicament we now find ourselves in.
OK now we are aware of the unpleasant financial facts and also of the fact that the pool as it stands is past history. Do you as a resident of Peru want to burden your children and even future grandchildren with the debt to finance a pool just so our IMAGE is improved? Whatever your answer is will you let your alderman know or are you likely to just let things go on as usual.
Unless you take the time to share your opinion with them, they will assume that what they are doing is what you want of them. Stand up for what you believe and that is what I believe will improve the IMAGE of Peru.
16 comments:
Where is the pool on my list of priorities - at the very bottom. I can't even believe that our aldermen approved the processing of a possible grant. We're broke, our states broke, and our federal government is broke and somebodies providing grants for pools? Top priorites - get out of debt, fix roads, fix infrastructure, bring in business, then reach out to other aspects of our community.
No Pool ! PERIOD
Hey Aldermen: We don't need a pool, so stop the nonsense. We need roads and asphalt. Wake up and smell the roses. g
Because the pool issue refuses to die I'm inclined to believe that your aldermen are going to pursue the issue until we either get a pool or they run into a brick wall. Why they consider it such a vital part of their job I'm just not sure. Maybe it's pride or just plain stubborness because obviously our roads are a disaster and any extra money we may encounter should be spent on them first. Let your alderman know where you stand on this issue and remind them that we're in debt and need to spend our pennies carefully not foolishly.
The Pool issue is very easy to resolve and it has been suggested to the Alderman.
Inform the residents in writing that their real estate tax will go up by the amount it would take to build and maintain the pool over the next 20 years.
Ask the resident to sign a paper either supporting or not supporting the pool.
Add up the votes and either build the pool or drop the subject.
Send out the information in the monthly City bill until you get the response needed to make a decision.
Mayor Scott Harl could do this to prove he is a leader that wants the residents opinion on projects with large costs.
J in the 1st ward
Chamlin Eng - $3,000 for plans on a bike trail when it should have been by the school administration when they are ready. Swimming pool - $2,000 to write a grant, etc. etc. etc. In answer to your question, you are not responsible to leave your children anything but you are responsible to not leave them your debts. The aldermen who are so persistent to build a pool should pay for it themselves. If they don't have the money neither dose the City of Peru. In fact the city is over $40,000,000.00 in debt without a pool. NO POOL!
I like the idea, of putting to the people, to vote if they want this or not. Send out a flyer with the monthly bills, and ask Pool or Asphalt. Have them sign their names. I think this would work.
People do not act without doing your homework as the majority of the aldermen of the city do. Most funding if not all funding granted by the state and/or federal government have a designated purpose.For example: If the finances are designated for roads you cannot use them for a swimming pool or a bike path.
I'm aware of that and I believe that most people are also.
Lois, personally I would venture to state that most citizens do not know what night of the week the city council meetings are held, as well as to know how funding is appropriated. If you don't believe this take a average attendance at a council meeting of a town of 10,000 - Peru for instance. Now after computing this average tell me how many are the same people meeting after meeting. Because you are aware of a particular subject does not mean most people are also.
Yes you are right, I was thinking of the people I associate with and most are aware. But Most people in the city are too busy with "life" to know much about what goes on at meetings much less how the city functions. Any suggestions are how we go about informing people so that they can make educated intelligent voting choices.
We had hoped when this blog started to try and present information so people would take an interest, ask questions and become more aware of our city government.
To anon 7:09 & Lois 7:45pm
Why do you guys act dumb ? It is the function of the aldermen to represent the people of their ward. Is that not adequate to exhibit democracy?,
Those of which you have voted for at the last election.
9:38PM
NO IT IS NOT. People need to be informed and need to avail themselves of as much information about the city as possible. Your job does not end once you vote for your choice.
Didn't you ead the comment under the blog name????
Lois thank you for answering 9:38PM. It is very difficult to answer a "_____?________ " which is incoherent. Possibly this persons idea of democracy is so limited that they believe that all they have to do is vote to achieve it. Isn't it great that 9:38 feels we act dumb. I would rather have someone think I am acting dumb than consider me to be dumb. Anyone who hopes to obtain and magnify democracy to the huge extent I do is going to have to make a lifelong project of working for it not simply marking a ballot with a X. Who in the 60's would have thought that the decade would arrive that Alfred E. Newman of Mad magazine would appear to be a intellect?
Evidently the swimming pool has been put back on the burner as evidenced by the Peru Finance Committee decision to have a meeting with Williams Aquatics at a to be announced time and place about having them make drawings of a future pool to submit with the grant application to IL Dept. of Natural Resources (Parc Grant) This will cost the city another 5 to 7,000 dollars to Williams, in addition to the 15,000 we have already paid them. Do you suppose that more people are telling their aldermen that they want a pool in comparison to those who are saying No? I was unable to attend the meeting so I do not have all the details.
$15,000 Swimming pool report + $2,000 Write grant + $5,000 to $7,000 Drawings of a future pool + + + + + + + + + + + + + + FUTURE EXPENSES FOR A POOL = Money that the City of Peru does not have
$0.00 increase in Social Security this year and next year 17% true unemployment % for our area ? number of homes in the area foreclosed Peru is deep in debt, Illinois is bankrupt, Federal government is printing billions FOUR- THE NUMBER OF ALDERMEN UP FOR ELECTION NEXT YEAR 2011 FOUR - THE NUMBER OF ALDERMEN UP FOR ELECTION YEAR 2013
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