I chose to ask several questions during the public comment part of the City Council meeting. I directed my questions to Ald. Mikyska and after informing him that I had read the bylaws of the service, I asked who wrote them. The City Atty. took over the question saying it is possible that he had written them. Those of you who have read the bylaws are having a hard time believing that as am I.
Question 2. Is the $4000 per mo. from Peru to PVAS, a donation, a subsidy or a contractual obligation? No definite answer was given.
On Monday evening an ordinance will be passed providing the continued funding for another year unless someone objects and I can't see that happening.
Should the aldermen be looking at a different structure? Most definitely and unless they do, we may find ourselves asking LaSalle if they will also serve Peru? Irony, yes, but it is possible.
12 comments:
Alderman Mikyska made it quite clear that without LaSalle's contribution to PVAS it will no doubt become necessary to reduce personnel and cut costs at the service. He also indicated that without the $4,000 payment from Peru the service would be in a very difficult financial spot.
There is no question that Peru must have a quality and dependable ambulance service available at all times. We can all agree on that. PVAS must agree to open its books for review by the city of Peru if they expect the monthly payment to continue. That should be non-negotiable. The decision by LaSalle to contract with PSI, a private service, tells me that there are companies out there making considerable profits providing this service to communities. So why is it that PVAS, according to their Board of Directors, has consistently only been able to achieve break-even financial reports. There are a growing number of public safety professionals in and around Peru who are telling me that PVAS is a very poorly managed service with a crippling morale problem among its employees. Considering the fact that the Board of Directors are required to be elected Peru officials, it should be no surprise that this service is plagued with problems. A professional ambulance service should be run by professionals who have a working knowledge of the industry.
My opinion is there needs to be wholesale change in how this service is run and wholesale change in who actually runs it.
I totally agree with you Steve but, according to the by-laws (which in my opinion are very unprofessionally written) the Board of Directors makes all the decisions. I cannot see them backing off and letting someone else examine the make-up of this organization. I'm having a hard time understanding how this whole non-for profit business became so closely tied to Peru yet supposedly is an independent organization not belonging to Peru. It is my understanding the their insurance is linked with the city's, their board has to be comprised of Peru elected officials, we subsidize them money each month, PVAS stands for Peru volunteer ambulance service, their home station is in Peru and their by-laws were possibly written by our city attorney. And, even though this seems to be the case it's very hard to get straight answers from anyone connected to this organization. If you disagree with any of my comments feel free to elaborate. Answers and explanations are welcome!
I don't know the answers, but the property the pvas sits on was or is owned by the past mayor baker. The hot dog stand was put up originally for his family to run. Could the past Mayor own the building yet and calling all the shots? Is that why all his best buddies are the board of Directors? The att. for the city at the time wrote the bylaws, his wife Rorie is the CPA for the ambulance service. It just gives you reason for thought doesn't it?
The one question I have regarding our ambulance service is "Why are they constantly riding all around town?" Are they supposed to canvas the town like the Police or should they be stationed in their home base like the Fire Dept.? Also, is it necessary for 2 full ambulances to go out to eat at the same time? This seems like a waste of time, money, and gas.
This ambulance service seems to be an entity to itself. I don't know for sure but I would venture to guess that that we would have a hard time finding another that has their structure. Looking around the IL Valley, I see other towns that have city involvement with the emergency services like Ottawa and Princeton who maintain a FD EMT service that is staffed by city employees ala their Fire Dept.
Others like 10/33 are independently run but they are not controlled or involved with any city in Bureau Cty.
Where did this idea come from that the city, Peru in this case, could control the service by placing only elected officials on the Board of Directors who in turn would receive money from Peru to help run the service. It is no wonder they are losing money, I don't see anyone with any financial experience involved, in fact I don't even see anyone with medical knowledge beside the employees.
Has anyone figured this out yet? All are lives are at risk when our EMT service is demoralized and will be soon in a financial mess because LaSalle will no longer be contributing to PVAS.
Some of the same aldermen who are on the Peru Finance Committee are on the Board of Directors of PVAS. Peru is over 40 mil in debt and you wonder why PVAS is not making enough to sustain itself. What is the connection? Credentials do matter.
'all our lives" correction
To 1:12 p.m. - I think you describe the $4,000 monthly payment best when you refer to it as a "Subsidy". We are "subsidizing" the PVAS to the tune of $48,000 per year. We are now and have been for many years paying for the inability of this Board of Directors to properly manage this service. I really believe they think they can insulate themselves by claiming unpaid or uninsured charges as the reason for the fine line between profit and loss. As members of the Board of Directors, Aldermen Mikyska, Ankiewicz, and O'Beirne are "responsible" for ensuring proper management and operation of this service. At last Wednesday's council meeting Alderman Mikyska essentially admitted that they have for many years now done a very poor job of overseeing the operation. Not one of these aldermen is in any way qualified to provide direction to an ambulance service and we should not be subsidizing PVAS any amount of cash simply to keep their financial heads above water. If they can't survive on their own then so be it. Where do we draw the line on who we subsidize and who we don't? This giveaway needs to stop and this Board of Directors need to get a clue about its responsibilities and start shaking things up at PVAS.
This whole By-Laws situation just stinks of the old inefficient and wasteful ways of Peru's past and it has the typical Don Baker control aspect written all over it. These aldermen are so locked into a collective mind-set of "That's just the way it is and there is no other way of doing things" that they are totally ineffective as public servants. We are in desperate need of a new perspective in this city.
The desperate need of a new perspective in Peru is presently a work in progress. It started in April 2009 will be reinforced in April 2011 and finalized in April 2013. It takes a long time to correct old, bad practices. Those which I hope we are never witnesses to again. Please study the issues and VOTE!
TO 8:16PM
Yes, indeed let's VOTE. Support ALL of the current Aldermen and Get this leadership Mayor,city clerk out the door..
The facts are VERY clear these past two years. Just look what has happened to our city of Peru.
Once again I wonder if this TRUTH will be printed.
8:16 p.m. - Very well stated. When I joined this grass roots group of citizens in 2004 to work against corruption in Peru, I realized this battle would require at least three election cycles to successfully remove those responsible from elected office. Patience has never been a strong-point for me personally, and I can really understand why those who had challenged the status quo of the Baker Machine in years past would have become frustrated and prone to giving up hope for reform.
We will continue to work "harder and smarter" than the opposition and always remember,
"Slow and steady will win this race".
Why does Peru have to have a ordinance for one year of continued funding for the services of PVAS? I believe a month to month agreement would be of much greater advantage to the voting alderman's constituents, with a six(6) month review.
Several things need to be considered before we lock into a full year of funding.... #1 PVAS can do a complete updated internal audit of their books, needs and wants based upon the $48,000 deficit due to the loss of the City of LaSalle no longer using PVAS. #2 PVAS can give a complete report of services rendered and cost related services to the City Officials of Peru. (This would allow Peru City officials to do some fact finding as to what is in the best interest for Peru citizens. #3 Peru can consider implementing the Peru Fire Department with an ambulance service, such as Ottawa and Princeton,Il do with great success. #4 Peru residents (10,000 strong), depend upon PVAS as the sole local ambulance service. PVAS showed a profit of $17,000 (registered as a Not for Profit) last year. Since PVAS will be starting off 2011 with a loss of $48,000 in income, I would like to see evidence of PVAS's ability to make up $31,000. I emphasize the word evidence, not a simple statement of "We can do it".
PVAS is a classic example of Peru politics: Who owns what-land, equipment etc.? Who answers to who? Who is responsible for what? Why is it a must to be an elected official from the City of Peru to be a member of the board? Are we subsidizing a private entity? Why, Why, Why? Wouldn't it be advantageous to have experienced medical personnel, financial personnel, and a hospital administrator or similar backgrounds on the board? All these questions need to be answered
AS A REMINDER, April 5 is the day that citizens of Peru can decide which direction they want to take the city. At that time it will be their decision to choose to remain with the status quo or to meet the challenge of the future of Peru. This above voting date is not the end all but a beginning to a more open City government run by the people and for the people. BUT, YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTION!!! Whatever your decision, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO VOTE!
I would like to add additional cities with FD EMS departments: Streator, Pontiac and Dwight for starters. I will try to find the list again for towns outside the immediate IL. Valley.
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