PressRelease_JanuaryWnterStorm_2011_01_31.pdf (application/pdf Object)

PressRelease_JanuaryWnterStorm_2011_01_31.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Ronald J. Wren 1941-2011 - My Web Times

Ronald J. Wren 1941-2011 - My Web Times

Condolences to the Family of Ald.Ron Wren

This blog would like to offer condolences to the family and friends of Ron Wren, fourth ward Alderman in Peru. We will always remember him as being kind, thoughtful and considerate. He could disagree with us without being a disagreeable person, always a gentleman. He will be missed by his constituents in the Fourth Ward.

He collapsed after the council meeting on Wed. Jan 26 and passed away this morning January 28, 2011 at OSF in Peoria, IL.

Local businesses and labor unions provide much needed facilities upgrade for Peru Fire Department

Local businesses, labor organizations, and individual volunteers are working collectively to provide a major upgrade to the livng quarters at the Peru Fire Department. Peru Fire chief Jeff King initiated the effort to improve the living conditions for the on duty full-time driver Firefighters who work shifts of 24 hours at the station house. The much needed upgrades include a more spacious bunk area as well as updated kitchen and bathroom facilities. I am convinced that this type of co-operative volunteer effort is the basic foundation that the city of Peru must continue to build on. While the total pricetag for these improvements without volunteer efforts and discounted materials could have been nearly $50,000, the actual cost to the taxpayers of Peru and Dimmick Township will be approximately $20,000 due to volunteer labor from local unions and discounted materials from local suppliers and contractors. We must recognize Fire Chief Jeff King and Mayor Scott Harl for their combined efforts in co-ordinating and managing this project. Also, a thank you to the city council for allowing the project to go forward. I intend to post a more detailed list of all individuals, volunteer organizations, and contractors after the project is complete. "Together there is nothing we cannot do".

New Hit to Strapped States - WSJ.com

Decided that some of you may be interested not only in the article but also in many of the comments that follow. We could plug Peru into many of those as the shoe fits. First click on the Article tab and then for the interesting comments, click on comment tab New Hit to Strapped States - WSJ.com

The Citizens of Peru are Responsible for $40 Millions Debt

I believe it was last Spring that word came out to the Illinois Valley that the cities debt was over $40 million. Mayor Harl had been in office for one year and yet there were those who jumped on this as his fault. The entire U.S. started experiencing a downturn in the economy, banks were failing and foreclosures were increasing, all about the same time that the Mayoral election was being held here in Peru.

Notice I said nationwide and yet I continue to hear about how this loss of revenue through decreased sales tax, persistent debt created prior to his election and loss of revenue as home construction went down, people were not spending money on large or small items = less sales tax revenue = blame the new Mayor. I would like to believe that people in Peru are smarter than what I believe is a small minority who still have not gotten over the defeat of Don Baker and in retaliation continue and without reason to label Mayor Harl as the cause of it all. This may be a few angry people with too much time on their hands who choose to use our blog to vent their frustrations because they are no longer "in the loop" so to speak. They offer nothing constructive but only find fault.

Did Mayor Baker bring some good to the community? Absolutely. Is it time for the community to exhibit more of a "can do" mentality. I would hope so. Since there are no perfect people on earth, it is time for people to accept the democracy of the ballot box. The election was legal and the majority spoke. If your guy didn't win, make the best of it and move on and be a positive contributing member of this community.

Do I commend the council members when they do what I believe is right for our town. Yes and I would hope they see that, give us some respect and you will get some back. But many times from someone on the outside looking in, I don't see that coming back to those who have taken an interest in Peru government. We have a Mayor who is trying to do what is best for the city and not for the council or for himself. Everyone needs to put their egos aside and work for Peru because yes we need to pull together, pay down this debt. Attitudes need to change, new ideas need to be brought forward. But as you hear persistently on radio and TV.

"We need to stop spending"

Positive Aspects in Peru Since 2009 Election

This was requested by a poster and then I began getting calls about what was I going to post and they wanted to add specifics, so here goes, this is what I have put together so far. I will not post anything about "lack of leadership" which one reader is obsessed about. If that is your believe then go somewhere else and add your comments.

These are my personal thoughts on how Peru has improved under Mayor Harl.

1. Very important that we now have a qualified City Treasurer who is giving us the financial data that we as citizens need to know. Gary Hylla was appointed by Mayor Harl when Jack O'Beirne backed out of the position of Treasurer for which he was elected. O'Beirne at least knew he was unqualified and had only ran to be Treausrer in name only and with the encouragement of Mayor Baker and Judy Heiser who would have continued to handle the finances and O'Beirne would no nothing if the residents of Peru had not elected Scott Harl.

2. All committee meetings are now held in accordance with the Open Meetings Act and held at the City Hall. Anyone can sit in on a meeting if they so choose. A big change for Water and Sewer that used to meet at the Test offices. No more private meetings for official business. As far as unofficial meetings at local businesses after council meetings, that is up to you to judge.

3. Some will disagree with this but the swimming pool. We finally found out the deplorable condition of the Peru swimming pool This was due to the exploration of the issue and was brought to the forefront by Mayor Harl.

4. He has cut expenditures of donating through every cause that came through the door. Very few are now approved.

5.We have learned how our infrastructure has deteriorated in previous years with no maintenance program in place and we have also learned we are over 40 million in debt and have few dollars to repair them.

6. We have also learned that the current city aldermen never had any intention of being cooperative and as many have noted they many times disagree just to prove how disagreeable they are.

7. Our relations with LaSalle and other surrounding communities are the best they have been in years. Our Mayor does not have the arrogance to believe we should be the leader of the valley but a part of the Illinois Valley working together with the other cities.

At this point, you might be thinking "well what has Mayor Harl done" I will point out to you the things he wanted done and was rebuffed by the council who must agree to get it done.

To cut costs, the mayor wanted to reduce the number city council meetings to twice a month just like most cities around us. THE COUNCIL SAID NO

The Mayor wanted to start meetings earlier to allow more residents to attend. THE COUNCIL SAID NO

The Mayor wanted to hire a City Engineer. THE COUNCIL SAID NO.

The Mayor wanted to televise city council meetings. THE COUNCIL WAS NOT INTERESTED.

News Tribune - Business - Stocks - Peru Trade Center planning for future

News Tribune - Business - Stocks - Peru Trade Center planning for future

Commonly called the "old Westclox Building"

News Tribune - News - Local - STORY, ROLL CALL:Illinois faces 66 percent income tax hike

News Tribune - News - Local - STORY, ROLL CALL:Illinois faces 66 percent income tax hike

What is the Future for Once Historic Water Street

You should post something on the demolition of the Peru Power Plant on Water Street. It is a historic building on the state structures list and is one of the few buildings left of the historic Water Street commercial district around which Peru sprung up. The city really never gave a reason other than it is such a great deal! Tearing it down for $1!

It would be a shame for such a building to go. Not to mention the impact it may have on the businesses on "empty" Water Street. It's really kind of too bad that Peru does not have any regard for its historic structures. To raise awareness and hopefully some dissidence would be great!

The above was written to me privately and I am witholding the writers name. Those of you who know me realize that I have tried to prevent Peru from destroying what little they have left of buildings that are a part of our history without any success. It always seems that the people who are control in this town would rather hire a bulldozer instead of a preservationist.

I'm sure there is asbestos in the old Power Plant and I am also sure that there is undisturbed asbestos in other old buildings in Peru. That is not a reason to sell it for destruction for $1.00.

Every so often the topic of What Should We Do With Water Street comes up? At present there are just a couple of businesses operating and in spite of all the odds, they are doing well and are an asset to our city. The possibility of flooding always will exist but this is not a yearly event and recently has been coped with very well.

I have always admired the architecture of the old power plant and it seems a shame to have it taken down as it is one of the bright spots you can see when traveling on 251 north and you look down toward Peru.

I am also aware that the city of Peru and those in power have never had an appreciation of the history of Peru and I cannot think of one building they have tried to preserve. I don't know how much they have tried to market this building as I have never heard it discussed at a meeting. There was plenty of talk about the Mirror building while it sat empty for years but seldom anything about other historic assets we might have.

I guess about the only buildings in Peru that might fall into being a part of our history are the several churches located south of Shooting Park Rd. and the Post Office. This is becoming like a city without a past.

Peru Volunteer Ambulance Update

Since this remains an unresolved issue as the ambulance service still has not produced financial information to the city even though we continue our "subsidy" of $4000 per month. Within a few months we should know how much the loss of the LaSalle contract will cost the city in addition to what they are now paying. And will Peru residents be expected to up the ante for the service. The purchase of the bariatric transport through donations does not change the poor structure of the service.

I just received a new posting and decided to move it up.

Aldermanic challengers are paying attention and learning what to do in office and maybe what not to do

Most of the challengers for the four aldermanic seats up for election in April have been attending council and committee meetings on a regular basis the past couple of months. Mike Radtke, Rodney Perez, and Mary Landseidel are taking the time to develop as much understanding as possible of the "workings and non-workings" of Peru city government. I believe any serious candidate knows they must gather as much knowledge as possible about every issue out there in order to be considered a legitimate candidate. In fact, Mr. Radtke and Mr. Perez have taken the time to meet individually with Treasurer Gary Hylla for a financial reality check in order to get an honest accounting of the city's financial condition. Joe Witczak has also been attending council meetings regularly. Jim Hurst was in attendance last evening as well. Joe Witczak is very familiar with the ways of the current council as he was one of them for two terms prior to losing his seat to Dave Waldorf in 2007. I have to mention that Joe also accompanies the aldermen to their favorite watering hole after the council meetings as well as the Chamlin and TEST lobbyists, Chris Perra and Roger Chamlin. Mike's Tap is apparently the place to socialize for like-minded public officials and the executives of the companies whose contracts are voted on by these same aldermen. While I do not believe it to be illegal for aldermen to get together to knock down a few cold ones after a meeting, I do think they are showing poor judgement gathering in mass and allowing themselves to be lobbied by TEST and Chamlin. There is no doubt in my mind that during these "Meetings at Mike's" the topic of discussion will ultimately include city business. If so, the individuals discussing a particular issue of city business at any given time can be considered a "quorum" of aldermen from either a committee or the whole of the council, that would indeed be considered a violation of the Open Meetings Act. Now, just wait a minute before you start ripping me with nasty comments. Please understand, I could not care less if these guys want to "loosen up" a bit after the council meetings. I don't care if all eight of them get together for a kegger once a month. My point is this. The aldermen show poor judgement when they socialize with and or accept gratuities from individuals or companies who do business with the city and whose business and contracts are voted upon by the aldermen recieving the gratuities. And I'm not only talking about a cocktail or two at Mike's Tap. I mean a complimentary trip to a CUBS or WHITE SOX ballgame(spouse optional). Or a comped fishing trip to Canada(spouse not included). Or a gift basket with an invitation to the company Christmas party(spouse included) during the holidays. Or a free dinner for two at a swanky Chicago restaurant(spouse included) during the annual IML Convention. Or even a retirement gift(spouse might be included) for a long-time alderman who has been exceptionally "accomodating and generous" to a certain city contractor during his entire tenure. These are just simple ethical standards that all elected officials should have no trouble observing. When elected officials open themselves to influence from private interests, the public has every right to question their judgement and every right to question their decisions.

Rude Mean and Disrespectful NOT Allowed

You are welcome to agree or disagree but please do it in a manner that is respectful to those who are reading this blog and contributing their ideas or searching for answers.

Evidently there is someone who cannot read the small print at the top of this forum, my fingers are tired of deleting your small minded rude comments. If you wish to denigrate Steve and other candidates, I suggest you initiate your own blog and keep it open especially for that type of retort.

My apologies to my readers for posting the last several comments. I thought if I did put them on, that person might understand I was being a considerate person but it just seems to have increased the nastiness of the comments.

So whoever you are and I have my suspicions, I have a message. Go away and don't bother me, Steve and anybody else reading this blog. At least get a book and read about etiquette.