This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.” Samuel Adams
As the Saturdays New Trib stated; "PERU LANDMARK'S DAYS NUMBERED", I ask WHY?
Where is the Mayor and the recently newly elected officials looking forward with forsight and salvation of the city of Peru?
Why someone has not considered "keeping the Peru Landmark" aa a local museum and attract vistors with a small fee to pay for up keep and maintenance of the building. Why ?
Where is the local development director? oh! that's right, he has recently been elected to the county board and the heck with Peru.
Why does La Salle retain landmarks like the Hegler Mansion, Hotel Kaskaskia, the Tow Path Boat, to attract vistors, get mentioned in the Illinois registry of Tourism, bring revenue to the city, in fact like Bus loads of people to tour.
I guess Peru is just to good and do not need to maintain any Landmarks but we can complain each day about th lack of revenue and how bad the city is financially.
What do you think folks shall we rebel, march, demonstrate in the streets ? The people of Egypt just won, how about you ?
LETS WAKE UP AND COMPLAIN ABOUT WORTHWHILE CAUSES TO MAKE OUR CITY HAVE A WORTHY SPOT ON THE MAP ! Lets NOT BE PROUD of complaining but lets do something to be positive and GROW!
The tear down decision can be reversed if the Mayor has the intestinal fortitude to say NO!
To 9:00 a.m. - I recently had a walk-through of the Powerhouse and associated buildings on Water Street. I was really surprised at the actual size and scale of the structures. You do not realize how large the buildings really are until you get inside. While I would be in favor of retaining some part of the historic structure it's just not going to be as simple as you might think. I have not given up hope that there could be some way to save something for a useful purpose and for posterity sake. What sits on Water Street right now is a huge liability that continues to deteriorate more and more each day. Water from leaking roofs pours in and lies frozen across much of the floor. The basement holds water better than the Peru pool at depths of two to three feet. The amount of asbestos insulation on piping and equipment is staggering. For the city to undertake asbestos abatement and even a minimum amount of renovation would top the $1,000,000 mark just to get started. If you think you can just hang a Museum sign on the wall and open the doors to the public you are way off base. I agree with you that the idea of saving some of the structure is very appealing. But, like everything else it's going to take a huge chunk of money that we don't have. Your comparison to LaSalle is flawed because the examples you cite are private ventures not owned or operated by the city of LaSalle. The city of LaSalle has provided some funding for the canal boat and the headquarters but it's not run by the city. Are you sure you want talk about the Kaskaskia. Nothing but Pigeons working inside that building. I think the agreement with the salvage contractor is basically a good deal for both he and the city. I just wish the city would have encouraged the contractor to attempt to preserve some of the structure if at all possible. The city could never afford to remove asbestos and renovate the building on their own dime. If the mayor and council decide to call off the deal with the salvage contractor that Powerhouse will sit idle and continue to deteriorate and that's all that will happen. Is there any alternative other than complete destruction? I would hope so.
To Steve 10:35am Let's get off of the conventional way of thinking and step out of the box.
If the fire department can receive all kinds of voluntary help from union trades and city employees to partition sleeping rooms and offices, why can't the Mayor muster all of these employees and the local union trades,even the Mayor himself (after all he can't work with the bad weather) get together and DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE CITY AND RE-FURBISH THE BUILDINGS ON WATER STREET AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I have a problem in accepting any response to restoration of the power plant as NO when I know it can be YES. Let History show what a city like Peru did to supply electricity to its people.
What I am asking for, is nothing but "if we have the will to make it happen" then we can find a way to make it happpen. How much would that cost? Pretty small.
So I ask, DO WE HAVE THE WILL ? The powerhouse does not need to sit idle and waste away. Period.
I'm all for thinking outside the box. But you have to be realistic about the size and scope of the project you suggest can be accomplished with volunteers. You can't compare the $50,000 effort at the Fire Department to what could amount to a $5,000,000 project on Water Street. The very first road-block you will have to overcome will be the asbestos abatement. You do not remove asbestos with volunteer labor in the form of a group of guys from the Lions Club or the Kiwanis on a Saturday afternoon. So your dead in the water before you even start. Asbestos abatement is regulated by state and federal guidelines for its handling and removal. You must be a licenced contractor with permits and highly trained employees before you can touch it. This initial phase of any renovation will have to be bid out and paid for by the taxpayers of Peru. I repeat, I understand where you're coming from and I would love to see the structure remain in place for some useful purpose. There are many possibilities and I would be happy to volunteer for the cause. HOWEVER............. You can have all the WILL in the world to see the Power-House re-furbished, but WILL alone don't pay the BILLS.
To 12:55 p.m. and other concerned citizens - Assuming you are a citizen of Peru, have you contacted your alderman about the possibility of saving the Power-House? That's the best place to start. I'm not happy about the rapid pace this situation has taken. It makes me uneasy and curious to know if it has been thoroughly thought through. Pleas contact your alderman and let us know what he says.
Steve since you managed the Mayor, I would say you should have the inside track to communicate for HIM(MAYOR) TO STOP IT , JUST SAY NO.
If he can be one to say NO and stop our swimming pool from opening WHY NOT THE POWERHOUSE.
Don't blame the aldermen, it is in the Mayors court. He is the one to blame either positively or negatively which ever way it goes.
(I saw the mayor picture in the New trib as one to get noticed as the one to talk to for this issue.)
PS: lets not make up dollar numbers to get people scared. You do not have estimates and just because there is asbestoes in the building , that does NOT say it is dangerous to be in the building.
i have to ask steve how did you get a walk through? what or who authorized you to do that? can we the residents of the city of peru get to walk thru like you did? i think we all deserve answers-why are you treated so special??
2:35 p.m. - You just don't seem to get it so I'm through trying to reason with an unreasonable person. 7:18 p.m. - I got a walk-through because I requested one from Electric Department Foreman Jim Potthoff. It's public property and I'm a resident taxpayer and rate-payer. Not special, just especially interesed in what's going on in Peru. If you are a resident and you think you are entitled to have a walk-through of the Powerhouse just give me a call, identify yourself, and I will be happy to give you Jim Potthoff's mobile phone number. Or just call the Electric Department. My number is 815-252-8050. 10:01 - No, I do not believe contacting the aldermen would help. They have already voted unanimously in favor of the demolition agreement. But, citizens have every right to ask the aldermen and the mayor, "why?"
I am not affiliated with the city, but I have to say that I cannot believe people think it is actually a good idea to try to keep this building. The comparisons to the canal boat and Carus mansion are silly. The canal boat is a financial disaster and the mansion is privately funded.
For anyone who has looked at the city budget to think we should spend millions to make this building safe for the general public so we can charge a couple of bucks and think this is going to jump start "riverfront development" have never studied what other towns have done to develop their riverfronts.
Surely you people are not the same ones who were against the pool and city hall. For the record I think the city hall was a mistake and the pool should be considered at a later date when funds are available, but I will take both of those over preserving what some think is a "historic" building.
As a taxpayer, kudos to the city council and mayor for taking this thing down and moving forward.
13 comments:
As the Saturdays New Trib stated; "PERU LANDMARK'S DAYS NUMBERED", I ask WHY?
Where is the Mayor and the recently newly elected officials looking forward with forsight and salvation of the city of Peru?
Why someone has not considered "keeping the Peru Landmark" aa a local museum and attract vistors with a small fee to pay for up keep and maintenance of the building. Why ?
Where is the local development director? oh! that's right, he has recently been elected to the county board and the heck with Peru.
Why does La Salle retain landmarks like the Hegler Mansion, Hotel Kaskaskia, the Tow Path Boat, to attract vistors, get mentioned in the Illinois registry of Tourism, bring revenue to the city, in fact like Bus loads of people to tour.
I guess Peru is just to good and do not need to maintain any Landmarks but we can complain each day about th lack of revenue and how bad the city is financially.
What do you think folks shall we rebel, march, demonstrate in the streets ? The people of Egypt just won, how about you ?
LETS WAKE UP AND COMPLAIN ABOUT WORTHWHILE CAUSES TO MAKE OUR CITY HAVE A WORTHY SPOT ON THE MAP !
Lets NOT BE PROUD of complaining but lets do something to be positive and GROW!
The tear down decision can be reversed if the Mayor has the intestinal fortitude to say NO!
To 9:00 a.m. - I recently had a walk-through of the Powerhouse and associated buildings on Water Street. I was really surprised at the actual size and scale of the structures. You do not realize how large the buildings really are until you get inside.
While I would be in favor of retaining some part of the historic structure it's just not going to be as simple as you might think. I have not given up hope that there could be some way to save something for a useful purpose and for posterity sake.
What sits on Water Street right now is a huge liability that continues to deteriorate more and more each day. Water from leaking roofs pours in and lies frozen across much of the floor. The basement holds water better than the Peru pool at depths of two to three feet. The amount of asbestos insulation on piping and equipment is staggering.
For the city to undertake asbestos abatement and even a minimum amount of renovation would top the $1,000,000 mark just to get started.
If you think you can just hang a Museum sign on the wall and open the doors to the public you are way off base.
I agree with you that the idea of saving some of the structure is very appealing. But, like everything else it's going to take a huge chunk of money that we don't have.
Your comparison to LaSalle is flawed because the examples you cite are private ventures not owned or operated by the city of LaSalle. The city of LaSalle has provided some funding for the canal boat and the headquarters but it's not run by the city. Are you sure you want talk about the Kaskaskia. Nothing but Pigeons working inside that building.
I think the agreement with the salvage contractor is basically a good deal for both he and the city. I just wish the city would have encouraged the contractor to attempt to preserve some of the structure if at all possible.
The city could never afford to remove asbestos and renovate the building on their own dime. If the mayor and council decide to call off the deal with the salvage contractor that Powerhouse will sit idle and continue to deteriorate and that's all that will happen.
Is there any alternative other than complete destruction? I would hope so.
To Steve 10:35am
Let's get off of the conventional way of thinking and step out of the box.
If the fire department can receive all kinds of voluntary help from union trades and city employees to partition sleeping rooms and offices, why can't the Mayor muster all of these employees and the local union trades,even the Mayor himself (after all he can't work with the bad weather) get together and DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE CITY AND RE-FURBISH THE BUILDINGS ON WATER STREET AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I have a problem in accepting any response to restoration of the power plant as NO when I know it can be YES.
Let History show what a city like Peru did to supply electricity to its people.
What I am asking for, is nothing but "if we have the will to make it happen" then we can find a way to make it happpen. How much would that cost? Pretty small.
So I ask, DO WE HAVE THE WILL ? The powerhouse does not need to sit idle and waste away. Period.
Its in the flood plane. Watch this spring, you will see it flooded again.
I'm all for thinking outside the box. But you have to be realistic about the size and scope of the project you suggest can be accomplished with volunteers. You can't compare the $50,000 effort at the Fire Department to what could amount to a $5,000,000 project on Water Street.
The very first road-block you will have to overcome will be the asbestos abatement.
You do not remove asbestos with volunteer labor in the form of a group of guys from the Lions Club or the Kiwanis on a Saturday afternoon. So your dead in the water before you even start.
Asbestos abatement is regulated by state and federal guidelines for its handling and removal. You must be a licenced contractor with permits and highly trained employees before you can touch it. This initial phase of any renovation will have to be bid out and paid for by the taxpayers of Peru.
I repeat, I understand where you're coming from and I would love to see the structure remain in place for some useful purpose. There are many possibilities and I would be happy to volunteer for the cause. HOWEVER.............
You can have all the WILL in the world to see the Power-House re-furbished, but WILL alone don't pay the BILLS.
To 12:55 p.m. and other concerned citizens -
Assuming you are a citizen of Peru, have you contacted your alderman about the possibility of saving the Power-House?
That's the best place to start. I'm not happy about the rapid pace this situation has taken. It makes me uneasy and curious to know
if it has been thoroughly thought through.
Pleas contact your alderman and let us know what he says.
Steve since you managed the Mayor, I would say you should have the inside track to communicate for HIM(MAYOR) TO STOP IT , JUST SAY NO.
If he can be one to say NO and stop our swimming pool from opening WHY NOT THE POWERHOUSE.
Don't blame the aldermen, it is in the Mayors court. He is the one to blame either positively or negatively which ever way it goes.
(I saw the mayor picture in the New trib as one to get noticed as the one to talk to for this issue.)
PS: lets not make up dollar numbers to get people scared. You do not have estimates and just because there is asbestoes in the building , that does NOT say it is dangerous to be in the building.
Did the city offer the building to anyone other than the electricity industry?
The city council made it sound like it was only worth roughly $5,000 to them... Maybe someone could offer to take it off their hands...
Admittedly it'd be a useless building for a while, and it would continue to deteriorate, but there's always that possibility, that hope...
And american ruins are as beautiful as ancient roman ones in a way.
i have to ask steve how did you get a walk through? what or who authorized you to do that? can we the residents of the city of peru get to walk thru like you did? i think we all deserve answers-why are you treated so special??
I bet if that building was in Naperville it would not be torn down. It would turn into a great place to eat and shop.
Steve, do you really think that contacting the aldermen would help?
2:35 p.m. - You just don't seem to get it so I'm through trying to reason with an unreasonable person.
7:18 p.m. - I got a walk-through because I requested one from Electric Department Foreman Jim Potthoff. It's public property and I'm a resident taxpayer and rate-payer. Not special, just especially interesed in what's going on in Peru. If you are a resident and you think you are entitled to have a walk-through of the Powerhouse just give me a call, identify yourself, and I will be happy to give you Jim Potthoff's mobile phone number. Or just call the Electric Department.
My number is 815-252-8050.
10:01 - No, I do not believe contacting the aldermen would help. They have already voted unanimously in favor of the demolition agreement. But, citizens have every right to ask the aldermen and the mayor, "why?"
I am not affiliated with the city, but I have to say that I cannot believe people think it is actually a good idea to try to keep this building. The comparisons to the canal boat and Carus mansion are silly. The canal boat is a financial disaster and the mansion is privately funded.
For anyone who has looked at the city budget to think we should spend millions to make this building safe for the general public so we can charge a couple of bucks and think this is going to jump start "riverfront development" have never studied what other towns have done to develop their riverfronts.
Surely you people are not the same ones who were against the pool and city hall. For the record I think the city hall was a mistake and the pool should be considered at a later date when funds are available, but I will take both of those over preserving what some think is a "historic" building.
As a taxpayer, kudos to the city council and mayor for taking this thing down and moving forward.
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