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
Thursday, March 17, 2011
N.T.East Side First Ward Candidate Responses
This was removed at the request of the LaSalle New Tribune as it is an infringement upon their ownership of the article.
17 comments:
Anonymous
said...
This article yesterday convinced me to VOTE FOR MERTEL. Radtke has nothing to offer.
The first comment is an example of what I will no longer accept. You have read the article and both candidates have made specific comments. Neither one has nothing to offer they both have explained what they stand for and if you support them tell us why, otherwise it will not appear. This blog is not going to be an accumulation of campaign slogans. I definitely favor one candidate over the other but I have reasons for one over the other which I may post in the future.
12:23 And exactly what did Mr. Mertel say that convinced you to vote for him? And, what exactly turned you against Mr. Radke? Have you attended many council meetings (IF ANY) that convinced you Mr. Mertel was accomplishing things for the betterment of the city as a whole? As Lois said they both just stated what they stood for. I do know one thing for certain - Mr. Radke seems to be more approachable and willing to listen than Mr. Mertel does. Also, I believe this is Mr. Mertel's 3rd term coming up. I think 2 terms should be the limit. New faces, new ideas. This is my opinion.
Prideful - having or showing arrogant superiority. This is a word that Jamey used in his response. You should also know that while he was serving as your representative the city acquired a $43 million debt, your infastructure was collapsing, your roads were falling apart, the swimming pool deteriorated to an unsafe state, many things were not put out for bid, there was no established hiring process, etc., etc. While it is apparent that he alone could not solve these issues he could have made more of an effort to bring them to the public's attention. To this day he does not believe we are in debt (even though a reputable treasurer and auditor have confirmed such) or that the pool provided a potential danger to the public had it been opened (even though a professional pool company confirmed such). I do not know if Mr. Radke is the answer to some of our city's problems but in my opinion we need to give him his chance. Mr. Mertel had his.
Again the pool situation is not accurate. You have presented one side and it indeed should have been opened while money was allocated and fundraising occurred. The evidence is there and was NEVER honestly presented to the public.
Mr. Mertel forgot to mention that he voted for the Utility Tax increase to help fund the pool. If it was such a great thing to vote " yea" for, he should have highlighted that in his comments.
Mr. Radke is much more approachable than Mr. Mertel. I'm voting for Radke.
Mr. Mertel also brought up the idea, of a bike path. Do we really need a bike path, when the roads are in such deporable condition. All he thinks about is opening a pool, that I would never let a dog swim in, and a bike path. Get real Mr. Mertel, you had your chance to try to do a good job for your city, and you failed. Time for some new blood. I will vote for Mr. Radtke. Thank You
Of course the pool "could have" been opened Kristy. It could have been hastily and sloppily patched as it had been for many years. It "could have" been allowed to hemorrhage hundreds of thousands of gallons of water every month and thousands of gallons expensive treatment chemicals with it. It "could have" been opened and immediately subjected the city to ADA non-compliance lawsuits and fines as well as OSHA code violations for improper ventilation, Confined Space, and a non-compliant drain as well. You are absolutely correct when you say it "could have" been opened. It "could have" been opened as you suggest in its ridiculously deplorable, dangerous, dollar down the drain condition. Thank goodness it wasn't.
That issue is old news and you may want to breath new life into it but I'm not going back there with you. Join me as we move forward.
What evidence are you referring to Kristy? You did know the pool was leaking like a sieve, that it did not meet government regulations, and that weeds were growing through the base of the pool! Even former Mayor Baker acknowledge such. Let it go!
Someone should inform Alderman Mertel that there is not now, nor has there ever been a "contract" between PVAS and the city of Peru. No such document exists. Never has. There is no contract. We give PVAS $4,000 every month. That's the agreement. Also, where do you suppose Alderman Mertel had those "conversations" he mentioned with PVAS board members about "diversifying" with individuals from health and public safety fields? I know it was never discussed in open meeting and if he was referring to conversations that took place in closed session he should not be making public statements about closed session business. That's why its closed session. Where then could these conversations regarding important city business be taking place?
Seriously Steve - there is no "contract" between PVAS and the city and alderman Mertel was not aware of this? Also, how long has the current PVAS board been in existance and they are just now looking to "diversify"? And once again why didn't alderman Mertel pursue this issue years ago?
STEVE: I think I know where these meetings took place. Possibly at Mikes' where the council, usually goes after a meeting, to discuss what went on with the meeting. Mertel isn't up on whats going on. Time for a change.
Alderman Mertel led the council in its drive for a bike path. A committee of aldermen was appointed, the city council approved the expenditure of $3,000 to Chamlins & Associates Inc., one meeting was held,the engineer who conducted the initial study and meeting is no longer a employee of Chamlins.
The engineer stated that the bike path should be created by the school administrator because he could get a grant. The lack of Alderman Mertel to do his homework cost the taxpayers $3,000.00. Needless to say the bike path has not been brought up again. Typical, real hot at the start but never gets to the finish line.
The City Council of Peru must become fiscally knowledgeable and responsible!
2:31AM Please explain, the expenditure was approved by the council and the map was made by Chamlin. They are not known for doing work for free. I actually have one of the maps that I received when the one bike path meeting was held.
17 comments:
This article yesterday convinced me to VOTE FOR MERTEL. Radtke has nothing to offer.
12:23PM
Please state your reasons.
The first comment is an example of what I will no longer accept. You have read the article and both candidates have made specific comments. Neither one has nothing to offer they both have explained what they stand for and if you support them tell us why, otherwise it will not appear. This blog is not going to be an accumulation of campaign slogans. I definitely favor one candidate over the other but I have reasons for one over the other which I may post in the future.
12:23 And exactly what did Mr. Mertel say that convinced you to vote for him? And, what exactly turned you against Mr. Radke? Have you attended many council meetings (IF ANY) that convinced you Mr. Mertel was accomplishing things for the betterment of the city as a whole? As Lois said they both just stated what they stood for. I do know one thing for certain - Mr. Radke seems to be more approachable and willing to listen than Mr. Mertel does. Also, I believe this is Mr. Mertel's 3rd term coming up. I think 2 terms should be the limit. New faces, new ideas. This is my opinion.
Prideful - having or showing arrogant superiority. This is a word that Jamey used in his response. You should also know that while he was serving as your representative the city acquired a $43 million debt, your infastructure was collapsing, your roads were falling apart, the swimming pool deteriorated to an unsafe state, many things were not put out for bid, there was no established hiring process, etc., etc. While it is apparent that he alone could not solve these issues he could have made more of an effort to bring them to the public's attention. To this day he does not believe we are in debt (even though a reputable treasurer and auditor have confirmed such) or that the pool provided a potential danger to the public had it been opened (even though a professional pool company confirmed such). I do not know if Mr. Radke is the answer to some of our city's problems but in my opinion we need to give him his chance. Mr. Mertel had his.
Again the pool situation is not accurate. You have presented one side and it indeed should have been opened while money was allocated and fundraising occurred. The evidence is there and was NEVER honestly presented to the public.
Kristy
Mr. Mertel forgot to mention that he voted for the Utility Tax increase to help fund the pool.
If it was such a great thing to vote " yea" for, he should have highlighted that in his comments.
Mr. Radke is much more approachable than Mr. Mertel.
I'm voting for Radke.
Mr. Mertel also brought up the idea, of a bike path. Do we really need a bike path, when the roads are in such deporable condition. All he thinks about is opening a pool, that I would never let a dog swim in, and a bike path. Get real Mr. Mertel, you had your chance to try to do a good job for your city, and you failed. Time for some new blood. I will vote for Mr. Radtke. Thank You
Of course the pool "could have" been opened Kristy. It could have been hastily and sloppily patched as it had been for many years. It "could have" been allowed to hemorrhage hundreds of thousands of gallons of water every month and thousands of gallons expensive treatment chemicals with it. It "could have" been opened and immediately subjected the city to ADA non-compliance lawsuits and fines as well as OSHA code violations for improper ventilation, Confined Space, and a non-compliant drain as well.
You are absolutely correct when you say it "could have" been opened. It "could have" been opened as you suggest in its ridiculously deplorable, dangerous, dollar down the drain condition.
Thank goodness it wasn't.
That issue is old news and you may want to breath new life into it but I'm not going back there with you. Join me as we move forward.
How about a WEBERSKI sign in your yard? C'mon!
What evidence are you referring to Kristy? You did know the pool was leaking like a sieve, that it did not meet government regulations, and that weeds were growing through the base of the pool! Even former Mayor Baker acknowledge such. Let it go!
I have received general election comments and I will not post them under this topic.
Someone should inform Alderman Mertel that there is not now, nor has there ever been a "contract" between PVAS and the city of Peru.
No such document exists. Never has. There is no contract. We give PVAS $4,000 every month. That's the agreement.
Also, where do you suppose Alderman Mertel had those "conversations" he mentioned with PVAS board members about "diversifying" with individuals from health and public safety fields? I know it was never discussed in open meeting and if he was referring to conversations that took place in closed session he should not be making public statements about closed session business. That's why its closed session.
Where then could these conversations regarding important city business be taking place?
Seriously Steve - there is no "contract" between PVAS and the city and alderman Mertel was not aware of this? Also, how long has the current PVAS board been in existance and they are just now looking to "diversify"? And once again why didn't alderman Mertel pursue this issue years ago?
STEVE: I think I know where these meetings took place. Possibly at Mikes' where the council, usually goes after a meeting, to discuss what went on with the meeting. Mertel isn't up on whats going on. Time for a change.
Alderman Mertel led the council in its drive for a bike path. A committee of aldermen was appointed, the city council approved the expenditure of $3,000 to Chamlins & Associates Inc., one meeting was held,the engineer who conducted the initial study and meeting is no longer a employee of Chamlins.
The engineer stated that the bike path should be created by the school administrator because he could get a grant. The lack of Alderman Mertel to do his homework cost the taxpayers $3,000.00. Needless to say the bike path has not been brought up again. Typical, real hot at the start but never gets to the finish line.
The City Council of Peru must become fiscally knowledgeable and responsible!
$3000 was never spent. Look up the bills as this is a lie. Quit using false information to smear a candidate.
2:31AM
Please explain, the expenditure was approved by the council and the map was made by Chamlin. They are not known for doing work for free. I actually have one of the maps that I received when the one bike path meeting was held.
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