Taxpayers United Views on Home Rule and Taxes

In case you wondered about home rule and taxation.

I have had several questions about how home rule affects the ability to tax its residents and found this article. Link above

Agenda for June 1 City Council Meeting

ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE Potthoff & Radtke

Discuss sales tax increase

Discuss Department Finance Control Policy

Discuss/Approve hiring Code Enforcement Officer

Recreation Funding Budgeted 2011

I would think that most of the residents of Peru do not know how the Peru Recreation programs are funded and who takes care of most of it. Last year it was explained to me that there were 2 different recreation boards, one composed of the aldermen who at that time were O'Beirne, Mertel and Ferrari. The second group were citizens of Peru who were appointed to the Recreation COMMISSION and they took care of employees and financial matters. Since I was new to learning much of this city information I did not ask any more.

And now this year, I was attending the city council meeting last Monday when I received the usual packet of information and I found myself looking at the expenditures of the recreation department. Now this group is usually active only during the summer months and this is when they spend the funds. I decided to ask a question during the public comment and I asked why the director received 9.900.00 for working such a short period of time. The only one that answered my question was Mayor Harl and everyone else just said nothing. The Mayor told me that the city council had nothing to do with the expenditures. I asked again, the same question as I was amazed that all this money was spent and the city council did not approve expenditures.

I learned after the meeting that the money you see approved is in the city budget and there is no oversight as to how that money is spent. It is approved for the Recreation Commission to use and spend as they see fit. These people are good people willing to give their time but they are not elected officials and are given permission to spend up to 75,000 if the figures are correct. Are you surprised? Is this what you expected?

This year Ald. Ankiewicz is on the public property committee and whoever will replace Ald. Mikyska will possibly be the second member.

a Rainy Night

Water Street near Maze and the old light plant taken last night by D.M.Newton

"Fuzzy Math" Down at City Hall

There were several topics discussed at the council meeting this past Monday that left many people scratching their heads with disbelief. First and most discussed was the $20,000 donation limit. The most confusion was caused by placing youth baseball both boys and girls teams under the donations category and I understand this was done at the City Treasurers request.

I don't think the funding of these projects can be or should be considered donations. When the cell tower was erected, the agreement was set in place to give the money to the youth baseball teams. End of story that is not a donation. It is something they are entitled to because of that agreement.

I have sat in on many Finance Committee meetings and the usual procedure for donations was for the city clerk to announce that he had a request from this organization or another organization looking for a donation from the city, the committee would then agree to it or not. Recreational units within the city were never included in the donation process that I recall. When it was brought up at the city council meeting, it should have been make very clear, that changes have been made and baseball is now considered a donation and of the $20,000 limit we are setting, automatically deduct 7.000 that we give to summer baseball and the remaining $13,000 will be the limit for anyone else asking for money. Even that seems to be a lot of money to give away for a city that is not in good financial condition at this time.

Your City At Work Tonight

Police agreement and donations topics for Peru council

Posted by wlpo on May 22, 2011

While some cities have stopped making donations to local non-profits, Peru continues to set aside $20,000 in the budget for such things. That’ll be one of the things they’ll talk about at their council meeting Monday evening.

The council could also approve an agreement with the Ottawa Police Department that would allow the Peru Police Department to provide and receive help from Ottawa officers.

The Peru City Council meets at 7:30pm Monday.

Do The Right Thing….. | LaSalle Insider

Do The Right Thing….. | LaSalle Insider

This sounds like Peru and La Salle residents need to keep a watchful eye on their government.

Freeway Pollution Causes Brain Damage, Alzheimer's

Freeway Pollution Causes Brain Damage, Alzheimer's

I first heard this on the cable news tonight and it just reinforced my thoughts on holding movies at the Maud Powell Plaza and sometimes summer band concerts. I understand that people are not mice but much medical research is done on laboratory mice especially with treatments and medications that will eventually find their way into our medical care.

Personally I attended one band concert at the Plaza a few years ago and I found it to me an unpleasant experience due to the noise and smell from the traffic. How can you enjoy a concert or a movie with cars contiually moving by on Rte 6 right within earshot of the audience. So now we are finding not only is it a distraction but a health hazard as well.

If you look at the city web site , you will find a series of numerous events that are at this point, simply titled Movie with Maud. The first will be held in a park and the remaining 6 will be held downtown in the Maud Powell Plaza and are yet unnamed on the schedule.

It is my opinion that the city would be better off to hold them in one of the numerous parks we do have in Peru and help the residents stay away from the polluted state highway routes. All people are vulnerable to respiratory problems but especially children and the older citizen and many of both groups are already dealing with asthma and various other respiratory problems.

There is not much we can do about the traffic but we can plan better and provide a location more suitable for our residents to enjoy music and movies.

Are you in favor of the 1/2% tax increase?

I'm not sure how I feel about the tax increase for repairing our infrastructure. The timing is not good because we are all digging a little deeper into our pockets for everyday neccessities. Is this being done to impress any business considering a move into Peru? Is it for the people who live and possibly work here every day? Give us an idea of what your plan is before asking for funding.

Last night Ald. Waldorf read off a long laundry list of large expenses needed by the water and sewer department.

What should our priorities be?

News Tribune - News - NCI - Mendota invests in facade restoration

News Tribune - News - NCI - Mendota invests in facade restoration

Using TIF funding to update and beautify the downtown area. I believe there is a TIF in downtown La Salle also as it was mentioned when Skoog's purchased the former D J's restaurant on Bucklin Street which had gone into foreclosure. Is Peru in need of a TIF downtown in order to attract business into the area?

Peru Recreation Summer Fun

Download the brochure from the city of Peru website. This link will take you directly to the location. Peru Summer Recreation

News Tribune - News - Local - United Way collecting books to give to children

News Tribune - News - Local - United Way collecting books to give to children

Condolences to the Family of Ald Joe Mikyska

Steve and I would like to express our condolences to the Mikyska family at his passing. I have known Joe for many years as we both frequently found ourselves at the same auction enjoying the search for our own particular treasures and even selling them on ebay if we were lucky Whether we agreed or disagreed on city matters, Joe was always polite and never carried a grudge, always a smile and a hello. Always soft spoken he expressed views as he saw them. Especially to his wife Claudia, I express my sincere sympathy. So many times at an auction Joe would look for some quilting items to bring home to you as he knew how much you enjoyed making quilts and especially appreciated how long it took to make them.

NT Econofoods Building in Peru SOLD

In tonights N.T. the following has been reported. The former Econofoods store in Peru has been sold ---and may become a farm supply retail store. Peru Meleer Real Estate LLC has purchased the former supermarket located on 38th Street east of Peru Mall fo $900,000 according to the La Salle County Recorder of Deeds. The sale was completed April 28 and recorded April 29. The registered agent for Peru Meleer appears to be an executive with Rural King Supply a chain of farm and home retail stores headquartered in Mattoon.

http://www.ruralking.com

Peru Puts Litigation on the Agenda for Monday

It appears that Peru has plans to fight for the North Commercial TIF... the following is on the agenda..NEW BUSINESS MOTION TO APPOINT SPECIAL COUNSEL REGARDING TIF LITIGATION If the only reason we are being sued is because of the new Holiday Inn Express and their request for being a part of the TIF, are we residents of Peru going to have to pay his legal bill by hiring special counsel? Is that the meaning or is this routine defense procedure?

News Tribune - News - Local - Vickrey says he's content with position, compensation

News Tribune - News - Local - Vickrey says he's content with position, compensation

Is this a deal for the city or is there a downside as he also serves on the La Salle County Board as an elected official and on the Peru Twp Board and I believe this was an appointed position.

Does Peru Need An Event Calendar for its Residents?

I just spent some time looking through the city web site and personally I find it user unfriendly. Actually if I am in Firefox browsing, the site does not completely open and I can't get beyond the first page and that is incomplete. Should the city have a calendar that is more than a list of recycling days and committee meetings? Do you want to know when events are actually taking place here in Peru? Parades, events come and go and I don't find a place where they are highlighted for the general public. Some time back, I suggested a large changeable calendar in a location to be determined but easily accessible to the general public. Maybe even outdoors to be seen by the public at evening and night hours. I know that LP has the changing sign near the eastern boundary of Peru but that changes so quickly that driving by you don't get a chance to completely read what is scrolling by. Has anyone seen something that would work for Peru in a rather central location? Are you missing events that you would have liked to attend? Let us know and maybe the people of this town can come up with some good ideas.