On the Peru F.D., you will see a well organized web site with pictures and information on the firemen who protect our homes, families and businesses.
Now take a minute and try to found some content on the ambulance web site that gives you the same assured feeling that they have it all together. It states it is under construction and it has not changed one bit in the last 3 years that I have been writing about the city. It is always just the same eerie music and nothing of importance about this organization that is providing emergency health services to our community. To me it says something that I am not too comfortable with, does it give you safe feeling?
19 comments:
absolute shame that they didn't list the retirees on the site for the fire dept. typical
Just read the request for donations sent out by the Peru Ambulance service stating that they are a not for profit organization and "we levy no taxes to pay for services or equipment" (letter quote)
That is true but each year they receive 48,000 from the city of Peru. They also just requested new pagers from the 911 Board of Peru City, they want 42 of them @ $246.00 each.(From your tax dollars) The committee which consists of Joe Hogan,, Richard Vlastnik, Doug Bernabei, Bob Pyska, Jeff King and Mark Roberson agreed to purchase 6 pagers now and 6 each month for the following 6 months.
According to the letter, PVAS also wants to purchase new cardiac monitos for all of their ambulances at a cost of approximately $120,000 and to purchase ventilation machines that will allow us to help patients that are in respiratory distress. Also to upgrade our medical equipment and extrication gear to new industry standards.
I have always assumed that the Peru F. D. provided extrication and not the ambulance service. Any fire personnel reading this, can you tell us whether you or the ambulance service does extrication.
I understand that their Board presently consists of Ald. Ankiewicz, ex Ald O'Beirne, ex Ald. Don Piano, Director Mark Roberson and another member to be named soon, possibly a current alderman. When the Board could not get enough current elected officials on board, they changed the by laws to included ex elected officials of the city.
Did I understand you right Lois that they want 42 new pagers? Why so many? If they're not on call can't they hand their pager over to the EMT that is on call? Can't they even afford their own pagers? Why would you even employ so many with what - 5 ambulances?
Does Roberson still own/manage a private security business? I know that he hired quite a few people to work at those events under his management? Heard he provided services years ago at the speedway and other big functions. Hopefully, the ambulance service is not funding his other business. I know that I have seen the PVAS SUV vehicle at these functions.
ANON 1:55 Surely you jest. I hope this is not a true statement by you because it would prove that the citizens of Peru are once again being used. Wasn't he also picked up for writing bad checks or something like that?
How many calls each day, week or year does the ambulance cover. And they do it well. Its a public safety benefit for the community to have a top notch police, fire and ambulance. The 911 board is set up to help with community needs based on emergency 911 situations. The support of the radios is a extentsion of effective services. Many fire departments provide extrication equipement. Why would a ambulance service duplicate the same equipement? I don't need a fuzzy web site, I want someone to respond when we call 911. Does anybody really care if the photos of the staff or pictures of the machines or retirees on on the web site? I would think NO. We need life saving service and my thanks goes out to those who sit on 911, Ambulance boards for their time and efforts. Your doing a great job.
I agree that we want exactly what you wrote about but the point of the web site is that it is a half done piece of work and the only thing they have added is a Paypal donation button. The point is either do something well or don't so it all. It presents of very poor impression of the ambulance service and that is not good.
I would still like to see a process of integrating IVCH medical staff into the PVAS board. Not sure why the general public, with the exception of maybe one Peru citizen representative, sit on the board. Am I missing something?
Doesn't the PVAS board consist of mainly Peru representatives (if not all of them)?
According the bylaws of PVAS, the board can only consist of Peru elected officials, current and past. That means their choice is very limited and excludes anyone who was not a mayor or city council member at one time in their life. Not sure what those type of people have in common that enables them to be knowledgeable about a medical not for profit organization.
Thinking of how an independent organization that depends on your tax dollars through the city and also must hire and pay not only for their emts but also for a CPA and an attorney (Brandt) and pay for the purchase and upkeep of their vehicles. Plus we know that the director has an M plate on his SUV that is used both for business and personal use.
Where should the line be drawn between what you as a city tax payer pays for and how can we eliminate any duplication of services? EX:equipment that the F.D. may already have plus legal and accountant fees that could be handled by salaried city employees?
Does this city in spite of debt, now have an abundance of money?
Another thing that I don't understand is why the minutes of the closed session meetings are not published after a 6 month period. I thought that was Robert's rule or some kind of government ordinance.
I cannot understand how a city council or committee meeting can be declared a open meeting and only elected officials at the meeting are given ALL the paperwork being discussed i.e. the city treasurer and/or city clerk will distribute paperwork to city officials but not to everyone attending the meeting. Yet when the agenda is passed around it is given to everyone to sign that is in the room.
Anon 2:46 Good question. My only answer is that there are not enough trees left in the area to publish all the closed session meetings that have taken place since transparency was voted in along with change.
Did PVAS ever provide their books to the City. I see the comment about the CPA and attorney Brandt. I want to know what the annual expenses are for those individuals. Are the tax returns public?
I just went to the attorney general's website to view the list of Illinois charities. Searched through the 61354 list and found PVAS. Reviewed the tax returns and audit reports back to 2006. Interesting reading. Noticed that Hopkins became the new auditor in 2007. Also, noticed fees collected from the speedway in 2006 but none in years after that. Where did that income go in later years? Looked at some of the expense accounts. Might be worthy of it's own topic. As far as I am concerned, this organization has entirely too much city involvement and "not so arms length relationships."
8:03PM
I will see if I can find answers for you.
If Mr Roberson or his girlfriend are driving the PVAS SUV at the LaSalle speedway while they are wearing there Uniforms for the private security firm he runs, Is pvas liable for any accidents that vehicle is involved in. I`m sure his security firm has liability insurance, but PVAS will be named in a lawsuit because they own the vehicle and are giving him permission to use it for his security firm. With M plates on the truck, could the city of peru be named in the lawsuit also? As for him using it for his security firm, That is fact. Witnessed by many.
Are you serious ANON 10:50? This PVAS organization is a mystery that never seems to get solved. Question after question has been brought up over the years regarding it and its leaders.
I also know that Mark has been in the PVAS SUV while conducting personal business for his other company. Out of town.
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