To the women who continue to work against intense odds in Peru to make a difference in our city, one we can be proud to call our home. Some of the "gentlemen" members of the city council don't seem to understand that it is not their town only but ours also and it belongs to our family and friends and we are all entitled to voice our opinions whether you happen to like it or not. And we hope that Mr Waldorf gets the point one of these days. And Mr. Ankiewicz also.
33 comments:
Those were the days in 1977. Helen Reddy and the fishnet tanktop. Mr. Waldorf has a excellent voice and a very good dancer, probably won't look as good as Helen in fishnet. Keep up the good work Lois and all your efforts. Helen is now retired and living in Australia, she is not available for the next Concerts for a Cause.
I think you're being very kind Lois by calling some members of our council "gentlemen". They seem to forget who they represent and who pays their stipend. They are disrespectful and arrogant. The mayor asks for public comment and when people get recognized and speak and express their opinion some council members (without being recognized by the floor) respond rudely. They don't have to agree with what citizens say or feel but they absolutely should do it in a respectful and adult like manner.
Food for thought: Should CSO members have a vote in the city's 4th of July celebration regarding their beer tent? Is this a conflict of interest?
9:29 A.M
I sincerely do believe it is most definitely a conflict of interest. After the show that the CSO members who happen to be aldermen put on, it shows most definitely that the CSO comes first and the residents of the city second. Round one has been won by beer but we have a long way to go and plans are beginning to put together for a change.
Very sad to think that Peru can only put together one event specifically for the residents of this community and that is centered around a beer garden. Do they even realize the role model they are for the young in this community? I know of no other town where an outside organization can dictate to the government of a city where and how they conduct an event. This shows how people can infiltrate into our governing process and vote for anything that may not be in the cities best interest. Most definitely they should abstain from voting on July 4 events if they are members of that organization.
By reading the Newstribune the entire point of reference was the CSO. Should they be allowed to have a beer garden? If they are not allowed to have a beer garden then we still have 5 or 6 bars that will sell beer and alcohol. To replace the CSO beer garden with kids activities makes very little sense. Think about kids games after dark? Thats not very responsible. Profits with kids games to pay for the fireworks, good luck with that. Kids games prior to the fireworks? Remember most come down to Water street for the fireworks(at dusk). The need for any porta potties was even discussed with Ald. Perez saying we won't need porta potties because we won't sell any beer? I think he should just simplfy his thought process and say Cancel the July 3rd celebration. Maybe 98% will again agree with him, like the sales tax issue.
If it is a conflict of interest why doesn't alderman Perez put it up for council vote. You can't lose Rodney!
11:36 AM
Lets take your first point. Should they be allowed to have a beer garden?
First most festivities that have a beer garden do NOT have a series of taverns right next to them. For example, La Salle has a beer garden in a park away from most taverns. Hennepin has a beer garden away from the fireworks. Oglesby has beer garden away from local taverns. Do you know see the difference? There is no need for another beer venue.
#2 kids games after dark. The fireworks began at dusk and for hours before that people are beginning to wander down to Water Street. During those daylight hours, nothing for a family. Several years ago the Peru Band eliminated the July 4 concert, so you will have adult bands in the late afternoon/evening. This is not an event to make money, it is an event to provide fun and entertainment for families.
#3 We will always need a small number of porta potties but the establishments serving the alcohol will all have restrooms for their patrons. If ever this would develop into a day long event, you would need more of them.
#4 cancel the fireworks. Maybe the idea should be the city should not have to pay for them, at least only minimally. Donations throughout the year should be the way it is funded. If you don't pay for it, it does not happen.
The CSO does not donate to the fireworks. Your tax dollar pays for them. Why should the CSO have control of what goes on on Water Street? I just don't get it.
That's exactly right Lois. We already have X amount of establishments on Water Street that serve alcohol on the 4th. We have people bringing their own alcohol in coolers. We have people coming down to water street already well on their way to being inebriated (according to some of the aldermen). So - WHY THEN DO WE NEED ONE MORE PLACE TO SELL ALCOHOL? The only answer I can come up with is that it must create a large profit for the CSO. And, if that is the case then that is telling me they sell one heck of a lot of alcohol and are indeed contributing to the drinking problems that occur or may occur.
.
Haven't blogged in a long time but found this article out of the Ottawa Daily Times and thought it was important to share. Maybe our alderman (that are CSO members) should be reminded of this horrible tragedy as they promote their "we've always done it this way" beer gardens.
"The family of a girl killed in a traffic crash last summer four miles west of Grand Ridge is suing the City of Wenona, An American Legion Post, several bars, the driver's father, the driver's estate, and a man who lived near the scene of the crash.
.........
The lawsuit also said Black obtained alcohol from or through Smitty's Tap in Leonore, a Casey's General Store, Steve's Boardwalk Tap in Wenona, the Wenona American Legion Post, the city of Wenona and the Wenona Chamber of Commerce.
An annual festival, Wenona Days, began the day of the crash. A beer garden was part of the event.
The lawsuit is also accusing Joseph W. Foster, who lived near the crash site, of "negligently and carelessly" being on the road and waving his arms at the pickup as it approached, causing Black to lock the brakes and lose control of the vehicle.
Also, I do not believe CSO members that are alderman should comment/vote on this issue. Major conflict of interest.
Monday's meeting should prove to be another interesting one. The council will be voting on the 1/2% sales tax increase. Am interested in how each alderman votes.
Lois, well stated and your examples make sense. You need to tutor Rod on the thought process. Thanks for your common sense solutions. You are right on the point that sometimes you don't need to make money just provide entertainment. That is what this celebration is about. Most of the people that watch the fireworks are probably watching it from their home, I would hate to deprive them of the entertainment value the celebration offers. I still am a tad lost when it comes to how the CSO is the problem? If the CSO decides to forget about it, where is this helpful to solving the alcohol problem. What will happen is that the closest bars will expand their operations and have a bigger beer garden, live entertainment and donate less in the form of bus and portable potties. And its doubtful and rightfully so that those for profit establishments will donate decorations or fund future city events.
Anon your point is well taken and alcohol is a problem for many. I do not know if the city of peru has a liability for the drinking establishments on the 4th of July. Those who sell liquor are required by the State of Illinois to provide a proof of dramshop insurance.
How is the City of Peru being exploited by the CSO? And how do CSO members benefit from the perceived exploits of the CSO? That is how you define conflict of interest. The CSO is defined as the Citizens service organization and has been around a long time. Many of us are curious to a answer on the above questions.
Here is a theory. Mayor Harl has requested Ald. Perez to bring up simple issues to hide the real problem. Higher taxes. Rodney's a good soldier and playing his part in the tax and spend scam.
What I find difficult to accept is the idea that we establish rules, regulations, and resolutions repeatedly at council meetings. However, it seems as though there are exceptions to them. An example of this would be the signs on the corner of Shooting Park and 251. As per our building inspector all were removed except he determined the church sign could remain. He also determined that a builder could leave his trailers where they were parked even though there is no construction being done. I feel a law, a regulation, an ordinance should apply to all individuals or no one.
BUILDING INSPECTOR?
2:43PM
How is the city being exploited by the CSO? The city is composed of about 10,000 people who are being exploited because they have no choice about what will be in place on July 4. They have no choice because the majority of the aldermen have chosen to belong to the CSO and imho, this seems to give them a feeling of power, almost an invincibility. Proof of that is the manner in which Ald. Dave Waldorf burst out in anger when I made one comment that was "about the discussion being all about the CSO". In other words "How dare I"
the general consensus is that because they want to do what they want, they can. How do they benefit is simply that it satisfies their egos. I am sure these comments do not apply to all members but it surely seems to fit most of the members on the council.
Should the City of Peru allow all vendors to be part of the 4th celebration? How fair is it when you allow 3-4 more beer vendors on Water Street. Someone has to be in charge of the event and wheather its city staff or CSO somebody has to organize the event. You have established business on Water Street and why allow more food or bars to be part of the event. I also believe the businesses should play a part in the expenses like cleanup, potties, etc. Is it profitable for Peru Rec. to organize the entire event?
I remember over 50 some years ago, the aldermen going door to door in their wards, soliciting donations for fireworks. You gave a dollar usually and they gave you a tag saying I donated to the Fireworks. Can you see any of our current aldermen doing that? What exactly does the CSO do for the citizens of Peru. I know they have a beer garden on the 4th, for their own benefit, the city gets nothing. And they have a big picnic in Aug or Sept., for themselves. What do they do with the money they earn?
Many of us have talked about Water Street being nothing more than a dirty old industrial area which it is. Abandoned buildings of former businesses, power grids, old garages, a street worn down by constant traffic from cement trucks. And the spot where the Old National Sheet Metal factory was taken down was full of industrial contamination and probably some still there and this is where the CSO has their beer garden. In contrast we have some beautiful parks with grass and trees, flowers and even a lake all of which seem so appropriate to bring families and friends together for a Holiday celebration. And most of them don't get that much use.
The city is busy soliciting for a new pool, now fireworks. Good Luck with that one. How about a sales tax increase for fireworks? Is the CSO a secret society? I thought I tuned in to the History Channel and watched a documentary on the group. Do they meet in secret places and have a secret greeting? I do know they have a soup called a Mulligan that if you drink it, it gives you vitality. And I heard the grand master makes the mulligan every year for the last 86 years. What else?
Monday, August 29, 2011 at 7:30 P.M. the Mayor of Peru is supposedly going to present the input of a 1/2% increase in the retail sales tax for the City of Peru. This motion could be approved or defeated by the city council, or if the city council has a tie vote of 4 to 4 the Mayor would than be entitled to the tie breaking vote.
Historically the two cash cows in the city have been the electric plant and the retail sales tax ( a very enterprizing idea because of the long wait for property taxes and the short wait for retail sales taxes enacted by a past Mayor and a local developer) both of which were always left alone by intellgent city decision makers rather than disturbed. It must be remembered that the surrounding cities of Peru only produce a smitten of retail sales tax in comparsion to Peru's average of $5,000,000.00's per year.
The reward to the citizens of Peru and the city would be a updated infrastructure on a right now all at once project. Initially the proposal was for $5,000,000.00 with a sunset of 5 years and destined strictly for road work. Presently after two town hall meetings the sum is now $7,000,000.00's, whether there is a sunset on this proposal is not known and what the entire amount of money is destined for has become very confusing.
The only historical comparison that can be made is Parkside Grade School which has been financed by a increase in Peru's retail tax of 1/2 % from 6.5% to 7%. This was not a orginal concept thought up by anyone locally as the bigger burbs have been doing this for years. In a small community such as ours towns from the surrounding area who support their own schools by means of a propery tax did not appreciate it but since it was for education and basically placed Peru's sales tax on par with everyone elses they have accepted it and still do their mainstream shopping in Peru. Will the out of town shopper want to come to Peru to spend their $'s in a town which has a higher sales tax than their own to support Peru's roads? Will the gross sales of Peru decrease to the amount that the city will make less sales tax revenue in the future after the tax increase than it did in the past?
When Parksdide Grade School was supported by a increase of sales tax the populace was allowed to vote for or against the increase by referendum. This administration is not presenting a referendum to the populace but Mayor Harl told the attendees at a city council meeting that it can be accomplished without a citywide vote because of home rule. Does Mayor Harl realize that his stewardship of 10,000 strong have been and still are in the worst economic era since the Depression of 1929 and that at the present time his infrastrucure plans are a want rather than a need? The sreets can be maintained as they always have been and a proposal such as his brought up in better economic times.
The American way is "no taxation without representation" and this is exactly what the citizens of Peru and Peru business' are going to have to endure if they are not presented with a referendum. The Mayor has stated that he wants this tax enacted soon and there is not enough time for a referendum - this is his fault and not all of the others involved (the citizens of Peru) who will be blamed for it.
The answer of "if you don't like it don't vote for me in two years" does not resolve the present damage that can be done to Peru's retail sales tax for whatever the $7,000,000.00 will be spent on.
Personally I would not want to be recorded in the history of Peru politics that I was the city offical who distured one of the two big money makers of Peru. Without a referendum, Monday night you may have one person and one person alone, Mayor Scott Harl, in the situation of a city council tie vote voting for 10,000 people without any recognition of want they want besides two stacks of numbered post cards representing a household rather than a individual voter in a closed ballot booth.
If you have the Mulligan you will be granted eternal life. Its a mixture of local game, not so fresh vegetables, and a secret mixture of spices. Its also available at a local Deli. After you drink the soup you will have a new outlook on Life. It will want to make you volunteer and give back to the City of Peru. You may want to put up Christmas decorations or be part of the planning for the next centennial celebration. You may want to sing a song(like Helen Reddy) about pride for Peru. You may even like to have a cold beer(its still legal) and socialize. Some of the members have different backgrounds to share. If one of the members has too much Mulligan and brings up a new idea, the other members will encourage them to follow through and help Peru. They have even adopted a road to cleanup every year. Can you believe they had that idea before Ald.Parez! I have heard that a few of the members of the CSO had too much Mulligan one night and decided to run for office and serve our City. Yes many may have a conflict of interest and some of us call it public service.
1:29 PM
Mulligan stew used to be served at picnics held on Shooting Park Road where the Maples now stands and I think it was for the workers at the Illinois Zinc Factory.
What we are seeing on the council from a few is not what I would call public service but more like service for a few.
I don't go the fireworks and have not since they moved it down to Water Street. The first person in our family to go to the event went this year and said the fireworks were nice but the rest of it was not.
11:01 AM
Good questions but since they don't allow women, I don't know the answers.
How can that be in the year 2011, this organization that claims to do for the city remains all men? If women are interested in public service, must they form their own organization? Someone archaic, isn't it? and because the city continues to accept those terms, they too are contributing to this also. I guess it is kind of like the old public schools, the boys used one entrance and the girls another and each one was clearly marked at the entrance as to what gender was to use that door.
I think what members of the CSO and members of the council don't quite get is that the people will go where-ever the fireworks are held. They are not down on Water Street because they like the location or because the CSO has a beer tent. They are there to watch the fireworks. Move them to Baker Lake and the crowds will follow. Move them back to Washington Park and once again the crowds will follow. Get it straight aldermen and CSO members its not the location that's attracting the people, it's the fireworks and nothing else.
Anon 1:57 your point is simple the problem is not the CSo beer tent, that has been said many times and most get it. The problem is that a council member believes the perceived problem is the CSO beer tent. The idea of a event is to attract people and Water Street looks to be the most logical solution. A simple beer garden does not seem to create problems, why mess with it?
I would believe to think that the CSO would allow women to be part of the organization. The organization has the public service mission just like the Rotary, Lions, Elks, Eagles, Kiwanis, Zonta, etc. Why would the City be involved in any of these membership organizations? Or look over the political party affiliations. If all of the city officials are part of the Democratic party than who do they represent. Maybe go into union affiliations, lets not we already know where thats going. Point made is that the CSO members probably don't have world domination or even city control in the bylaws.
I would really like to know when and how the CSO became so involved in city events. Putting more women on the council should help break the cycle. D. Potthoff always abstained when a vote was taken on the indoor pool because of his association with the Y. Doesn't it seem reasonable to think that when events come up at which the CSO would involve itself, that they (meaning anyone with a membership) should also abstain. Especially since there is so much controversy at the present. Let decisions be made by impartial council members.
The problem with regards to parking at Baker Lake should the fireworks be moved to that location has been solved. Apparently parking is now allowed on the grass and in the park itself as has been witness both this weekend and last. Also, apparently dogs are now allowed in the park too. That takes care of one major problem with regards to finding a new location for the fireworks.
Apparently the Red Cross had some kind of doings in Baker Lake park today. Cars and dogs were spotted all over the park. I searched high and low on our city web-site and calendar and found no mention of this event. Are we just allowing organizations to use the park without permission? Couldn't that possibly create problems?
All organizations should ask for permission to use the public parks. If they don't the ordinance pertaining to park usage should be enforced.
In regards to the fireworks and all the controversy, change the date. Its on the 3rd, unless of rain delay, that would cut down on a lot of the issues with the alcohol. Its not where its at, its when. Most are off on the actual 4th of July.
Post a Comment