They were sent to us in our local newspaper. You can follow the link given in the article to see a copy of it.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Your Tax Dollars at Work in Peru
News clipping removed at the request of the News Tribune:...... I am assuming both Mr Vickery and Mayor Harl had asked for this news coverage of the second edition of the Nifty Fifty Things to do in Peru, so here it is for your viewing. The Mayor already knows what I think of this and now I am turning it over to my readers. Is this a good way to spend our tax dollars?
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23 comments:
An epiphany (from the ancient Greek ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia, "manifestation, striking appearance") is the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify that the claimant has "found the last piece of the puzzle and now sees the whole picture," or has new information or experience, often insignificant by itself, that illuminates a deeper or numinous foundational frame of reference.
I cannot understand how intelligent people can consider the things listed on this flyer as "Nifty Things to Do". They are, in my opinion, nothing more than businesses in Peru. I think a much better (and less laughable) title could have been applied to this unnecessary piece of paper. Gas stations, grocery stores, banks, etc. are not nifty things that will attract tourists to our community. The citizens of Peru already know where to get gas, do their banking, and buy groceries. So why were they distributed in our local newspaper and were the distributed outside of the Illinois Valley area?
I agree with the concept of promoting businesses in Peru, but do not agree with the way it was done. I would also like to know if the flyer was inserted in newspapers out the the Illinois Valley area? Because that is where they should have gone.
This is nothing more than another place for businesses to advertise using our tax dollar to help subsidize it and them. As stated by the blogger above I re-iterate "these are not nifty things to do". Maybe we could put our money to better use by establishing some nifty things to do or working with out surrounding communities who do have nifty things to do. We are nothing more than the shopping mecca of the Illinois Valley. Businesses do not attract tourists - attractions (such as Starved Rock, the Canal Boat, the Carus Mansion, etc.) do. I believe the concept is there but the presentation is way off.
This idea is GARBAGE and should be considered as such. We need jobs and lower taxes from this Mayor and we get this GARBAGE....
What a shame and useless exhibit of gray matter.
11:11 What a great idea! Work with surrounding communities that have nifty things to do. But is Peru capable of working with,for example LaSalle? Surrounding areas could offer the nifty and Peru could offer the fifty businesses.
Bingo 1:34 I'm 11:11 and I think we've got it but can we get our governments to agree to it. Money could be saved, money could be made, friendships could be established, and communities could grow. What a brilliant, simple concept that could benefit all involved.
But don't you wonder if the Mayor and Vickery DO believe these are nifty things. I don't think so but since we have nothing else they are trying to influence the people into believing that it is nifty to visit the grocery or gas station.
Looking around the Illinois Valley, I think that Ottawa and Princeton have figured out how to bring tourists into town. La Salle is progressing and offering a bit more each year. Peru needs to open their eyes and look around and at least have more than July 3 each year plus a few car shows.
I wonder if this flyer is placed in local motels. I travel often and see this quite frequently in the motels I stay in. Most of the time the pamphlet is a good resource if you are looking for a decent meal and do not want to go to the "chain" restaurants that are frequently located near the motels.
Good point Brian. Very fair and thoughtful comment on your part. I'm actually surprised you chose not to pile on with the "deep thinkers" like 1:25 p.m.
Nifty Fifty, Dirty Thirty, Shmundred Hundred!
I could care less what they call it. It's a basic advertising and marketing tool promoting the city of Peru. Not a lot of money spent. Not a real complicated idea. In my opinion, not worthy of the attention or the criticism its getting.
To 1:25 p.m. - Have you been keeping track of actual job creation in Peru recently? Have you been keeping track of the proposed expansion and job creation expected to come to Peru in the near future? Have you been keeping track of new construction of commercial and industrial operations announced in Peru recently? Have you really?
Or, do you just sit and stew about that sales tax increase while you wait for something, anything, to criticize without offering any alternative ideas or suggestions. Do you bring anything other than your rage to this blog?
How "un-nifty" of you.
Steve, as always your comments are well thought out and proficiently stated. Would you please answer the questions you have asked 1:25 p.m. so that all of the citizens would have this information available to them:
1. What is the actual job creation in Peru recently? What is the expense of this job creation and how much of this expense will Peru have to pay of it?
2. What is the proposed expansion and job creation expected to come to Peru in the near future? What is the expected cost of this proposed expansion and job creation and how much of this expense will Peru have to pay of it?
3. What new construction of commercial and industrial operations have been announced in Peru recently? What in dollars will be the cost of these operations and what and how much of this cost will Peru have to pay of it?
Now that the state has updated Route 6 going through downtown Peru what do you believe should be done to bring the downtown structures up to date and what planning should be considered, and what should the city offer for incentives?
Being that the above answers to my questions are very lengthy please feel free to answer in several phases and a little at a time Thank You
10:37 AM
Sorry Steve but the only use we found for the expensive advertising is to make paper airplanes, just the right weight of paper.
I already know as a resident of Peru where all those businesses are and have known for a long time as I see their ads in our local paper.
It would be an excellent idea to join with other local small towns and advertise things to do, local restaurants and maybe even bars to visit. The economy of today asks that we learn to share with others to bring people to the area particularly since Peru has no historical or entertaining venues that anyone can find appealing to a tourist market. Isn't that what the brochure was aiming for?
The La Salle Peru TWP H.S. is the one example in this entire area that we can point to with pride as being a success. Students from Peru La Salle. Peru Twp and Utica are all sent to the same school. They make friends with students from all towns and I doubt that the Peru students only associate with each other and the same with all the other students.
And when they graduate and if they remain in the area, they soon find out that that we don't have the same outlook. Peru residents were told they were the Leader of the Valley and La Salle working to make their residents as proud has signs in their yard to Believe in La Salle.
Why don't we have signs all over both towns saying I Believe in the Illinois Valley or Proud to Live in the Illinois Valley. Something that brings people together instead of dividing them. Maybe some day in the future the economy of the world will require us to be one Police Department and one FD/EMS service.
Don't you remember when you were possibly a student at LP Twp H.S.. we didn't care if the best basketball, football or baseball player lived in La Salle or Peru, we just wanted to be the best and be the winning team. And then we grew up and found up that is no longer the way to win.
Sorry I neglected to add Oglesby to the list of students attending LPTHS.
I think Steve is the only one with a little intelligence. He is positive, and can see what the Mayor is trying to do. Its too bad the 4th ward didn't elect him, He could have brought a lot of knowledge and intellengence to the Council. Not always negective ideas. g
12:52PM
g
I am all for GOOD ideas that will benefit the city of Peru in a positive intelligent manner, this was not one of them and targets the wrong people.
The problems is we are always saying "it is only XXX amount of dollars, not much at all" using only basic math skills, one can see that it does add up.
To 10:37 - Pulled the old "Switch-a-Roo" on me huh? OK, I'll bite, but just a nibble. I don't have exact numbers of new hires, nor am I going to take the time to do the research. I will answer your, (my), questions in general terms using my very own recollection thank you very much.
New construction, Buffalo Wild Wings / # of jobs 20 to 30.
New construction, Petsmart or Petco, or whichever it is / # of jobs 20 to 30.
New construction, St. Margarets Hospital affiliated service offices / # of jobs maybe a few i guess.
Rural King / # of jobs about 50 or so.
Proposed new construction of an industrial sand refining facility near James Hardie / # of jobs about a dozen or so if I remember the newspaper article correctly.
Proposed new construction of an Olive Garden restaurant, featuring the "Tuscany" architectural theme no less / # of jobs 20 to 30 or more I suppose.
Proposed expansion and improvements to EAKAS Corporation / # of jobs or re-hires from previous lay-offs maybe a dozen or two I beleive the newspaper said.
By the way, don't tell anybody that I told you the company in question is "EAKAS!" It's a secret.
I may have overlooked a small business or two so if anybody knows of more jobs and or new businesses in Peru feel free to join the converstation.
As far as your question of what the cost to the city of Peru is or will be for any job creation or new business start-ups....I think you should conduct your own "hard-hitting' investigation so that you can then provide all of us with the answers to that question. If you can demonstrate that any of the current or proposed growth in Peru has or will come at too high a price and is not a good thing for the citizens of Peru, I would be interested in hearing all about it. You go girlfriend!
I think Peru is experiencing extraordinary growth considering the overall economic conditions nationwide.
Sorry to disappoint you, but I am not at all interested in tackling your "Bonus Question" regarding Route 6 and the downtown architecture. But thanks for asking.
Don't we have a committee for that?
Steve, If Peru doesn't have a committee for downtown incentives I am sure that by sundown we'll have six or seven created. There are committees under different titles but with the very same people that it appears they combined a couple of the committees. Asked your opinion because you are very progressive but keep your ideas within reality. Your girlfriend IAMNOT!
To Steve and 1:48PM
All you state are a DIRECT RESULT OF MAYOR BAKER BEFORE leaving office. They were ALL in the works except Olive Garden.
I wonder if we will see the Union Rat when Olive Garden uses outside construction to build its facility. That is a great accomplishment for the city of Peru to advertise, right Steve!
Ask Mayor Harl ?
4:34 p.m. - Sincerely, there is a Downtown Re-development Committee which meets fairly regularly. I have learned that there are ongoing basic disagreements betweeen some members of this committee on how best to move forward with a plan for downtown. As you might suspect these disagreements occur between longtime members and newly appointed members. I have been told there is considerable dysfunction on this committee at least in part due to the "overbearing" presence of a Mr.Frank Taylor who apparently feels that he has authority over this group. Which I beleive he certainly does "not". In fact, Mr. Taylor has indicated that he does not feel this group is even required to abide by the rules of the Open Meetings Act. He is mistaken about that.
The city does have a program for low interest loans for small businesses and it has been used successfully. I do not beleive there is much if any of an effective "incentive program" currently in place. Should there be? Of course. City leaders, elected and otherwise, need to encourage more aggressive initiatives from this Downtown committee. In others words, it seems to me somebody needs a "boot in the ass". And maybe there needs to be some more attrition on this committee. Freshen it up a bit. What do you think?
To 7:54 a.m. / aka Mr. Caps Lock - Ooooh Nooo!
Not so! Besides, I never suggested that Harl be given sole credit for everything I listed. Therefore, if you were truly a "Genuine Guy", you would refrain from suggesting Harl recieve no credit at all.
But, your anti-labor comment gives you away as something less than a genuine guy, doesn't it?
P.S. You remain predictable. I saw your Caps Lock comment coming before I even posted mine.
Anon 7:54 A.M. The Mayor of Peru is not responsible for the representation of Local 393 and should not be held accountable for it. I personally doubt if he has ever been at a Local 393 meeting.
The Mayor is responsible for the administration of the City of Peru and not who works on a building project. The unions have business managers to conduct union business who I am positive will answer any question that you present to them about union business and activities.
Steve has been way too kind to you as I personally know that over 50% of the development listed was accomplished recently.
Mayor Harl, Mayor Baker, Steve or most of us could care less on who was or is in office when the above mentioned developments were done. The important thing is that they have been done and that more is accomplished in the future. Personally I thank Mayor Baker for all that he has done and I am sure if a list was complied to acknowledge everything he did in 44 years we would all be astonished.
I can see why you have a anti-union attitude as there is no I in the word team.
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