“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

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Paramedic Service of Illinois Mtg Tonight

Meeting held in the community room of Peru city hall. Lots of people in attendance including many PVAS employees, Peru Firemen, Aldermen Ankiewicz,Radtke, Lukosus, Perez, Mayszak, Ferrari, Mayor Harl and some former officials as Donald Baker, Donald Piano, Joe Witczak and Jack O"Beirne.

A professional presentation was made to give all details of how a company such as PSI runs a fire based ambulance service. They take care of all details of employment, basically they are a staffing Service that does the training, hiring and all other employee related services that are required.

The city is responsible for all the equipment needed. There was definite resentment noted by former officials who wish no changes made to the status quo.

Most of us know that management at PVAS is lacking and although the employees continue to function adequately, there is a need for improvement in all areas of the business. I do not know at the present time whether the 48,000 per year that the city gives to the service will continue to be enough. We were told that PVAS will hold a public meeting similar to PSI where they will give a presentation and field questions as did PSI this evening. Many questions about the board of directors at PVAS have existed for many years and I do believe that Ankiewicz, O'Beirne and Piano are presently on the Board. One almost gets the feeling, they regard this as their own personal possession.

52 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like a new fulltime job for the fire chief. One gets the feeling that we are creating another city entity we already have. Ald. Perez leading the charge? A firemen looking for a fulltime job? I wonder if he will research how much money the city will save if they contract out all public safety services. Yes, you can contract fire, police and save alot more than $48,000. Quite possible to save hundreds of thousands and what about those long term benefits all municipal employees receieve, maybe millions. I doubt Ald. Perez is really looking to save money! Its a smokescreen! I am sure he will do the researchchingching.

Steve said...

My position on this issue has been the same since I first became aware that PVAS was controlled by a board of directors completely lacking the qualifications or credentials to effectively oversee an ambulance service.
The mis-management of PVAS by the former board as well as the current board of directors has created this situation and it may be too late to save PVAS.
If the current board wants PVAS to survive they must step down and be replaced by board members who have the knowledge and understanding to right the ship before it sinks.

Anonymous said...

Steve, more personal attacks. And you giving the PVAS a ultimatum, maybe you have more input on the business of the city than most of us understand. I would hate to see Peru lose a lifesaving organization because you continue to focus on personal paybacks.

Anonymous said...

If Ald. Perez wants to save money let's have Peru Fire go back to a full Volunteer / Paid on Call dept. There is no need for any full time firemen in a city that size ...... That is were the Fire Dept. is not also the EMS provider. Just saying!

Peru Town Forum said...

10:47 AM

Not personal attacks but simply the truth. We have been talking about PVAS for the last 3 years and the only change that has occurred is the dath of Joe Mikyska who was on the Board of Directors. We still have Roberson as management, we still have Ankiewicz, O'Beirne on the board with Dave Potthoff now on board to be looking at the financials. We also added Don Piano an ex alderman and that is like also including Mayor Baker It is still more of the same year after year.
We all know that the property on which the ambulance building sits was formerly the property of Mayor Baker as part of the Westclox complex.
We need a fresh start with totally new management and with a board of directors that is responsible to the people and to the city.

Anonymous said...

Do you really believe this is about money? Don Bakers comment was that it will cost more money to have your own ambulance service. Rodney Perez was that he is looking to save money by having a Peru service operated by the fire department. Who do we believe the experience of Baker or the eperience of Perez?

Steve said...

To 10:47 a.m. - I'm sure we would all hate to see PVAS fail. What you don't seem to understand is the fact that the PVAS board of directors has allowed the lead-up to this crisis that is currently playing out. They have to be held responsible for allowing LaSalle to fall directly into the waiting arms of PSI. That never had to happen.
Petty and selfish issues of control and power sharing that this board of directors bungled terribly.
FYI - Not personal attacks, just facts. Instead of blindly defending the failure of the PVAS Board of Directors, why don't you provide the readers of this blog why I have it all wrong. Give us some examples of the qualifications, knowledge, and expertise that would qualify any current or previous board member to oversee an ambulance service.
Finally, if I had as much input into the business of the city of Peru as you and a few others give me credit for I would have encouraged cleaning house on that board long ago.
Instead, I remain a political bystander just like you. The only difference between you and I being that I research and pay attention before I make a comment.

Peru Town Forum said...

11:37 AM

It is not about who we believe as we all make our own judgments. Do I believe Don Baker...No, he has had too much to do with PVAS for many years, he appointed the current director and when the decline began, no changes were made. Through the relationship he has with so many of the board members to this day, we know there is a connection. What I don't know but we need to remember that this is all about HOW this business is managed and its failure to prove that it is the best it can be.
Watching La Salle move to form their own is understandable and definitely the right thing to do. For too many years Peru has thumbed their nose at LaSalle and treated them as second class neighbors.
We now know that they no longer need our ambulance service and can stand on their own 2 feet and be proud of it. Doesn't that tell us something?
It is very possible with good management, we still would have one service between 2 cities.

Time for a good thorough look at what goes on behind closed doors at PVAS. Remember again this is not about employees and no one has ever said it was.

The people of Peru should be entitled to get a good look at how this service which they are obliged to use operates because we have no options to use another.

Your second question is about Perez who is a currently elected representative and is able to look at this without past connections, lets give him a chance and we will find out whether he is right or wrong in time.

Anonymous said...

PVAS is not overstaffed. There is a core group of full and part time employees of about 15 EMTs and paramedics. Beyond that there are about 15-20 POC or paid on call personnel....just like the fire Dept. That means that they cover open shifts vacation days, sick days, transfers Etc. This gives these EMts amd Paramedics a chance to make money. This also alleviates the need to pay overtime to full timers. Smart I think. Most importantly though these people from OUR COMMUNITY are also the ones that show up for all call such as a large accident, multiple calls at the same time, Etc. An out of town FOR PROFIT company will not have these extra people hanging around at home, the mall, Etc to cover these situations. I know several firemen that have EMT certifications and when a larger event like an accident large fire Etc happens they will show up at the fire department not the ambulance service.. They are great at what they do...but.... THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE EMT's. PVAS does a great job, and they have been doing it for over 30 years. Keep up the good work PVAS!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Baker's connection is in the past and you stated the obvious. Elected or not Perez has a various obvious connection, he is a paid firefighter. Doesn't that tell us something. The decision LaSalle had made may have alot to do with the past. Should Peru follow the same direction? Judge the service on the current personnel, the current qualifications, the current taxable cost, the call times, the training, the equipement. Your playing out a crisis and calling it facts. What are the facts that will eliminate the PVAS from providing lifesaving services to residents of Peru. I hope its not that Former Mayor Don Baker and a group of community activists formed the service! Yes some of those tend to exchange personal attacks and continue to call these attacks FACTS.

Anonymous said...

9:27 I agree with your comment of " Researchingching" I'm currently a fulltime FF/ Medic in the burbs and have been watching this unfold since last year when LaSalle started the take over figuring Peru would be foolish not to follow. It shouldn't take Perez very much discovery to figure out that " Patient Transfers " is where the the " CHING " is. So as we all start to see/ read this unfold as Perez does his resear-chingching Peru city officials and the public will then be kicking themselves for "NOT" researCHING this years ago. I would imagine that your past administration in Peru has had their hands in the PVAS piggy bank and probably still do. In fact Perez is probably PVAS' Board and past admins. worst enemy right now for researCHING this. I agree with the one post that stated PVAS and employees could probably save PVAS and their jobs if they stand up to their Board of Directors by going to their officials and ask for their assistance in doing that, then hand it over to the city to appoint their own directors. The writing is on the wall, I'm sure Perez and others see the savings and potential for the CHING that we see here.

Peru Town Forum said...

1:21 PM

former mayor Baker was at the presentation last night and publicly voiced his opinion last night, that was not the past. A connection remains.
Perez is a paid on call firefighter, not Liberty and not an emt.
BTW what is the crisis? And with your information you should really have signed your name.

Anonymous said...

anon 1:12 pm. What is your definition of OUR COMMUNITY? If what you are saying is true about members of pvas responding to car crashes etc. would you not think responders coming in from Tonica, Spring Valley, Utica, Grand Ridge etc. may take a bit to respond to an emergency? I would imagine that if the fire department and pssi had a contract that the fire department would hire local residents unless they couldn't find quality emts locally. then i'm sure they would have to go out of the area. If peru was smart they would start certifying their ff in basic ems so they can have an army of responders if that time was to come where they managed fire and ems.

anon 1:21 I gather Perez is a firefighter and official for the city of peru? Why would he not have a connection or input into this? Would you rather have a carpenter that has no experience or knowledge in this field be involved in this process? besides i would imagine if he is an official it's part of his job. people can wear several hats and still be fair.

Peru Town Forum said...

2:06 PM

Great comment and I have been saying for a long time that transfers are the only thing keeping PVAS afloat. Ottawa FD Emt service does not do transfers but they have a nice arrangement with the neighboring city of Marsailles to take care of that.
Neighboring cities of Mendota and Princeton with FD based ambulance services do transfers and emergency services.

Peru Town Forum said...

La Salle also does transfers according to their web site.

Anonymous said...

9:27 It sounds like the only smokescreen here is screening potential income that the city of peru has been missing out on.

Louis will you keep us up to date when there is an announcement of the next meeting where Peru Ambulance will give a talk? It will be worth taking off work for to ask how much income comes in from when the ambulance takes a patient from Peru to Peoria or Rockford and how many of those they do a year because my nephew's ride down to Peoria by Peru Ambulance 2 years ago with no urgent care needed during the trip was $1,100.00 If he would have known that we would have put him in the back of our van and charged him for breakfast after he got home.

Anonymous said...

aNON 2:29 We have a big difference. Ald. Perez is paid for his firefighting. Will he be looking at ways to contract firefighting skills? Who stands to make money if the fire department members are called to perform PVAS duties. The firemen. Another point is that you need a level of expertise in doing transfers. Will Peru be investing in the equipement and training required. Ching a ling. Bigger station, more managers. It is the hopitals choice of which company they feel is the most effective for the service. The City of Peru has no input in that process. To say that the new created service will be making money off of transfers is not accurate. It won't happen unless the newly created service has full blown state of art training and equipement that they would expect. And of course that will cost some ching, and you must create a level of fulltime management. After all its only tax dollars.

Anonymous said...

Why don't you check what it cost to take a ambulance ride in Peru and compare to LaSalle or Ottawa services. And while you are at that you mentioned critical care. Do you really want a firemen taking you to Peoria or someone trained in critical care?

Peru Town Forum said...

4:01 PM

A fireman who becomes a trained EMT or paramedic will take the same training that any EMT working anywhere within the stat of Illinois gets, will be tested and licensed by the state. PSI stated very well last night that when they manage a service, they check the education and skills of any prospective EMT that they hire. A fireman does not just wake up one day and say I am going to do EMT work.

All fire based firefighter/EMT's are trained by going to school just like the current EMTs at PVAS. Some already have the training because they worked for fire based EMT services elsewhere.

No smokescreens please, we are all smarter than that.

Anonymous said...

How are the firemen going to do a transfer to Peoria or Rockford? Wont that take more fireman away from the city? Its hard enough to get them to come to a fire call, and if available ones leave for a transfer who will protect the city if there is a fire in town or in the rural district? I think I read something months ago that Mendota was turned down because there was no firemen available

Anonymous said...

anon 4:01 If you were to ever need an EMT anywhere other than your little shell....(perhaps Peru)It will most likely be a firefighter/EMT. and 5-10 years from now, "It will be a firefighter/EMT" We are no longer living in the land of Dinosaurs. Fred and Barney now have a motor in their vehicle and it says Bedrock Fire Department on the side of their ambulance.

Peru Town Forum said...

%:46 PM

Depending on who is running the service, will depend upon whether you have EMT's who are not firemen or not. I do believe La Salle has Emt's on their service who are not firemen, probably a good balance if I had to guess.

Anonymous said...

Hey 3:56, The Hospital does not have all the say in who does transfers. If you read the medicare laws, you know that if a patient or family requests a certain agency for the transfer and they are trained to the level required, I don`t think the hospital can turn them down. Correct me if I`m wrong but isn`t Oglesby doing transfers out of IVCH. The only reason PVAS has a couple of people doing the critical care class is because they feel they are loosing money to AMT. I don`t think the hospital cares one bit that AMT is doing the transfers. Becareful when you say only Peru should be allowed transfers. Is that another form of welfare for the city of Peru. Everyone thinks PVAS is somehow smarter then all the other medics in the area because they generate more money from the welfare handout given to them by IVCH. I think the person above is saying that the medics at PVAS are the only ones qualified to do the transfers. I hear Oglesby is doing a great job with the transfers. Are they Not qualified? What is the qualifications for doing non critical care transports? How about the hospital gets some competitive prices from local providers to see who saves the patient more money. No one but no one will ram PVAS down my throat and tell me they are forcing me to use any provider. Its called choice. I know IVCH can sign a contract for a prefered provider, but that is the main word "PREFERED". that does not mean required. Better yet, why don`t they ask the patient who they want and go from there. Is ILLINOIS VALLEY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL" all about pvas? Then call it Peru hospital. The rest of the Illinois Valley is sick and tired of having to pay for Peru schools, roads, sewers through sales tax. We don`t need to be proping up PVAS with our money when we would prefer to use our own communities service. I think the free ride is over. PVAS needs to tighten its belt like all the other services in the area. The big Don Baker is correct, no property tax is levied to fund police and fire and pvas. Thats because all the other area towns are flipping the bill either trough sales tax or being forced to use PVAS. Thats welfare. Thanks Lois for your comments about the smokescreen. We are all smarter then that and they have been useing that same BS for years to get what they want. At the same time they cannot show the facts to support it. All medics in illinois take the same test. licensed by the same state agency. Hmmmmmmm:

Anonymous said...

Is there a problem with the current ambulance service? Wake up bloggers this is a way to have more full time firemen/emts and then they will be under the cities umbrella and then be unionized. This is alderman Perez's way of creating a larger fire department and getting his buddies full time employment with good benefits not looking out for the best interest of the city. I've seen the costs from Ottawa and they bill about 500k per year and their cost for fire is 2.5 million. How is Mr. Perez going to pay for this huge expense?

Megan Keeney said...

I attended the public meeting last night and what I dialed into was that the city is looking to preserve the care of the people needing medical assistance and transportation services, be that PVAS or through the services of PSI (or any other options explored). I sympathasize for the current PVAS members who are currently performing the duties of tending to those in need and feeling the risk of job loss. I have had a family member cared for by PVAS on more than one occasion, as many Peru citizens can attest to a similar experience. I don't have the complete picture, but from what I gathered, those same PVAS folks have the opportunity be hired through PSI (for the sake of the conversation only, hypothetically saying they get the contract) based on their experience, admirable credentials, and passion for their community service. I've also read a few comments relating to disgruntlement over no cost figures given. I believe this is a process, and the cost figures themselves will eventually be on the table as part of the research. In fact, I would be speculative if they had been prematurely offered. I'm of the opinion that our leadership is doing the due-diligence in doing nothing more than researching options, and that cost figures will follow and become publicized as a part of the research process and evaluation. I am not defending any person, committee, board, etc. but reality is, given the local politics and public opinion, our community leadership is "damned if the do, and damned if they don't." I am holding on to my confidence that they will plan and execute accordingly for the best current and future interest of the Peru citizens.

Rodney Perez said...

Very well said Megan Keeney,

I am one of the many that had family members taken care of by PVAS, both of my parents have been in their care many times.. I have always felt secure that my parents were in good hands with their crews. Being a Fire Fighter I have worked with most of them either on a scene or special event, they do not need to defend their professionalism or character.. as I am a witness of it.
I have sworn to be a leader for the city of Peru and being Damned if you do and Damned if you don't is all part of working to do what is right for our community.

As I stated last evening..This is all part of each alderman, and committee's responsibility as we look into our next fiscal year.

The Public Health and Safety Committee is looking at Tuesday, January 3rd.@ 6:30 for our next presentation with PVAS.
I will update if something should change.

Thank you,
Rodney Perez

Anonymous said...

What about the options of having a contract fire department? Did we review those options, after all its the duty of everbody. When will that meeting be held? Another blogger mentioned that the cost of the fire department is $900,000. And PSI provides that service, without no long term costs. Many communities have that service.

Anonymous said...

Most communities are going from public to private services to save cost and long term liabilities. Its survival and if the private sector can do the same task as a lower price than that is good city business. In reviewing Peru, it sure looks like they want to create more jobs inside the happy confines of city operation. Another example is the ambulance service. PVAS is private and the attempt for the city to begin the move toward public or city run service will be a costly proposition. Remember with city jobs you have unions, vacations, sick time, insurance, retirement, clothing, legal council, human resources, management layers, vehicles, buildings, training, holidays, unemployment, workers compensation, audits, grant writers, collections, payroll taxes, and more. The private sector has a price for a service, many times for much less than the price for creating more city services. Its a fight for expanding and creating jobs in the private sector vs expanding the status and creating more tax funded city jobs. Its really obvious in PERU

Peru Town Forum said...

Private business sinks or swims on its own and by being better than its competition.

PVAS may be a private organization but not really because the city does not allow any competition. It is a protected business.

If someone needs an ambulance and does not want to use PVAS, too bad, because you cannot call LaSalle, 10/33, Oglesby or Utica. Once a service locates within a city they become a protected entity, no matter or good or bad their service is, you will never see any competition.

Question, Does the city have an ordinance that prevents another ambulance service from opening its doors?
How private is a company that uses the PPD to provide their dispatch service? And that means making sure that a ambulance is dispatched to the location of need and if they are not available to go, they need to send out an all call to find where the ambulance is and to get it to the scene.
PPD does the dispatching but does not know where each ambulance is at any time. If 2 are dedicated to Peru, then the PPD who does the dispatching should be aware of their locations.

Anonymous said...

Somewhere earlier in this blog, someone challenged the personal intentions and experience of Mr.Perez to the former mayor. I would like to make a few comments. I have known Rodney for a very short period of time and I do believe he is speaking on behalf of the citizens that voted him into office. I don't believe he has a personal interest in mind by requesting that the PFD be merged with the PVAS. Cross utilization of staff with a multitude of skills is very important in today's new economy. As for the comment about "comparing the experience" of Baker and Perez, I would take the integrity of a community service oriented volunteer over a lifetime career "Blago-Bakes" politician anyday. (Wow, haven't heard that one in a long time, wonder why I thought of it. LOL) Also, I don't want to see any EMT's lose their jobs as long as they are fully qualified to do the job and I believe that those staff with exceptional skills will be retained in the future. Change and efficiency will be demanded by the public. Adapt to it. Waste is not acceptable anymore.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:09 If Rodney does not have a personal interest in his intentions to replace the current ambulance service, then he should not take a paycheck from the Peru Fire Department. In which he does! In comparing experience or public service, its not even close. What you believe is much different than reality. Do you really believe that this is a financial decision? Compare the cost of a Peru operated department and the current private service. And then tell us that this is not without personal interest. Your right waste is not acceptable, but your on the wrong side of waste. PFD will increase staff and that will increase cost for you. What you will see is higher cost for a ambulance ride, more city staff, more managers, more salaries, insurance costs, workers comp cost, legal cost, health benefits, major vehicle purchases, accounting cost, billing staff, gas, service for the vehicles, clothing cost, medical devices for service, education cost, building cost, unemployment costs, collective barganing costs, fundraising, more and more. And we will compare that with one price private service currently in Peru. I hope your not making a decision on "comparing Perez vs Baker" or experience vs Change. I vote for experience. Look what change has done! Higher taxes is the change in this decision.

Anonymous said...

How many paychecks can one public servant receieve from one city?

Peru Town Forum said...

9:18 AM

I have refrained from mentioning this but your comment brings it up. Last year our fire chief was spending time with the ambulance emts teaching them safety procedures because they were making so many insurance claims for what was negligence.

Anonymous said...

Yes safety procedures related to workers compensation insurance. With a private company Peru has no responsibility for those costly workers comp. claims or the insurance that the private company carries.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Lois for the truth. Maybe a few ostriches in this city can get their head out of the sand and face up to facts. One way to solve, cut off the subsidy period.

Anonymous said...

This whole argument has nothing to do quality of service for Peru residents. Its about more city jobs, lets not pretend. For those who are naive to believe this is about your elected officials looking for the best care of Peru folks.....wake up. Before you experiment with the new service, please understand that when you disband the current system there is no going back. No 30 day trial and you dismantle a functioning life saving service.

Peru Town Forum said...

11:38 AM

You are entitled to your own opinion but don't try to convince us the people of Peru it is about jobs, it is about management and no scare tactics please. It is also about efficiently running a service that is the best we can have and about the city either controlling the service or getting our city out of it period.

Anonymous said...

Lois, you brought up a good point. What current management practices do you feel comfortable with in Peru? You walked into that one!

Anonymous said...

Lois

YOUR fire chief offered to help the service in lowering the cost of work comp and insurance through these safety classes, and I might also add YOUR fire Chief quit showing up to the safety classes, on his own, because, and I quote, "It is a joke" He also spoke this after I overheard him talking negatively about PVAS as a whole to another department when he was to be teaching them about a new piece of equipment.

Anonymous said...

Lets not say jobs, lets call it payroll. More payroll. Please remember Peru always takes care of those loyal political followers.

Peru Town Forum said...

2:40 PM
We were not talking about Peru but about PVAS, but what did you have in mind? Explain what I walked into, please.

Anonymous said...

PVAS has medical advisors, legal advisors and professional accountants. They also have the best in equipement and continue to provide extended training. At a much lower cost. The question is can the soon to be new service duplicate the current service at at what cost to the residents? You are entitled to your own opinion. Why die trying?

Anonymous said...

Lois, your comparision was Peru management vs PVAS. Maybe more specific......What current City of Peru service has more effective management practices that would make you feel comfortable about taking over the ambulance services of the current provider? To avoid cowpies, the answer is......Most Peru residents are not that comfortable with the management of our city.

Peru Town Forum said...

3:34 PM

"your comparison was Peru management vs PVAS"
I have not said that Peru should manage PVAS, well they almost do now with 3 aldermen on the board.

Anonymous said...

This has all come to a head!! It's obvious the anons posting on here are a majority of PVAS employees, you my as well sign in as PVAS. Sitting back and watching this from the outside i see a spiraling out of control ambulance service full of disgruntled employees aiming at the city and peru fire department. I can't imagine what the peru firefighters are thinking when they read this stuff, I don't think I would want peru ambulance on the same rescue as peru fire if it was me in need of help. I have only seen attacks against peru fire and their chief and non against the pvas staff.
pvas you are being very un-professional in handling this. I read earlier a very nice comment that firefighter perez wrote about your service, I think if he and the peru fire department had any other agenda then to try and work with you perez would not have wrote that.

I personally know Rodney and puts in numerous amount of public service hours for the city through the fd and is all volunteer even way before he was a city official.Perez is clearly a public servant and is clearly passionate about the safety of the citizens of Peru.

I can clearly see a divide coming between the pvas and the city because pvas employees and families are burning the bridges and stepping on toes they may have to tickle someday.

sincerely,
Ms.concerned

Anonymous said...

This is Ms. concerned again.
I sent my last comments and just had to make contact with Rodney Perez to ask him to clarify his time and paycheck from the fd.
To my surprise I had to write things down I didn't even know he did on a voluntary basis for the city.
Rodney is a true public servant, he has only received compensation for fire calls only, at 32.00 per call, I personally thought they got paid more than that to put their lives on the line, run into a burning building or fight fires in bad weather for 32.00 per call is insane. Sounds like a good deal for the city of Peru.

Rodney's Public service includes: (without pay)

Public Education- rodney said the program he is planning now for L-P will average a minimum of 300 hours for 6 months of work.

Fire Prevention education= works with juveniles that are caught setting fires.
Educates students at schools and senior citizens.
Rodney mentioned several other things he does on a volunteer basis for the citizens and community but asked that I not gloat over the blog because he does those things for people and to give, and not to be put on a pedestal.
I asked him to go on and answer some of these accusations and he said he reads them but will not go on here to argue back and forth with "shadows", rodney said if someone puts a name and asks questions he will be happy to answer their posts.
Rodney is probably one of the most transparent and passionate politicians/ friend i have ever met.

Ms. concerned

Anonymous said...

Rodney would never gloat on the blog. Without pay, fire prevention classes that have yet to happen, all in the planning stages. The fire prevention education? How many juveniles in the program and is it a real program with lessons plans and teaching requirements. Only $32.00 A HOUR what a sacrifice. Politicians, has been elected for about 7 months, quite a passion. Pvas were not the ones that started this issue and don't blame them. Now he wants to step back in his transparent way and say the service is great and the staff of PVAS super.

Anonymous said...

11:25 I'm sorry but I have no idea what message you are trying to relay. Please respond in terminology we can all understand.

Anonymous said...

11:25
I do believe Rodney Perez from day one said that he had no issues with the service or employees of the ambulance service.
PVAS should not be surprised about this because according to two ambulance people I was talking to over the weekend said everyone knew this was coming for over a year, even before LaSalle took over.
Like 3:59 said, what is the message you are trying to send because to be honest....besides trying to discredit 6:02 comments, which not sure how you can do that because many of us have seen Perez out volunteering and educating the public. So why all the discontent against a public servant? unless of course you have an agenda, or taking this personal?
Please explain.

Anonymous said...

anon 3:59 hahaha, It doesn't sound like anon 11:25 even knew what he or she was trying to relay. perhaps to much holiday cheer before commenting.

Anonymous said...

Here are facts....PSI will cost the city of Peru more than $48,000. They will take a subsidy, and split the profits of patient payments over the first couple of years, and then they will take all including the subsidy. They are a low-paying, for profit service that will hire suburban medics over IL Valley medics when they have the chance. Despite the smokescreen Andy Baccidore have provided, LaSalle is paying significantly more money for a service that doesn't measure up to what they had.
Granted, the PVAS mgmt and Board do need to change. Mr. Roberson is nowhere near qualified to run an ambulance service....heck...he can't even finish his schooling to become a medic.
The BOD for PVAS is as corrupt as they were when Baker was mayor/BOD president.
Any company that keeps an accountant on retainer that was proven to defraud the state...well...theat company has no integrity.
Mr. Perez is sadly mistaken to think he or King can run an ambulance. Mr. Perez having a hand in this is a true conflict of interest. A person of high integrity was step away, and appoint another alderman in his place...Perez is proving politics for the City of Peru hasn't changed.
Here's food for thought....couldn't the Peru PD run the ambulance? Why does it have to be the FD? Just curious....
Granted...$90,000 for the police chief? Really?!?! There are police chiefs in towns bigger and busier than Peru that pay their police chiefs $10,000-$15,000 less....not like PPD is that busy.

This whole thing has become a farce...PVAS does a fine job...they have very good medics/EMT's but as stated...their mgmt structure needs help.
Time to create a new BOD and get rid of Roberson.

FYI...PVAS has had significant turn-over because of Roberson!!!

Erica Riordan said...

Anon 11:25-I am the wife of a former fireman in Peru. Get it straight. It is not $32.00 PER HOUR!!! I believe (if anyone can correct me do so) it is $32 for the call. If it goes over so many hours (I think 4 or 5) then they get like $5 PER HOUR. I believe my husband's life and those of all the firemen are well worth it. I believe that even though I do not live there still that it is worth them being ready to take care of a fire at my home I still own there. I do believe it is worth it for all the training and extra time and effort most of them put into it. I know things didn't end well with our family and the PFD before we left and for that I am sad but don't hide behind "anonymous" and say that my husband, my children's father, my brothers-in-law, my extended family of that fire department-all of them are not worth that. Because guess what-THEY ARE WORTH MUCH MORE.

Things have been said about my husband and family since we left that have offended me and I have felt don't have the full story. I read this and want to comment but try my hardest to be the better person. You, my friend, have now become the biggest offender.