“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

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Progress One Step at A Time in Peru

I have learned that at a meeting of the Recreation Commission they were told that 2 of the items they have under consideration will need to go out for bids.

Yes! one will be the Fireworks and the second will be the resurfacing of tennis courts in Peru. Also under consideration is to use the 28th Street park basketball space for Pickle Ball. If you have not heard of it, google the name.

At this time, they have budgeted $20,000 for the Fireworks and $40,000 for the resurfacing project.

16 comments:

Linda said...

Wondered about the fireworks contract. I know it was stated that we could easily get the same display for quite a bit less money. I believe it was mentioned that Hennepin's display is beautiful and much cheaper than ours. We should be able to save the citizens money in this area. Alderwoman Mayszak and the Public Property committee are taking giant steps forward. THANK YOU!

Peru Taxpayer said...

I hear people saying that anything over $20,000 needs to bid out by law. If this is the case then why did it take till now to bid out? Think of all the money that could of been saved over all these years. The firework contractor must of been friends with someone of influence in Peru. Once again it proves my point,its not what you know its who you know.

Peru Town Forum said...

This commission has had since last summer to go out for bids on the fireworks and they have NOT done their job and still have not gone out for bids. It appears that either the entire commission or the person delegated to seek bids is NOT doing their job. Pyrotechnic companies line up their jobs for the following year immediately after the fireworks because July 4 is a big fireworks event.
So here we hare 1/2 way into February with the July 4 event less than 5 months away and it is a good possibly that all the reasonably priced companies have commitments for July 4.
Where does the blame fall on this one?
Maybe this is the year to place the fault on where it belongs for overpriced fireworks.

Peru Town Forum said...

spell correction "possibility"

Anonymous said...

This doesn't make any sense. Why would we not seek bids after all we've been spending over $20,000 every year? I was informed some time ago by a city official that we could get the same display or better for thousands of dollars less. Is this problem a result of the city handing over money to the Rec Commission and them not having to answer to anyone? Unaccountability!!

Anonymous said...

If the commission does not follow the letter of the law what do you think will happen next?

"HERE COME DA JUDGE, HERE COME Da JUDGE"

On this you can bet the farm!

Anonymous said...

@ 1:20
I wont hold my breath

Rodney Perez said...

Lois,

I did check back with the Pyro-tech who does the Utica,LaSalle, and the Princeton Display. He reached out to the Recreation Board last September with interest to bid but has not yet been contacted.

His company is now booked for that time frame, but still confident his company could give us "more bang" for a "lower buck", however the city of Peru would have to be flexible with the date. He suggested the weekend after the 4th.

I advised him I was only inquiring and perhaps he would still be contacted by the Recreation Board for Bid.

Thanks,
Rodney Perez

Linda said...

Rodney: You might also check with the company that does Hennepin's fireworks. I've heard they're spectacular and much cheaper than ours.

Anonymous said...

Exactly who is responsible for making the arrangements for the fireworks? If they can't do their job, as we have heard and tolerated so many times in the past, replace them. It's that simple. Oh, P.S. Just heard that Chicago is bringing back their St. Patrick's day parade. Has been cancelled for 2 years because of booze problems. And guess what? NO BOOZE this year!! Yes Peru, you can have a party without it being a drunken disgusting brawl. Now there's a new slogan. "Home of the Puke Fest." If 300,000 people that attend this parade can do it, why can't we have an alcohol free fireworks?

Rodney Perez said...

Linda,

That would be J&M from Monmouth Il. I met with that company last September also, they do the Hennepin, and SpringValley show. I do know the Recreation Board has their information from previous years.

Thanks,
Rodney

Anonymous said...

@Alderman Perez~ I would have to bet the last $4.00 in my purse that if you or anyone else contacted the company who has been doing the fireworks in Peru, you would find they would also be booked for that date in July- By: The City of Peru. This is called " Business as Usual" ( better known as Dirty Politics) This BS will continue until someone with a backbone puts a stop to it!! It seems you have it, so step up! If I recall the company that does the Peru fireworks is from Indiana? Aren't there businesses In IL?

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry but there has to be a connection somewhere with someone in the City of Peru with the company from Indiana. Why else would this be an issue? The business we should be using should at least be in Illinois and the THE LOWEST BIDDER period, no if and or buts. This nonsense has got to stop and someone needs to stop it!

Anonymous said...

What movement has been made to inform various companies that Peru has a opening for the July 3, 2012 fireworks? Who has been contacted and who is yet to be contacted? Who is responsible for making these contacts and who do they answer to?

Anonymous said...

What a joke Peru has become . Will the dirty politics and wasteful spending ever end in this town ?

Pyrotech said...

The comany in question that has been conducting the Peru display is Melrose pyrotechnics. They are "heavy hitters" of the fireworks industry in and around the Chicagoland area.

I myself work for another fireworks display company and I have inquired about the Peru show many many times...to no avail. Phone calls go unreturned, etc. Before Peru started using Melrose Pyrotechnics, they were using another firm, New Horizon Pyrotechnics, an ILLINOIS based company, however, they had a lot of issues with getting the show set up on time, etc.

I can say that Peru is going to be gathering 3 bids from 3 different companies, one of which is Melrose. Melrose will probably win the bid regardless of what the other two companies propose. I see this on a regular basis. I have come in $3,000 under budget with more product in a proposal and they still win the bid.

It has to do with their "reputation" and the fact that they do Navy Pier and EVERY professional sports team in Chicago and hundreds of displays throughout the state. Thats just on the 4th of July too! Yes they have won International Awards for their shows...BUT they don't put that same quality product in a typical $20,000 display. You need to spend about 50k before you get a show of that caliber.

They're all about quantity...NOT quality. I would love to have the opertunity to bid on the Peru display. We already do displays in Grundy and Will county...but whats the point?