This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“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
At the council meeting on Wed. one of the members of the infrastructure committee spoke some well thought out comments during the public comments at the beginning of the mtg and before anyone knew that this vote would be taken. I am going to paraphrase the comments here: It did not appear on the internet agenda but I am sure it will be discussed for a vote.... To add $100,000 or $25,000 to each ward for non MFT road work. the only reason is because the bid for non MFT came in under the engineers estimate at $295,670.43. Right away the Public Works Committee want to increase it by $100,000 to paint more streets black. As some of you know the average life expectancy of asphalt is 8 to 10 years. So by doing all of these streets now in 2012, have you put into thought what could transpire in 2020 or so? Will another loan need to be taken out to repave all these streets? What infrastructure have you on the council really done? Eakas and May Rd projects are for businesses, May Rd. already has 3 empty bldgs, not helping any with additional taxes received. Do not put the city any farther into debt. Be financially responsible. Also you still have to include the engineering fee from Chamlin for all this work. Lastly the loan for the non MFT has not even been brought up for a vote to approve. Will it still be 2.5% -no- how about 2.74% not much more but it adds up to a little over $17,000 total more. I am going to add that after this comment was made, Mayor Harl and the Council made no comment and in fact were rude enough to not even thank this individual for his concern. At that point Ald. Perez, asked his fellow council members if they wished to respond. Again total silence. My comment to the council and mayor is, you asked for public comment and you got it and in return not one of you had the courtesy to thank the individual when he expressed his thoughts. Sitting in the audience and watching this attempt at allowing someone to express their ideas, you in turn snub them. What an embarrassment to the residents of this city.
The Peru City Aldermen Committee Members organizational chart presently created by Mayor Harl calls for two (2) aldermen per committee of four (4) committees. The notification read at the last council meeting during the initial public comment pertained to the Public Works Committee of which is made up of Alderman Waldorf And Alderman Lukosus. The responsibilities of this committee are electric, water and streets. This is a huge responsibility which I believe each area should be broken down into individual committees or a increase in the number of council members if the one committee continues to retain all of these responsibilities. The magnitude of financial responsibility and stewardship of city obligations is overwhelming to limit it to two council members. In fairness to the two members of this committee and other council members and administrative officials I will state that I have spoke to none of them on this subject and I am only stating my personal thoughts.
I, as probably city council members do not understand what the goals of the individual who read the letter are. If someone wants a comment or reaction from a prearranged text why not give the committee members and city council members the text before hand so they can evaluate it. Public comment does not give one the privilege of overstepping proper business procedures.
Unless you are a public speaker it is always a good idea to have a cheat sheet with you to make sure you don't forget some of the points you wanted to make. I made a comment out of those notes, nothing more, nothing less. The council does not need to be prepared for public comment. While we are on that topic, at each and every meeting the council has lots and lots of information that is not available to the public and we have no clue as to what is being discussed. So if you think anyone making a public comment should pass out prepared information to the council, I think they should do the same for us or else just have the entire meeting to themselves in closed session.
The council members who attended the infrasture meetings know exactly what I was referring too. I don't believe the public Works should add $100,000+ or $25,000 per ward without prior inspection of the underlaying infrasture to determine it's condition. Guess where the Pillow Tax income is going [General Fund and then to the [Road Fund] why? It's like extra money lets spend it. The prevoius council and the present council have gotten the city deeper in outstanding debt. Be fiscal responsible. Don't be like the state or the federal government. MIKE
Specifically where does one think a public comment ends and a lengthy subject which should be extensively discussed by being asked to have on the agenda begins. A comment is exactly what it says it is - a comment therefore not a lengthy conversation. Anything which has substance of discussion and debate definetly should carry a request for being entered into a meetings agenda.
If an individual introduces a concept obtained at a committee meeting during public comment which has never brought forward by a council member at a council meeting, it appears as if he is trying to achieve management of the council rather than maintaining a teamwork concept of advising the council about infrastructure? If I were a council member I would be asking the Mayor to remind members of the "Super Committee" of their responsibilities before this positive and well intentioned idea would be discounted. I believe that in not recognizing this public comment, the council was not being rude but was in question of the persons lack of political savy.
I would like to give you another point of view. This committee has several aldermen and the Mayor as members. This has been expressed to the committee previously, I do believe. Now it was time to present it to the public and the rest of the council. Why cannot an individual council member ask a few intelligent questions of the person who made the comment without having to get together with the other members to develop an answer? We elect you to be an independent thinker and problem solver and not necessarily to develop answers in concert with other council members.
When a subordinate becomes insubordinate and by passes tiers or layers of management that person is normally replaced. It makes no difference that the Mayor and four council members are on the same committee and at the same meeting. The idea of the committee is to answer to the Peru City Council, all eight alderman, as a committee not as a "lone wolf" picking and choosing his own time and place rather than when the committee is called upon. It is actions such as this that limit the number of committees and influence that city councils allow. How long do you think this action would be allowed during the regime of Old Dick Daley, Mayor of Chicago?
10 comments:
At the council meeting on Wed. one of the members of the infrastructure committee spoke some well thought out comments during the public comments at the beginning of the mtg and before anyone knew that this vote would be taken.
I am going to paraphrase the comments here:
It did not appear on the internet agenda but I am sure it will be discussed for a vote.... To add $100,000 or $25,000 to each ward for non MFT road work. the only reason is because the bid for non MFT came in under the engineers estimate at $295,670.43. Right away the Public Works Committee want to increase it by $100,000 to paint more streets black. As some of you know the average life expectancy of asphalt is 8 to 10 years.
So by doing all of these streets now in 2012, have you put into thought what could transpire in 2020 or so?
Will another loan need to be taken out to repave all these streets?
What infrastructure have you on the council really done?
Eakas and May Rd projects are for businesses, May Rd. already has 3 empty bldgs, not helping any with additional taxes received.
Do not put the city any farther into debt. Be financially responsible.
Also you still have to include the engineering fee from Chamlin for all this work.
Lastly the loan for the non MFT has not even been brought up for a vote to approve. Will it still be 2.5% -no- how about 2.74% not much more but it adds up to a little over $17,000 total more.
I am going to add that after this comment was made, Mayor Harl and the Council made no comment and in fact were rude enough to not even thank this individual for his concern. At that point Ald. Perez, asked his fellow council members if they wished to respond. Again total silence.
My comment to the council and mayor is, you asked for public comment and you got it and in return not one of you had the courtesy to thank the individual when he expressed his thoughts.
Sitting in the audience and watching this attempt at allowing someone to express their ideas, you in turn snub them. What an embarrassment to the residents of this city.
The Peru City Aldermen Committee Members organizational chart presently created by Mayor Harl calls for two (2) aldermen per committee of four (4) committees.
The notification read at the last council meeting during the initial public comment pertained to the Public Works Committee of which is made up of Alderman Waldorf And Alderman Lukosus.
The responsibilities of this committee are electric, water and streets. This is a huge responsibility which I believe each area should be broken down into individual committees or a increase in the number of council members if the one committee continues to retain all of these responsibilities.
The magnitude of financial responsibility and stewardship of city obligations is overwhelming to limit it to two council members.
In fairness to the two members of this committee and other council members and administrative officials I will state that I have spoke to none of them on this subject and I am only stating my personal thoughts.
I, as probably city council members do not understand what the goals of the individual who read the letter are. If someone wants a comment or reaction from a prearranged text why not give the committee members and city council members the text before hand so they can evaluate it. Public comment does not give one the privilege of overstepping proper business procedures.
3:57 PM
Unless you are a public speaker it is always a good idea to have a cheat sheet with you to make sure you don't forget some of the points you wanted to make. I made a comment out of those notes, nothing more, nothing less. The council does not need to be prepared for public comment.
While we are on that topic, at each and every meeting the council has lots and lots of information that is not available to the public and we have no clue as to what is being discussed.
So if you think anyone making a public comment should pass out prepared information to the council, I think they should do the same for us or else just have the entire meeting to themselves in closed session.
lois you finally got it right, hurry up next year we need different people representing the city that is for sure
The council members who attended the infrasture meetings know exactly what I was referring too. I don't believe the public Works should add $100,000+ or $25,000 per ward without prior inspection of the underlaying infrasture to determine it's condition. Guess where the Pillow Tax income is going [General Fund and then to the [Road Fund] why? It's like extra money lets spend it. The prevoius council and the present council have gotten the city deeper in outstanding debt. Be fiscal responsible. Don't be like the state or the federal government. MIKE
Specifically where does one think a public comment ends and a lengthy subject which should be extensively discussed by being asked to have on the agenda begins. A comment is exactly what it says it is - a comment therefore not a lengthy conversation. Anything which has substance of discussion and debate definetly should carry a request for being entered into a meetings agenda.
If an individual introduces a concept obtained at a committee meeting during public comment which has never brought forward by a council member at a council meeting, it appears as if he is trying to achieve management of the council rather than maintaining a teamwork concept of advising the council about infrastructure? If I were a council member I would be asking the Mayor to remind members of the "Super Committee" of their responsibilities before this positive and well intentioned idea would be discounted. I believe that in not recognizing this public comment, the council was not being rude but was in question of the persons lack of political savy.
4:26PM
I would like to give you another point of view. This committee has several aldermen and the Mayor as members. This has been expressed to the committee previously, I do believe. Now it was time to present it to the public and the rest of the council. Why cannot an individual council member ask a few intelligent questions of the person who made the comment without having to get together with the other members to develop an answer? We elect you to be an independent thinker and problem solver and not necessarily to develop answers in concert with other council members.
When a subordinate becomes insubordinate and by passes tiers or layers of management that person is normally replaced. It makes no difference that the Mayor and four council members are on the same committee and at the same meeting. The idea of the committee is to answer to the Peru City Council, all eight alderman, as a committee not as a "lone wolf" picking and choosing his own time and place rather than when the committee is called upon.
It is actions such as this that limit the number of committees and influence that city councils allow. How long do you think this action would be allowed during the regime of Old Dick Daley, Mayor of Chicago?
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