Thursday, May 31, 2012
Alderman Would Like to Place All Celebrations in Peru under Control of Recreation Commission
I knew this was coming prior to the meeting of the Public Property Committee yesterday. Ald. Ankiewicz would like all celebrations that take place in Peru to be put under the jurisdiction of the unelected Peru Recreation Commission. He is serious because now he needs to cover the fact that they have been contracting for the July 3 Fireworks since forever but since it was changed to Water Street, it has actually been in violation of the ordinance as the ordinance only covers parks and recreation centers.
I am sure he will take this to the next meeting of the Recreation Commission and they will approve it. I will be surprised if he then takes it to the full council for their approval.
I talked to one alderman last night who stated that Peru is now run by committee and individual aldermen can now be shut out of the decisions in their own ward. So much for the value of maintaining 2 aldermen per ward when a committee came come along and make a decision that the alderman disapproves and the committee decision will stand irregardless of the wishes of the aldermen and the vote does not have to come to the full council any longer.
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51 comments:
The city council could make a motion to disregard the present ordinance creating the Recreation Board of 5 or 7 for the term of 5 years and pass a motion to create a completely new ordinance for a rec board, its jurisdiction and responsibilities etc.
It appears that most do not want appointed officials to have taxpayer funds available to spend at their own will. Also that a board should have a shorter tenure. For example a two year term, with a option to stay on for one additional year if major goals are to be completed.
10:02 The city council is able to make any ordinance, or change any ordinance because they do it on a weekly basis. You are on the right track stating that most do not want appointed officials spending taxpayer money, but again will the council listen to what the citizens want. We need council members that will do what is good for the majority, not just a few.
Are you really concerned about $20k spent by the Recreation Board? What about the $500k spent by the un-elected Library Board? Or the multi-million dollar un-elected Pension Boards? Penny rich, dollar poor.
This Question is directed to either alderman Perez or Loise.
First off, if what Loise is stating is a fact then the city of Peru is as corrupt as Chicago. I would want to know if this is a fact and not hearsay from some councilman. Which alderman made such a statement? Was it alderman Perez? Alderman Perez made a posting a while back about televising or streaming meetings. I work steady night shift and know many people that are concerned about what is going on at these meetings. alderman Perez- are you still looking to do this. It's important for the citizens of Peru to know what is going on. It would be nice to watch those meetings at our leisure.
Barry
12:16 Have you been to a library board meeting lately? They are open to the public and everyone is welcome. Please visit the web site and attend the next meeting. You will be pleasantly surprised.
But, according to some the board is no good because they are UNELECTED.
11:50 PM
You forgot the rest of the sentence....unelected, spending taxpayer dollars without oversight by the elected city council members.
And the ordinance with regard to the commission is not being followed.
Next month on Friday the 13th there is a concert for a cause scheduled at the local federal government funded airport. Is it true that a private individual will be by far the largest benefactor of this concert?
Also, has the federal government financed over 98% of this airport and the mayor of the city government said at a council meeting he is going to allow the concert with or without a written agreement from the FAA.
It appears that the FAA has sponsored the airport traditionally with a two way ticket, going and return. I don't understand the Mayors attitude towards the FAA which may result in a reduction to the Peru airport to a one way ticket with no return flight. Is this decision to hold one person above 9,999 fair to Peru? What is the benefit of this concert to Peru? Is the benefit of the concert so large to Peru that the cooperation of the FAA should be put at risk?
If the FAA discontinues Peru's 98% of the funding of the airport the Mayor had best check his parachute because he will have a lot further to fall than from that notorious plastic bench at Washington School.
Anon 12:16 AM
I commend you for high lighting other huge expenses of Peru managed by non elected boards. Not being a member of any of the three boards you mention I do not know the inner workings of each.
I do remember that the city was mandated by the state to give the Library Board at a minimum a certain amount every year and the city of Streator took this law to court and lost at a huge expense.
Therefore it appears that the best method too watch over the expenditures of this board is to join it or go to its meetings.
In reference to the Pension Board, which has huge expenditures, during pension negotiations attorneys who specialize in the field of pensions represent the city and you would find normally a member of the Pension Board is vocally not heard from unless called upon.
The Recreation Board is the only board mentioned of the three which is handed a sum in this case $75,000, which is not supported by state legalities or contractual law (IMRF)and does not have to account for this amount of money.
$75,000 per year doesn't fit into a penny rich, dollar poor slogan. I'd prefer to quote Benjamin Franklin "A penny saved is a dollar earned"
What happens if their is a storm and the stage blows over like it did at the Indiana State Fair...resulting in 7 fatalities and 30 injuries..The promoter only has a million dollar liability policy!!!God forbid that happens, but if it would, somebody other than the taxpayers of Peru will own the airport, and WE the taxpayer will pay for it for years!!!The city council should change their minds before it's too late!! By the way the city takes all the risk, and the promoter gets ALL the rewards, even if it is a rain out!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, LOIS CARROL, YOU PERSONALLY THROUGH THE PERU TOWN FORUM BLOG HAVE GENERATED 735 PLUS COMMENTS DURING THE MONTH OF MAY.
THIS INDICATES WHETHER AGREEABLE OR DISAGREEABLE THAT THE PERU TOWN FORUM IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF PERU.
Thank you Lois for doing this and keeping us informed and searching for the truth.
now we just need candidates to replace our useless government.
3:49 PM
We are mandated by the state to give a percentage of our real estate taxes to recreation and in Peru that is 50,000, the rest or 25,000 is a bonus from the city to the recreation commission - no strings attached.
Of course there are STRINGS ATTACHED- SILLY STRING!!!!
There are two tennis players on 28th St. Park now, could Mr. Ankiewicz please send his ride by. Jill Bernal
Just came back from Oglesby and they were playing tennis at their park too. Didn't see a pickle ball court there.
That dying sport seems to have a lot of people playing it, maybe we were given the wrong information on the demise of tennis because someone wanted us to believe that.
Also kids playing basketball too.
Mr. Ankiewicz please send your ride by. It is 3:11 and tennis players are on the court at 28th St. Jill Bernal...ps going out to take video and pics
Call me and we will take them down for the Mayor to see.
And then we could go to the deli to get the alderman.
Alderman Ankiewicz, I hate to sound like a broken record, but it is now 8:12 pm and there are three tennis players. Please, please, please send the drive by! I have pics and video. Jill Bernal
I took two (2) drive bys today at Washington Park. Nobody on any of the four (4) tennis courts. Where would you logically put the Pickle Ball court? Especially since we are using the drive-by method!!
I love it Jill! I happen to be at Washington park many evenings and I sure don't see any pickle ball players there. Courts always look full with Tennis players to me too. Saturdays are very busy too. Maybe the puller needs to see just how dead the sport really is and drive past the park to see the cars lined up everywhere with tennis tournaments, school kids playing, friends playing, etc.
Jill: I see you plea with alderman ankeiwicz via this blog but do you honestly think he reads it?
9:37 I don't know what time your speaking of on Saturdays when you say Washington park is full of tennis players. I was there twice yesterday and saw no one on any of the 4 courts. As a matter of fact I seldom see anyone playing tennis there when I do visit that neighborhood.
1:18 I don't think Jill is so much making a plea to alderman Ankiewicz as she is to anyone who will listen. Ankiewicz is being targeted because of the ridiculous comment he made regarding the drive-by method of determining the amount of tennis players at 28th street park. I believe she is trying to reach anyone on our council or the mayor himself to re-evaluate the elimination of the 28th street park tennis court.
I am begging someone at city hall to listen to Jill, myself, and others who have expressed their disgust on this blog. Someone please take another look at this matter and find a better solution for one and all.
10:35 Why do you think our council refuses to listen to several people who live right next to the tennis court but listen to 1 individual who wants to eliminate it? It's almost as though they don't believe the neighborhood people. It seems as though quite a few valid alternatives have been mentioned (some even by an alderman). Some of these viable solutions are to turn 1 of 2 basketball courts into a pickle ball court, use sunset park, change 1 of the 4 courts at Washington Park, or temporarily set up the pickle ball nets.
11:41 AM
It is because they think that since the people of Peru put them into office by voting for them, they are now entitled to make all decisions as they see fit. They have gotten your vote and they have the position they were seeking.
Unless I see anything from any of the aldermen or the mayor, I will assume that they feel that they can make decisions without regard to the
wishes of the electorate. Again catering to only a few.
Hey Alderman A...Guess what? Yep, tennis players at 28th St. More video and pics! JB
Forgot to mention the time is 12:15 and it is a father and son playing.
Alderman A, it is me again. Father and son are gone, but guess what two new players are here. It is now 12:49. JB
We need to remember all of this next year during elections! That's the only way to fix it!
One person made a phone call to their 1st ward alderman and requested changing her yield sign to a stop sign. Poof - request done. One person presented an idea to introduce pickle ball to the area. Poof - request done. Several residents (more than 2) phoned their 1st ward alderman and requested that the tennis court not be permanently altered. Poof - REQUEST DENIED! It seems as though it depends on who you are in this town before you can even put in a request and get it evaluated. Remember the request for fireworks at Baker Lake. lst ward alderman canvased area for feed back. No canvasing on the pickle ball issue. Wonder why?
Yoo Hoo, Alderman A. Four more tennis players! I think the people are starting to make their intentions known. They want the tennis court to remain as such. Jill Bernal
Time for Peru residents to think about whether or not they might be interested in working to give the city back to the people of Peru by running for elective office next April.
Remember that the wards have been redistricted and there are going to vacancies or incumbents running in others. Check to make sure you know what ward you are currently living in.
Hello again Alderman A.. It is Jill Bernal again. We have a resident with his daughter playing tennis at 28th St. Park. Just thought you would like to know. Thank You
Is the ambassador being paid by the rec commission?
9:05 PM
No payment for the Ambassador only free equipment to use which he was given money to purchase.
Happened to be at Washington Park on Saturday afternoon. 2 young ladies playing tennis there. I think I also read that the rec dept is paying for a tennis supervisor for the summer programs? If they are not playing tennis at Washington Park, then why are we hiring a tennis supervisor? Actually, I just thought of something funny. (Haven't had my dose of common sense coffee yet.) Our new town motto "Home of Big Pickle Park!" Now that will draw a crowd right up there with dog pulling, rock concerts, and beer gardens! Culture at its finest!
Do we know that for sure Lois because I believe the budget allotted pickle ball $3,000 and according to the rec commission $1224 was spent on equipment.
ANON 9:07 Peru "Home of the Big Pickle Park" where government votes yes first and thinks way later. Is the Bike Path going to lead to Big Pickle Park?
Thank you ANON 9:12 that leaves $1776 burning a hole in our city officials pockets. 1776 great year in which the Declaration of Independence was signed in. Are we still going in the right direction?
Lois, why do you have a problem withe the un-elected rec commission spending your tax dollars, but no problem with the un-elected library board spending your tax dollars. Where is the accountability there? I personally would like to thank the rec commission for trying new ideas. Maybe with a pickle ball court we can get a few more kids away from the video games and get them outside. How will we know If it's a good idea unless we try something new. You have made comments in the past about people being resistant to change, perhaps you should heed your own advice.
There are 5 other tennis courts in the area. Is it that much trouble to ask someone to drive 5 or 6 blocks to play tennis? Perhaps you would like the city spend thousands more to build a pickle ball court, rather than convert one tennis court?
1:18 PM
It appears you have been away from home for some time and have not had time to catch up on the blog. I suggest you spend some time doing just that and all of your questions will be answered and maybe even some you did not think to ask.
And after you are done with that, I suggest you call Ald. Potthoff and get his opinion. He is a long serving alderman who has watched a lot take place in this city and of all the aldermen will probably give you the most knowledgeable answer to your questions.
1:18 There are four teenagers not playing video games right now. And you know why? They are playing tennis at 28th St. Park.
1:18 I've been preaching all along to give it a try on a temporary basis but my suggestion keeps falling on deaf ears. They want it to be permanent and permanent only! They (rec commission) and our council refuse to make any concessions.
1:18 Why not drive 5 or 6 blocks to play pickle ball? Why do you have to drive to play tennis?
1:18 PM
Many of the beginning tennis players who use the 28 th street tennis courts are not old enough to drive to the other courts. I do however have a suspicion that you are old enough, so please take your pickle ball to another less used park and leave the 28th street park as it, a tennis court.
Selfish is as selfish does paraphrasing the phrase from Forrest Gump.
Why do you keep bringing up the library board to Lois. She has repeatedly voiced her opinion on the topic. I cannot believe any intelligent person would compare recreation to a education.
I asked you a question Lois. If I wanted Ald Porhoff's answer I would of asked him. It just seems like you answer with some nonsense to avoid answering my question. I have another question why not have the rec commission try something new with a small investment? If it doesn't work the pickle ball court could be changed back to a tennis court without spending a large some of money. If the city keeps it a tennis court and spends thousands on a Pickle ball court, and it doesn't take off the city will be out much more money. To me they are making a wise finicial decision.
To 2:02. If we had a pickle ball court , perhaps those four teenagers could be playing tennis and an additional four teen angers could be playing pickle ball.
2:24 PM
BECAUSE I have and numerous others have answered those questions too many times and I refuse to waste my time while you try to justify your selfish behavior. I can tell you there will be changes in this city maybe not this summer but coming because people are sick and tired of "its not what you know but who you know" behavior that continues in Peru.
Wouldn't 28th street park be considered a residential park for those who live in the Marquette subdivision? And, haven't neighbors repeatedly stated that tennis players frequent that court? That tells me, and it should tell our council and our mayor, that those who live in this area like the park the way it is.
It has been repeatedly stated that the 28th street court is used daily by tennis players but that Sunset park tennis court is seldom used. Why is everyone against doing the obvious solution? It's simple and would be the best solution for the majority of citizens involved in this fiasco. (p.s. I know that the ambassador prefers 28th street because of its' location. Shouldn't we be catering to the masses and not just one?)
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