I would like to know exactly what they are in control of regarding our parks and why they are allowed to get engineering estimates without council approval or even to purchase equipment over %500.00 without council approval. Do we need an elected park district who are responsible to the citizens of this city?
Recently a $4000 donation was made to the city by American Nickeloid for the purchase of playground equipment for the American Nickeloid Park which received some damage recently. More as details become available.
11 comments:
The answer is NOT another elected government body. The answer is to hold the government that we already have - and that we already pay for - accountable. Our current elected government made a choice to let this commission operate as they do. The Mayor needs to do his job and work with the commission and the council to ensure our parks and recreation operate efficiently and within the goals set by the community.
Lois
Carefull what you wish for...
In most cities, when a park district is formed, such as Princeton, you get a new taxing body. Then we would have another group that will need to fund their projects thru a new Tax on Peru citizens, like the Library.
I would highly doubt that monies the city currently alocates to the park board would contiue to go to the newly formed park distict.
Meaning the city would still collect the $75,000( example ) they usually do from out taxes, and the park distict would collect another $75.000 and now we just paid double.
Do they get a donation every year from Nickeloid?
Brian, government bodies are similar to laws in that we have enough of both. Accountability and enforcement of what we presently have is what is lacking. KISS (keep it simple stupid) is the method which seems to work best for both subjects and it is easiest for all to understand and get on the same page.
Why is the discussion of the Pickle Ball courts being held 4 weeks after the meeting was held to determine it's location? It appears that one of our aldermen was present at the April 10th Rec Commission meeting as was the Mayor. Is there a lack of communication between our committees and full council or has the Rec Commission been granted complete control of our money and our parks?
12:29 PM
In answer to your question, the answer is yes to both. The Mayor attends the meetings as well as Ald. Ankiewicz or Ald. Mayszak who are the council members of the Public Property Committee and that includes parks and since recreation occurs in parks usually, that is how the Peru Recreation Committee fits into the equation.
If this does not make any sense to you, it does not to me either. Mayor Harl changed many of the committees about one year ago and prior to that I believe there was a Recreation Committee of which 2 aldermen were on and a Recreation Commission. Before the election last year Ald. Ferrari and Ald. Mertel were on the recreation committee. And then there was a Recreation Commission with all the members who now are still on the Recreation Commission. With the reorganization, the committee with the aldermen did a disappearing act. We now have a Public Property Committee which now incorporated the airport and all other public property.
Last year I was told that the Recreation Commission that was in existence last year only dealt with things like summer help wages and other areas of employment for the city.
In other words everything is as clear and clean as mud.
12;50 HUH??????
By other areas of employment with the city, it was like the park director, Lynda Kasik and other summer help which used to include those working at the Peru pool. I was not very clear on the employment issue.
I share your view Art. We do not need a park district.
I agree with Brian, and several other bloggers; A city our size should not have, nor do we need a park district. I believe we should have a recreation commission OR committee, however their authority to spend money and make large decisions should be severely curtailed. They should be allowed to expend small amounts (say $500 maximum) of money for things like equipment replacement, regular monthly bills, minor building repairs, etc., with larger purchases requiring City Council approval; while at the same time time keeping the routine matters running. When it comes to larger decisions, such as pickleball or a new ball field, they should be an advisory panel with the decisions left to the city council. I don't beloved they should be disbanded, because things may never be done, recreation wise, if left to Our City Council.
8:25 PM Business Sense
It just gets very discouraging when you continue to see poor management of our tax dollars and no one in the city government doing anything.
I would like to see a complete reorganization of the Recreation Commission and reduced to their original size which I believe was 5 and strictly advisory. I have suggested a max of $500 and you seem to agree that would be a good dollar figure. Now we need to get our aldermen behind the idea and if we need a new ordinance then do it.
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