“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, July 17, 2012

Is Your Opinion Different Than Our Officials?

Peru officials voiced satisfaction at Monday’s city council meeting with Friday night’s Kid Rock concert at Illinois Valley Regional Airport.
Police and emergency response officials were highly visible during the show. Police chief Doug Bernabei said there were no incidents, arrests or fights.
A bus got stuck in the mud, five articles were reported lost, one lost article was recovered by the owner and two people were transported to the hospital for existing medical conditions, Bernabei said. The plan for covering the concert was developed by Bob Pyszka, Peru police deputy chief, Bernabei said.
Fire Chief Jeff King also said the event, one of the largest ever in Peru, went off without much trouble.
Police moved people away from the stage when high wind and lighting occurred in the afternoon, Alderwoman Sherry Mayszak said.
Clean-up also was prompt, aldermen Rodney Perez and Bob Ankiewicz said.
The event was part of Concerts for a Cause, which benefits schools or organizations in the area. The recipient of the Kid Rock concert is Trinity Catholic Academy in La Salle. The school plans to buy new classrooms computers.By Jeff Dankert

I ws not present and have no opinion on this subject at this time.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

To:Lois
From: Rodney Perez

I, like many others had concerns with how this was going to play out. I arrived at 5:30 and took a ride on the 6 wheeler with one of the officers as he advised tailgaters- the venue gate was open and tailgating was not allowed.
The response was respectful; people either went back into their motor homes,and busses or proceeded to the gate.

From 7:00 until I left, I spent the rest of the time walking the crowd specifically watching for illegal activities, and trouble.
The Police Officers did a great job making their presence known.

People were there to have a good time with friends and family.

Could there have been a scuffle, or a doobie being smoked here and there? probably!..was it overlooked or condoned? absolutely not! If I would have witnessed a security, or officer ignore such behavior I would have had no problem confronting, or reporting them. For as much time i spent walking around and watching people I was impressed and satisfied of the overall behavior due to the wide mix of individuals; ranging from 70 year old farmers, States Attorney's, Bikers, Truckers, Bankers, and proud Boot stompn Hillbilly's ( who I met from Tennessee, sporting shirts that stated just that)

Chief Bernabei has an Action Plan portfolio they put together. During Monday's Public Safety Meeting Chief went through it and pointed out changes they would make for next time, Things as simple as: staging, and directional placement of squad cars.
I'm certain Chief would be happy to share with anyone interested in seeing their action plan.

SATURDAY: I made two separate trips to the airport on Saturday. By 3:00 the entire area, from Letterkraft,and throughout the airport was as if nothing took place the night before.

Furthermore, The F.D. did have the brush truck staged. Chief King made that call earlier due to the dry conditions, not wanting to chance cigarette butts starting small fires. There will be no charge to the city, nor to Lou's for the fact the FF volunteered his time.

Kudo's again to all responders, and ESDA for a job well done!

"Everyone have a Great week as I'll be traveling abroad to be with my son as he get's married to the love of his life;-)

Thank you,
Rodney Perez

Anonymous said...

When does the city get paid? ?

Anonymous said...

When did Sergeant Schultz join the Peru PD? The THC haze could be seen from LaSalle.

"I know nothing, I see nothing, and I say nothing!"

Anonymous said...

How do you expect officials to respond to the concert when they have committed the city to a partnership with it?
The newspaper quotes one person as saying the crowd could be estimated at 10,000 all others at the concert who have experience of estimating big crowds say that at a max there may have been just under 8500. Of this estimate of 8500 how many were in attendance that received comp tickets?
The vendors sales were not at a level near to expectations due to weather conditions which caused a shut down for a period of time and that the crowd was nowhere near the predicated figure of 15,000.
The parking lot after the show was said to be in utter chaos at the end of the show as drivers were cutting each other off and than getting out of their vehicles to fight.
The true success of the concert will be told when the city and the promoter tally all the books and disclose them as they should now be city business to be disclosed to the public. The grand total profits accumulated from sales, vendor donations and ticket sales should be enough to buy computers for several schools.
Recent rumors are that Spring Valley is attempting to annex the property that the concert promoter has purchased south of Dalzell to allow concerts on it? Sincerely pray that this is only a rumor as enough ill feelings have been created by these concerts in the community already.

Anonymous said...

Attention!!!! Please pay close Attention to the following.
According to reports from the Peru P.D. and headlines throughout the media.It would be safe to NOTE that a concert that brought in over 12000 people from surrounding states, 90 barrels of beer sold. , reports of hippies and pot smoke claimed to have filled the airways from Peru to LaSalle, and yet not one, i repeat, not one incident,nor any arrests were made throughout the night.'according to reports'. Well folks!! This Kid Rock concert that had all you folks scared of Hells Angels, and gangs storming town is much safer than your Peru 4th of July Celebrations. Something is wayyyy wrong here! A family advertised 4th celebration brings in more trouble for your community than a 'rebel trouble making concert does'. Headlines were right from the Peru PD.s mouth that during and after the 4th celebration fights broke out, and some arrests were made.'keep in mind what your chief stated in the headlines'-- 'NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER YEAR' YO CHIEF!!! remember last year the 15 year old taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning while walking up from the 4th celebration???? and the fights in front of the rescue station??? Maybe Lou's LaGratto needs to organize your 4th celebration instead of your CSO. Great Job to LaGrattos for doing suchan outstanding job organizing your event. something the City can't even do with their own event.

Anonymous said...

Rodney Perez,

I laugh at some of the stuff that you type up for these blogs?

You went around looking for illegal activity? What happened if you did see illegal activity? Would you have acted upon it, Officer oh I mean alderman Perez?

"Could there have been a scuffle, or a doobie being smoked here and there? probably!"
- A doobie? What are you, 16?

Stick to your job. Don't go looking for kids smoking "doobies"... You're just going to get yourself in trouble. Save us all the embarrassment.

I'm happy for your son! But do you really need to say that? I think we will all survive without R. Perez commenting on the blog making HIMSELF look so great, just in time for elections.

Anonymous said...

@10:45 "Save us all the embarrassment"? Please don't speak for me, by saying "all of us" Say what you mean and speak for yourself,unless of course you are speaking on behalf of your own club. I respect the alderman for getting out there in the public eye and walking around. were there any other people from the city doing what he did. I do believe the alderman would have acted on illegal dealings if he saw something happen, such as notify the cops. It's anonamous people like you that cut people down like a well respected alderman, such as Mr. Perez, then have to hide behind the shattered curtain. We need more political leaders like this, that can stand up to people like you and the rest of those stale hands at city hall.
I hope between alderman Perez and my alderman Pothoff team up to clean this city up. More of Peru's city aldermen need to be seen out in public more and stop hiding at home or at restaurants in Lasalle.

Anonymous said...

Is Rod even up for elections yet? Is it a 2 or 3 year term?

Tammy F.

Anonymous said...

Where was Harl- in the front row getting free food and beer?

Anonymous said...

To 10:45

I don't know many 16 year olds who would call a joint, a blunt, Mary Jane, etc. a doobie, nor do I know of any who care about the city as Alderman Perez does. Let's stop bashing him for what you believe is mere self promotion in the wake of elections, and call a spade a spade. Alderman Perez is doing what everyone on the council should be doing, you're just not used to seeing it. When an event like this comes to town, we should see 8, not 1.

Anonymous said...

Alderman Perez for Mayor 2013

Anonymous said...

Anon - 9:32, when a person organizes an event, they also take FISCAL responsibility for the project. Lou's admits to not making money on these projects (yet chicago trib article says she brought in $400k?? and the donations are where?) and uses tax payer money to pull off any profit whatsoever. Give me a break! Wish I could pull off a concert with everyone else's labor (police, cleanup, engineers, parking lots, land prep, & setup) and money. I can't wait to see the proceeds on this one! Hope there is some sales tax benefit for all those food and liquor sales up there. 90 barrels, other booze, and food should produce a huge sales tax windfall for the city. Can't wait to see the July sales tax report for the city. Hopefully, the CASH was accounted for accurately.

Read sections of the Chicago Tribune entertainment section dated 7-11 article below with various quotes from Noonan.
Go to Google and type in kid rock, concerts for a cause.

Article says she made $400K yet takes a loss?? How does that happen? Who received $400K? for computers and playground equipment?
Says the city charged her $5 per ticket in 2005. And exactly when did that payment get forwarded to the City. FOIA?
Care packages for troops? When? I don't remember that one.
Says she has sponsors to offset losses. Don't forget to acknowledge the City of Peru taxpayer Mary. At least give us a thank you for stomaching this BS and paying your bills while it's shoved down our throats to accept it.
Says the number of people coming to these shows is bigger than the City of Peru. And where did you pull that info? You couldn't even come up with 5,000 people to Alan Jackson and he had to write you a check because he felt sorry for you. He should have wrote the check to the club where you had the event to offset the bills & mess you left with them.

Just the facts maam. OK?

Anonymous said...

Many of you say "I heard". If you are not aware, that is called a rumor or hearsay! I was there and it was a great time. There was probably 9000 people there and I thank those of you that did not go and sat at home because it made for a VERY comfortable audience. The people that complain about his event are the same ones who say there is nothing to do in the Illinois Valley or they don't want anything happening in Peru that would interfere with their boring lives. Thanks for a great time City of Peru and all volunteers.

H, Tom said...

Well i've read the local paper and read this blog , and my answer to it all is BS AND YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS . Their were fights and their were way to many drunks and their wasn't enough police as far as i was concern . As foe mr i wanta be mayor perez , bull---- too. Seems to me most people see what they want too see . but thats normal for the ill vally . I don't really care what you say or the paper prints because they only do what their told or want too do . WHAT I WANT IS A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF WHAT THE CITY SPEND ( THE TRUTH ) ON THIS CONCERT FROM MY TAX MONEY , AND WHAT THEY GOT PAID FROM NOONAN ! THATS ALL ITS ABOUT . (They don't call it the daily disapointment for nothing !)I haven't believed anything an alderman has to say for years !

Anonymous said...

Where is this figure of 95 half barrels coming from? Is it from a reliable source or just another guess such as the 10,000 attendance number? The correct numbers of half barrels would be just a few short of 150. Attendance was actually a little less than 8500.

The city being a partner in this venture will be asked to publish the concert's audit. Because the city is to receive a set amount per ticket (although it has not been made clear if this is "tickets sold" or "tickets sold and complimentary tickets extended") and all the expenses the city has incurred due to concert location. Peru City Treasurer and Attorney should be involved with the concert audit in an effort to make sure all legalities of municipality are followed.

Finances and legalities involved in a concert are significant and should not be treated as a by guess and by golly business partnership, and make no mistake this was a partnership. When a business conducts a $500,000+ project it is not agreed upon by a hand shake or a good old boy attitude. Instead many legalities and contracts are in place and govern what can and cannot be done. This has been way to big a deal to accept anything less by either the promoter or Peru's government representatives. Done properly, Peru should be able to reduce its debt with Parkside School by a huge sum as well as buying computers for a LaSalle school.

Anonymous said...

I heard the rumor at the coffee shop today that spring vally is trying to annex ms noonans land at delzal black top into their city so she can have concerts their . ?

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:36
Refer you to Anon 8:33 P.M. July 17 above and you will find they are stating this also. If this is true shame on Spring Valley because you would think they would show some respect to Dalzell. This would only prove that money is the root of all evil and also one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel. Dalzell keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.

Anonymous said...

To:Lois
From Rodney Perez

I would like to address, and correct my 5:17 post.
From a previous discussion with Chief King; the two firefighters that were on scene of the concert were going to be "volunteer only"
I discovered on the 7-21 FD activity report that 2 FF were paid a total of five hours each for a total of ten hours of OT.

On 7-30 Chief King advised me that he was asked to Bill those hours.

Thank you,
Rodney Perez