Tom Collins Staff Writer
The recent Kid Rock concert wasn’t a sellout, but the fundraiser drew a large enough audience to cover expenses and still help Trinity Catholic Academy in La Salle. Concert promoter Merry Noonan confirmed Wednesday the school will get 36 new computers — seven more than promised — purchased with proceeds from the July 13 show. “We covered our costs and we were able to donate,” Noonan said. “It would have been much better if it hadn’t stormed for two hours, but Kid Rock put on a great show.” Noonan acknowledged she was hoping for a stronger gate but that a surprise thunderstorm (the forecast called for just 10 percent chance of rain) effectively halted day-of-show ticket sales for two critical hours.
The sudden storm also kept the Dirty Guv’nahs, the scheduled opening act, from taking the stage. Noonan emphasized that the Dirty Guv’nahs weren’t a no-show; the decision to waive the opening act was Kid Rock’s and was dictated by weather. “And it didn’t just rain, it poured,” Noonan said. “I was a little nervous headed into the show, but it turned out really nice.”
Rain shouldn’t have come as a total surprise, as the concert was held on Friday the 13th. The deluge provided much-needed relief from drought.
“The farmers have thanked me,” Noonan observed wryly. “It’s just a big joke around town.”
Trinity school officials were advised Tuesday the donation would be fulfilled. Connecting Point Computer Centers will supply the hardware before the fall semester begins.
Elyssa Albers, a seventh-grade teacher and the school’s technology coordinator, said she and her peers were delighted with the donation. Though Trinity initially requested 18 desktop and nine laptop computers, Noonan increased the donation to 27 desktops. Each classroom now will have three desktop computers plus a laptop. “What we had in our classrooms were 2000 Dells, and we weren’t able to show videos or use Microsoft products,” Albers said. “We had two computers that completely crashed.
“This was definitely a need we weren’t going to be able to supply with our own funds.”
Noonan said fulfilling the donation to Trinity would not have been possible were it not for event sponsors Chamlin and Associates, Archer Daniels Midland, JP Chevrolet, Midland States Bank and La Salle County Broadcasting Corp., which includes radio stations AM 1220 WLPO, 99.3 WAJK and 96.5 the Wolf.
57 comments:
Thanks Mary!
Now pay us taxpayers from Peru back! !
Yes! ! Pay Peru back! !
The $9000 check will not cover it.
Harl will not get reelected because of his incompetence and the next mayor will probly remember all of this. $40,000 for grass seed, $10,000 for fertilizer,
$?- lost land rent
$?- week of 8-10 city employees working on concert
$?-police overtime
$?- fire overtime
$?- ambulance service
$?- cleanup
$?- electric dept services
$?- Esda services
$? - misc city services used
This adds up to way more than $9000 !!!
And free pizza for the mayor and department heads doesn't cut it for us citizens.
lets see... a new Dell Latitude E5520 laptop costs about $500. Multiply by 36 = $18K.
What happened to the rest of the money?
Recent sighting of a medicine peddler going towards Peru from the airport in a wooden wagon being pulled by a jackass with a sign on both sides and the back "Snake oil $7.00 a bottle and business has been very good".
I believe the original request from the school was for desktops and laptops totaling around 14000. Ms. Noonan apparently upped the number of desktops, so I would guess that a figure of 18000 to 20000 might be accurate. Could be as high as 25k. They were purchased from a local computer store who may or may not match the education discounts available online. I am certain they would be happy to share the total monetary amount of the purchase. Or you could get it from the school. Possibly the reporter even could provide the specifics. He probably did not think people would be interested in the dollar amount, it's more of a feel good charity story and they cover it that way.
From what I have heard, the city was paid. $9000 to the city, the police, fire and ambulance were paid out of the concert proceeds. They always provide their own cleanup as well. Congrats on a job well done Lou's. Many children will have a great education awaiting them.
I wonder if it's possible that the computer store is giving the school a real good discount in exchange for advertising time for the event. Either way, the arrangement the City had with Concerts for a Cause should never have happened. Noonan is not a not-for-profit business and should not have been handed taxpayer dollars for personal use.
Why is she PURCHASING the computers? I thought proceeds go to Charity or a school not ALL proceeds go to Lou's Lagrotto first, then Ms. Noonan purchases the equipment, finally donating the equipment?
Question for you folks-if Company X is raising funds at the register for Make-A-Wish foundation do you think Company X takes your funds and considers it Company X money first so they can pay their company expenses? No because you know those funds are being raised separate from Company X business funds.
Million dollar question-do you feel Ms. Noonan hosting Concerts for a Cause keeps those funds separate?
Thanks Merry. Another success story for all involved.
2:21 AM
She said she will pay, but the city had not received any money as of Wednesday.
@Lucy, obviously you don't know what you're talking about because the city never ever did the bill yet. Set up and cleanup was done with city employees. There are pictures on Facebook of city employees working before and after doing set up and cleanup.
Hope all the people that bitched about those signs about roads being fixed travel about on different streets that are not repaired yet.
How do you conclude that the signs had anything to do with the roads being fixed. The roads were fixed if there were signs or there were not signs. The signs were a non productive self imposed added expense, pat on the back campaign devise of Scot Harl who has yet to learn that self praise stinks.
The Mayor has made so many similar mistakes in office that there is question to whether he intends to run for office again.
Time will tell but it is very evident that there are several dissatisfied groups seeking a candidate who would be interested in the Mayor position. Some of these same groups are also interested in backing "new blood" to fill council seats.
12:20 I'm sure everyone is pleased that some of our roads are finally getting fixed but was it really necessary to waste taxpayers money telling people that Peru is responsible for it's own roads? Did you think some other town would spend their money to fix our streets? It's money wasted and unnecessarily spent! That's the point!
Just ran across a ticket stub from the latest "Concert for a Cause" and noticed that one of the sponsors was listed as Hamlin and Associates. The paper lists Chamlin and Associates as a sponsor. Can anyone clarify this controversy?
Paper was wrong.
Peru needed to have their roads fixed and a outstanding job has been done in fixing them.
Nothing was done in 2011 because of extremely high bids. So all money saved from 2011 plus this years motor fuel tax, plus the hotel motel tax, plus the increase in sales tax and the state coming through and redoing State Highway Six has given Peru roads to be proud of.
If the aldermen would have joined the 21st century there could have been at least 30% more done for the same amount of money. All that had to take place was for each aldermen to work together for the city rather than being selfish and working for their own ward. The method of spending the same amount in each of the four wards is dollar dumb. They once again for another year had the construction crews jumping from ward to ward rather than performing straight line construction.
The council was advised by the Mayor and Chamlin and Associates on the most fiscally responsible methods but yet they stuck to their own restrictive methods which cheated the taxpayers.
Their was a "Super Committee" created to advise the council and which had four of the twelve members coming from the council but for reasons unknown this committee rapidly went to the roadside.
MAKE YOUR PLANNS FOR THE NEXT LOU'S CONCERT OUT AT THE WEST END OF PERU THIS YEAR . COMEING TO YOUR NEIGHBOR SOON !AT LOU'S PARKING LOT !
HOW ABOUT POSTING THE BILL FOR CONCERT SO WE ALL CAN SEE WHAT IT COST TAX PAYERS IN PERU TO GET COMPUTERS FOR A school in lasalle ?
I THINK STEVE WENT ANONYMOUS!
The roads that were fixed are in good shape now. But, what gets me is, why do we let contractors and developers get away with putting crappy roads in the first place? Namely for one is the road from Hyvee Gas north up to the bank. It's the same all over in the past, developers put in inferior roads then the city ends up redoing them in a few years. As far as the equal money for each ward, I think the worst roads should get fixed even if it takes money from other wards.
4:23PM
Looks like she would like to have a Jamaican Block Party on August 25. Neighbors hold your ears, I guess. I hope they walked the neighborhood to let residents know and to get their approval or at least most of them.
Because someone started this walk your block agenda does not make it a indicator of what is right or wrong. Check your zoning ordinance and go from there.
Do as the zoning is classified and there should be no disagreements.
To disregard zoning or make it a secondary issue behind political campaigning to obtain votes and result in causing chaos is as ridiculous as the now famous 98% survey.
@10:17 ANON- make sure you know what you are talking about before you call the kettle black. Please forward pics to me of the city setting up and cleaning up the venue. The city put up a fence. That is it. Also, YES the police and fire AND ambulance were paid from Ms. Noonan, not the city. It seems so bizzare to me that people are so concerned with this donation of however many computers it may be. From my perspective, many many children will be benefitted from this equipment. At this point, there is no one else in town helping out these schools/charities. Kudos to Lou's and the city of Peru for pulling this off successfully.
PS...where is the info on a block party at Lou's coming from? I am excited to hear of another show.
@ 4:24 ANON- let's all put on a show here in Peru for the Peru schools. Just remember, we take the fall if it doesn't go over, rain, people don't buy tickets...etc. Let's put our money where our mouth is and raise money for the children. Did everyone complain when the money went to a Peru school a few years back? What about if the money goes to a Peru school next year?
9:37 I do kinda think walking the area is a measure of right and wrong, especially if you record the answers and get signatures. It would be a voluntary practice, not a mandatory one. We all might be surprised at the results of a formal .survey like that. Could be strong support or strong opposition.
By referring to zoning I think you are correctly pointing out what is legal or illegal. That is a different indicator of right and wrong, sometimes protecting neighborhoods and sometimes not so much.
Just curious. Are LaGrotto musical concerts held inside or outside of the restaurant?
Anon 6:17 Which do you think will prevail in a courtroom?
OUTSIDE , she already checked with the eagles club she rents the conner lot from to see if it was all right to use it for band !
2:04
I would imagine whatever is legal would prevail in a courtroom. That would be my hope. But occasionally business' go out of their way to work with their neighbors whether legally required or not. Perhaps you prefer courtrooms for settling disputes, but from my years in business we tried to avoid them if possible, even if we thought we could win. So we more often looked to maintaining good relations with our community and neighbors, even above strict legal requirements.
As I said, there may be a very strong majority of the neighbors who are in favor and might volunteer to help out. Block parties can be fun. We all could be surprised by the results of a neighborhood survey, for or against. But no one is saying it's mandatory, just possibly a nice common sense gesture.
Anon 4:07 So much for your nice guy common sense gesture. You and everyone else knows that that a business is not going to shake the bush and go out and conduct a survey if they know they have a loser and if they really want to obtain what they would be conducting the survey for.
At times it seems to be a hopeless issue in challenging a city which has no money but is willing to spend its abundant endless pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to win a case or drive down the road in a fleet of new vehicles. Everyone which is a major gas guzzler and extravagant rather than the economical stripped down normal government work issue form of transportation.
Next April which is not far off is the citizens day in court when they enter the voting booth.
I think it's good that Lou's is having a concert at thier location. If they're asking the neighbors, that's even better. It's only for 1 night. Too bad the neighbors around 28th Street Park weren't asked how they felt about pickleball before it was put in their backyards. And it's for 3 years!
7:18 I bet the neighbors around 28th St. Park would take a night of music over three years of twak, twak, twak, any day of the week!
Pickelball will be gone after the April election . GUARANTEED
4:28: you should really do some research before posting. I did some and it took me about 15 minutes.
First the $9000.00 was the money generated by the $1.00 a ticket that was to be paid by the airport.
Lost land rent and seeding. As noted from the News Tribune acticle dated 8/6/12, which had a link from this blog, an agreement was reached by Ald. Ankiewicz and Merry Noonan. It said that she would compensate the city for crop land rent $6400.00, and $12,689.00 for seeding, attorney and engineering fees.
Police, fire and ambulance services all billed Merry separately, as stated in the May 30, 2012 public property minutes.
The electric department was not needed as all power for the event was provided by disel generators rented by Merry.
Clean up and setup was accomplished by Merry and her crew. So there is no way 8-10 city employees were needed at the airport.
Why must people turn a worthwhile event into an evil thing. At least Merry is taking the initiative to do some good for some school kids. I don't see anyone else willing to put in the time, work or money to accomplish this. If you think you can do better please stand up to the plate and take your best swing at it.
11:47
Ms. Noonan is only required to pay the $1.00 ticket
fee by ordinance which she has paid to the City. The other expenses mentioned are a "gentlemens" agreement and legally do not have to be paid since they are not part of the ordinance. So whoever wrote and approved the ordinance was not very concerned with recouping those fees in my opinion.
Kristy
Yes Kristy and do you or any others have proof or inside knowledge that she has not, or will not pay them? Do you honestly think she won't pay what she has agreed to pay? If she doesn't the city has recourse by not letting her hold a any more concerts.
It's not inside information that I HAVE aquired....regardless my point is she is not legally required to pay ANY fees beyond those described in the ordinance. Who said she agreed? He said she said? That is why contracts are written and signed and the contract/ordinance only requires ticket fee. Ms. Noonan has met her ordinance requirements. If nobody in the City protected the tax payer to assure all expenses the City incurred were reimbursable legally well that is another situation that requires an explanation.
It's my understanding the issue is under review at the FAA anyway to determine if grant assurance and compliance have been met by the City. Explain why would Ms. Noonan pay expenses if possibly concerts of any form aren't going to be allowed in the future?
Kristy
Kristy
2:26
It is silly to argue these things back and forth on a blog. If you want to find out do an FOIA request to see all the invoices, ordinances , and payments from all the concerts she has held there and then silence the critics once and for all. All the back and forth gets boring. No city would be spending all those man hours and expenses unless they got compensated more than 9000 bucks per concert. There are probably tens of thousands of dollars of invoices and payments over the last few years. Next topic.
Actually 3:37 this is the first year the concerts have EVER paid a ticket surcharge to use airport property. Past concerts indicate money was received for land rent but those funds were for police security overtime. This is what I believe is called a possible MISAPPROPRiATION of FUNDS but PC Bernabie was not concerned when I presented the evidence on Friday...suppose that is why the township operates the way it does also.
Kristy
its Peru people all is okay in good old P-town folks just look the other way if you don't like what ya see cause the FAA sure is gonna
The atmosphere of politics in the city is one that is constantly hiding the true fact behind a incorrect column and is protected by those who practice the unique art of holding several important check and balance positions at the same time.
to understand this method of "home cooking" one must remember to take all funds throw them in one pot, the general fund, select what amount yow need and take it to the fund you feel you want to. Disregard where the fund is mandated for and throw in a pinch of salt, pepper and sugar and shove it down the public's throats. If the public retaliates by belching, regurgitating, or with a sour look - do not become concerned. They are only the public. Besides by the time everything is stirred up nobody will ever be able to trace it back. Heat rapidly with high flame and serve with no warning.
Kristy
What did the past years ordinance for concerts specify? There were many conditions spelled out in the ordinance this year right? Was it based on the past concert ordinances? If everything was done according to the ordinances, what would the PC be able to do anyway?
I remember reading in the meeting minutes you asked about hand written changes or something. Whole arrangement seems weird.
8:53
There was never an ordinance for past concerts at the airport therefor if the City was reimbursed it was by the "honor" system. Problem last year is the City the FAA and IDA had a teleconference with the City about nonaeronatical events at the airport and grant assurance became an issue blah blah blah. So it appears when Ms. Noonan wrote a check to Peru Police for OT for security the City Clerk applied it to airport land rent. Probably to show income for airport grant assurance from the previous teleconference.
I am by no means an auditor but how can these funds be utilized for OT (actual) and land rent (lie) at the same time when they were only received once for security? Possible fund diversion or misappropriation? Or how can a City special use liquor license be filled out and notorized 2 weeks after an event-sure makes one curious if the State issued a special use license? But the Chief had an "answer" for that too. Who are citizens truly suppose to turn to with question-can't fight City Hall is definitely true in Peru!
Kristy
Kristy
Kristy you post from10:17 is a complete and utter lie. There is not one shred of truth in the entire post. I will not say how I know this, but trust me I know it is filled with lies.
9:34 Lol . You will not say how you know this but we are to believe you. If there were no past concert ordinances that's easy to prove or disprove. If a liquor license is notarized on a date it is true or it is not true. The teleconference occurred or it did not. Come on.
I am not saying her post is true or not true, I am saying you do not need to claim some super secret way of saying she is lying. Anybody can verify things like that. Most people just do not take the time to do it. So they believe what they want.
June 25, 2011 fund raiser permit application signed and notarized August 11, 2011
LL check# 31344 written to Peru Police Trace concert
LL check# 31462 written to Peru Police for concert
On the FOIA paperwork both coded 85.3552 applied to airport on record of payment and account management view shows those amounts on those days were deposited into city account 85 4-00-40-3552 City property rent.
Teleconference 8/24/11 from DJS (not certain it is from DJS meaning City attorney)
"the preference of both the Illinois Division of Aeronautics and the FAA is that no non-aeronautical activitie be conducted at airports...It is my recommendation that there be a separate linemitemmin both internal accounting and the audit for special event revenues derived from non-aeronatical activities at the airport so our audit could be used for any FAA and/or Illinois Division of Aeronautics audit of grant compliance."
Oh by the way-this may be of no significance but Peru WAS utilizing the same accounting firm the City of Dixon is holding liable for the Comptroller embezzlement situation.
Kristy
WHERE IS WALDO? A check from Noonan to Peru
Fire department/Liberty Fire? Or were their services
Donated ? Or did we taxpayers pay? Wasn't
Fire trucks, command vehicles at concert? Who paid for
Volunteer (poc) fireman to be in attendance. Did noonan give free tickets to each and several if any guests
If theirs?
kristy
There you go giving facts again. Do you know how hard that makes it to call you a complete and utter liar? Oh they will keep doing it of course, it is just so darn irritating and so much harder when the truth keeps spilling out.
To quote an earlier blogger, "Why must people turn a worthwhile event into an evil thing?". Maybe we should be asking instead, "Why are so many trying so hard to turn an evil thing into a worthwhile event?" Guess it's all a matter of perspective in the end.
More "lies" to come...
Kristy
The concert was not a problem nor was the airport a problem. The problem was created when city representation took city property intended for use as a airport and allowed it to be used as a concert site.
The judgement of city officials in this venture at best would be graded very poor. The City of Peru and its financial investors, the taxpayers, had nothing to gain and every thing to lose.
Now Peru is paying its representatives to collect debts created by the concert rather than spending this valuable time governing the city.
The promoter did bring very popular entertainment to Peru, which she should be recognized for and receive thanks but in doing so was in partnership with the city with everything to gain in this partnership and nothing to lose, creating a very clever business arrangement for herself. One in which no one can fault her for being savvy enough to set up.
Possibly by now the city representative has learned that he used poor judgement in mixing a private venue with public funds and also creating unlawful violation of city ordinances which he has taken an oath to enforce.
I know for a fact that senior paid city employees were up at the airport cleaning, picking up cans, using the city sweeper while all being on very expensive overtime. Bend over taxpayer and say "Sir, I'll have another!"
Anon 8:20 Thank You. Haven't seen the city sweeper all summer and only once last year. The time I saw it last year was at Water Street the following morning after the fireworks. Another piece of equipment which goes unused and the city has to rent a building for storage because a facility huge enough to operate a trucking line out of is now not big enough to handle all the city equipment.
If u remember from the last council meeting where Perez read the fire report he said 3 fireman were paid overtime to work the concert. Also city employees worked at the airport the entire week of the concert. The did set up and installed all that fence. Then they took it down and did cleanup. ALL ON CITY OVERTIME PAID BY TAXPAYERS! !
Why 3 fireman paid overtime????? How was this decided??? Fireman get paid $33 (approx) for each fire call they show up to depending if the call is
1 minute or 2 hours! If fireman are at a firecall longer than ? They get paid a little more. Maybe someone who is in charge of the FD should have had 2 shifts so NO OVERTIME WAS PAID, if true what Mr. Perez
Read. It's call SAVING MONEY!!!!! Was a
Check really written by noonan for fire services???
How much did the concert bring in? Does she donate ALL proceeds to the charity? I will not go to any more of her concerts, unless it is on public display for the amount she takes in. I dont think she gives ALL proceeds to the charity. If anyone can prove me wrong, please show me the answer.
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