I was doing some research tonight of cities close to us in size, how are they administered, what kind of park system do they have and how is it managed, what is the organization of the public works department and should it be headed by an engineer. We do put out much on contract such as our waste hauler services, our water testing, our engineering services and would it be better to go out for lawn care also with a private professional local business also.
Government is headed by a politically elected mayor and city council and many important committees are volunteer and no one and certainly not the mayor is keeping a eye on all of it. Keeping a keen eye on everything and having a structured competent city government as well as transparency is vital to the future of this city
Perhaps we should consider the benefits of a city manager available at all times and perhaps even a Park District. Maybe a city manager could function as a city treasurer and economic director also.
I know that some of this would be considered wasteful spending of our tax dollars by some of our residents But maybe not because it would be done with accountability. Think about the park care we are getting now and say that is a good use of our tax dollars. All summer long you hear about employees not doing their job and cutting the same grass over and over even when it hasn't rained in a month.
Was the camera we purchased to view council meetings a good investment? From what we are not seeing, NO. So we spent a couple thousand there and we have a $7000 ice rink in storage and a $8000 piece of playground equipment in storage. A city that is working with accountability would not be experiencing these issues.
Someone recently asked about the checks and balances when it comes to spending money in Peru. And the answer is.............................
And one very important aspect is also missing in this city and it is RESPECT.
That is something that needs to be given to be received in return. Aldermen are rude to other aldermen and it appears other city officials are trying to protect their own turf with no regard for the residents. I will leave it to you to figure that out and put names to them.
Feel free to add your own concerns and to whom you would to address them to.
54 comments:
I personally feel that our officials display a lack of respect for women and those who disagree with them. I also feel we absolutely have a lack of leadership from the top of the ladder on down. As for our parks we desperately need something new because they are in dire need of maintenance and upkeep.
Peru will never have a park district because of the YMCA! OUTRAGEOUS FEE FOR DAILY VISITS AND MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. I've always thought there is a conflict of interest with one council member and the YMCA. The YMCA is managed just like a park district. When families are looking to relocate or move to a city or town they take into consideration as to having a park district. A park district would involve higher taxes, but well worth it in regards to home values. It's an investment into out community and families. It would be interesting in knowing if Peru had a park district what kind of grants, etc.. Peru would qualify for in order to get and finance a swimming pool. Has anyone paid attention to the rates for the YMCA? It's quite shocking, look it up.
Why do you think potthoff doesn't want a pool in peru? The YMCA is making a killing off pool parties and pool usage.
I don't believe it would be a good idea to have a city manager, economic director and treasurer all rolled into one position. It's like you're combining the role of CEO, COO and CFO all into one person. Like anything, growth has to come from good leadership first.
Justin how about a city manager also being the treasurer since most have the education to do so.
The conversation of a city manager for the city of peru is a very good example of people not knowing a thing about running a sound efficient business.
I guess there is something to the notion that "ignorance is bliss".
I would suggest that we concentrate on issues that really matter to the city of peru and not the foolishness of city manager.
We elect our city officials to run the city as elected and not to have some other voice appoint a city manager of ones liking, I.e Scott Harl.
If the elected folks can't run the city as we see as of today, THEN LETS GET THEM OUT!!!!!!. Impeach/recall them.
Maybe we can spend $50,000 to remove a swimming pool (supported by some on this blog)by now leaving a big hole or a large patch of dirt. We could have spent half that amount of money to fix the pool and still have a pool in the city of peru.
BUT no !, what do we argue about? You can only guess? petty worthless things and the city goes down hill.
Look in the mirror folks you made this all happen with your vote of Scott Harl.
Now HARL says in todays paper he wants to continue FOR THE NEXT 4 YRS what he started, What a Joke!
Who is going to be fooled again ?
Lois: As I have stated before, do we really need another layer of government, or do we just need better leaders?
Justin, I am really leaning toward having a city manager because of the lack of cooperation with our elected officials. Someone who would make sure that all elected and non elected people are working cooperatively on things that concern the city and its residents. I think it would prevent the power plays that go on and then people are the ones that are hurt. I see where Streator had a manager and than let him go for a number of years and now they have decided to return to that form of government. I don't know if it was the same city manager or not. Also our Mayor is considered only part time at something like 32,000 per year and maybe that is how much effort they put into the job. A city manager would cost us more and we would expect a lot more out of him. We are going nowhere now, so I feel that we don't have much to lose and perhaps will gain a lot.
Lois: In your first sentence, you say there is a "lack of cooperation with our elected officials." What is going to be the result if we have a lack of cooperation with a city manager? Terminating them is always an option, but if you have a leaderless organization to begin with, you are still going to have a leaderless organization whether or not a city manager exists. I don't want to paint the picture that I am "anti-City manager," but how many layers of bureaucracy do we need?
Justin, The city manager would be doing just what his title states, keeping the city in good running order, making sure all departments have someone watching them and seeing that the department head has some responsibility over the people he supervises and also the equipment of that department. I am thinking of the public works department with that statement. He would also have supervisory skills and use them when dealing with the building and zoning inspector and work would need to be done as was necessary and not as he felt like. The Mayor could remain part time,hopefully with some leadership skills but the city would not depend upon him totally. Maybe if we did not have an aldermanic system of government, I might think differently but we have to live with that for the time being anyway. I have seen city councils for longer than the last 8 years and most times they have done what the mayor wanted whether it was right or wrong. The first 2 years of Harl would have been better if they had let him wear the Mayor title and someone else actually running the gov. efficiently and well.
Lois, everything you stated is something that any mayor should be doing. If we bring about a city manager who is not a leader, who doesn't answer to a leader, then we have gained nothing. If you want the "mayor" title, then live up to the responsibilities.
Justin, if I were hiring a city manager, I would do a lot of research, talk to cities who already have one to find out the pros and cons. I would probably go to NIU and investigate their program and find out where some of their graduates have gone and find out how successful they had become in their jobs of managing a city.
I would advertise in the appropriate journals and maybe even look at recent graduates of the program. I would have resumes sent and very carefully interview those people. I can pick out an intelligent person who knows what he is talking about and I would expect a city to be able to also. In other words act like any corporation looking for a top level employee.
Lois: I can agree with that, but for me personally, I hope it never comes has to come to that, at least not in the near future. Competent and intelligent leaders make all the difference.
6:38 I think one of the simplest reasons in favor of a city manager is , if hired correctly , they have shown successful experience in the process of efficiently running a city. Most Mayors around here, and Mr Harl may be the biggest example of this, have very little experience in communication skills, negotiating, planning and research, competitive bidding, finance, etc. It is not the same as running a business, but there are lots of parallels.
Competence and intelligence does not always translate into electability ( a factor I fear may affect your candidacy) and an effective and powerful ciity manager can provide core continuity even when the figurehead at the top changes.
For those concerned about YMCA membership rates, check the rates elsewhere. In the suburbs, you can pay $60/mo for adults and $90/mo for families to facilities with NO pool!
If we cannot depend on the Mayor for the skills set as city manager, then whom ever voted for Scott Harl in the past surely sees today what a mistake that was.
I hope the April 9 election will show how disappointed those of you are and will vote for MR. Baker who you would surely state he has the savy and smarts to run our City of Peru. He did so successfully for 44 yrs.
Folks get your head out of the sand , look in a mirror and get some common sense. Maybe even go to church for some religion.
What has gone on in this city the past 4 yrs is a disgrace and shameful. I would hope we all smell the roses, for tommorrow will be better with Baker.
I'm sorry 11:03 you are so wrong. Mayor Baker is not a good choice. Look what he left us with. A new council chambers when we had a perfectly good building, called the Mirror building. We are still paying for this. If he thinks the swimming pool was crimnal tearing it down. It was crimnal building the new council chambers.
I think it was crimnal during Bakers administration, for tearing down the turn hall and the Peru Hotel our great vintage firestation. Furthermore do you know the pool was losing 60,000 gal. of water a day, and thats not peanuts.
Lois, your thirst for a city manager is so great you should move to Streator.
Check the prices of the YMCA. They have one of the finest facilities and lowest rates in the entire country. And no tax rates.
12:12 Park District is a taxing body, you pay even if you don't use the resources. And then you pay extra to use the resources. Check the Princeton Park District. You pay taxes, you pay to use the pool and you pay for a membership to the Metro Center. Is a Park District a want or a need? Can you afford additional tax rates? The same argument is being made with the Peru Pool, is it a need or a want?
10:23 PM
I am interested in learning more about Park Districts and have bookmarked the IAPD web site. Very interesting to read about what member cities have in the way of parks and recreation. I like the idea of parks no longer being delegated to by the mayor, council and board as it seems they are able to do a much better job all around when it is a self sourcing body. Princeton may pay but their parks are nice and they don't lack for activities. And yes I realize taxes are involved but whats this dif, I am paying Peru now and not getting much in return.
Property values are higher in communities that have park districts as a rule! Been in real estate for 25 years! Grants available for communities that have a park district in order to help fund a new pool? This should be looked into. The YMCA is exactly like a park district . I also agree that membership rates are too high only affordable by certain households. And yes, low income family's can get a reduced membership if they apply, based on income. Alot of those family's are too embarrassed to apply! Google the original intent of YMCA's, amazing how that's changed since the y's existence. Also , park districts have many senior programs. It's sick to think of all the surrounding communities around Peru that have an outdoor public pool. And Peru is suppose to be known as the leader of the Illinois valley. Mayor and council, you should be ashamed! Interesting to know hoe many people in Prrus government have a pool or a family member that has one!
1:44PM
It is not sick to think that others have what Peru does not have at this time. All the years that Peru had a pool, Spring Valley, Oglesby and even Ottawa did not. In fact Ottawa may not have built a pool until sometime in the 1960's and they are now having issues with their pool. La Salle watched and knew when they had to repair the pool, Peru did not. Peru was aware of what was happening with the pool for many many years before it was closed and in my opinion it had to be closed. We were told that by the city atty, our insurance company and the state of Illinois. It was not in compliance with the ADA and there were safety issues involved. I sat through every one of those pool meetings and asked for all the information. Perhaps if the previous administration had not been so concerned with the new city hall, we might have a fairly new pool at this time. It did not happen and please be aware of all the facts before you moan and groan about the lack of a pool
Justin, have you ever hired someone before and what makes you qualified to hire a city manager?
2:29 PM
I think you might address that to me. Personally not in a position to do hiring but have been hired and I do know the process. Not sure the city goes through the same process but I would hope so. You don't have to hire someone to know.
The city can't even hire its own fire department. They allow Liberty to hire and fire who they want. If you aren't in the click, you're out! Useless HR department.
Lois, Justin do not pay attention to Anon 2:29. There are always one or two who have lived under the black cloud of doom and gloom for so long that they only know of two stages of life. One is that you are too young and don't have enough experience upon which you immediately become too old and outdated. You are given each day in your life for a purpose and you have a responsibility to fulfill the accumulation of that purpose. Don't let some lemon sour your ambitions and goals.
8:17 PM
I did not know that and I bet most people did not either. I can understand the chief should interview and maybe the mayor also but Liberty as a 5013C should have nothing to do with it at all. Changes need to be made.
Fire Chief in Peru was fire chief voted in by the click. Then Harl decided to make fire chief appointed by him. There has been many discussions on this blog and
Outside of this blog in regards to the process in which Harl made the appointment to Perus current chief. A honest and fair application process????? Good old boys club. The current fire chief did donate $600 to Harls campaign fund back in aug. 2012. Check website. ISNT THIS KINDA A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? Seems like a way of securing a position/appointment.
I was interviewed by Liberty members. They came to my house and had no idea what they were doing. My parents had to leave because I lived at home at the time and it was like bring interviewed by Elmo. I assumed I would be called to city hall for an interview but nope. A friend of mine applied also and never even got a call. So who decides who gets interviews? Does it matter that I hang out at Elles and my friend doesn't? I never persued it because I moved away.
I was told that liberty members had to vote on me whether I got on or not . Just all seemed wrong. These guys had no idea what they could legally ask me or couldn't ask me.
11:10 AM Please give us the link you referred to.
I will answer, however Im not 11:10. PeruPages.blogspot.com. Go to Tues OCt. 2,2012. Harls Election War Chest expands to $26,796. It shows Jeff King donated
$600. The state of Illinois also has listing of campaign contributions. Google it. Brian Foster can give you the exact site, assuming he got his infor on the state of Illinois site. Wasn't this a topic of discussion on this blog several month ago? The pieces of the puzzle coming together.
Posted from Peru Pages.blogspot.com
Harl Election War Chest Expands to $26,796
Mayor Harl has had a busy summer. He has expanded his ready reserve of election ammunition by almost $11,000 while expending about $7,000. But, as always, it is not the amount that is intriguing, it is the list of contributors. For instance:
ATS Properties Inc. - $200.
Central Illinois Trucks - $200
Chamlin & Associates - $500
Chapman’s Mechanical - $300
Gary Edgecomb – $200
Flumer’s BP Amoco - $200
Mario Gaeta - $300
Holland Law Office - $200
Gary Hylla - $225
Jeff King - $600
Martin Equipment of Illinois - $250
Specialty Landscape Maint. - $200
TEST Inc - $400
Robert Vickrey - $300
He also had $5,674 in non-itemized contributions
Naturally, Local 150 of the I.U.O.E. coughed up another $600
@11:15. When did this happen? You must be an intelligent person to see through things. I noted you said hanging out at Elle's that you do. You must have alot of info. While you were hanging out at Elle's, was there ever a fire call? Did fireman dart to go to call? Just curious. 11:15 didn't even get a chance. Over the last couple of years there have been fireman who have quit , retired, moved, applied to fd., wives of fireman have commented, on this blog site. It seems therewould be some valadility to issues.
Is this contributions just up to OCt. 2-2012? VERY INTERESTING. The above blog about an applicant and his friend who weren't whatsoever treated in a professional manner. no call back, no letter, no nothing!!! And this is how the younger generation(assume blogger is young) Disgusting!!! Néw leadership possibly?
Don't alot of these people and businesses that contributed to Harls campaign fund get contracts for services/and/or on city/or townships payroll, etc....?
My fiance applied to the fire department and was told at city hall when he got his app. that they don't do the hiring for the fire department. He was told that the members of liberty fire interview and do the hiring. And that's from the city clerk's office! I know he won't get on because he doesn't know anyone on the department. Really sad and unfair!
I commented earlier. When I was interviewed, I was told I had to join Liberty and I couldn't just be a city employee. Bullies
This blog title gets better by the hour. This blog heading needs to go back to the bottom of the page and
not on the left. Also, a full time fire engineer(city employees) son recently on fire department????? Picture in paper weeks where he finished a class or something in Utica.?????????????? Can't remember exactly
what article said but Is it who you know and party with????What in the heck is going on? Who is in charge of overseeing this fd? There have been two separate bloggers today that state what happened to them or
someone they know. BOYS CLUB! I find it
Interesting when the paper had pictures of hometown heroes of fire departments from surrounding areas, I noticed not very many for the size of peru. Some of these small towns had more fireman than Peru. Evidently, it shows that there has been interest in joining from the above blogs. Makes one think that maybe it also depends if family members of interested candidates for the fd aren't part of the good old boys club and if their family member were to be on the fd, they may spill the beans about what they
see, etc..
5:12-------- You should speak to Alderman Perez who is on the fire department but ISNT a member of Liberty, in regards from what you have blogged with what happened to you. EVEN THOUGH YOU SAID YOU MOVED. You may be helping someone in the
future that won't have to go through what you and your
Friend went through. You should have correspondences from the fd. ALDERMAN PEREZ is also on the
Fire/Safety Committee. 5:12, are you related to anybody who is outspoken on city politics in Peru? I applaud you for being involved, and posting a blog about what happened to you.
Yes 627 your right. In 135 years of the Peru Fire Department only two individuals were not part of Liberty Fire. I bet you can name these pioneers of fire safety. Hundreds of firemen, only two were not allowed or chose not to be involved? It makes us wonder about the posts that describe the fire department. It comes down to two who believe they are greater than the collective efforts of a group working for the safety of our town. Spoiled brats need either a public flogging, firing squad or a minimum team building exercise.
9:43 AM
I think in the name of honesty, it needs to be clarified the Liberty Fire was at one time the Peru Fire Department in total and there were not a fund raising group and a fire department and now there is. Liberty is considered a fund raising group a 5013C and technically not a fire fighting group. The actual Peru Fire Dept. are city employees now and have been for only a few years and there are divisions. I don't want people that they are one and the same even if the majority of the FD belong to the fund raising group.
9:49 Lois, you are manipulating facts. Liberty has the sole purpose of service to Peru, and they like many others groups including the City of Peru do fund raising. They are and have been the group that fights fires in Peru and have for over 150 years. There are divisions, those divisions are two people in 150 years. Not what anybody would term divisions. I would call it a mutiny of two. And I would think that you would call a mutiny of two in public safety- a firing squad.
11:12 AM
The divisions I refer to are legal and have nothing to do with the 2 who are not members of Liberty. I know why the PFD is now employed by the city and it was about the city providing benefits in case of injury or death to a fireman. I assume as a city department they would not be allowed to fund raise and therefore to continue to fund raise the FD decided to form a non for profit and then they could continue to have events to raise money. I did not refer to who is or who is not a member and it has no place in this discussion. I also believe that Liberty should not be the sole determinant of who is fired, hired or anything related to employed on the FD a department of the city of Peru. They are a not for profit fund raising group.
Its wrong and illegal to force someone to join your non profit boys club to be employed by the city. If someone was to apply and you did tell them that , that's grounds for a huge lawsuit. Especially if they said they didn't want to join liberty and then liberty members voted to not hire that person. Liberty should not hire the fireman and definitely shouldn't be firing them. That should be done by the HR department. Maybe then it would be fair for all, including woman!
To 11:12 am. Your blogs mentions "only two" firemen In 150 years, not members of liberty,but on fd. I note some arrogance also in your blog. My question to you since your aware of stastictics of liberty.And Liberty should have stats, since they have the stats of only 2. How many men/women have applied to the fire department in the last 10 years? How many of those applicants have been interviewed? How many of the applicants in the past 10 years have gotten on department? How many of those applicants have received correspondences by letter, phone, in regards to their application and/or interview? I also noted in your blog you had no comment to the bloggers that applied, or have friends that applied and were given no respect. Go back and re-read them! However, your blog to Lois makes me get the feeling that you don't care for this town forum. Will check back on here for the answers from you to the questions I've asked. Thanks! Just a curious taxpayer in Peru.
Birds of a feather flock together.
I have been reading these blogs and I would like to say that when my kids were young several years ago that the Peru Fire Department had nice open houses. That is when on a saturday as a family, we went to the open house at the fire department and then to the pool until 5 o'clock. A great time as a family to spend a Saturday in the summer, that didn't break the families bank account.
Liberty Fire Company is a fundraising organization for the Peru fire department. Taxpayers if they choose to do so can donate to Liberty. Now, if it's true that Liberty's members only have voting power as to who gets on the fire department, It's my opinion that 4:46's ?'s should be responded to. It's taxes and donations from taxpayers. This whole process of applicants to the fd and the manner that determines whether or not applicant gets on department seems to be totally wrong with the possibility of being illegal. Sounds like discrimination. Actually, I had to go back and read blogs above several times before I got my thoughts together, before I could blog this with respect.
How are the fireman(paid Per Call) paid? Does the city issue their checks or does Liberty Fire Company issue their checks from Liberty's account/accounts? Again, referring to the volunteer fireman, paid per call. Not referring to the full time fire engineers at station. I asked a retired fireman and he said he got paid from Liberty Fire Company a few years ago. Does city pay or Liberty? I was confused because Liberty is a fundraising organization(donations). Why would Liberty do payroll? For volunteer fireman. Why not the city do this payroll? Out taxes go to the city for fire protection, true? false?
11:58 Until about 3 years ago we had Liberty Fire Department and the firemen were paid through that organization. I am not sure where the funds came to pay them, surely some came from the city.
Now there are 2 organizations and the firemen are paid from the city as members of the Peru Fire Department. All of them.
Was city putting money into Libertys (fundraising) account to cover payroll? If true what retired fireman said about getting paid by liberty? It doesn't make sense why Liberty paid volunteers since it's always been a fundraising organization. Maybe Alderman Perez could answer. Alderman Ferrari could too since both this guys are on fire/safety committee. ????????? If city issues checks to volunteer firemen, when did they start doing that? Retired fireman (volunteer, paid per call) said he got paid from Liberty from reading above blog. ???????????
So for all those years prior to about 3 years ago DONATION MONEY to Liberty paid volunteer fireman. Most taxpayers unaware, thought city paid due to property tax. Was this or is this a form of double dipping the taxpayers. Is Liberty Fire Company Through donations giving Money from their account to the city to make payroll to volunteer fireman? In that case Liberty must have alot of $$$$ in their account through fundraising since as of three years ago Liberty hasn't done payroll for volunteer fireman. Alderman Perez, please respond and set the record straight. Thank you
Birds of a feather flock together -- HARL & WEBERSKI !!!!!! Wake up!
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