“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

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Recreation Board and Fireworks Contract



Remember when Ald. Ankiewicz during the Public Property meeting wanted the contract for our fireworks to be sent back to the Recreation Board for their approval. Here they are reading the contract but one member Ron Kelsey is absent and evidently he took care of previous fireworks but it has become evident that previous shows never had a contract with the company doing the show, so it seems that this board is not quite sure what to do with the request of Ald. Ankiewicz. Listening to the conversation, it really doesn't appear that they have much knowledge about understanding a contract. This is going around and around in circles and thanks to Ald. Ankiewicz, it is a mess. I guess this is a prime example of how things get done or don't get done here in Peru.

On some computers the sound is faint, so it all depends on what you are listening on.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

All he is doing is stalling so the new company gets fed up and walks away then his choice can walk in and get the cities money like always. And he can get his bonus.

Anonymous said...

Bonus? I call it backdoor under the table payoff.

Anonymous said...

If you listen carefully to this video Mrs. Grabowski asks president Hartman who signed the previous fireworks contract. He responds "probably Mr. Kelsey". Apparently this committee had no idea how the fireworks had been handled in the past as it was finally made known that there never was a contract with Melrose. I don't understand how we not only hand over $75,000 to this committee each year but we give them the authority to spend it without questioning their process. They don't even know how things are done within their own committee. Apparently they hand a task over to one of its' members and forget about it. This is eye opening citizens of Peru. How is Mr. Kelsey going to handle this contract with Extreme when he's never handled one with Melrose?

Anonymous said...

If there was no contract with Melrose what legal problems could be created such as liability for personal injuries, property damage or a fire.
Peru having both a insurance consultant and a city attorney how did this slip by.
Are there other committees which are entering business agreements without a contact? What type of preventive checks have been set up to make sure this is not still happening and will not happen again.
I can remember that initially the Kid Rock concert at the airport had less insurance being carried on it than most small businesses have. These are cuircumstances that prove if you are not going to elect city officials with business knowledge you have to hire a city manager to coop with todays business world.

Anonymous said...

The ones grabbing the headlines are the ones with zero business background. The officials on the Park Board have established plenty of business experience, its those who create the headlines that look to have limited business sense.

Anonymous said...

The best solution is to vote for a elected official with a business background.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:29 You claim that the officials on the park board have established plenty of business experience. A intelligent businessman would replace everyone of them immediately for working with Melrose on a no bid no contract basis at a standard $20,000 per year quote. What good is business experience if you don't know how to use it and you are not smart enough to walk away.

Anonymous said...

How could there not have been a contract with Melrose? Just seems like common business practice and common sense!

Anonymous said...

Ya Think 8:26? I get the feeling that even the rest of the rec board (with the exception of Mr.Kelsey and alderman Ankiewicz) were unaware of this situation. Kind of scary when you think these are the people in charge of $75,000 of your tax money.

Anonymous said...

9;10 if you are a member of a board you should be aware of these situations. with the exception of the two newest members the current ones have been on for quite some time. no excuses.

Anonymous said...

Well, 10:48 if you listen to the short video above it's quite obvious the members have no clue as to what has been going on over the years with the fireworks.

Anonymous said...

One of the goals of a well managed board is complete turover within a stated number of years. What is the recommended number of years of service for this board and how long has each member served?
Politically, members of a council and committee are to serve not take ownership.

Anonymous said...

Their terms are supposed to be 5 years as written in the ordinance but the mayor interrupts it in a different manner. And, one member is supposed to be replaced each year. However, they get to stay as long as they want and are never asked to relinquish their seats.

Anonymous said...

Still no excuses, you have to make it your business to be informed when tax payer money is being used. Questions should have been asked over the years that Melrose was the provider. I cannot believe not one board member did not think to ask if a contract was being signed. They knew, they just kept quiet and let it happen until Rodney start to ask questions. These people are in charge of alot of money and are not being responsible to all the residents of Peru...only the special interest groups, and that 12:36 proves that they are not serving they are owners. Go to the video and recall how the president handled himself at the last meeting.

Anonymous said...

The president of parks Brian Hartman works for Midwest Avtech aka. Owner Chuck Studer. Mr. Studer is running for township trustee; apparently he is not getting enough from the tax payers at the airport. Everyone in Peru seems to be connected.

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:33 Kick one in the a** and you get all of them at the same time. You have to have someone watch your back because you don't know how deep bloodlines run in Peru. I've got the feeling that some of the same blood don't even know it.

Anonymous said...

5:33 thanks for the info, did not realize he was employed by the airport. Maybe that explains his attitude.