Missed much of the discussion on the proposed swimming pool except that a committee will look into funding again and get an idea of what they can expect to pay and what the design will look like. This was the Public Property Meeting.
Fireworks once again as the company, Extreme Pyro, who "may" do ours this year would like us to sign a contract which our atty went over and he suggested some changes. Someone then asked what did our contract with the previous company of Melrose look like. Among those sitting in the room beside the Atty was Ald. Ankiewicz one of their biggest fans and he said he had never seen a contract because Kelsey of the Recreation Board took care of everything. No one at the meeting remembers seeing a contract and an assumption was made that we never signed a contract but just paid them for their services in the 17 years they had the "bid", (my tongue in cheek comment).
Now wouldn't the rep from the Extreme Pyrotechnics company who gave us the contract this year and has been communicating with the city and attended several Recreation Board meetings and seems interested in doing business with us, wouldn't he appreciate a telephone call first to explain the changes we wanted and discuss any further issues we have. Never heard that mentioned but instead the contract is going back to Kelsey on the Rec. Board because he always takes care of the fireworks. And than the what ifs started. Old habits are hard to change and we continue to go round and round once again. Somebody in the city must be hurting from this change.
28 comments:
When the Rec Board ordinance was revised wasn't it suggested by several aldermen that the fireworks bids be received and agreed upon by September or the job would be taken away from that committee? Well, here it is the end of February and a final decision still cannot be made (I believe it's because it's not with Melrose). Something smells fishy here and we're making too big a deal over the simple issues and not a big enough deal on the important ones. There is so much animosity between the mayor and the aldermen toward 2 aldermen who won't fall in line that issues are becoming battles and things are just not getting done. With this administration if you aren't on their bandwagon your shunned and ridiculed and discriminated against. I would have never thought mayor Harl would forget his campaign promises and the reason he wanted to become mayor but obviously he has.
Melrose has not provided the fireworks for the past 17 years. Someone has their facts messed up.
10:03 AM
That was the number tossed about at the committee meeting Could you give us the correct number of years? We would appreciate that as it is not important enough to foia that many years of fireworks information. Unless something illegal is brought forth.
I do not know the exact number of years by Melrose but I think they were chosen because they were well managed and safely run by trained shooters. I can remember an outfit that was one hour late in starting the fireworks and I know of one who did Peru's who had a fatal accident with their show in Alton the same year.
Has Ald. Perez held meetings with Extrene Pyrotechnics outside of the Rec.Board? And why would this be allowed to happen if you have a bidding process. And why was he involved when you have a Recreation Board that handles the event?
10:18 AM
Melrose might be a good company but when another company who does fireworks and have the credentials to show that they can do the same and more, shouldn't you consider the options. They have been more upfront and available to the city and its committees to the point of coming to 3 meetings that I am aware of. The rep is a teacher who works in the Chicago suburbs, he has made himself available and offered information about shows he has done and will be doing. He did one in Princeton during the fall, he informed Peru, you can see what we do, come see. WHAT MORE DOES THE CITY WANT?
10:35 AM
My question to you is "Why would you have a volunteer group with no background in pyrotechnics be allowed to decide who will or will not be the company to do the fireworks? No one on that board has any background in pyrotechnics and they merely take their advice from an alderman and in recent years that had Bob Ankiewicz. Of course probably no one on the council would have any background either, so that is where the research begins,looking at other cities and gathering your information to provide the best you can find with what you can afford. Remembering at all times, it is not about you, it is the residents and taxpayers of this city who pay the bills.
Remarkable: Loose ends, untied strings, unfinished business, start and stop projects, improper prior business practices: These are all examples of why Peru, Illinois could possibly be considered as Dixon, Illinois twin city. Pitiful, a yearly $20,000 investment conducted without competitive bidding and possibly without a contract and with only one unelected individual with knowledge to verify whatever legal background there is.
Each candidate for Mayor of Peru should immediately submit his plan of action to correct this issue.
The present Mayor should take the fireworks project out of the present decision makers of the display and set up a impartial group to conduct business with Extreme Pyrotechnics.
Appearances are evident that somebody in this city must be hurting from this change, now that it is evident will the citizens themseves force the further changes that need to be made to expose and correct the somebodies and the illegal old habits.
Mayor Harl, as a former backer of your seeking of office I plead with you to step in and take proper action and force this to the front. Presently some of the alderman and the Rec. Bd. are making you as a a** during your term as Mayor.
The Recreation Boards violations of the Open Meeting Act have shown enough need of attention but last nights Public Property Meeting must demand you to take necessary steps to correct these situations.
It is known that the first action of a politician is to make steps to be re-elected but to be a efficient manager you cannot conduct the Mayorship as a popularity contest but rather as a office in which you are more interested in acquiring the citizens respect.
Lois and fellow bloggers: My signs came in today. If you or anyone you know are interested in having one in your yard don't hesitate to call or email me. 8152502780 justin.loger@gmail.com
Lois, you didn't answer the question by 10:35. Why such protection? If Ald. Bob had held meetings with a Pyrotechnics company during a bidding process, you would call for a investigation. Somebody else has meetings, calls, walks in the park with a vendor. And its fine and proper? It looks like we have a pretty lopsided point of view.
You're absolutely right 11:53 but I don't see this mayor stepping in and taking control of any situation that he knows he can't control. He repeatedly chastises one specific woman for talking at his meetings yet when two individual men exploded at a particular meeting he clammed up and said nothing. When it's someone he thinks he can intimidate or someone who questions him he speaks up. When it's one of "his in crowd" he clams up.
2:30 PM
Now I have a question for you. How would I know any of that? I do not know what any of the aldermen do in their private lives. Get real
you might know who walks in the park and who they are with and further more you must know a lot more than I do, so cut out the silliness and blame game.
Lois: I believe 2:30 is referring to the meeting held last year at Baker Lake except they only have a portion of the story right. Alderman Ankiewicz, Mayszak, Perez, Ferrari, and the president of the rec board Brian Hartman were in attendance. They were there to determine whether the fireworks could be moved to a better location then Water Street.
If you listen carefully to the video of last night's council meeting you will hear alderman Ankiewicz state that the fireworks contract, along with its' changes, will now be turned over to Mr. Kelsey. I wonder if he has any knowledge of contracts and their contents because apparently there was no contract with Melrose. Anyway, the next rec meeting is not until the 12th of March. And then, if you listen to alderman
Ankiewicz, the contract will then be returned to the Public Property committee for approval. It may be July before this situation is ended or somehow, someway we may still end up with Melrose once again because obviously someone has a vested interest in that company.Why do we make the simplest things complex? Why are we continuing to allow the stupid bidding process we use with regards to the fireworks? Why do we take so long to get something resolved? Someone needs to step up to the plate and soon.
Video of last nights meeting has been posted on the city web site. This is a need to watch.
6:12. Why do things take so much time? You can thank the OMA for that. All it does is create unnecessary red tape and then if you get violations. If the alderman have to meet up at bakers lake then so be it. Same goes for the airport. Get things done and move on and stop whining about "violations". Give it a rest
Linda: and who in your opinion is going to "step up to the plate" and get things resolved in this election???? This question goes for everyone but I bet not even 3 of you will answer
To:10:35
From Rodney Perez
To answer your question..."No" I have not had any personal meetings with any pyrotechnic companies. All meetings I'm involved in are open to the public as they're suppose be.
Extreme Pyro has attended most public meetings that involved discussions of fireworks.
I've been invited to other events held by Extreme simply to witness their shows, and how they are set up.
Extreme has always had open invitations to "All" officials to visit their shoot site.
Extreme has been very professional, Enthusiastic in wanting Peru's business by traveling from Chicago to Peru several times over the past year to present, and educate our officials, and public of their business.
This is the only company that has gone above and beyond to win Peru's business.
Hope I answered your question.
Thank You!
Alderman Perez
7:51 Right now it's obvious that the present mayor has struck out so I'm leaning my support toward Mr. Mike Hart. I like his platform. Can I guarantee he'll live up to his platform? The answer is no but I can only hope. I believed in candidates twice before and was fooled by them. However, I still believe in Peru and we just need some leadership and maybe Mr. Hart is the one.
If Baker gets in ALL contracts will be done under the table there will be no bidding!
Another observation that was made from the video of this meeting was alderman Potthoff's response to alderman Mayszak's question regarding donations. She questioned the 6 requests that were listed on the finance committee agenda. He responded that we only give to those organizations that are listed in the budget. Upon investigation it was noted that there is not a list of individual groups we donate money to just a line item "donations - $18,000".
Been invited to other events. Just a bit of legal advice for Rodney. Don't admit anything unless you are asked!
To:3:28
From:Rodney Perez
Appreciate you watching out for me:-) But no need for legal advice.
When a Pyrotechnic, Dog Pulling, or any other service invites the public to witness their show...You can bet I will try and get there to see their work.
I'll also offer this info: When the Dog Puller wanted the city of Peru to host Dog Pulling; the public was invited to Utica to witness their event.
To become familiar, and educate myself of what's being pitched to our city...I will investigate it.
Please Note: with that said... I still voted "Nay" to allow the dog pulling event in Peru.
Thank you,
Rodney
With Baker as mayor for 44 years and Judy as check writer, and the millions and millions of dollars brought in over that time, why did Peru have all that debt? Is there a chance that Peru is another Dixon?
Your asking? How loud does Big Ben have to ring before some people wake up? There has been alot more than chump money brought in in the last four years and how much is the city still in debt?Incidently where in the 2013 budget is a list of specific organizations that the city donates to. Alderman Potthoff stated this to Alderman Mayszak when asked about six requests for donations. There is a amount budgeted for donations but not a list of specific organizations to receive the donations. Alderman Radtke and Treasurer Hylla nor any other city representative corrected the Chairman of the Accounts and Finance Committee.
You are absolutely right 6:09. Alderman Mayszak was not told the truth because I too tried to find that list and it does not exist in the budget. I was pretty sure that was the case but I double checked before I posted the same findings as you.
More untruths 6:09. They intend to confuse the public, and I might say they do it very well, but the voters are starting to catch on to all their little tricks.
Do the alderman sign a code of ethics and if they do what is stated in it. Alderman Potthoff's explanation to Alderman Mayszak in regards to the list of specific organizations that can be donated if incorrect huge ethical and legal questions become involved.
Certain questions pursued at a formal meeting should be answered accurately or if not answered accurately should be questioned and verified by other knowledgable and responsible parties at that meeting.
Now that the answer has become questionable, is Alderman Potthoff correct and were is this list located or is Alderman Potthoff incorrect?
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