“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

Monday, March 11, 2013

City Council Met for About 30 Minutes This Evening

Evidently the city continues to have issues with the recording process and there will be no video from last week and can only hope for better results this week. I talked to someone who said the internet setup within city hall does not have a fast enough internet to correctly run the video and Connecting Point does not seem to have a "internet geek" to correct and it turns out to be a hit or miss situation.

. My belief is that when the city hall was built, the Mayor and City Council at the time 20 years ago were not able to foresee the changes that would be happening with  internet technology and evidently no one to give them good advice as to the future. Things some time seem to be moving at a mind boggling pace and we need people running this city that understand that.

Mayor Harl and Ald. Lukosus were absent and attending a convention in Washington DC.

Small talk about the BB gun range and when Ald. Mayszak questioned why we did not show the cost of  labor on the disbursements, Ald. Radtke said there is no snow and we might as well have the city labor force doing something. Does that mean that this range is a "keep busy project"? The BB gun originator is not very happy with the questions. Would the city have been able to secure volunteer help for this project? Or would we run into union problems?

Finally we were able to pass an ordinance for the July 3 Fireworks Display and the contract has been signed and it only turned out to be a 6 month effort. Should have been taken care of last fall and not have kept so many people involved and time wasted on such an event. The city surely has more important work to do.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Since we still have no snow and the BB gun club house is finished what will our city workers do? What do they usually do when there's no snow to plow. Alderman Radke made it sound like nothing.

Anonymous said...

The city hall was built in Mayor Bakers last term so I am thinking no more than six years ago. In fact the Mirror Building is not twenty years old.

Peru Town Forum said...

Thanks for your correction on my comment. Well then perhaps an upgrade is needed but this is annoying that we have a video camera running but what it produces does not open and run. I actually watched the city clerk and errors kept coming up and the go between at Connecting Point is not able to help. What should we do at this point? When you buy something, there is usually a guarantee for some time. Did they purchase a service contract with this camera considering this was not a personal item but something for city employees to utilize.

Anonymous said...

Why are Harl and Lukosus in Washington D.C. attending a convention when there is enough concern in Peru about electrical rates that they belong in Peru where the problem is.
Has the city employees of Peru ever been layed of in a slow season such as the winters that have small amounts of snow or summer when there is alot of rain and work is not done outdoors or when we get no rain and grass does not grow. This the first BB Gun Club built by city employees so what have they been doing in other years. It is a known fact that the present SPW's first answer when asked to take on necessary duties is "I don't have enough men". Too many people have heard him say it too many times and get by with it.
Alderman Radtke what is the actual labor cost to the city in building this club - hourly wage plus cost of benefits that the employees recieved . I'd like this as a itemized cost not a lump sum and also what is the cost of maintaining a greenhouse year after year? A cost analysis of growing your own in comparison to going to a big box store and purchasing off the counter as needed should be a simple task and is needed?
The city employee is not at fault for doing as he is told but the present management of the city is at fault for not being able to decide what size work force is needed and not having it. The employees know what is necessary to be done per season and how much time is needed to prepare for the next season, the fault lies with management who all of a sudden found nothing to do for six men for a length of three weeks. I find this hard to believe but I have to go by Alderman Radtke's comment that there is no snow and we might as well have the city labor force doing something.
Mayszak (X)
Radtke ( )

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:17 Was this camera purchased from Connecting Point and how long ago? If it was purchased from Connecting Point they should analyze the problem free of charge and update and install a new camera that is made for the purpose of the city building needs. This should be done for the price difference of the cameras and labor free as Connecting Point is hired as a professional in the field not a handyman thats product is going to work 75% of the time. How much business does the city do with Connecting Point per year, is it as high as $50,000/year? Maybe they should throw the difference in cost of the cameras in as good will for lost meetings. What was the cost of the present camera and the labor cost of installing it?

Anonymous said...

Radtke made that comment? And he prides himself on managing projects in his company? Did you forget about the labor cost line Mike? Isn't that line item about 40% of a project cost in today's world? You better go back to school. Gosh, I would love to have your budgets. Make big money on projects and everyone works for free. All I can say is double DUH!!

Anonymous said...

Radtke is listening to his mentors well. Nothing of his own. Only does what he is told to do.

Anonymous said...

Forgive my ignorance but how could the problem be a internet service that causes a complete blackout for a full meeting? Is it a overload and why does it not occur all the time or does it occur at all? It seems to have its greatest percentage of problems on nights when discussions are contested, known and unknown financial figures are questioned and public comment is embarassing to city officials. Are these overloads unscheduled or programmed? This tranpariency of the video equipment is a twin to the amount of closed sessions in Peru. How often is there a video breakdown and a closed session in the same night?

Anonymous said...

The excuse about the video is pure bunk! Is the City using a dial up connection? How are they conducting day to day business transacted if they don't have an Internet connection with basic connectivity? This has nothing to do with how the building was designed. The problem is a willingness to solve the problem. If they are truly operating on a substandard connection, then they should update that – is the building wired for cable TV? If so, problem solved. If not – get a spool of coax and wire it up – oh that’s right, to busy putting up dry wall for the private club house. If they are using a dial up connection then they need to correct that – imagine a one hundred million dollar business using a dial up connection! How do they process ACH transactions???? Oh…. And what about that fiber backbone with the high speed Internet connectivity that the City of Peru owns and the excess capacity that the City of Peru gives to Connecting Point at bargain basement prices? Bunk… nothing but lies and bunk. Any twelve year old with a video camera us able to upload videos the YouTube and they are saying that a full service IT Firm cannot upload a video? Did I say Bunk?

Anonymous said...

There is a problem with the internet because they don't have adequate speed to so many viewers to the internet. If they are using IV Net they have a very slow speed via upload which is one of the reasons the video appears choppy. Also they are using a camera with poor resolution and not an HD camera which isn't helping the situation.

If it was me I would upload this via a faster internet like a 100/10 Internet connection and use an HD camera instead of what they are currently using inside a camera dome this would allow a much crisper picture and allow everyone to view it easier. With the fast speeds people have at home they just don't have the bandwidth to deliver now in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

my only comment on this whole bb gun issue is mayzak (x) radtke( ).

Anonymous said...

Why does Princeton know how to get this done, but Peru cannot? I'd say its quite an embarrassment for Connecting Point. This is their business, and they can't figure how to get a video on a website? It would be cheaper and more reliable to use YouTube.

Anonymous said...

I THINK IF THE CITY EMPOYEES HAVE SO MUCH TIME, THEY SHOULD BE REPAIRING THE GUARD RAIL ON 7 TH ST. RAVINE. ITS BEEN THERE AT LEAST 40YEARS. TIME TO CHANGE IT. ALSO WHY NOT TAKE THE WEEDS OUT OF THE CURBS AND CLEAN UP THE DRAINS AROUND TOWN. THEY ARE LIKE A MINI GARBAGE DUMP. ALSO THE GREENHOUSE IS PROBABLY ONLY USED FOR MIKES' FAMILY FLOWERS, HE BUYS THE ONES FOR THE CITY. WHAT A WASTE. CLOSE IT DOWN.

Anonymous said...

The first problem and mistake is that the city did business at connecting point.

Anonymous said...

Is Harl in Washington filling his belly on Peru's money? What is he doing there - pretending that he's from the BIG CITY?

Anonymous said...

Who is the BB Gun Club originator and why is he not happy with the questions? The democratic process of asking questions has been part of Americas tradition. The majority of times that someone in the "inner circle" is not comfortable with questions being asked there is something they do not want disclosed. Those that are lily white could care less if you ask them questions all day as they have nothing to hide. Others resort to a method of being questioned but limited to 3" x 5" index cards and 3 minutes.

Anonymous said...

A friend of mine has a home security system purchased for under $300 (from menards). Two cameras outside her house hooked up to a monitor screen that's inside the house. Has had for two years. Absolutely no problems. Yes. This is a simple monitoring device. I find it a total joke that the city has so many problems with this videotaping and recording of council meetings. These are excuses because they don't like the idea of meetings being recorded and seen on social media. Mr. Hart. Make this a issue in your campaign that when your are elected mayor your will have this resolved immediately and these recordings will be made available to the taxpayers and residents of Peru. Thank you. Me. Hart for Mayor!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Someone was saying they heard a Peru fireman say
that the $500,000 + fire truck for the city has been purchased. Wasn't this purchase suppose to come back to the council with more information from the fire chief???? Is this true? What $$$ is being used to purchase this and from what account? Also, no word on the money ($2,000) donation to Operation Promise as to OP getting it??????

Anonymous said...

Mayszak (x) Radke ( )

Alderman Radke you are hanging yourself if indeed you stated that at least city workers had something to do because we have no snow to plow. How do you think citizens feel when you indicate that their tax dollars are being wasted by employees doing nothing?

Anonymous said...

10:47 Its no secret that city workers have ample time on their hands. Alderman Radtke stated the obvious fact.

Anonymous said...

10:53 You're exactly right and maybe these employees should be layed off during idle times. After all it's our tax dollar paying them to do nothing.

Anonymous said...

I'm an employee of the city and don't appreciate Mike Radtke making stupid comments like he did. To insinuate we are less busy unless its snowing is assanigned.
If Radtke is aware of city employees slacking maybe he should seek layoffs of slackers!
We don't need Radtkes insight!

Anonymous said...

4:18......mayzak (x) radtke()

Anonymous said...

HARL is PARTYING HARD!!! Got to make everything out of the little time in office he has got left.

Anonymous said...

I heard Jim Lukosus went with the mayor to Washington. I think these two are inseparable. I wonder if their wives went with them or if its a special affair.

Anonymous said...

Anon 4:18 Good for you. A pat on the back is a great thing once in awhile but if were not getting one we know we are getting paid for the work we do but when someone slaps me in the face there going to get it right back at em'. First thing I thought of when reading Radtkes comment was here is a guy I wouldn't work for, no people skills, its my way or the highway type who through flappin his jaws takes all motivation out of a person. Mayszak (X)
Radtke ( )

Anonymous said...

Radtke() Mayszak(X) Sherry deserves to be elected in April. She realizes who she works for and is there for the residents and businesses of Peru. She is one sharp woman and I be smiling all the way to the voting booth.

Anonymous said...

I am also an employee of Peru and wish Radkte would come and tell us that to our faces. He can come spend a day with us anytime he wants, but he'll probably quit by lunch!! What a fool. Most city employees don't get involved in politics but now he pissed a lot of us off!

Anonymous said...

Speaking of city employees. Does Perus fireman(volunteer. Paid on call), Fire Chief and Asst Fire Chief get a pension from the city??? We know the fire engineers do. Didn't know where to put this question.

Anonymous said...

Lois I am curious to know the expenses that came from this Washington DC trip made by Harl, if taxpayer money was used. In particular how much was spent and on what. Does anyone know if the wives went and if they did were their expenses paid for by us taxpayers?

Anonymous said...

Don't worry City of Peru workers, I'm sure if there is changing of the guard some of you can hang out with friends from Oglesby!!

Anonymous said...

City of Peru and City of Oglesby employees to attempt to answer Anon 8:17's comment on a blog would be a disservice to yourselfs and myself since i do not believe he is worhy of our recognition. No matter who is Mayor I as most others hope you see nothing but improvement and greater appreciation for all your efforts. Anon 8:17 I don't know who you are but I do know that I would not want to work for you and I wouldn't want to work with you. You don't have enough heart for me, but I would work with the city employees of Peru and Oglesby.

Anonymous said...

As long as Bleck, Potthoff, and Taylor are gone a lot of us city employees will be happy!!

Anonymous said...

I take it you mean Jim Potthoff the elecrical foreman not the alderman. Are Gary Bleck and Jim Potthoff both considering retirement in the near future? As for Frank I hear he's like the dust in his office - not moving or going anywhere. What a #@&#@** waste of taxpayers money and I don't have to tell you guys that he has a lot of company. I hope that the city WORKERS realize that when a time clock was brought up at a city council meeting it wasn't for you fellows but instead for those who are mentioned above. If there is anything that is wrong going on now is the time to disclose it because elections are only a few weeks away. Otherwise you will have it to live with for another four years. NOW IS THE TIME WHEN SOMETHING CAN BE DONE!

Anonymous said...

Yes, a couple of years ago it was mentioned that the council should consider finding out how much it would cost to get the hardware for a timeclock. The Mayor immediately responded, "Where did you get this idea from", and than stated that "the troops are not going to like this". Little did he know that the time clock was meant more for his appointees, one who has a career in being at home more than at work during his work day and another who shops in his work truck during his work day and the Mayor has been shown pictures to prove it. By now you would think that the Mayor would have caught on and gave uo on his hands off management long ago, it has'nt worked when dealing with Jessie and Frank James.

Anonymous said...

I thought the residents of Peru controlled the city. Big mistake, its the employees.

Anonymous said...

No the residents of Peru do not control the city. They have not been active enough or shown enough interest to control the city. yes the employees with administrative titles control the city and is it controlled out of control!