Most of us are aware of the property on third street between Grant and Putnam and how for many many years it has looked like a junk yard with junk, scrap and vehicles that did not run and were not licensed. The city has literally been allowing a junk yard to exist within the city with never a word said to the owner about being a good neighbor and cleaning it up. Yes there are very nice residences located right across the street but that did not matter because evidently the city does not care if the neighbors were disgusted with what they were faced with everytime they walked out of their front door. In fact there is a historic church just down the block.
Finally in December Ald. Perez brought this up to the council and Frank Taylor, our pretend building and zoning inspector who evidently is assisted by a mayor who is protecting him said that the owner had been sent a letter informing him he needed to clean up the grounds. All this is in the minutes of the meeting and has been previously discussed on the blog. He was given until March 5 to get things in order and that was over 60 days. Most people are not given that length of time. Again it sounds like who you are in the city of Peru.
Tonight Ald. Perez again brought up the problem since March 5 was on Tuesday of this week. Frank Taylor said he had decided to give him another 35 days because he had cut the weeds and moved some metal around. Ald. Perez countered that saying he has the pictures to prove that nothing was hauled away and the property remains the same. Ald. Mayszak said residents are not treated in the same way and Alderman Perez agreed. There is no consistency in the city....it depends upon who you are. Be sure to watch for this video when it is posted. Ald. Perez than asked the mayor who in his usual strong manner, said whatever the Building and Zoning Inspector decides is fine with him.
This Mickey Mouse leadership in Peru is an embarrassment to the residents of this city.
23 comments:
Interesting that Taylor gave him 35 days and not the standard 30.
35 days from March 5 (which was the extended 60 day date) puts it at April 9 - Election Day.
Perhaps a new mayor will look at this eyesore differently.
Why not just say " you" were treated differently, obviously another personal vendetta. What I can't believe is for all the disdain there were no public comments, oh wait that's right, wait till you get home and then blog about, that will get things resolved!!
I hope Lois posts on another topic, the BB Gun discussion.
I want to focus on the intense need to get Mr. Hylla a computer instead of his broken abacus. It took the poor treasurer approximately 3 days to prepare his detailed report on scrolls, with the monks finally finishing just in time for the meeting.
When the city does not get involved in strangely supporting and developing private clubs, like pickleball clubs and BB gun clubs, instead let's the clubs form a separate business entity, accounting becomes exceptionally simple.
But when the city fronts the money, then draws from this slush fund and donations to repay it, another pseudo department gets formed. Just like the concerts, it all hides behind doing something "for the kids".
I suggest if the attorney and Mr Hylla showed any fiduciary responsibility, they would suggest a separate club be formed by city hall volunteers or Police volunteers, with a simple non profit set of books. Then the city could have made a simple donation of 3000 to this new club.
His report then would have taken two minutes instead of three days, which the newspaper tried to slant to say, look at Perez causin trouble and making us waste time with his grandstanding.
The people of this city need to recognize a pattern, this pattern of throwback on anyone who asks questions or bucks the good old boys club. Governments that don't like questions are hiding things. Newspapers that minimize and ridicule without investigative reporters are not newspapers. They are propaganda.
I would say, on this issue where do we start to make a fuss , at what level.
There are many properties I would classify right now that needs repair, my opinion. So where is the beginning to judge ? My perception or yours?
I would slap warnings on MANY homes right now for updates or fine.
I would finally say, lets not be critical if we live in the same or similar glass house.
Different circumstances call for different ways of doing things but no way is there a need of any special handling being needed here.
This is a case of long term negligence of property in a neighborhood. Some say as long as twelve years. Too keep allowing more and more time magnifies the size of the overall problem and makes one ask if a city allows a junk yard to be created in their downtown for twelve years and they themselves are allowing it to stay in existence how can they be justified in giving someone else seven days to get a sticker for one vehicle.
Next to this salvage yard is the property which TEST bought with intentions of building a million dollar building and the Planning Commission which the Mayor is a member of nitpick the plans until the project was left to die on the drawing board.
Can the real problem be that the Assistant Building Inspector does not have Standard Operating Procedures to rectify this situation. Don't be surprised. His recent actions in regards to signage(Shooting Park and 251) and the City Recreation Boards conducting a annual $20,000 business for a long term period without a contract are clear evidence that our city representation does not have all of it ducks in order.
The assistant building inspector has been quite a chapter in the book as for the mayors attitude to Franks decision it can only be said that he has created his own epilogue.
In my opinion if it takes the treasurer 3 days to gather the bills and receipts for 1 newly formed club, our "checks and balance" system needs reorganizing. I believe the whole point behind this discussion began because the costs for this project were listed on the city disbursement sheets under the building and grounds committee. Now we find out that $10,000 of the approximate $13,000 was donations. Why then was it handled the way it was treasurer? Wouldn't it have saved you and the city a great deal of time if handled properly in the first place? Then alderman Perez would not have had to once again be put through the ringer for asking a legitimate question.
People look at city ordinance Ch 110 article VIII sec.110-529-2. This business may not even be in violation.
Maybe it's because how the spectators are treated at council meetings, quite obvious 5:42 a.m. Amazing how this blog site is having some effect on the city.
This building was initially a garage for buses used to transport people about the city. Buses when not in use were inside the building. It was kept neat and orderly.
The residences here are all much older than the building and grounds in dispute and surely they should be given precedence over the establishment of a junk yard. Even junk yards in the rural areas are required to be fenced in by state law yet we in the city of Peru have allowed this to exist for how many years. I have read your suggested ordinance and do not believe it applies to this because what he is claiming as a business now does not require junk cars. Anybody who drives by and sees this eyesore must surely wonder why this city is afraid to tackle this problem. I do.
The property in question is identified in the yellow pages as an auto repair shop, how do you feel that the ordinance doesn't pertain to this business??? He's not running a hotdog stand.
The property in question is identified in the yellow pages as an auto repair shop, how do you feel that the ordinance doesn't pertain to this business??? He's not running a hotdog stand.
Why did the bb gun club not have to go through the rec board?
We've fenced in a junkyard and wrapped the fence in a tarp. It's called the Westclox Fire !
Because it's listed as an auto repair shop doesn't necessarily means he still does do car repairs.
To 7:26 am,
Regarding your reference to TEST and their decision not to build at the corner property. Your comments are inaccurate as to why the new construction did not proceed. There was never any deal breaking issues that prevented TEST from building a new structure. TEST made a logical decision to buy an existing building in town (the old Coca-Cola Distribution Warehouse)for about half the cost of what they would have put into new construction. A sound business decision.
Do you expect us to believe that TEST was not getting anything other than full co-operation from the city of Peru Plan Commission?
TEST has been given everything ask for by the city of Peru.
The truly interesting thing to ask yourself is this.
Will TEST be given another set-a-side "No-Bid Contract" for Water / Wastewater services at the end of this year? Or, will the city council for the first time in more than 30 years conduct a free-market bidding process that would force TEST to actually compete on a level playing field for the contract instead of having it "gifted" to them as it has in the past?
Anon 10:41 The comments of 7:26 are accurate. You are not the onlt political jockey in town with Johnny Come Lately malarky but don't accuse others that are stating true fact to cover the hard to deal with Planning Commission or city administration when it comes to their attempts and ability to stop progress in downtown Peru.
TEST purchased the property which appraised for $80,000 for $81,000 so that there would be signs of shady politics.
Plans to build were drawn up and at each meeting the Mayor or one other member of the Planning Commission would dislike something of the buildings appearance or location on the lot to drive the cost of the structure higher. Eventually TEST, which was over its maximum quoted investment decided to sell the property and set up shop in the Coke-Cola facility for approximately $350,000. Now run back to the rest of your political jockeys and try to convince TEST that you are correct, but remember that this blog has opened up channels of information that never surfaced years ago and I have a strong hunch that you may be one of the people we can thank for that availability.
The newspaper is not slanted on Perez, they are giving him all the publicity he craves. He creates his own mess.
Right 2:45. Everything would be ok if all the humble God fearing folk just went along with everything here in Stepford. Darn uppity free thinkers. Why can't everyone just think like you and be humble and quiet and let all the smart, good folk take care of us.
Everyone knows people who question and debate are just grandstanding. Lack of respect is what it is.
1:11 pm - Perhaps TEST and its associates have not been generous enough with campaign contributions to incumbent candidates. Maybe TEST has failed to provide enough comps in the form of complimentary cocktails and meals to other elected officials as well as Plan Commmission members.
If so, political history in Peru would clearly see that as a poor business plan.
When was the last TEST contract signed and for how long and how much? Is there a possbility that some incumbents are getting edgy and are looking at the big bang as a final goodbye? All by now must know that we have a few who only consider whats in it for them?
It took Mr. HYLLA three days to get this paper work together. Isn't that a snails pace? How tough can that be? Are you kidding me? That is 24 hours. Taxpayers are getting banged for a buck on that one.
Two weeks ago there were no donations showing anywhere for the BB Gun Club. Why all the sudden this week was there thousands of dollars all the sudden mentioned.
I have a feeling those donations were forced through last minute for that 3day report. Can anyone please prove me wrong? I have a feeling a couple of our heroic officials on the council forced certain individuals to deposit those donations into the BB Gun Club or those numbers would have crushed us tax payers with some bad news.
Anon 4:14 Two days have passed by and still no one will attempt to prove you wrong so you are declared official "Guardian Angel of Taxpayers COP (City of Peru).
Your badge, name tag and 25 rounds of BB's have aleady been put in the mail.
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