This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“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, April 15, 2013
City Council Agenda April 17
19 comments:
Anonymous
said...
The closed session is once again about the purchasing of property. I wonder what property we're interested in now and I'm just amazed at the at the amount of spending we continue to do. As for the appointments listed on the agenda I just wonder how come they don't get announced in case others might be interested.
Anon 6:01 Why would a city be interested in buying property which places them in the real estate business which none of the present officials have any knowledge of. Although Mayor Harl promised to advertise all openings in committees and jobs this was in the election of 2009 not 2013. He never fulfilled his committment of 2009 and still got re-elected so why argue with his style of success even if it is not honorary.
What formal steps have been taken pertaining to the clean up of private property within Peru city boundaries? The 30 plus 5 extension granted by Taylor is overdue.
No one so far, I believe he said he would announce sometime in April, don't remember the exact date. I think he is trying to pull a rabbit out of the hat because of the residents who have put their names in so don't be surprised if he names someone who did not put their name in by the designated time.
Does the assistant fire chief and fire chief and volunteer fireman have pensions? I remember this being asked over a year ago and nobody answered. As far as appointments to committees, there should be a open door policy when all interested parties should be considered. All names should go into a hat and whoevers name is picked is on committee. this is fair politics.
702am How about a qualification? Pick numbers out of the hat? Do you hire someone by drawing names? No resident in Peru would want a drawing to determine who represents their interest. Of course if you have no qualifications then the best shot is the cow square method. That method is used by taking a cow to a pasture and marking off squares, if the cow takes a dump on the square marked with your name...you win. Are you betting on your qualifications or hoping for the cow?
Anon 7:02 What you consider fair politics I consider politics destined to fail. I believe that the person best suited to be on a specific committee should be the one chosen. This same person may not be the most qualified for another committee. Some form of qualification has to be set as a standard and a committee member should not be left to a random gamble nor should it be left to who is the most "agreeable". The individual or individuals honesty within themseves, their judgement, their goals and their methods of chosing the committee members are the essentials of creating a good membership.
Being that both positions of the Aldermens Public Property Committee will be new it would be a optimum time for Mayor Harl to appoint a completely new Recreational Board. It has membership which has been on this board many, many years longer than ordinance allows and others who have decided that their edicts are set in stone. A fresh start by all would allow positive progress, fresh ideas and new decisions to begin.
Just look at what committees the alderman are on. Example: Alderman Ferrari- on fire/safety. Doesn't seem to matter what a person knows to be on a committee. Never has Ferrari answered questions on here that were specifically asked of him, so what does that tell you. Good think alderman Perez is on the same committee!
Finance will stay the same with Potthoff and Radke
Public Works will stay the same with Waldorf and Lukosus
Police/Fire will be Perez and Sapienza
Public Property will be Ferrari and Mueller
Get ready 28th Street Pickleball residents. You now will have a new council member in the first ward who may actually listen to you, plus an almost entirely new recreation board - Enough to vote to change that Pickleball court back to a tennis court and bring peace back to a small quiet neighborhood park.
I would prefer Sapienza and Perez on public property but it would more than likely be Ferrari and Sapienza because they would not put 2 from the same ward in one committee.
Lois, did you consult with the Mayor prior to your committee appointments? Maybe you could request to get on one of those committees? How do the new council members feel about the pickleball courts? Is it worth contacting them about courts?
Anon 11:40 Thanks for revisiting a can that I wanted to have kicked around the block again. I have had the belief for a long time that 2 aldermen and 1 unpaid volunteer whose expertise would enhance the goals and responsibilities of that committee should be the 3rd committee member. This 3rd committee member if used properly would be a tremendous asset in a advisory and consulting capacity. Upon committee discussion the decision agreed upon would still have to be brought forward to the council for a vote.
Art - That was suggested to hizzoner more than two years ago and would be a great way to tap into qualified professionals in our community who would be uncompensated committee members. It went absolutely nowhere once the aldermen caught wind of it. Let us never forget the Peru city council mantra. "No good idea ever arrives without being totally ignored". What Art is suggesting is a very common practice in small to medium sized cities across the country. Enlightened and progressive city officials welcome input and participation from these volunteer citizens who are stakeholders in their own community. Considering the personalities and lack of imagination and creativity by the current administration and city council I can't see that group ever accept lay-persons being appointed to any committee. That would be seen as an "outrage" by our most insecure and paranoid elected officials who see such action only as a threat to their "authority". Oh, Brother!
19 comments:
The closed session is once again about the purchasing of property. I wonder what property we're interested in now and I'm just amazed at the at the amount of spending we continue to do. As for the appointments listed on the agenda
I just wonder how come they don't get announced in case others might be interested.
Anon 6:01 Why would a city be interested in buying property which places them in the real estate business which none of the present officials have any knowledge of.
Although Mayor Harl promised to advertise all openings in committees and jobs this was in the election of 2009 not 2013. He never fulfilled his committment of 2009 and still got re-elected so why argue with his style of success even if it is not honorary.
Who has been appointed to the Peru Rec. Commission?
What formal steps have been taken pertaining to the clean up of private property within Peru city boundaries? The 30 plus 5 extension granted by Taylor is overdue.
7:28 PM
No one so far, I believe he said he would announce sometime in April, don't remember the exact date. I think he is trying to pull a rabbit out of the hat because of the residents who have put their names in so don't be surprised if he names someone who did not put their name in by the designated time.
7:34 PM
I guess you might say when and if Frank Taylor makes up his mind.
7:28 I heard that now the president, Brian Hartman, also turned in his resignation. True or false?
9:18 Pm
Could very well be true, maybe it will be announced tomorrow night if true.
Does the assistant fire chief and fire chief and volunteer fireman have pensions? I remember this being asked over a year ago and nobody answered. As far as appointments to committees, there should be a open door policy when all interested parties should be considered. All names should go into a hat and whoevers name is picked is on committee. this is fair politics.
702am How about a qualification? Pick numbers out of the hat? Do you hire someone by drawing names? No resident in Peru would want a drawing to determine who represents their interest. Of course if you have no qualifications then the best shot is the cow square method. That method is used by taking a cow to a pasture and marking off squares, if the cow takes a dump on the square marked with your name...you win. Are you betting on your qualifications or hoping for the cow?
Anon 7:02 What you consider fair politics I consider politics destined to fail. I believe that the person best suited to be on a specific committee should be the one chosen. This same person may not be the most qualified for another committee.
Some form of qualification has to be set as a standard and a committee member should not be left to a random gamble nor should it be left to who is the most "agreeable".
The individual or individuals honesty within themseves, their judgement, their goals and their methods of chosing the committee members are the essentials of creating a good membership.
Being that both positions of the Aldermens Public Property Committee will be new it would be a optimum time for Mayor Harl to appoint a completely new Recreational Board. It has membership which has been on this board many, many years longer than ordinance allows and others who have decided that their edicts are set in stone. A fresh start by all would allow positive progress, fresh ideas and new decisions to begin.
Just look at what committees the alderman are on. Example: Alderman Ferrari- on fire/safety. Doesn't seem to matter what a person knows to be on a committee. Never has Ferrari answered questions on here that were specifically asked of him, so what does that tell you. Good think alderman Perez is on the same committee!
Here's my guess of new committees.
Finance will stay the same with Potthoff and Radke
Public Works will stay the same with Waldorf and Lukosus
Police/Fire will be Perez and Sapienza
Public Property will be Ferrari and Mueller
Get ready 28th Street Pickleball residents. You now will have a new council member in the first ward who may actually listen to you, plus an almost entirely new recreation board - Enough to vote to change that Pickleball court back to a tennis court and bring peace back to a small quiet neighborhood park.
I would prefer Sapienza and Perez on public property but it would more than likely be Ferrari and Sapienza because they would not put 2 from the same ward in one committee.
Lois, did you consult with the Mayor prior to your committee appointments? Maybe you could request to get on one of those committees? How do the new council members feel about the pickleball courts? Is it worth contacting them about courts?
Anon 11:40 Thanks for revisiting a can that I wanted to have kicked around the block again. I have had the belief for a long time that 2 aldermen and 1 unpaid volunteer whose expertise would enhance the goals and responsibilities of that committee should be the 3rd committee member. This 3rd committee member if used properly would be a tremendous asset in a advisory and consulting capacity. Upon committee discussion the decision agreed upon would still have to be brought forward to the council for a vote.
Art - That was suggested to hizzoner more than two years ago and would be a great way to tap into qualified professionals in our community who would be uncompensated committee members. It went absolutely nowhere once the aldermen caught wind of it.
Let us never forget the Peru city council mantra. "No good idea ever arrives without being totally ignored".
What Art is suggesting is a very common practice in small to medium sized cities across the country.
Enlightened and progressive city officials welcome input and participation from these volunteer citizens who are stakeholders in their own community.
Considering the personalities and lack of imagination and creativity by the current administration and city council I can't see that group ever accept lay-persons being appointed to any committee.
That would be seen as an "outrage" by our most insecure and paranoid elected officials who see such action only as a threat to their "authority".
Oh, Brother!
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