Tonight a room full of residents brought to the mayor and the council all the complaints of water backing up into their basements and the amount of damages they have suffered because our sewer system is not draining and cannot handle heavy downpours + inadequate. For some people it was the first time since they have lived in their home that water backed up into their basement and for these people it may have been 10 or 20 years or more. For others this was a repeat performance, second and third times. Destroying furnaces, water heaters, washers and dryers in addition to personal belongings and irreplaceable items.
Many questions and few answers. The question about who is the one contractor who was has designed most of our sewer systems was not answered and it appeared the mayor did not like that question at all. The people there wanted to know but that discussion was immediately squelched. Of course the answer most likely is Chamlin Engineering.
The mayor read from a prepared paper all about the La Salle County flooding and about a trip to Marseilles where Gov. Quinn had traveled to see first hand the damage from the river flooding. Yes Scott Harls favorite activity of being Mayor of Peru, traveling to the towns where he can rub shoulders with those in higher political office.
This performance tonight was worth about 35% of the vote.
55 comments:
You need land to drain, and when development is haphazard, you need exceptional retention design. We destroy the farmlands, build like we are still in the open prairie, then wonder why the water tables rise and the sewers back up.
Of course if sanitary sewage systems are failing as well, it's hard to blame mother nature too much for that. Hard to blame the designers either if their name is under secret lock and key.
Someone should form an infrastructure committee, no wait, they already tried that.
I continue to find it amazing that we have had our subdivisions particularly the one north of Shooting Park and bordered by 251 and Pulaski, designed in such a haphazard manner with a major traveled road straight right through the middle. Beautiful homes with heavy traffic past their front door. And Sycamore Lakes with a flooded field in their back yard. Did they fix the drainage problem there this year?
As people said tonight, they would like to sell their troubled homes, but who would buy them and it is now getting difficult to get insurance because in some instances this is the 3rd time to have flood waters in their homes.
I felt so sorry for those residents last night that have suffered through another flood in their homes. They were not there to view a slide show, or to hear how Ottawa and Marseilles are much worse than we are, or to be told how much has already has been spent on sewer repair, or to be read to off a handout. We can all read! Many valuable suggestions were given from people who see what is going on in their neighborhood. Will the city listen...that remains to be seen.
The most important question asked was about the sewer maintenance and inspection program and what has been done since 2008.
To 11:14 pm, Interesting that you mention the Infrastructure Committee. Members of that committee, Mike Hart, Steve Weberski, Jeff Shaw, Justin Loger and others had discussed and prepared a list of priority recommendations to present to the full city council at least two years ago. High on that list of priorities was establishing a "Comprehensive Inspection Program of the Storm & Sanitary Collection Systems". Also on that list of recommendations was a "strong" recommendation to allocate funds for purchase of a Vactor Truck for Public Works personnel to be trained on and put into service. These "free" recommendations from the Infrastructure Committee as well as a long list of other pro-active programs and approaches went un-addressed and ignored by the elected officials on the committee until the volunteer members became discouraged and eventually disbanded the committee because most of the the aldermen and Mayor Harl stopped attending meetings. This boycott of committee meetings was initiated by the aldermen on the public works committee, Dave Waldorf and Jim Lukosus. It was clear to everyone on the committee that Waldorf was very insecure and threatened by the qualified input and advice from the committee. It was also obvious that Chamlin was not happy with free advice coming from a volunteer committee that would be cutting directly into their billable hours stream.
This is the leadership we have elected in Peru.
In who's best interest are these elected officials basing their decisions? Who's best interest will these elected officials decide to represent with the TEST contract due to expire at the end of the year? Has anybody heard a peep from this council about preparing for a competitive bidding procees to benefit the city's interest with the Water/Wastewater services contract?
Does anybody know how many homes is the sycamore lakes subdivision got water in their basements? How about the area north of shooting park road(by baker lake)? Wasn't the city going to look into sewer work in 2008 after many homes were affected off of Marquette road? What's been done there?
We as citizens need to DEMAND that the Infrastructure Committee be brought back. There were so many talented and dedicated people on that committee that there should be no reason why they aren't involved and have a say on who to fix issues in our city.
9:03 AM
Oh yes the purchase of a vactor truck for the street department, that too was brought up last evening by a resident. The mayor pushed that aside very quickly when he said that a private contractor was now doing that for a fee for the city. Isn't that a contractor who has a business called Illinois Valley Excavating located on the Plank Road and I do believe this is the same individual the mayor has recently appointed to the Recreation Board. Perhaps they both have the same affiliation with a local organization. Maybe this is how Peru works.
Peru only works for 35 per cent.
Chamlin designs systems to fail under little to heavy stress so that they can revisit the project a few years from its completion and re-bill the City of Peru. Wake up people!!! Mike Hart was right when he stated "Competition is a good thing". You have many quality engineering firms in the area, but only one is used. Where is the competition? Why are all are tax dollars going to only one firm? Last nights meeting was a disgrace to how our City is ran and I felt terrible for the residents that had more damage than I had.
I think it's time to step up to the plate and get the answers we deserve. These issues were created with OUR tax dollars.
Chamlin Engineering - 815-223-3344
If they don't want to provide us with the answers, there are other engineering firms in the area that may offer some help or opinions.
King Engineering - 815-223-0075Advanced Engineering - 815-224-8500
Harl works for 35% and 150.
I talked to one of the infrastructure committee members (not listed above) and he was so mad at Harl because of how he ran those meetings and would not listen to the "majority". Funny I thought Harl said "majority rules". I guess that's only the case if he agrees.
You peeps re-elected him.
10:16 - I agree that this committee should be brought back to provide much needed advice to our elected officials. If their suggestions had been properly implemented two years ago much of the flooding and property damage experienced last week could have been avoided. This city council will never bring this committee back. Most of the aldermen and the mayor are very much aware of their "shortcomings" in knowledge and leadership and the Infrastructure Committee exposed those shortcomings very quickly. Elected officials with egos that cannot accept input from the public are the curse of Peru right now.
The most disappointing fact about our city is how most of our elected officials have no initiative to do anything original unless it is suggested by, engineered by, and then re-engineered by Chamlin and bought and paid for by us. Shouldn't all elected officials be required to have at least one original thought or idea on his or her own at least once a year during a four year term. Not counting the standard notification to the public each spring of "Do not blow grass clippings into the street".
Come on people if the city isn't willing to work with us lets get together for a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. Lets wait them up and demand positive results.
To be fair it is true that no amount of engineering can stop flooding in basements. From all of the people I have talked to, Peru had FAR LESS than most. I am not saying the city engineer is perfect, but these types of complaints are absolutely crazy.
I do think some of the areas have been addressed, such as along Church Street. Some homes in that area got destroyed in 2007 or 2008 and this time it didn't even come close to breaching that area and the flooding was actually worse. Maybe that is because of the engineering done at the school since it is school property but the point is you cannot prevent everything and blame it on the city. Be serious.
1:31 pm
What you say may be true for some parts of the city, but for those people who are experiencing this awful problem for the 2nd and 3 rd times, your post is meaningless, especially after they were told it was fixed after the mayor was first elected. Were you one of those whose problem was "fixed"? I personally don't live in a flood prone area, but I really do feel for those that do and can't get the city to find the right answer. And I will continue to follow this.
1:31 that is not true. Flooding in basements is often a direct result of runoff no longer having appropriate retention, shifts in normal water tables, underground flow capacity.
It's true that Mother Nature can overload any system, but there are clear areas where drainage is reduced and is not and has not been addressed. Comparing the city to others is irrelevant if the problem is here, worsening or not getting better. Actually, saying to people who have frequent flooding we are better off is pretty insulting.
same old mayor same old excuses and same old hyal kissing --- . must be hard to breath ! same old bleck story too . LAST ONE TOO LEAVE PERU TURN OFF THE LIGHT'S !
Clearly the City is in violation of Special Conditions 13 of the NPDES permit and the 9 Minimum Controls.
Anyone interested in the City's permit requirements should google: Peru IL STP NPDES.
Kristy
I would highly recommend that the residents affected by the flooding, specifically around Marquette Road, form a group and spend the money to hire a "very outside third party engineer" to determine the size of the sewer lines that were actually installed in that area. Not what is on paper, but what is underground. Those in authority of the topic are questioning the diameter of the lines as being too small. I made a call to a friend and asked them what should be the minimum based on the volume of homes in that location and the distance the lines must travel to the discharge point. I also told him what we believe to be the diameter that was installed. He laughed and said "somebody made a lot of money on that job. Who signed off on the project?" Makes you wonder. If I lived in that area, and if it does require a class action lawsuit, I would want to put the topic to rest and not rely on those that THINK they are in authority from the City.
From previous blog posts the City seems to be in serious violation of the Clean Water Act as well. It is a shame the newspaper has no investigative reporters.
Check out the rules regarding engineering conflict of interest in the state administrative code:
"Licensees in public service as members, advisors or employees of a governmental body or department shall not participate in decisions with respect to professional services solicited or provided by them or their organization."
This rule is routinely disregarded in our area.
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068013800003000R.html
wasnt this a major issue not this past election but the one before? nice how all this change has happened-huge joke, and who voted for these yahoo's?
6:46 pm. 35% and 150 voted one yahoo in again.
Hope all you fools are happy you put Hurl back in!! Glad I moved to LaSalle, Grove knows whats going on!!
I wonder if Harl still has that home owners photo that he paraded around during his first campaign saying this wouldn't happen again!! Hahaha
Harl left out what he meant- it wouldn't happen again that week. Lies Lies and more Lies. If only this crisis would've hit on April 5th.
Mayor Grove has the same problems in the subdivision he lives in. The problem in Trovero subdivision was fixed too! HaHa! The same houses that flooded in 2008 flooded again. Several more houses were flooded this time. Must be the same company fixing LaSalle and Peru's problems.
Impeach this guy, he only had 35% of the vote. He would be gone!
You people that keep talking about the 35% are embarrassing yourselves. If Mike would have won with 35% we all would have been happy about it but now you're just being hypocrites.
What you all have to remember is that 35% was enough for them to win the election and that's all that matters. THEY WON AND WE LOST! Grow up already and get on to more important things.
Anon 10:42 Yes 35% of the votes was enough to win the election but don't you agree that all alederman and the Mayors election should have a primary when more than two are candidates to reduce it to a run off of two. This would guarantee that the winner was actually the choice of 50.1% of the voters rather than the second and third place finishers eliminating themselves, with a possible fourth with 12% vote pluged in to enable the 35%er to win. What do people think of a primary?
Anon 10:42 Reading the content of your comment you voted for Scott not Mike and are being very antagonistic! In fact I believe you are a member of the Harl team working in city hall.
The ones asking for impeachment because of a legally elected minority mayor may be embarrassing themselves, but not those that remind the mayor of his minority election. Had Mike Hart won with only 35 percent , CHANGE from current admin could still be claimed at over 65 percent.
No one is embarrassing themselves by ratcheting up pressure and protest. Much of the anger when a few neighbors are affected by pickleball or a few businesses are affected by arbitrary decisions can be supressed, and those affected waited to see if there was another way.
But the election is done, Baker supporters prevented change, and now activism is all that is left.
Enough people were hurt by the flooding that now, even though still a minority was affected, some action is being taken. Most likely to stop class actions and investigating the possible engineering failures and history of the sewer construction contracts. that could be embarrassing.
You see what happens when a few dozen people unite in political action. Leaving everything to Kristy and Lois is why the Attorney General does not move. If dozens of residents complain to the Comsumer Fraud division, or the EPA, maybe then action is taken.
PAC is the only way to effect real change.
12:12 I totally agree with a primary and having only 2 candidates.
12:18 You don't know me and are just trying to justify your stupidity. I have no reason to lie especially since I can tell the truth anonymously.
12:44 Fighting is not a bad thing but butting heads gets you nowhere.
Mr. Hart backers claim that Mr. Baker supporters prevented change and Mr. Baker backers claim that Mr. Hart backers prevented change and Mr. Giordono backers, if 11% of his 12% would have voted for Mr. Baker or Mr. Hart and the other 1% not voted for Mayor Harl Peru would have had change. All candidates were within their legal rights to run for the office under the present system. You can play with figures endlessly but why?
The answer, if legal by statue, is a primary when there are more than two candidates. The possibility of having multiple candidates is increasing as more people are becoming interested in taking part in the government decisions of Peru.
If anyone has a better idea please express it and state why it is better. The next aldermens race will be in two years and if possible it would be nice to have a ordinance enacted before than.
If you don't like the answers you received identify yourself or many will continue to believe you are one of two elected officials of city hall or one of two appointees. No one is trying to justify stupidity but unlike you they realize that you haven't fixed stupid, STUPID!
3:04
I honestly don't care who people think that I am. Whether Anonymous or not they will still think what they want and whatever conforms to their current conspiracy theory.
I was just saying that it doesn't do a bit of good whining about the 35% all the time because no matter what the percentage was he obviously still won so everyone needs to get over it and move on to things that can be changed instead of what can't.
Let the games begin and let the arguing be over by passing the legislation for primaries. Have it not only for mayor but also for aldermen. Things had better get started on this because I feel this mayor will not be in favor of the idea.
I don't believe that any one of the current group of elected officials except Ald. Perez will be open to a primary. I have yet to see an indication of improvement.
Pickelball will soon be at 28th street park and I found out from a reliable person that the mayor told them to not ever expect to see a tennis court there again.
We can be thankful we have parks and tennis courts in adjacent cities and swimming pools also. Splash pad in Ottawa and a water park in Yorkville. If you live somewhere that has an activities in the summer that might be fun for Peru residents, please let us know because families here would like to know.
If that's true about the 28th st. park tennis court it's a shame because there have already been children trying to play tennis amongst the 4 pickleball nets.
6:40 Lois
So I take it from that post that the neighbors have decided against taking any legal action and will just let this stand? Or was part of the Mayors message a threat that cannot be printed in the blog?
I know they are reading this and I will let them answer for themselves. Initially I thought something would take place but I hope they will share their own thoughts.
I understand it is a tough road to take if they take legal action, but they might be surprised at the support they would receive. No one can fight their battle for them, but people can help. I know a couple people who have said they would help.
7:58 PM
I think you are right and hope that they will take that into consideration. Many of us realize that if this stays as is, any of us could be the target next and numbers do speak loudly. I don't believe the administration realizes that there could be many willing to help.
Linda,
Take video of the children trying to play tennis on the pickleball court. Nobody will believe you unless they see it for themselves.
Remember, this is not over yet.
Just because I lost the election does not mean I'll stop fighting for you! Actually it means I'll have more free time to help you!!!
Let it be known that the battle is far from over. Time and circumstances will determine the next step to be taken by the neighbors. The mayors comment, if true, only will add fuel to the cause.
During a meeting a year ago with our alderman and the rec board president a list of tennis players was submitted. This list was compiled one week prior to the elimination of the tennis court. It was submitted to Mr. Hartman who proceeded to indicate that it was staged by the neighbors. In other words he thought we bribed these players to come and play. What he didn't know was that we didn't know any of them personally. Just maybe they were legitimate tennis players who were aware of the rec board taking their court away from them.
Lois when did the mayor supposedly make this comment? Do you know if it was before the election or just in the past few weeks?
10:18 What difference does it make when and where he made that statement? And, why does it matter to you? Are you one of the affected neighbors?
Yes 11:29 I am one of the affected neighbors, so it does matter to me when, where and who he said it to.
10:18. The mayor made that statement (that the court will never be a tennis court again) the night of the council meeting when it was brought to the council for a vote by Alderwoman Mayszak. It is a fact that he did make that statement.
Hey Mare, never say never because never is a long, long time.
I still do not understand why he would make that comment. He must have been very confident of the vote by his aldermen.
Mayor Harl told the woman the court would never be a tennis court because he knew she was there in support of having tennis there not pickleball. He intimidated her into not saying anything during public comment. Bullying and intimidation is the Harl hallmark along with its my way or the highway.
I guess you people don't get the implication of that statement "never be a tennis court again". It's supposed to be a 3 year trial period and then a decision is supposed to be made regarding its' future.
8:55. Apparently his highness is unaware of the three year trial period??? Or perhaps he has better information than you???
Who are the you people that you refer to?
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