“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

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Transparency as Described by the Harl Administration

Post election, we have been shown how transparency will take place in the second term of Mayor Scott Harl's administration.

Summer help hired by the city. There was no public notification made as to submitting an application to be hired for the summer. No radio announcement, no advertisement in the local paper but if you are family or friend, there was no need to know because you would be informed by those in the know.

APPA  Convention in Washington DC attended by Mayor Harl and wife and Ald. Jim Lukosus and wife in March.
On March 20, Ald. Lukosus stated........see comments
On May 6, there was a payment of almost 3200 by the city.........see comments

Landscaping bids sought by the city.
The city sought selected businesses to get a price for planting flower beds etc within the city and formerly maintained by the city with the help of the summer workers. Nothing mentioned publicly at any council meeting to bring attention to any business interested in pursuing this work. Meaning if you were not connected to the city or known to them previously you would have no opportunity to quote a price.

AGENDA FOR PUBLIC PROPERTY THIS EVENING MAY 9 AT 6 PM

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didn't vote for Lukosus he is a liar when he even opens his mouth.

Anonymous said...

FACT: The following was taken from the minutes of the 3/20/13 city council meeting (video is unavailable): "Alderman Lukosis reported on the APPA Convention in Washington D.C. and stated that the information was very beneficial and there was no cost to tax payers".

These line items were taken from the Disbursements packet dated May 8th:
Scott Harl 2013 APPA Leg. Rally/Wash. D.C. $1637.40
James Lukosis 2013 APPA Leg. Rally/Wash. D.C. $1640.84

Do you call this an OPEN, HONEST, TRANSPARENT government? I don't!

Peru Town Forum said...

I have been looking for a list of street repairs to be done this year and I have done a foia for the list since it does not appear in any of the Public Works MInutes.

This is the only reference I found for any street related repairs for the year other than the fact that Trovero received the work and I believe he was the only bid.

From the March 4 minutes....
During public comment, Mike Hart asked if there was going to be a curb program this
year. Chairman Waldorf said there would not be much of one this year. Mike Hart also
asked if there would be a sidewalk program this year. Chairman Waldorf said that there
is some money in the budget this year but it has not yet been decided which sidewalks
will be installed or repaired. Mike Hart also asked why this year’s street program was
going to cost $137,000 more than the preliminary estimate provided 2 months ago. Mike
Perry said that the estimated cost that was handed out today was a first draft that
included all the streets provided by the Aldermen. Direction has been given to remove
some streets to get the project under budget and that once changes were made to the list
the cost would be in line with budgeted expenses.

Anonymous said...

So far I have heard or seen of 2 streets being redone this year and both are remote dead end streets with few houses on them.

Anonymous said...

What are people waiting for? Impeach this clown! It is only going to get worse. This is a repeat of the last administration, only now you have the union that he put in place which run the expenses higher and will only keep asking for more. Add to that higher taxes and utilities (both I say he will increase). Peru -- THE FLOP OF THE ILLINOIS VALLEY!

Anonymous said...

I read on Facebook that ellberg won't volunteer and work with the city if they aren't granted the full $20,000 .
My opinion would be to tell them bye!
Volunteers can do it!!

Anonymous said...

Money hungry greenhouse. Bid it out legally!! Fire Bleck!! I'm sure Bleck is getting free plants for the summer .

Anonymous said...

No curb program this year? No sidewalk program this year?
Does anybody else see this situation as a clear message to Ed King, the owner of the engineering service who has done the Peru sidewalk and curb program engineering for years.
Remember, Mr. King has helped represent the businesses affected by the Ad-Venture Drive fiasco.
The message from Peru to Ed is this, Keep your nose out of our business unless asked. You were not asked and now you have been punished. This is the petty and childish behavior we can expect from our current crop of elected officials. Minus Rodney Perez of course.

Anonymous said...

I thought that Bleck was going to retire.

Anonymous said...

Bleck is still lining his pockets before he leaves. Trying to guarantee free flowers and shrubs for himself before he leaves.

Anonymous said...

10:56 That message to Ed King is loud and clear. You do not cross the city or you are done, stick a fork in done. And that is a shame for this administration to conduct business in this manner. But what goes around comes around!

Anonymous said...

7:04 You are absolutely correct, what goes around comes around. It's unfortunate that this administration takes the stance it takes to some local businesses or businessmen in the area. I happened to take a look at King's plans he presented to the City at the time of the issue and remember thinking to myself why the City wouldn't give his plans serious consideration. The plans presented were varied from very little cost to the City to plans that required some budget planning. Most importantly they seemed to all be better options than what we currently have. I believe they are still on the website of King Engineering's to take a look at.

Anonymous said...

Heard last night that Applebee's is closing. Can anyone confirm if this is true.

Anonymous said...

Is a meeting video able to be requested under foia? Can they recall an alderman for lying?

Anonymous said...

If it's not posted on the city website then it's lost somewhere in outer space and no it cannot be foia'd because it no longer exists.

Anonymous said...

GOOD JOB 1:00 pm may 8th on your blog. Everybody should read and re-read that blog. Makes one believe not to believe a word that comes out of some peoples mouth.

Anonymous said...

Does anybody have any info of any new plans for the jewel property or the kmart property? Tiki property? Also, when is the I-80 and 251 interchange construction going to start? Isn't there talk about progress, what and when are things going to happening?