First make sure you have watched the latest video of the Peru city council meeting on June 3, 2013 and listen carefully to Ald. Potthoff's words directed to Dimmick Twp and La Salle County.
In todays News Tribune you will find an article and a letter written to Peru. The letterhead indicates it is from Dimmick Consolidated School District#175.
"Dimmick C.C. School District #175 and La Salle County filed this lawsuit on April 26, 2011, over 2 years ago and complete the necessary paperwork for the lawsuit nearly a year ago in the summer of 2012" Dimmick states that the city's atty (meaning their TIF atty) never responded.
Who is right? Has Peru been negligent in following procedure or is it the fault of Dimmick? Evidently Ald Potthoff was speaking for the entire city government as no one objected.I have opinions I will keep to myself for the present but evidently someone has dropped the ball or forgot where they put it.
33 comments:
TIFs have been abused big time. Developers have been greedy and want everything for next to nothing. Both parties should sit down and work this out. We've been shorted by residential developers in the past. They got away with not putting in sidewalks. They made roads as cheaply as possible and then let the city do the repairs. Get rid of TIFs, if the developers want it bad enough they will pay the fare.
Citizens of Peru please read this article and read it carefully. Then form your own opinion as to who is on the right track and who is wrong. Is Peru just being a sore loser because everyone is not following their rules?
I am a citizen of Peru and pray that as a citizen who did not vote for the present representation along with the 65% who did not that someone from Dimmick is not having ill feeling against us and the city.
Please address Harl and his 35%minority directly.
This is not entirely pertinent, but I have issues with Dimmick having a school district. They do not have the population to support it. It should be consolidated with Peru.
Peru had best start worrying about and taking care of Peru. Every town around Peru has a swimming pool and Peru "The Leader of the Illinois Valley" doesn't even have a splash pad started. Phonies!
They have been approached in the past about consolidating with Peru and their answer has always been no.
OK. I read the article and the Mr. Linnig’s open letter and learned nothing new. The letter published in the paper simply restated Dimmick’s opposition to the TIF – and TIF’s in general. It also said that Dimmick School District filed a lawsuit in conjunction with LaSalle County about two years ago and they completed all the required paperwork to bring the case to the courts. What it does not say, and what I seem to remember about this case, is that Dimmick joined up with LaSalle County in order to move the legal expenses to LaSalle County. So I suppose the prerogative of brining this to court is with the county. Continuing, Mr. Linnig’s latest letter states that they sent a letter to Peru and have been waiting for a response. What is the content of that letter? Was it an offer to settle? Furthermore, are we being told that unless Peru responds to this letter – from one plaintiff in a joint case - that the case cannot move to the courts? Are we being told that it is the responsibility of the defendant to bring this to a judge? Call me stupid, but that makes no sense at all. Is Mr. Linnig is saying that a defendant can hold up a case for all eternity by simply not responding to an offer? Preposterous! The County and the School District need to move the case forward or drop it. To me, it sounds as if they realized they do not have a case and have been hoping that Peru will accept an offer – possibly contained in the mystery letter.
This can't be settled in blogs and in the newspaper - move it to the court or drop it.
7:30 AM
Probably nothing new and the letter would not have been written if Peru had not brought up the topic. It looks liks some people that should be well informed are not.
If Peru says one thing and Dimmick and La Salle Cty say something different, there is definitely some miscommunication between the 2 disputing parties.
Having some insight into this Dimmick is correct. Mr. Linnig can provide and explain anything anyone needs and it is not Dimmick's job to "settle" anything. The TIF wrongly includes property that was already being developed. If the city removes that from the TIF as they should, then it is settled. TIFs are terribly overused, often ineffective and always an additional burden on the existing taxpayer.
7:30 I don't know what letter you read but I think it laid things out pretty well. The city has every incentive to drag its feet and TIF attorneys love collecting the legal fees. Don't blame a school district for protecting its local tax base.
12:37 - you don't understand our legal system. The plaintiff needs to prove their case, not the defendant. The school and the county are the plaintiffs, Peru is the defendant. If the plaintiffs don't want to take it to the judge, then they should drop their complaint.
Anon 12:37 What are the total legal fees associated with the TIF and is the city responsible for all of them? Does the city own property within the boudaries of this TIF and is this also going to cost the city money in the long run?
9:16 PM, June 07, 2013
They should not be asked to be consolidated - they should be told. The state and federal government should stop funding ALL school districts that fail to meet a minimum popluation level IF there is a larger district within 30 miles. If they want to go it on thier own, fine. But no federal or state funds would be wasted on these Micro-Schools.
Anon 2:36 Are you positive that it is 12:37 who doesn't understand our legal system? Everything has stayed the same and will stay the same as long as Peru does not initiate action. Now who did you say has to prove their case?
Presently and until Peru determines that the school and county are as well off stayin complacent and the city acts the plaintiffs are in complete command.
Imagine how far we have travelled, the tail Dimmick is waggin the dog Peru, "The Leader of the Illinois Valley". Can you guess the reason Peru is in this situation? Think back to what took place 4 years ago April and what repeated itself this April.
So, what you are saying is that if I decide to sue you, it is your responsibility to either pay the damages or set up the trial date with the court?
Anon 12:56 Please give address of comment you are addressing.
oh for crying out loud. i was responding to the 11:00 o'clock comment that came from the tax and spend micro school supporter.
Is Harl seeing to it that Peru Greenhouse is paying prevailing wages? Time to Audit!!!!
Anything to the 'blah' that Applebee's is closing within a month?
If APPLEBEES'S is closing you can add another notch in the mayor's belt! --- (or take one out).
At the rate he's growing you better add a few more notches to the belt!
I see the rat visiting the next peru Greenhouse jobsite!
And maybe I.N.S. and I.R.S. !
Wednesday Meeting Agenda has an ordinance setting rates for PREVAILING WAGE? Is this coincidence or, is this blog rattling cages at city hall?
1. There is no "prevailing wage" for landscaping. This does not apply.
2. 2:36, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Dimmick filed the necessary paperwork and is waiting on a response from the city attorney. Period. It is not Dimmick's job to do anything at this point. There is nothing Dimmick can do. TIF disputes are not typically resolved in front of a judge and the city would not want that anyway because they know they would probably lose.
3. 9:48 you are apparently a proponent of state and federal control of schools and increased taxes. School consolidation is a local decision. By what authority should the state have to eliminate a local unit of government against the will of the people? How many school districts there are has absolutely nothing to do with how much funding a school receives. Bigger school districts can save money but often do not.
Anon 8:20 to your #1 statement- you're wrong! The only group prevailing wage doesn't effect is "Janitorial".
I've been a proponent of this act since it past back in the 90s. If a municipality uses public funds to pay for ANY project including changing the city landscape it falls within the ACT.
Union watchdog
Good answers 8:20, you are correct on all three. Thank you!
8:20 am.
Wrong their is a prevailing wage and union contractors for landscaping.
Look at the old hotels, gas stations along May road. Those areas need development. Who will pay for the roads, sewers, demolition of those abandoned areas? The Dimmick School District? More than likely the taxpayers of Peru.
You live in the State and pay taxes. Good business states that resources should be consolidated.
Funding for local school districts comes from a variety of sources including the State, Local taxes. Much of Peru's large tax providers are located in the Dimmick School District. Peru residents pay the bill for the infrastructure needed.
8:20 you have invented a number of labels for various postings. Why not label common sense?
I will take your word for it on the landscaping item but not on school consolidation or TIFs. Listen to what I am saying. Consolidation does not equal less cost. This is why the vast majority of independent school consolidation studies do not recommend consolidation.
What business are you in? "Good business" does not always equal "consolidation". Like with any business it is very situational as the make up of districts is quite different. Dimmick is very small but our other districts within Peru and LaSalle are not. In that regard they are among the biggest "businesses" around.
Yes schools are partially funded by state and local taxes but if you consolidated all of them it would not change by one dollar how much money they receive.
If that were the case, why not consolidate every district in the state into one big district? Do you think this would cost you less?
Seriously. You act like a "business" person when all you want is to give up local control of how tax dollars are used and have bigger government. No thank you.
10:27 Must be a School Superintendent that fears a consolidation will eliminate a $150,000 position.
TIF should be voted on by the people! It should not be the decision of a few in office.
I am not in favor of bigger government nor am I in favor of smaller government. I am in favor of less government!
11:14: No sorry far from it. I am a small business owner who has sat through consolidation talk in my previous community and I believe that our local governments function far better than our state and federal governments. Again if you thinnk bigger is better why not consolidate all of them?
I have seen the light regarding micro-schools such as Dimmick. I am a beiver now! So much so, that I think we need to give all the state and federal funding that is given to public school districts on a "per student" basis to the parent(s) of the student and let them decide which school to send their kids to. Do the same with the property taxes - let the person paying the tax send it to the school of thier choice - even if they don't have kids in the school, they should decide which school gets their money.
After that is done, lets put cost of a primary education out for bid. No reason that somebody living in Peru should not be able to send their kid to Ottawa if they feel that is a better deal and don't need to rely on big brother to provide transportation.
Heard Perus fire department covers Dimmick. If true, makes no sense. Isn't Troy groves fire department closer? How did Dimmick become in perus fire district? Regarding IRS, audits, go on the Internet, fill out the easy form with informations asked and the IRS takes it from there. Or make a phone call to the IRS. Believe me and you they will investigate and take the necessary action. Anonymously!
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