“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

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Residents in Southwest Peru around Sunset Park, Prepare For More Traffice and Parking Problems

There has been talk on the Recreation Board about increasing the size of the girls softball diamond located at Sunset Park so it would meet regulation requirements and would be able to be used for tournaments. The idea is great but if you live in the area just might feel differently about the increased number of vehicles this will bring to your area and associated parking issues.

I have heard from a resident that already parking is an issue causing problems there. If you have concerns I suggest you contact Ald. Potthoff or Ald. Lukosus and talk to them before it reaches the city council.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

This has the smell of the pickleball debacle all over it. Just drop this on the residents that live around the park....hurry up and get it done. Again no planning, no discussion. Residents get to the meeting and be informed as to what is going on in the parks. Voice your opinion, be heard.

Peru Town Forum said...

I just watched the video of the city council meeting from last Monday June 3. Last week I was out out of town and had not attended this meeting and it is very different to watch what takes place and not be a part of it. I guess maybe it is easier to watch the council when they don't know you are watching them as on video.
It appears that Ald. Potthoff and Mayor Harl have decided to share the office of mayor of Peru. While the alderman is talking about the TIF, IVAR etc, the mayor pays no attention and I doubt they he is even listening. The mayor announces the ordinances and other routine business of the council. Ald. Radtke many times adds comments that just seem to add fuel to the fires taking place there. Maybe he thinks he is 3rd in charge.

The discussion initiated by Ald. Perez on the manner in which the mayor took over landscaping clearly irritates the mayor and he definitely trys to act as a dictator at this point. Landscaping by Memorial Day is an absolute by the mayor, must be a new deadline. Lets look at it this way, Perez was not put on this committee until shortly after the election and I do believe it has been the aim of the mayor to discredit Ald. Perez since forever so it was his pleasure to take over whatever business he wanted from this committee. Consultation and communication are not words he uses in his role as mayor, especially to those he does not like.
These are very sad and trying times for this city.

Anonymous said...

My question is why did Bleck and Harl wait so long to seek bids for landscaping? That should have been done immediately after Watts resigned. They can't think of future needs, and now are at a point where they are scrambling to get something done. This whole fiasco could have been avoided if Bleck and Harl could do their jobs properly.

Anonymous said...

Radtke is positioning to be Mayor...Look out

Anonymous said...

I watched the video and felt sorry for the mess that Ald. Perez has created for himself, it was tragic that he continues to review notes. It makes me wonder if he has his own views, looks like everything is scripted for him.

Peru Town Forum said...

9:37 AM

The little that I know of Ald. Perez is that no one and I mean no one writes scripts for him, he only presents his own ideas.

Anonymous said...

Harl being a union man should be ashamed of himself for hiring a non union company to do landscaping let alone the fact that they employ illegals and don't pay taxes!
Shame on you Scotty

Anonymous said...

9:37. Are you kidding? Perez didn't create this mess. Bleck and Harl did. What's wrong with reviewing notes? He has his facts, and he does research before he talks.

Anonymous said...

Harl is nothing but a disservice to the residents of Peru. We need someone in there that is educated, has prior experience with politics and government contracts, one that is aggressive and thinks more towards the future. Can you honestly look at all the towns around us and say Peru is a leader anymore? I sure can't! Even Oglesby has been more wise and progressive than Peru. Don't even get me started on comparing Ottawa and Peru.

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:01 The Mayor of a city represents his constituents and his responsibility lies to them. He is not a business manager or agent in representation of a union. The unions have their own elected or appointed representatives.
The Mayor or Chief of Police should have a procedure to verify that all people working for a firm or themselves doing work in the city or for the city are not illegals. If a firm hires illegals or a individual is illegal they should be reported and dealt with according to the law. If you have a idea of actual instances of this occuring you also have a responsibility to enforce the law by reporting it.

Anonymous said...

You have stated that parking is the problem at Sunset Park. This the problem at most area parks that do not have a parking lot. SO MAKE A PARKING LOT.
Parks are built to be used and every time someone is dissatisfied the park is not to be shut down. Baseball has been played in Sunset Park for over 60 years that I personally know of. People have parked on streets since the invention of the automobile. This is a complete different situation than 28th St. pickleball. I can remember it being said that moving pickleball to Sunset would cause no problem with nearby residents so why would making it a certified softball field be a problem?
PLAY BALL!

Anonymous said...

To 6:59. Bahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!! That was a funny statement

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:36 Its not a funny statement if it is fact. At city council meetings he is very sarcastic and has a smart remark for everyone and everything certain political powers are against. This includes those who are the reason he is in office. His role model sets a great example for him as he lives under the same practices.

Anonymous said...

if we continue to worry about flowers and parking at the parks...Harl is getting what he wants

Anonymous said...

We should continue to worry about our parks and our citizens. That's what community and cooperation is all about. Big business can handle itself but a community needs to work together to survive and prosper. It's just too bad that the present administration basic does not want to work with their constituents to make Peru a better place to live and work.

Peru Town Forum said...

I would like to congratulate La Salle, twin city to Peru, on their continuing La Salle Fest festivities at Hegler Park. Great location, easily accessible to all residents anywhere. I watched the N.T. video and I believe they said this is their 4th year in providing a location where people can gather having fun with music, events, local vendors of food and activities. Families welcome, something for everyone.

Ottawa is also having the Two Rivers Celebration this weekend.

The above 2 activities must have been the reason that North Peru was pretty empty last night. We went to Rural King and then Dairy Queen and very little traffic on a Friday night on any streets anywhere in town that we traveled on.

Anonymous said...

Visited Two Rivers Winefest last night and it was wonderful. Very well organized and affordable. By seven there was a large crowd enjoying the evening and the music. Peru needs to take some pointers. There is pillow tax available, just like in Ottawa.

Anonymous said...

No no no to a pillow tax. You people here are all about taxing people more and more. We first need a reason to bring people to Peru before we decide to tax the crap out of them. You do understand that taxes take money out of your pocket and give it to an entity (government) that argues and WASTES TIME over every nickel and dime it takes in? I'm amazed at how people want the city of Peru to raise revenues by raising taxes. How about we boost our revenue by motivating people to invest here and boost our sales tax base that way, or is that too hard to figure out? Here's a thought, if you want the government to boost its revenue why don't you write them a check? Didn't think so.

Anonymous said...

2:22. Peru already has a very healthy pillow tax. It would not be new nor raised. 1:46 was just suggesting using some of that money to bring a festival to Peru. The mayor and council think the pillow tax is their cash cow for purchasing and demolishing the properties on I-80, and don't want it used for anything else.

Anonymous said...

thank you 5:00, for knowing that the pillow tax is there and since Peru is home rule they can use it as they please.

Anonymous said...

yes, thank you for voting in people who only know how to tax the crap out of people and spend that taxed money foolishly. I'll invest my money in another municipality that understands financial responsibility.

Anonymous said...

Peru has mismanged their income so poorly that it does not have a cash cow. Recently I was informed that there is still $14.9 million owed on the Peru Hydro Plant and Rec credits are down to $17/credit. Peru is also tied to the IMEA for 50 more years. The good side of this is that thats alot of conventions.
Wake up people this city has deep long term financial problems and this is the only reason that they are not doing any short range or long term planning. IT WILL EXPOSE TOO MUCH!

Anonymous said...

Recently, according to the mayor and the treasurer, we "have the cash, we'll write a check" and that's how we'll pay for things. Doesn't that sound encouraging (or is it a cover up)? Who really knows where Peru stands financially?

Anonymous said...

1123. Finally! Someone who understands!!

Peru Town Forum said...

2:57 PM

The mayor also said that the cost of landscaping was NOT a problem. I took that to mean that money is readily available.

Anonymous said...

To quote Reverend Ike when a congregant complained of a debt load, "You don't have a problem; the bank has a problem !"

Anonymous said...

Surer Lois chump change ie readily available, but 14.9 million is not readily available nor will it be since it is not that long ago that the Mayor was embarassed because he had to keep taking money from the electrical fund to make payroll.

Peru Town Forum said...

5:19 PM
The game that Harl and Hylla play about having money to pay for whatever gimmick they now want to make themselves look good is getting pretty tiresome. Most people like you realize what is really going on.

Anonymous said...

The current contract between the city and TEST must be coming to a close soon. When does this contract end and how soon before it ends is the city going to publish for bids?
Will this be the first time competitive bidding will take place in Peru for the $600,000+ contract for water treatment?
What is the determined time frame for a contract such as this 1, 2 ,3 years? Wasn't the last contract not published, non competitive and for five years?

Anonymous said...

Does Peru Green house pay prevailing wages to their 6-7 illegals who are out gardening in Peru?

Anonymous said...

He pays his illegals $5 an hour and if they complain he threatens to deport them!

Anonymous said...

People, if you are unsatisfied with a subject which is illegal quit complaining and do something about it. The longer it goes on, the more you know about it and you do nothing about it you eventually become part of it.

Anonymous said...

For the last couple of weeks I have seen two landscaping/lawcare companies who have many illegals working for them. King landcare was in Utica with 6 workers mowing a field and R/R landscape has illegals also I've noticed. people need to stop hiring these companies for home lawn services, and maybe these businesses will run themselves according to the law. Look in the phone book and you will see other legit businesses that provide these services. And yes, they do a fantastic job. A friend of mine hired one of these legit businesses!

Anonymous said...

7:11. How do you know they are illegals?