“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

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

TEST Contract with Peru December 22, 2008 Fourth Rider








51 comments:

Anonymous said...

I assume this came from a FOIA request? Are there previous contracts, and a Contractor Information application. Most cities would have a corporation supply an asset statement and detailed ownership , references, before assigning such a large contract and sub out such a basic and vital service.

What if the company was not solvent, or had a high debt ratio, no references from other cities, technical resumes, etc? When they first signed on to have TEST take over, there should have been many more reference documents supplied than this.

Peru Town Forum said...

Unless the some of the elected officials had knowledge that was not printed or were a close associate. I know the first contract (have not seen it) but was told there was so much of nothing in it. I will check my source and see if I can get it without a foia from the city. I agree entirely with what you said and what I partially expected and not this.

Anonymous said...

Interesting that Potthoff voted "nay". I wonder if he has changed his mind for the upcoming contract vote?? I guess it really won't matter anyway because the super majority will prevail because Ferrari doesn't have the balls to go against the crowd, and the newbies are still little ducks all in a row following our fearless leader and doing whatever his majesty thinks. I just wish somebody besides Perez could think for themselves!!!

Anonymous said...

Not to change the subject but just received the Liberty Fundraising Letter in the mail signed by Ryan Rynkewicz.
Liberty Fire Company is a scam and the letter proves it.
According to the letter Liberty protects this city and not the Peru Fire Dept. which is it. It also says Liberty rely's on the community support? Paying for firefighting gear public education training aids and Dummy's ??? Liberty Fire and Mr. Rynkewicz, you must think we are the DUMMY'S !
Is there a way to have this organization audited? I would bet they put 1% into needs and the rest to their party's
Enough is Enough!

Anonymous said...

FREEDOM OF SPEECH: NO BALLS NO GLORY.

Anonymous said...

Who are you referring to as our fearlesss leader and majesty? I suspect that it is Mayor Harl who was a big proponent of having to bid for the water treatment contract when running for his 1st term. This is the 1st water treatment contract under his administration and since it was such a adament issue with him I am sure he has not changed his mind. Truthfully I don't know how he could. Hasn't there been long standing rumors that TEST has a accumulation of silent partners which would be shocking if who they are and what their associations with the city are and have been if disclosed.

Anonymous said...

Alderman Potthoff will not change his vote. He is intelligent and realizes that nothing in the approach to the new contract has changed from the old contract and therefor he is voting for the same thing upon which he voted Nay 5 years ago and therefor will repeat with Nay again.
I do think that Dave could reveal the entire history of TEST and its inner workings if need be.

Anonymous said...

There must be a more extensive service agreement, listing duties and responsibilities of the contractor. From first blush, according to this, they cannot sub out any analytical work without the express written consent of the city, unless that was somehow written into the original agreement.

The original and all amendments would be required to actually go out for bid, that's probably why they don't want to do it. Waited too long and too lazy, easier to just keep things as they are and work more on finding stuff to bulldoze. And there are still a few businesses to get out of town.

Getterdone!

Anonymous said...

5:35. You make me giggle. Unfortunately we will never know how our fearless leader and majesty, Mayor Harl, would vote because the vote will not be 4 to 4 because if it was, it wouldn't be a super majority and would have to be bid. Harl knows he has the 6 votes he needs to keep TEST donating to his golf outing each year. TEST bought Harl, plain and simple.

Anonymous said...

8:48 That seems to be more obvious as time goes on. From what I am hearing the mayor and his side kicks once again defended Test. Apparently, according to the story, outsiders came to the council meeting with the hopes of speaking and were denied that right (they were from a company similar to Test). I just cannot believe this mayor is the same one who campaigned on an "OPEN AND HONEST GOVERNMENT".

Anonymous said...

Lois, I would like to see the Liberty Fire Company's Letter posted on here so it can be blogged. A audit would be great. Also, where has all this donation money been going for all these years? The command vehicles and fire trucks are purchased, but none of this donation money seems to go towards the purchase of these vehicles to defray the cost from us the taxpayers and the city. Why doesn't the fire department disclose what amount of money is taken in by these donations and what is being spent and on what? Way too many unanswered questions over the years. Who is liberty fire company/fire departments accountant? Where are financials kept. Where do they bank? Etc.........in last nights paper the fire chief told the council on Monday how much the department collected for md in fill the boot. Oh, how commendable of them to do that, but never mentioned over the years about monies donated to liberty. Something isn't right here. . This blog and the blog above can be #1+#2 under comments for the topic.

Anonymous said...

Why do we pay for fire protection on our property taxes 4:52? And the FD is asking for more. Around the time our 2nd installment of property taxes is due. Why are we taxpayers being double dipped for protection? Remember months ago when the Operation Promise donation was put into wrong account? Was this shuffling of funds or what? Too many questions with the fire department and liberty fire company. Who pays the volunteer fireman(paid per call)? Liberty's account? Or City account? This question I believe has been asked before on this blog . Shouldn't the fire chief be answering these simple questions on this site so all who participate on here know the answers? Shouldn't fundraising for FD be disclosed at council meetings? It's taxpayers and businesses donating.

Peru Town Forum said...

5:35 PM
Sorry to have to inform you that Mayor Harl is 100% behind TEST getting a no bid contract.

I realize he lied to many many people both times he ran for the mayors office. He had consistently said how bad it was that Baker never bid out this project and when his opportunity comes to straighten this out and conduct an honest and open government, what does Harl do? He does the same thing his predecessor did, he is going to give TEST the 5 year contract on a silver platter. Perhaps as someone wondered,do they play golf together. We already know that political donations have been given by all contractors associated with the city including TEST. Now I ask how are you feeling about your city now? It is the time to start looking for honest people that we can elect in 2 years, incorruptible people, those who cannot be bought.

Anonymous said...

Are donations from this last golf outing posted yet?

Anonymous said...

Doug Schweikerts wife is libertys accountant. Hmmm crooked dealing all over peru.

Anonymous said...

I too would like to see the letter from liberty.

Anonymous said...

Who is on the board for liberty? Officers? Might also tell us something. An accountant goes by what is given to them. They wouldn't have slush funds account if there are any. Slush fund money bag? Outside audit should be down. Wonder who would bow out of audit. Wonder how many accounts fd and liberty have and whose names are also on accounts? Etc... Why isn't any accounting of financial reports on liberty posted for publics viewing?

Anonymous said...

Oh the mystery fundraising for liberty fire company which is a entity of the peru fire department has arrived in the mailboxes. Needless to say, where does all this money go? Who doesn't like to play that game that's called hide and seek? I would like to know if liberty donated any money to any organizations or clubs, etc... Over the past years.

Anonymous said...

Alderman Sapienza, Alderman Ferrari, Fire Chief King, How much money is in Liberty FIre Company's account or accounts? As of yesterday 8-27-2013.

Anonymous said...

$679,426 .
Total of all accounts and investments.

Anonymous said...

Did Doug's wife get her "hands slapped" a few years back for something?

Anonymous said...

Anon 4:20 PVAS sent out donation letters too. They are both doing the double dip. Are you requesting their information also? I'm sure both of these organizations have to report it for public access somewhere.

Anonymous said...

TEST helped Pottoff with his campaign for alderman I'm betting he votes yay!

Peru Town Forum said...

9:21 PM

What do you mean TEST helped Potthoff? Dave certainly seems capable of running his own campaign or are you talking financially? I would need proof of your comment. This contract is putting all the aldermen on record and will show how much if any integrity they each have and I can assure all that most people in Peru will remember this contract and the votes that are going with it when they vote in the next aldermanic election.

Anonymous said...

Lets pack the council chambers the night they vote on the contract!

Anonymous said...

Lois if you go back to your blog in march 2011 Steve Weberski states TEST was backing Dave Pottoff in his campaign and if memory serves me someone posted on their that TEST was helping him with his campaign website

Peru Town Forum said...

10:00 PM

I did research March and April and did not find anything, not saying its not there just that I did't find it.

Anonymous said...

Lois

Illinois Valley Political Campaigns
post was on Tuesday March 1, 2011
in the comments Steve Weberski commented on March 4,2011 suggesting TEST support for Dave's campaign

Anonymous said...

You are saying there is $ 679,426.00 in Liberty Fires / FD's account 8:42????? this would be just the fundraising organization for the FD? Not taxes paid by taxpayers? And they again are asking for donations? And no money from this account was put towards new pumper truck that was ordered to defry cost from the city/taxpayers. Also, wasn't a new command vehicle purchased within the last year also. Any money from Liberty put towards that also? Do volunteer fireman get paid from Liberty's account? Where are financial sheets for public viewing of spending a from this account? 8:42, since you blogged the amount you would have access to the other questions bloggers have asked.

Anonymous said...

$679,426. In what? 8:42 p.m., investments? In what? Do not understand what your blog was making a reference to. Please explain. Much appreciated.

Anonymous said...

Probably can't view liberty documents otherwise they would have Been foiad by now. Fireman are city employees. Paid by city not liberty.

Anonymous said...

Everyones tax filing are on line if you look hard enough.

Anonymous said...

That's a whole lotta steak and shrimp on the barbee!!
And beer

Anonymous said...

I know that this present administration has been known to introduce the "closed session" portion of meetings. Besides finding reasons to have an abundance of them I wonder why lately they've even become more secretive. By that, I mean they're not even listed on the agendas.

Peru Town Forum said...

LIberty Fire

This link will give you some information.

http://non-profit-organizations.findthebest.com/l/784166/Liberty-Fire-Company-No-1-Inc

Anonymous said...

It's been said that the volunteer fireman get paid by liberty. Don't know if true. Which I didn't understand, due to the fact that we taxpayers pay taxes for the fire department. Why would liberty pay the volunteers(paid per call)? If true. That would mean that donation money to liberty is being used to pay volunteers. It also has been said that the four full time fire engineers manning the station 24/7 are city employees. Which would be understandable being the benefits of being a city employee. Foied or not, information from liberty should be made available to the public. Being that taxpayers and businesses have obviously been supporting that organization. Make a person why this information is so secreative.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Foster or Linda may be able to explain what they read from the link listed above. I didn't see anything that answered any of the bloggers questions. This topic is very interesting.

Anonymous said...

And no stag revenue for the last couple years either for the fd or liberty. Liberty a non profit org with all that money in acct. and asking for donations, for what exactly? Steaks for who? The whole city population. In peru for a couple of years. Do they really have steak and shrimp on donations? Was that a joke? Shoot, the ambassador of deer spotting could probably donate a few deer for eating purposes that would cost zero.

Anonymous said...

Does lasalle fire department have a fundraising organization such as liberty for their department? Blogger above did blog that this topic of discussion needs a blog title of its own, and it does seem like it does.

Peru Town Forum said...

ALL firemen are city employees. The full time engineers also receive city benefits. I don't believe the volunteers do. What the paid city volunteer firemen receive is available from the city clerks office through a foia. Each month we find out how many volunteers receive payment for how many hours they actually work. This may include meetings and practice and maybe someone can verify that last for me.

Donations given to Liberty go into their 5013c tax exempt charity status fund. Do they have to provide information on that I do not know.

Anonymous said...

Lois, then that has changed, because a relative of mine fifteen ir so years ago was on the department as a volunteer paid per call fireman and was paid by liberty. His monthly check and w-2 said liberty.i actually saw w-2 ! 100% correct on this! Not a w-2 from the city. Is it possible that the volunteers are considered city employees(for insurance purposes), but are still paid by liberty? In which makes no sense why donation money paid or pays them when we have fire protection on our property taxes. Thanks for checking into this. Maybe a retired or a fireman who is no longer on department can inform us. Alderman Perez would know, who is a respectful alderman for our city.

Anonymous said...

Paid on call firemen are paid by the city and are city employees. They receive no fringe benefits other than a death benefit if killed on the job and work comp if injured on the job. Full time engineers are paid by city with full benefits.
There are no volunteers on Peru Fire. When you donate to liberty your money is used at its members discretion. The city has no say in these accounts or knowledge of these accounts or amounts in these accounts. Not all fireman are members of liberty. Liberty members must live in Peru and be a Peru fireman. However to just be a city fireman you don't have to live in Peru and are not required to join liberty. This is the same as other city employees as per residency , you must live within 15 miles of Peru. Kinda confusing but that's the jist of it.

Former Peru Alderman

Anonymous said...

Paid on call firemen are paid by the city and are city employees. They receive no fringe benefits other than a death benefit if killed on the job and work comp if injured on the job. Full time engineers are paid by city with full benefits.
There are no volunteers on Peru Fire. When you donate to liberty your money is used at its members discretion. The city has no say in these accounts or knowledge of these accounts or amounts in these accounts. Not all fireman are members of liberty. Liberty members must live in Peru and be a Peru fireman. However to just be a city fireman you don't have to live in Peru and are not required to join liberty. This is the same as other city employees as per residency , you must live within 15 miles of Peru. Kinda confusing but that's the jist of it.

Former Peru Alderman

Anonymous said...

A former alderman blogged and didn't use their name. Odd. Does liberty fire company give a check to the city from liberty's acct. for city to make payroll for the volunteer fireman? Former alderman: could you explain why liberty hasn't disclosed financials on its fundraising organization to the public as to donations and spending of donations? I've never seen this information over the years. The blog above a blogger mentioned that their relative who was on department received a w-2 from Liberty 15 years ago.????? When did the city start paying volunteers from city? It's surprising that Mr. Alderman Perez a current alderman hasn't blogged on this topic.

Anonymous said...

One of the reason could be that liberty doesn't show us where and what the donation money over the years had been spent on is because possibly people who donate would be
Extremely upset on the organizations spending over and
Above what the fundraising mailer says why the are asking for donations. Wonder if liberty has credit cards? If so those
Statements should be made public also. Lots of questions it seems.

Anonymous said...

Hidden little secrets going on with liberty. With very few questions being honestly answered. Answers only given once in a blue moon regarding certain topic. Go back over the last couple of years on this town forum/blog site and one will be able to confirm this.

Anonymous said...

Lois can you post the letter on here for all to see.

Peru Town Forum said...

11:48 AM

I assume you are referring to the Liberty Fire money request and I no longer have it. But if someone still has the letter and would just write in the first paragraph to the blog it seemed to be the most important and what disturbed people the most.

Anonymous said...

What's very disturbing also is that liberty DOESN'T give a annual report as to what that so called organization does with all fundraising money. Why hide information from the public? This has been asked ateazt 10+ times on several different blog topics over the years.

Anonymous said...

IF A ORGANIZATION SUCH AS LIBERTY FIRE OR ANY OTHER FUNDRAISING GROUP CAN'T AND WILL NOT DISCLOSE SPENDINGS OF THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN DONATED, ANY BUSINESS OR PERSON WHO DONATES ISN'T THAT SMART IN MY OPINION. THE CITY PAID FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CONCERTS. THIS ADMINISTRATION IS A JOKE.

Anonymous said...

Read today's paper- letter to editor. Regarding how city officials treated a 73 year old woman and a couple out of towners at a council meeting. Unbelievable.