“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, September 26, 2013

EPA warns modernizing Chicago water system may boost levels of lead - Chicago Tribune

EPA warns modernizing Chicago water system may boost levels of lead - Chicago Tribune

This is not only about Chicago but many cities in the U.S including the Illinois Valley.  The complete article is in todays Chicago Tribune and is almost a "must read" especially since water is on our mind. Meeting the EPA limits on lead is not good enough. Any time your water system is disturbed as a water main break, lead can be released into your water flow.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Twin Peaks at La Salle-Peru, Illinois | Visitors' Guide | Chicago Reader

Twin Peaks at La Salle-Peru, Illinois | Visitors' Guide | Chicago Reader


Wonder what the traveler really thought about his trip, sometimes it takes an outsider to show what many of keep trying to get across to those who rule.

Reboot Illinois

Reboot Illinois

Pay to Play in Illinois, does it filter from the top to the bottom?

Venable LLP | News & Insights | Publications | Newsletters | Political Law Alert

Venable LLP | News & Insights | Publications | Newsletters | Political Law Alert

Pay to Play 

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Council Meeting Tomorrow 9/23

Mostly the meeting looks like routine business but this little snippet will be discussed again. Mayor Harl wants the pool to go out for referendum which I do not believe will pass.  They can then say the people have spoken, end of issue for now  



Saturday, September 21, 2013

Friday, September 20, 2013

Sodium in Public Water Supplies: An Increasing Public Health Concern

Sodium in Public Water Supplies: An Increasing Public Health Concern

It seems that I am not the only one concerned about the sodium we take into our bodies.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Monday, September 16, 2013

Peru Council Meeting September 9 Part II Vote on TEST Contract



It appears that  City Hall does not wish you to see this council meeting as it is over a week and still it has not appeared on the city web site. This was done by a private party who attended the meeting last week.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Monday, September 09, 2013

Bidding on the Water/Waste Water Treatment is Over and No Bid Won and the People Lost by a 7-1 Vote

No surprises tonight except for Alderman Potthoff joining the clique. I really thought he was a thinking man but I guess I was thinking of the aldermen of the people he used to be.

Ald Sapienza needs to learn when people call him to express their opinions, they are calling him to solve a problem not to have him turn the tables by  asking them how they would solve the issue before him. I think his loud demanding tone of voice might have discouraged anyone in the audience from voicing even one thought. He was nasty and should apologize to all who took the time to call him.

Ald Waldorf really looked pretty smug. Pulled one over on the people he represents and who cares if they don't agree.

Ald. Radtke tried to compare it to the police and fire going out for a contract.

Lukosus, Mueller and Ferrari were pretty quiet.  Wonder if maybe they were thinking about all those people who wanted it to go for bid but they didn't have the hutzpah to vote for that solution.

Mayor Harl sat there in a chair, saying nothing, and I wonder if he was thinking about the times he said yes he wanted to have this contract go out for bid and how now he just couldn't jeopardize his office by expressing what he said when he was running for office. So now we all think he is just any old politician who would say anything to be elected and then throw all honesty and integrity out the window.

Atty Schweikert assured us that Christ Perra was 100% of the ownership. ??? I actually felt bad for Chris Perra that this city council put him on display when it wasn't necessary.
Last spring they should have started getting together information to go out for bids and explain to Chris Perra that the city needed to start following the rules they are supposed to and since this is a large contract extending for many years the city is required by Illinois Municipal law to do so.
In fact Ald. Sapienza further embarrassed Chris Perra by stating he had helped the city fight the fire at Westclox. Please remember that at the time of the fire TEST has an office in the Westclox building and I am sure he was trying to save and protect his own business.

An additional thought:
The council chambers were full to the brim with standing room only and yet during the last public comment, I thought perhaps a few people would express a comment pro or con and it was utter silence. After thinking about this, I believe that most of the people there had already talked to or emailed their aldermen and expressed their ideas to them and were there only to observe them as they discussed and voted on the TEST decision. If they were disappointed, I am sure they will share that with family and friends as will they talk to them about the attitude shown by their representatives.

Now the funny part which shows how uninvolved the mayor is, when no comments came forth, Mayor Harl sees his friend Vaccaro at the back of the room and says, Greg do you want to add anything about the BB gun club. Now why would he even say that?
It was almost like I want to talk about something I like or am interested in and I am not interested in water or waste treatment.

Mike Hart's Opinion to the Blog

Subject: Peru Forum

COMPETITIVE BIDDING PRACTICES
 
     During the Public Works Meeting held on August 19, 2013 a discussion/recommendation to renew the TEST contract was addressed.  Both Alderman Waldorf and Alderman Lukosus stated they recommended the renewal of the TEST contract without going out for bids.  They had Treasurer Hylla read a scenario  of what possible costs could be.  He stated 6 full-time employees salary of $315,000 per year and testing costs of $289,100 per year.  Does TEST currently have 6 full-time employees at the Water/ Waste Water plants now?  Or 4 full-time employees plus the cost of a secretary and company President Perra.  TEST has never explained how many are really employed at the Water/Waste Water locations.
     How many tests are performed to achieve a cost of $289,100.  I can understand biological wastewater reporting and testing and chloride testing of drinking water but at $100 to $150 a test this is an amazing amount of tests preformed.  TEST has held this contract without going out for bids for many years.  WHY?  Do certain individuals own interest in this company that are or were on the city payroll?
     It is time to require our City of Peru Administrators to place this contract out for bids.  Why the rush now, the contract does not expire until December 2013.
     During the August 26, 2013 regular council meeting representatives from a Water/WasteWater Treatment Company were in attendance and an elderly woman from Peru sitting near them.  The Mayor saw new faces and came over to ask what their purpose was in attending the meeting.  They stated their purpose, the mayor left and had Clerk Bartley return to them and inform them they would not be allowed to speak even during the Public Comment time at the end of the meeting.  The city was wrong according to the meeting rules.  Clerk Bartley called the representative on Tuesday to inform her they were wrong.  Citizens of Peru need to contact their elected Aldermen and Mayor and voice their displeasure of a Carte Blanc contract for TEST.  I attended both these meetings and will continue to attend meetings to get the correct information out to the citizens of Peru.
                                                                                                                  MIKE HART
                                                                                                                  PERU RESIDENT

Sunday, September 08, 2013

My First Ward Aldermen Replies to Me

Hello Lois.  Thank you for your interest in the City of Peru. I have heard from several citizens and listened to their opinions on this matter, as well as doing my own research. All I can do is ask you the same question I have been asking myself. "Is potable water and the proper treatment of the city's waste water worth $57.16 to each resident of Peru in 2014?" We are, after all, elected to look out for the health of the community as well as the tax dollars.

Best Regards,
Becky Mueller

and

Lois thank you for the e-mail this item will not come for a vote till september 9th, till then I willl be listening to feed back from my constituents.
Thank you
Alderman Tony Ferrari
 
If you live in the First Ward, you need to make sure that you call or email. Ald. Mueller has only heard several so please express your concerns to her. Ald. Ferrari would like to hear from you also.

Please let us know what you alderman says.

Saturday, September 07, 2013

Test Inc Suburban Laboratories Explain

Test Inc and Suburban Laboratories

Scroll down the page until you come to Suburban Laboratories in partnership with Test Inc. I would like to know more about this partnership and what do they do for Test or for Peru and what does Test  do for them or is it none of our business?

Also I would also like to know the names of other municipalities (according to the N.T.) that they have contracts with because I am seeing a lot of smoke and would like to know where it is coming from.

City of Peru NO-BID Contract


Friday, September 06, 2013

The City Council Agenda is Available for Monday 9/9/13

The vote will be taken Monday as scheduled  and you can believe that there is a lot of meetings going on in the city and you can bet some of their are against the OMA with the mayor meeting with his very trusted friends.

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Peru City Council Meetings

Will the TEST contract be tabled? Our city atty gave many excuses for the super majority vote and seemed to be a cheer leader for TEST, so what comes next.  Will you be at the council meeting and have you called your alderman? The majority would love to say that no one contacted them to express their views so be aware and be there.
Make sure you pass your News Tribune paper from tonight to your friends and neighbors and even make copies if need be. This Opinion from a Peru resident resonates what many have been expressing on the blog and to their friends about the lack of civility and rudeness expressed to them.