“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

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.

28 comments:

Peru Town Forum said...

I don't know about you but our family does not drink the water from the tap and it appears the aldermen don't either as they are furnished with bottled water at meetings. Ever wonder why the Water Store on N. Peoria does such a good business? Perhaps it is because of our water. the same reason that the grocery stories have a machine that filters water in their stores. The need is there.
If you live outside of Peru, do you have water issues also?

Anonymous said...

Mueller is a want to be little Harl she us a follower for sure....she can pack it up one termed for sure!!

Anonymous said...

Her answer does not make sense? No one is asking for inferior water service? Wouldn't safe water be worth hundreds more per person, if necessary?

Bidding is a process to find the lowest price to provide safe water and a good service? Did Ms. Mueller graduate high school or college? We learned about comparison shopping and economics there. How was a person with such an illogical mind elected?

Anonymous said...

You've got to be kidding me? Do all the aldermen feel that TEST is the ONLY company that can do this job competently? Give me a break! Go out for bids, check the other companies out to see if they have good references. Maybe we could get the job done for $40 per person per year??? Has any alderman done the necessary checking to see if they can look out for health of the community as well as our tax dollars?? Why does it have to be one or the other??

Brian Foster said...

I am not from the first ward, but I sent all the Aldermen an e-mail. Ms. Mueller sent the same reply to me. I sent an email back to her as follows:

Thank you for the timely reply. I would encourage you to reevaluate your thinking on this subject. You stated, “Should something as important as the health of the city water supply be handed over to the lowest bidder?” When your phrase it like that, you make it sound like there is a compromise between quality and cost. In all actuality, there is not. When handled correctly, the bidding process ensures the same or better quality at the best cost. It is up to you, the council, and the Mayor’s office to be sure that the bid package is written correctly and the services are compared in the same light. As a custodian of the public funds, I expect more from you. The emotional argument you presented does not hold water – forgive the pun. When you bring up “facts” like “is it worth $57. 16 cents” to ensure a safe water supply, I cannot help but think of the often used liberal argument of “it’s for the children.” Please do not try to argue that paying more for an equal service is justified in any way. Since the Mayor’s office has been negligent in drafting an adequate bid package, I recommend that you seek to extend the TEST contract for six months and demand that an RFQ be prepaired.

Anonymous said...

Brian,

That is an excellent reply. I couldn't agree with you more. What a lousy reason to spend without doing their homework and comparison checking both cost and quality of the company providing the services. Obviously Mueller was given the ok to write what she wrote. I would guess that that answer came about when Hylla, Harl and Radtke met at Hylla's house. I would guess Mueller was there too since she lives right across the street from Hylla. So it took the 4 of them to come up with this one reason why the city should stay with TEST? I sure hope they have more reasons than that tomorrow night.

Anonymous said...

Lasalle doesn't use TEST and they seem to be doing just fine!!

Anonymous said...

Can't stop shaking my head. I'm sure glad I don't live in the first ward. What a couple of brainless skulls.
That's what happens when no one steps up to run for office, we end up with that. Maybe Mueller and Ferrari will make a vote to have TEST control the water treatment throughout the USA to save our future. Red Alert Red Alert!!

Anonymous said...

From what I could research, the only extra service provided was sandbagging. It might be a great community service to sandbag at other locations besides the water treatment plant but TEST had an extreme vested interest in protecting their plant, their local cash cow.

They are using this excuse like they did some exceptional community service. Can any of the aldermen give an actual example of extras provided outside the scope of service? Can the newspaper?

From my estimates, the city is paying almost 30 percent more for the analytical than market price, and could go with 4 full time and two flex employees, saving a minimum 15 percent on labor.

It is obvious why they did not want figures from a viable competitor entered into the public record and why they blatantly violated the OMA. Citizens would have a right to sue for the damages and ask a judge to overrule any decision on this issue based on the violation of the OMA. Giving a phone call apology is not going to cut it.
Go to the states attorney with the evidence, and if he refuses to act, act yourself.

Anonymous said...

TEST can't produce one iota of anything proving they go above and beyond - they test the water thats it!! They don't even obey the rules of the contract! They need this contract so the top 3 can maintain their salaries - without Peru's money their life styles would be compromised!!

Anonymous said...

I also live in LaSalle and have a lot of problems with the water. Occasionally I have had my meat turn red when cooking. It also tests great for swimming when it comes to chlorine, but the ph and acid levels are too high to register. I put a sock on the end of my hose to fill our hot tub and it turns brown. I also pay double what you pay in Peru for this wonderful water. In the last five years I have had to replace my water softener two times due to the high build up of iron. When I contacted the city, the response was "it must be your lines."

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Becky knows what potable water means lol.
At first, I thought the phrasing of her question seemed a little canned, but then I thought I have questions like that roll around in my head too...

I wonder if my shoes are pretty? Is it safe and legal to dilute mercury in the final discharge vessel? What should I have for lunch? Did we make up fresh standard solutions for the month or are we using old ones for the GC? Aren't the trucks big where we are tearing down stuff in the city? I hope our polymer dosage is right today. Becky, who among us have not mulled those water related questions?

Yes, Becky, those are the common questions we all keep asking ourselves. Funny how we never ask why a major contract has never ever ever gone out for bid to see if it is costing much more than other companies would charge to do the same thing. Keep asking yourself that.

Anonymous said...

846 the water quality in Peru sucks, brown water, bad smell of chlorine and milky white sometimes. It's been that way for many years.

Anonymous said...

I think the water quality has more to do with the pipes. The Harl Sales Tax was supposed to deal with issues like the pipes. However, people can't see pipes and Harl can't put a sign up saying look, new pipes.

Anonymous said...

Alderman Mueller's lame and rehearsed response shows the complete disconnect these aldermen have understanding their duty to protect the financial interests of the city as well as the public health and safety of the citizens. In response to Ms. Mueller I say this, I expect my elected officials to make a legitimate effort to determine "if" potable water and proper treatment of wastewater can be achieved for less than the current cost of your talking point amount of $57.16 per resident. I do "not" want my elected officials acting as advocates for a private company that provides them campaign donations and other perks of meals and beverages for them and their spouses. Get off your asses and do some real research and then instruct our new City Engineer to put together a comprehensive "Request for Qualifications" with bid specifications which creates a level playing field where any qualified company can submit a cost of service bid.
Open your mind, take a look around at progressive cities and progressive leaders who are committed to doing this type of thing honestly and fairly.
Unlike Peru, whose leaders seem to believe their most important job is to maintain the "status quo". The status quo attitude encourages inefficiency and higher costs to the taxpayer. It is absolutely infuriating to me that each and every elected official in Peru, with the exception of Rodney Perez are so easily convinced that there are no other options. Our aldermen, mayor, treasurer, and clerk have no ethical clue what the hell their civic responsibility actually is.

Anonymous said...

Yesterday this was discussed briefly at a bears party with both lasalle, peru, and olgesby residents. I was there and Iive in lasalle. Lasalles tap water is fine and I drink it from the tap. It's said that drinking tap water is good for a persons oral health more so then bottled water. Bottled water is a scam and we Americans bought into it. Not a peru resident, however if I were I like the competitive bidding process for contracts. In actuality I've had Peru's tap water and its not bad either. It seems from listening from residents from peru that most of them are not happy with their mayor or the council members. Sad, but true.

Peru Town Forum said...

9:16 AM

I live in an older sections of Peru and I have friends in every section of the city and none of them drink the water. As I posted earlier, the Water Store must have known they would have a ready customer base when they opened.

Anonymous said...

and they opened right down the street from our water plant, how funny is that

Anonymous said...

the aldermen from the first ward, had their minds made up, before anyone called them. They don't have any gumtion, or intelligence, and donj't care what the people in their ward think, they will do what they are told. Ferrari you and Becky are in your last term, if its up to me. I will do my best to get you out of office.

Anonymous said...

I also heard today from a reliable source that the vote is in and it will be 7-1. No doubt about it.

Anonymous said...

I BUY WATER IN BOTTLES FROM NORTH PERU , BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MANY FILTERS THEY HAVE TO RUN IT THRUGH AND RIGHT NECT DOOR AT THE WATER STATION SITES A TEST TRUCK UT SIDE IT !!! i ONLY USE PERU WATER (ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE TO ) FOR SHOWERS AND WASHING CLOTHS . i HATE EVEN DOING THAT !! POUR A GLASS AND SET IN THE SUN AND SEE WHAT YOU SEE !!!!! YUKKK . TEST WHAT A JOKE !

Anonymous said...

1:49 I bet 6-2 and depending on debate could be 5-3

Anonymous said...

2:40 Who besides Rodney do you see voting to go out for bid?

Anonymous said...

2:40 I believe that the ordinance that the council is voting on tonight will pass even if the vote is 5-3. A "super majority" vote only comes into play if they are voting on whether or not to go out for bid on this contract. A "super majority" vote apparently overrides the state law that any contract over $20,000 must be bid out. Tonight they are only voting on the 5th rider to the current Test contract. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha... enjoy your 2 years Mueller. You just sealed your fate with your "yes man" , Harl kiss butt response!
Bye bye!

Anonymous said...

Wow - her reply is very rude. How dare she challenge the intellect of the voting public with a response that has nothing to do with the issue at point. I have attended meetings and I am starting to notice her lack of "team player attitude" and condescending tone toward people that challenge your comments. Not much of a leader with futuristic insight at all; in my opinion. Just a follower and we all know that we don't need anymore of those types. Please let the big boys & girls run this operation without her arrogant know-it-all attitude.

Anonymous said...

Sherry Mayszak had and still does have class unlike some others!!!!!!! Hart for mayor, Jill Bernal, Sherry Mayszak, Rodney Perez for alderman in next election. Time will tell about the others who should run.

Anonymous said...

Why don't these alderman reply on this forum regarding questions to council members or to them themselves? Afraid of a public forum. Just doing a little bit of catching up with the latest info on this blog site. I no longer get a lozy paper.