Illinois financial records database The Warehouse launched by Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka | abc7chicago.com
Very interesting
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
New Topics for this Week
You might be interested in reading the new ordinance the city has enacted regarding vacant buildings. The download for this ordinance is on the front page of the city web site plus a registration form download for registering a vacant building and paying the city $200.00 per year for allowing a bldg to remain vacant. Also an additional $500 fee for the city to inspect this vacant building.
I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED IN JULY 2011! WHY IS IT SURFACING NOW WITH A CURRENT DATE? ENFORCEMENT TO DATE?
Also the video for 10/14 is online and I did listen to it today. Mostly routine business but it left me with one pretty important question. Ald. Potthoff brought up the walking+bike path at Baker Lake and how it all transpired which he stated he was satisfied with. It seems that the information was relayed to Chamlin Engineering and they took the project in hand and sent it out for bids. When and how I am not aware of. Why are we giving a project to Chamlin not for him to do but for him to find a contractor. Did we pay Chamlin to find the contractor? Could the city and the city engineer have found a contractor on their own and not have to pay an additional fee to an additional company, Chamlin engineering. Was the Public Works Committee not able to do this?
Sorry Ald. Potthoff you explanation simply left me with more questions.
I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED IN JULY 2011! WHY IS IT SURFACING NOW WITH A CURRENT DATE? ENFORCEMENT TO DATE?
Also the video for 10/14 is online and I did listen to it today. Mostly routine business but it left me with one pretty important question. Ald. Potthoff brought up the walking+bike path at Baker Lake and how it all transpired which he stated he was satisfied with. It seems that the information was relayed to Chamlin Engineering and they took the project in hand and sent it out for bids. When and how I am not aware of. Why are we giving a project to Chamlin not for him to do but for him to find a contractor. Did we pay Chamlin to find the contractor? Could the city and the city engineer have found a contractor on their own and not have to pay an additional fee to an additional company, Chamlin engineering. Was the Public Works Committee not able to do this?
Sorry Ald. Potthoff you explanation simply left me with more questions.
Monday additional note: Does anyone remember where the November 11 Veterans Day Event was held last year or on previous years? We have a Veterans Memorial at Veterans Park but according to the video of this Oct. 16 mtg, this years November Veterans Day Program will be held at Washington Park. Any vets out there reading the blog know or remember where it was in past years?
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
In Memory of Gary Eccles Former Peru Fire Chief and Condolences to His Family
I was asked to post a heading for friends of Gary Eccles to post their condolences to the family and this I will do as he served his community for some time and served it well.
I did not know Gary personally but only by name. I do remember he would attend most city council meetings and always dressed in official dress uniform which really impressed me that he was so proud of being the Fire Chief in Peru. Through the last few years after his dismissal from the job, I have not heard one nasty or critical comment about him and that leads me to believe he did his job with honesty and pride in his city. As the administrator of this blog I offer my condolences to his wife and daughters, to extended family members and to his many friends for their loss.
I did not know Gary personally but only by name. I do remember he would attend most city council meetings and always dressed in official dress uniform which really impressed me that he was so proud of being the Fire Chief in Peru. Through the last few years after his dismissal from the job, I have not heard one nasty or critical comment about him and that leads me to believe he did his job with honesty and pride in his city. As the administrator of this blog I offer my condolences to his wife and daughters, to extended family members and to his many friends for their loss.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Does Washington School Have a Place in Peru in the Future?
In my opinion, Washington School is the last great piece of public architecture (beside our churches) we have left in Peru and it is truly a treasure that as a city and a people we should not allow to be razed saying it no longer is needed.
I have discussed with friends what it could continue to be used for but I would love to hear from you.
I have discussed with friends what it could continue to be used for but I would love to hear from you.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Peru removes building inspector and gives the job to the fire chief « AM1220 WLPO News
Peru removes building inspector and gives the job to the fire chief « AM1220 WLPO News
This will answer your salary questions on all the jobs.
This will answer your salary questions on all the jobs.
It is Official Building and Zoning Inspector Chosen
At tonights city council meeting, Jeff King was chosen to be:
Full time Fire Chief
Fire Marshall
Safety Director
ESDA co Director
Building and Zoning Inspector
The ordinance was passed 4-3
Ald. Potthoff No
Ald. Perez - Abstained
Ald. Mueller - Present
Ald. Radtke - Absent
The following aldermen voted yes
Lukosus
Waldorf
Ferrari
Sapienza
Full time Fire Chief
Fire Marshall
Safety Director
ESDA co Director
Building and Zoning Inspector
The ordinance was passed 4-3
Ald. Potthoff No
Ald. Perez - Abstained
Ald. Mueller - Present
Ald. Radtke - Absent
The following aldermen voted yes
Lukosus
Waldorf
Ferrari
Sapienza
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Peru Elementary Board Talking About A New School « AM1220 WLPO News
Peru Elementary Board Talking About A New School « AM1220 WLPO News
I ask "What did Ottawa do with Lincoln School, that is older than Washington?"
"What is St Bede going to do about bringing their school up to code?"
What has the building of our city hall done to make this a better place?
When is this city going to learn to no keep tearing the heart of this city?
I ask "What did Ottawa do with Lincoln School, that is older than Washington?"
"What is St Bede going to do about bringing their school up to code?"
What has the building of our city hall done to make this a better place?
When is this city going to learn to no keep tearing the heart of this city?
Monday, October 14, 2013
Would You Consider Other Types of City Government?
We have what is called a strong mayor - council city government with a city divided into 4 wards with 2 aldermen in each. La Salle is similar but Princeton, Oglesby, Ottawa and Streator have 4 commissioners each . Princeton and Streator have city managers.
It looks like we have more paid elected officials in comparison to most except La Salle.
Considering recent changes in salary structure for the aldermen with more money for less meeting time, are you interested in change. Do you feel you are adequately represented? Would you like some of your aldermen to be at large instead of bound to one ward? Aldermen as a rule become very territorial and don't want others infringing within their boundaries. If you have unresolved problems in your ward, who do you reach out to.
How strongly do you feel about the current structure? Some of you have watched council meetings, are they working for you or working for themselves?
It looks like we have more paid elected officials in comparison to most except La Salle.
Considering recent changes in salary structure for the aldermen with more money for less meeting time, are you interested in change. Do you feel you are adequately represented? Would you like some of your aldermen to be at large instead of bound to one ward? Aldermen as a rule become very territorial and don't want others infringing within their boundaries. If you have unresolved problems in your ward, who do you reach out to.
How strongly do you feel about the current structure? Some of you have watched council meetings, are they working for you or working for themselves?
New Local Businesses in The Illinois Valley
Just read that Dunkin Donuts is coming to the vacant lot on Shooting Park Road in Peru.
La Salle recently opened a new deli downtown and another new business is scheduled to open nearby which I don't have any details on yet.
Oglesby is opening a new Hardware Store this week.
Anyone else have news of any new businesses in the area?
La Salle recently opened a new deli downtown and another new business is scheduled to open nearby which I don't have any details on yet.
Oglesby is opening a new Hardware Store this week.
Anyone else have news of any new businesses in the area?
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Doctor: Flesh-eating ‘Crocodile’ drug surfaces in Will County - Chicago Sun-Times
Doctor: Flesh-eating ‘Crocodile’ drug surfaces in Will County - Chicago Sun-Times
Posting for those who are not aware of this horror that is occurring not too far from Peru. Pass on to those you know. Pictures available online on the web and you tube.
Posting for those who are not aware of this horror that is occurring not too far from Peru. Pass on to those you know. Pictures available online on the web and you tube.
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
Trick or Treat in Peru Marquette Road and Surrounding Area
Each Halloween, the streets intersecting with Marquette Rd and on Marquette itself which is a major north south road through the subdivision are congested with cars driven by parents bringing their children to trick or treat in the area. I believe some parents believe this to be a safe area and treats are given out by most home owners living there.
The problem occurs when some cars are parked on one or both sides of the road and children are walking from house to house and crossing streets while parents are watching them. Others drive along while their children are walking and now add in the normal flow of traffic going north or south.
The city with the help of the police and esda will be handing out flyers encouraging people to park and walk with their children. People living there think this may bring more congestion to the area and you still have kids darting back and forth across the roads while parents sit in their parked cars.
While that part of the city is having issues, other parts of the city see little or no trick or treaters in their neighborhood and people do not even put on porch lights because their are few children in their neighborhood.
What do parents think of the solution?
The problem occurs when some cars are parked on one or both sides of the road and children are walking from house to house and crossing streets while parents are watching them. Others drive along while their children are walking and now add in the normal flow of traffic going north or south.
The city with the help of the police and esda will be handing out flyers encouraging people to park and walk with their children. People living there think this may bring more congestion to the area and you still have kids darting back and forth across the roads while parents sit in their parked cars.
While that part of the city is having issues, other parts of the city see little or no trick or treaters in their neighborhood and people do not even put on porch lights because their are few children in their neighborhood.
What do parents think of the solution?
Monday, October 07, 2013
Looking Back at the City Council Meeting Tonight
I did attend both meetings this evening but not sure I am ready to write up what I witnessed. I would say the most of the council were unaware that sitting in the audience was a City Manager from a city in California. I hope that this video does not do a disappearing act but we did have a citizen doing a video of part of it, just in case.
Council will meet 2x a month next year at the same rate of pay as when they had 4 meetings for most of this year. Ald. Perez objected stating if time spent on city business is less, so should their salary be.
Looking around during the mtg, I did observe a lot of head shakings going on and I surely do understand their sentiments.
Council will meet 2x a month next year at the same rate of pay as when they had 4 meetings for most of this year. Ald. Perez objected stating if time spent on city business is less, so should their salary be.
Looking around during the mtg, I did observe a lot of head shakings going on and I surely do understand their sentiments.
Peru Committee Public Poperty Meeting and Regular Council Meet Tonight
Peru City Council Meeting at 7:30, complete agenda online on city web site, this is the Public Works Committee report.
Saturday, October 05, 2013
Friday, October 04, 2013
Peru City Council Meeting Monday October 7
Mayor has placed on the agenda that we go out for referendum with an increase in property taxes to build a swimming pool in spite of the fact that the Friends of the Peru Pool do not want this done. The votes on this could be routine or possibly interesting depending on the integrity of the council members.
Also Dept Supervisor of the Electric Dept. Jim Potthoff is retiring and the city will seek an electric dept superintendent/engineer to replace him.
Also Dept Supervisor of the Electric Dept. Jim Potthoff is retiring and the city will seek an electric dept superintendent/engineer to replace him.
Thursday, October 03, 2013
The Health Dangers of Inorganic Arsenic
The Health Dangers of Inorganic Arsenic
In municipal water supplies
Reading only for those interested in the health of yourselves, your families and community. Those who only think to make fun of my interest please do not read as you would only find more reason to call this a health blog and not a community government blog because you do not understand.
In municipal water supplies
Reading only for those interested in the health of yourselves, your families and community. Those who only think to make fun of my interest please do not read as you would only find more reason to call this a health blog and not a community government blog because you do not understand.
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Is the City of Peru at a Crossroad?
Most days I have more questions than answers about the workings of the city and many of you do also. As far as I can tell, we have no plans for anything. The Friends of the Peru Pool is one small example of dedicated volunteers who want to work toward funding a pool in Peru at some time in the future. There is absolutely no cooperation from the city except a few words of praise for the hard working people who are trying to raise some funding. I have heard no explanation about what has happened to the money that would have been spent on maintaining the previous pool each year since it was demolished. This is a legitimate question and yet when Ms Noonan asked this question of the mayor at the last council meeting, his answer was "Proceed", meaning I won't answer that.
The city just voted to "give" a contract to TEST without going for bids, in spite of the fact that Mayor Harl ran 2 mayoral campaigns, saying this would be corrected when he would be elected Mayor and people do have that in print. And now when questions are asked on this blog about various aspects of our water service, bloggers immediately attempt to make them look foolish for even questioning the process and this only could be coming from TEST employees, families or friends,and elected officials. This administration has developed a network of contractors, aldermen and employees who makes sure that the votes always go in the right direction as directed by whom?
We have a smoke shop recently charged with selling illegal drugs which remains open, 2 smoke shops were raided at the same time and the other store in Spring Valley was closed while ours remains open. The minutes of a meeting at least 2 weeks ago said that legal counsel was working on this problem. It takes that long long to come up with an answer?
Communication is a vital function of any successful city and we have literally none. Your tax dollars are spent with or without your knowledge for the benefit of others ( as in retirement parties). In spite of the frequent announcement of how much sales tax the city is generating, it seems there is not enough to plan for the future or even for the average needs to maintain the city. Let's never forget we are so progressive we have a Lobbyist in Springfield looking out for our needs when what we really need is a City Manager.
All one has to do is drive around the city and it will speak for itself. Knowing that the people in La Salle and Peru carry a long history of resentment towards each other which I do not understand and I a resident of Peru my entire life have never felt that we as a city were ever any better than LaSalle. In fact there were times in the recent history of our city, I was frankly disturbed by happenings in Peru. The boundary line divides police, fire, ambulance but I hope that we are past the point that it makes a difference to the people of either city. I shop wherever I am getting the best buy and sometimes it is beyond either of the cities. We all have friends and family in both.
It is a worthwhile goal to hope that someday, city services would be combined to serve both La Salle and Peru in a fiscally responsible manner.
The city just voted to "give" a contract to TEST without going for bids, in spite of the fact that Mayor Harl ran 2 mayoral campaigns, saying this would be corrected when he would be elected Mayor and people do have that in print. And now when questions are asked on this blog about various aspects of our water service, bloggers immediately attempt to make them look foolish for even questioning the process and this only could be coming from TEST employees, families or friends,and elected officials. This administration has developed a network of contractors, aldermen and employees who makes sure that the votes always go in the right direction as directed by whom?
We have a smoke shop recently charged with selling illegal drugs which remains open, 2 smoke shops were raided at the same time and the other store in Spring Valley was closed while ours remains open. The minutes of a meeting at least 2 weeks ago said that legal counsel was working on this problem. It takes that long long to come up with an answer?
Communication is a vital function of any successful city and we have literally none. Your tax dollars are spent with or without your knowledge for the benefit of others ( as in retirement parties). In spite of the frequent announcement of how much sales tax the city is generating, it seems there is not enough to plan for the future or even for the average needs to maintain the city. Let's never forget we are so progressive we have a Lobbyist in Springfield looking out for our needs when what we really need is a City Manager.
All one has to do is drive around the city and it will speak for itself. Knowing that the people in La Salle and Peru carry a long history of resentment towards each other which I do not understand and I a resident of Peru my entire life have never felt that we as a city were ever any better than LaSalle. In fact there were times in the recent history of our city, I was frankly disturbed by happenings in Peru. The boundary line divides police, fire, ambulance but I hope that we are past the point that it makes a difference to the people of either city. I shop wherever I am getting the best buy and sometimes it is beyond either of the cities. We all have friends and family in both.
It is a worthwhile goal to hope that someday, city services would be combined to serve both La Salle and Peru in a fiscally responsible manner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)