This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“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, October 08, 2013
City Council Baker Lake Path Discussion October 7
37 comments:
Anonymous
said...
From Rodney Perez
This Sealcoat contract was pushed through without going through proper channels. This project should have been brought to the Public Property Committee for discussion. I asked to table this project for further discussion.
I was not aware of this work order until I received our meeting packet the Friday before. Prior to our meeting I was told by Supt. Mikos that bids were received and $17,000.00 was the lowest bid.
Latest discovery is a phone call I received from a local Sealant business owner on Tuesday evening after they read the cap in the Tribune.
The owner questioned why his company was not called to bid because it appeared the city is being robbed on the project. During our conversation I learned this company pays prevailing wages and does 90% of all sealant work in the IL Valley. References such as Mc Donald's, Wal-Mart and many more. Their cost estimate of a mile long 8ft wide path would be between $5- $5,500.00 compared to the $17,000.00 the council approved on Monday.
Alderman Waldorf pushed the question forward, not wanting to discuss further. This irresponsible push cost the city $12,000.00
This must have been a done deal before it was even voted on at Monday Oct. 7th's meeting because on Tues. the path was being prepared and on Wed. it apparently will be sealed as it was announced on WLPO that the path would be closed today.
Do we have an incompetent public works department that doesn't know how to do this simple project at baker lake? For crying out loud, homeowners themselves maintain their blacktop driveways. DUH. For all the driving around town sightseeing they sometimes do, they could be doing a constructive project that saves taxpayers thousands if dollars.
SUCH CORRUPTION IN PERU. WHAT A BUNCH OF DECEITFUL PEOPLE IN POLITICS. Come on Alderman Dave P, what are you thinking. Becoming very disappointed in you. As far as a reduction in pay for only two meetings a month instead of four, great idea. Don't mist if these electees state that they want to represent the people and the money isn't the reason they run? So. A reduction in pay should be a non-issue, if they were truly honest people.
A city gets to a tipping point where a vast majority EXPECT stuff like this, nod, wink, bitch about it a little and go to church on Sunday. When corruption and BS is allowed to go unchecked for so lomg, it becomes acceptable. People who move here from the suburbs just drop their jaws at it. Not the bid rigging and protectionism, but the brazen nature of it. It goes on in many places, but here its an accepted form of government. Charities and secretive non profits abound, doing God knows what and supporting gambling, drinking and our special way of life.
They just do this crap and say anyone who bitches about it is a trouble maker or should run for office themselves.
Turn off his microphone. Watch the video Ald. Rod said to hold off to re-asphalt in like a few years. He mentioned nothing about another bid. With a seal-coat you will get several more years out of the track-8-10, prior to resurfacing. He somewhat explained in his both sides of the fence plan to wait till it crumbles and then re-surface the areas. Like wait for your roof to collapse before you repair it.
When people are caught with their hand in the cookie jar or caught in a lie or deceitfulness , almost all the time they try and manipulate the truth and turn it around and place fault or blame on the other person. If this city would conduct all of its business in a honest manner, we wouldn't have all the problems. If one can't be honest in their leadership, the need to get going. Where's connecting point? Fire them! And get a refund. Deduction in pay for monthly meetings to alderman. Alderman Perez, thanks for your common sense. Thank you Sherry for the video. Willing to bet the honorable a up there don't like the fact that meetings can be videotaped and immediately posted. The honorables are probably looking for a loophole to have this abolished.
The city should definitely get a refund for all the meetings that have not been posted to the website. How can a company not produce what they are being paid to produce, and still get paid? How embarrassing for Connecting Point!
I can't believe a company would be so incompetent. How can we actually be sure it's the company and not persons in city hall who may be following suggestions to use the company as an excuse because city doesn't want public to actually see the videos. Wonder if connecting point would stand by what the city's excuse to we taxpayers is? A lot of things are a bunch of bull crap from the city.
The new engineer/ public works guy seems like he's already in the boys club. So sad. Another $100,000 a year waste of an employee. It was obvious he told rodney one thing but wouldn't go against the boys in public! What a tool, just like the rest of them!
If you are aware of the problem and make no effort to correct it you eventually become part of the problem. Alderman Rodney Perez presently is the only city counci member who is not part of the problem. Alderman Perez has never forgot what the responsibilities of a Alderman are and has always been loyal to Peru and its citizens. In case you don't know who Rod Perez is you probably will associate the person with the name as soon as I mention some of his volunteer work that I know he has led in Peru. He is the fellow who thought of the idea and he himself drove the city bus during last years holidays. He is also the fellow who was going up and down the highway picking up garbage in Peru. This spring this same alderman could be seen planting flowers on business streets in Peru and than spending the rest of the summer watering these flowers. You probably saw him with the water wagon and his wife Marsha. Rod is also the person who has volunteered alot of his time teaching our areas children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews on life saving practices to be observed during school activities such as Prom and Homecoming. Rodney is also the role model that other aldermen should raise their voices to his level instead of turning off his microphone behind his back or continuouly staring at him and taking turns belittling yourselfs when try to ridicule him. He is making the rest of you look foolish by expressing himself honestly. Which other city official volunteers anywhere near the amount of time he does? Recently this council has knowingly voted against the wishes of its constituents in regards to a no bid contract, the March 18 referendum, the $17K resurfacing and on and on.
Must be a spring valley connection somewhere at city hall. Why else would they just hand a job over to this company. Did they have any other quotes for this job and if they did who are they?
Isn't Alderman Perez also a volunteer fireman? Didn't he also go to the elementary schools for fire protection week to demonstrate fire safety??????and didn't expect pay? If so, commendable as public city official. What has the other city officials really done for their city in peru lately. Not much in my opinion.
Does anyone know how many other bids we received for this job? And when and where they were opened? And how and where did we send or post the pre-requisites for this job? And why was it discussed and decided upon by the Public Works Committee rather than the Public Property Committee? Lots of questions - probably no answers.
Waldorf seems to be a little outspoken and arrogant lately. Wonder why. "Well, I do" in reference to the immediate sealing the pathway. I've been up there in the past month and the walkway looks fine. Better than most sidewalks around town actually. If any of what Perez is stating is true, then I am definitely concerned with Waldorf's intentions. Is that even his ward? Why such a push? Once again, continual improper and unsportsmanlike conduct is creating doubt about Waldorf's intentions. Quite a few more areas in this town need more attention than this walkway.
Anon 12:19 Why was Waldorf so intent on being in the chain of command of the electrical engineer? He was ready to push the Commander in Chief into the back row, until Mayor Harl and Alderman Radke took the air out of his ballon. Recent developments may have filled Waldorfs ballon with so much hot air that he just couldn't hold it down. Remember that he is the alderman who started the movement to rehire Test with a no bid contract and now it comes out that the committee that he is in charge of also made the decision to reseal the path for $17,000 and that Alderman Perez who is in charge of the committee that is supposed to handle public property felt that there was no need to do the resealing. Also Alderman Perez found a company that would do the job for $5,000 and Aldderman Waldorf is paying $17,000. This is 3 times and $2,000 more. WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?
Very good questions but it is evident that the Mayor has given Waldorf and Lukosus control of lots of decisions which they are not qualified to handle but with the encouragement of the mayor, they are allowed to do so. It was suggested to me today, that the mayor does not want to make the decisions and is more than happy to let the 2 aldermen do so and of course they are given the OK to do so How about the word Pompous to discuss Ald. Waldorf?
Lois, I had a conversation with Rodney last evening and was told the same company who was not contacted to bid and estimated the path at $5,000.00 offered to do the path as a donation to the city due to extra sealant the company had but would charge 5,000.00 for the parking lot. Rodney said he gave all this info to the mayor and Waldorf early yWednesday morning and as of last night Rodney hasn't heard a response from the city. Why? Why wouldn't the city jump on such an offer? That is plain wild. Are they ignoring Rodney at City Hall? If no response maybe they are ignoring him. Interesting !
Some of these alderman are becoming the laughing stock of the community and they call themselves professionals in their respective industries? I don't think they would have been employed very long in my company with head games, bullying, & downright disrespect for other members on the team. Aren't a few of our alderman in management positions? You have got to be kidding me. Wonder what their employee turnover rate is. Never mind, I already know.
12:49 so your saying that Rodney didn't know about this bid of $5,500. I thought he voted no because he had a lower bid. So he voted no to make sure the surface crumbled before they repair it. Now that makes perfect sense.
1:20 PM No not only on the blog but also on FB and perhaps elsewhere.
2:22 PM
I don't think anyone but Ald. Perez can tell you why he voted as he did and certainly not anyone just making a guess in order to blog an opposite point of view.
I think it was pretty obvious that Rodney had discussed resurfacing compared to completely re-doing the walk path with Mikos prior to the meeting. But Mikos was not going to go against the mayor.
2:22. Rodney didn't feel the path needed repairing yet, and from what I've heard from others, Rod was right.
asphalt is made from oil. oil is bad. The city should collect a toll on all who use the path and then use the tolls to build green energy. Solar panels on the site of the old pool. windmills at the kings inn. then the rich people around baker lake can walk on their path, pay the toll, and provide free energy for all of peru.
37 comments:
From Rodney Perez
This Sealcoat contract was pushed through without going through proper channels. This project should have been brought to the Public Property Committee for discussion.
I asked to table this project for further discussion.
I was not aware of this work order until I received our meeting packet the Friday before.
Prior to our meeting I was told by Supt. Mikos that bids were received and $17,000.00 was the lowest bid.
Latest discovery is a phone call I received from a local Sealant business owner on Tuesday evening after they read the cap in the Tribune.
The owner questioned why his company was not called to bid because it appeared the city is being robbed on the project.
During our conversation I learned this company pays prevailing wages and does 90% of all sealant work in the IL Valley. References such as Mc Donald's, Wal-Mart and many more.
Their cost estimate of a mile long 8ft wide path would be between $5- $5,500.00 compared to the $17,000.00 the council approved on Monday.
Alderman Waldorf pushed the question forward, not wanting to discuss further.
This irresponsible push cost the city $12,000.00
did they go out for bid on this job
This must have been a done deal before it was even voted on at Monday Oct. 7th's meeting because on Tues. the path was being prepared and on Wed. it apparently will be sealed as it was announced on WLPO that the path would be closed today.
Do we have an incompetent public works department that doesn't know how to do this simple project at baker lake? For crying out loud, homeowners themselves maintain their blacktop driveways. DUH. For all the driving around town sightseeing they sometimes do, they could be doing a constructive project that saves taxpayers thousands if dollars.
SUCH CORRUPTION IN PERU. WHAT A BUNCH OF DECEITFUL PEOPLE IN POLITICS. Come on Alderman Dave P, what are you thinking. Becoming very disappointed in you. As far as a reduction in pay for only two meetings a month instead of four, great idea. Don't mist if these electees state that they want to represent the people and the money isn't the reason they run? So. A reduction in pay should be a non-issue, if they were truly honest people.
A city gets to a tipping point where a vast majority EXPECT stuff like this, nod, wink, bitch about it a little and go to church on Sunday. When corruption and BS is allowed to go unchecked for so lomg, it becomes acceptable. People who move here from the suburbs just drop their jaws at it. Not the bid rigging and protectionism, but the brazen nature of it. It goes on in many places, but here its an accepted form of government. Charities and secretive non profits abound, doing God knows what and supporting gambling, drinking and our special way of life.
They just do this crap and say anyone who bitches about it is a trouble maker or should run for office themselves.
Video by Sherry Mayszak
Turn off his microphone. Watch the video Ald. Rod said to hold off to re-asphalt in like a few years. He mentioned nothing about another bid. With a seal-coat you will get several more years out of the track-8-10, prior to resurfacing. He somewhat explained in his both sides of the fence plan to wait till it crumbles and then re-surface the areas. Like wait for your roof to collapse before you repair it.
Looks to me like a payoff under the table.
When people are caught with their hand in the cookie jar or caught in a lie or deceitfulness , almost all the time they try and manipulate the truth and turn it around and place fault or blame on the other person. If this city would conduct all of its business in a honest manner, we wouldn't have all the problems. If one can't be honest in their leadership, the need to get going. Where's connecting point? Fire them! And get a refund. Deduction in pay for monthly meetings to alderman. Alderman Perez, thanks for your common sense. Thank you Sherry for the video. Willing to bet the honorable a up there don't like the fact that meetings can be videotaped and immediately posted. The honorables are probably looking for a loophole to have this abolished.
The city should definitely get a refund for all the meetings that have not been posted to the website. How can a company not produce what they are being paid to produce, and still get paid? How embarrassing for Connecting Point!
maybe the persons that wanted to waste the money on taping the meetings should have checked into who they hired before they hired them!
I can't believe a company would be so incompetent. How can we actually be sure it's the company and not persons in city hall who may be following suggestions to use the company as an excuse because city doesn't want public to actually see the videos. Wonder if connecting point would stand by what the city's excuse to we taxpayers is? A lot of things are a bunch of bull crap from the city.
The new engineer/ public works guy seems like he's already in the boys club. So sad. Another $100,000 a year waste of an employee. It was obvious he told rodney one thing but wouldn't go against the boys in public! What a tool, just like the rest of them!
If you are aware of the problem and make no effort to correct it you eventually become part of the problem.
Alderman Rodney Perez presently is the only city counci member who is not part of the problem. Alderman Perez has never forgot what the responsibilities of a Alderman are and has always been loyal to Peru and its citizens.
In case you don't know who Rod Perez is you probably will associate the person with the name as soon as I mention some of his volunteer work that I know he has led in Peru. He is the fellow who thought of the idea and he himself drove the city bus during last years holidays. He is also the fellow who was going up and down the highway picking up garbage in Peru. This spring this same alderman could be seen planting flowers on business streets in Peru and than spending the rest of the summer watering these flowers. You probably saw him with the water wagon and his wife Marsha. Rod is also the person who has volunteered alot of his time teaching our areas children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews on life saving practices to be observed during school activities such as Prom and Homecoming.
Rodney is also the role model that other aldermen should raise their voices to his level instead of turning off his microphone behind his back or continuouly staring at him and taking turns belittling yourselfs when try to ridicule him. He is making the rest of you look foolish by expressing himself honestly. Which other city official volunteers anywhere near the amount of time he does?
Recently this council has knowingly voted against the wishes of its constituents in regards to a no bid contract, the March 18 referendum, the $17K resurfacing and on and on.
Do you know who owns Asphalt Restoration Systems LLC in spring valley??
8:33 PM
Gabe Pack
Must be a spring valley connection somewhere at city hall. Why else would they just hand a job over to this company. Did they have any other quotes for this job and if they did who are they?
Isn't Alderman Perez also a volunteer fireman? Didn't he also go to the elementary schools for fire protection week to demonstrate fire safety??????and didn't expect pay? If so, commendable as public city official. What has the other city officials really done for their city in peru lately. Not much in my opinion.
9:41 there is very strong connection between Spring Valley construction companies and Harl. Very very strong.
Does anyone know how many other bids we received for this job? And when and where they were opened? And how and where did we send or post the pre-requisites for this job? And why was it discussed and decided upon by the Public Works Committee rather than the Public Property Committee? Lots of questions - probably no answers.
8PM you forgot he raised my shopping tax. Voted for that increase. He almost had fireworks landing on my roof around Baker Lake.
Perez for Mayor!
Harl for for a good wedding official!!
Waldorf seems to be a little outspoken and arrogant lately. Wonder why. "Well, I do" in reference to the immediate sealing the pathway. I've been up there in the past month and the walkway looks fine. Better than most sidewalks around town actually. If any of what Perez is stating is true, then I am definitely concerned with Waldorf's intentions. Is that even his ward? Why such a push? Once again, continual improper and unsportsmanlike conduct is creating doubt about Waldorf's intentions. Quite a few more areas in this town need more attention than this walkway.
Anon 12:19 Why was Waldorf so intent on being in the chain of command of the electrical engineer? He was ready to push the Commander in Chief into the back row, until Mayor Harl and Alderman Radke took the air out of his ballon.
Recent developments may have filled Waldorfs ballon with so much hot air that he just couldn't hold it down. Remember that he is the alderman who started the movement to rehire Test with a no bid contract and now it comes out that the committee that he is in charge of also made the decision to reseal the path for $17,000 and that Alderman Perez who is in charge of the committee that is supposed to handle public property felt that there was no need to do the resealing. Also Alderman Perez found a company that would do the job for $5,000 and Aldderman Waldorf is paying $17,000. This is 3 times and $2,000 more. WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?
8:28 PM
Very good questions but it is evident that the Mayor has given Waldorf and Lukosus control of lots of decisions which they are not qualified to handle but with the encouragement of the mayor, they are allowed to do so.
It was suggested to me today, that the mayor does not want to make the decisions and is more than happy to let the 2 aldermen do so and of course they are given the OK to do so
How about the word Pompous to discuss Ald. Waldorf?
describe not discuss
Lois, I had a conversation with Rodney last evening and was told the same company who was not contacted to bid and estimated the path at $5,000.00 offered to do the path as a donation to the city due to extra sealant the company had but would charge 5,000.00 for the parking lot. Rodney said he gave all this info to the mayor and Waldorf early yWednesday morning and as of last night Rodney hasn't heard a response from the city.
Why? Why wouldn't the city jump on such an offer?
That is plain wild. Are they ignoring Rodney at City Hall? If no response maybe they are ignoring him.
Interesting !
Some of these alderman are becoming the laughing stock of the community and they call themselves professionals in their respective industries? I don't think they would have been employed very long in my company with head games, bullying, & downright disrespect for other members on the team. Aren't a few of our alderman in management positions? You have got to be kidding me. Wonder what their employee turnover rate is. Never mind, I already know.
It makes one wonder how Perez had a person for the asphalt bid, he didn't mention that on the tape.
11:15. The person with the $5,500 bid contacted Perez after the meeting after they read about it in the newspaper.
So Perez didn't mention the $5,500 bid at the meeting? Only on the blog?
12:49 so your saying that Rodney didn't know about this bid of $5,500. I thought he voted no because he had a lower bid. So he voted no to make sure the surface crumbled before they repair it. Now that makes perfect sense.
1:20 PM
No not only on the blog but also on FB and perhaps elsewhere.
2:22 PM
I don't think anyone but Ald. Perez can tell you why he voted as he did and certainly not anyone just making a guess in order to blog an opposite point of view.
I think it was pretty obvious that Rodney had discussed resurfacing compared to completely re-doing the walk path with Mikos prior to the meeting. But Mikos was not going to go against the mayor.
2:22. Rodney didn't feel the path needed repairing yet, and from what I've heard from others, Rod was right.
asphalt is made from oil. oil is bad. The city should collect a toll on all who use the path and then use the tolls to build green energy. Solar panels on the site of the old pool. windmills at the kings inn. then the rich people around baker lake can walk on their path, pay the toll, and provide free energy for all of peru.
Anon 9:37 Relax! You may be a year or two ahead of the present adminstration.
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