It seems that there are a number of unresolved issues here in Peru and its residents have comments to make. I did see the resignation article in the N.T. when I was visiting with some friends and I do believe no reason was given for the decision.Friday, December 13, 2013
Because of Circumstances Here in Peru, Opening a New Post for Your Posts
It seems that there are a number of unresolved issues here in Peru and its residents have comments to make. I did see the resignation article in the N.T. when I was visiting with some friends and I do believe no reason was given for the decision.
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71 comments:
He does't have to give a reason, but we all know the reason. Best of luck Sean, it is Peru's loss. You have the knowledge and education and I am sure wherever you go, you will be an asset to the employer. I admire your honesty and integrity. Those qualities are hard to find these days.
How about the Christmas Parade with fire trucks and our newly appointed full-time fire chief wasn't even in attendance, nor was our recently second term elected mayor. Isn't this one event in which both these people should be in attendance due to the fact it is a once a year event? There would be only one reason in my opinion as to not be there.
What's the reason 5:13 in your opinion.
Wow 5:55. I agree with you. A family emergency would be a legitimate reason to not be there
Everyone call the Mayor and ask why the city engineer resigned. He knows why. The mayor has disappeared since all the problems started instead of stepping forward and being a leader. Instead, a coward. Step forward and lead the city, that is what a good leader does.
Hopefully the next resignation will be Harl. The council must push this payroll issue. Harl is a bully and it has to stop!
hmmmmm. no snow plows out on the streets yet. Maybe all the OT has been spent.
When this dump truck insurance fraud thing comes back with a lawsuit against the city claiming fraud, I wouldn't want to be here either. Sean is smart enough to know he'll be the scape goat. It was apparent he was told what to say when he hesitated when telling the council the truck was "misplaced" . He body language told us he was told to lie and was hesitant to do it. Then the whole payroll scam. He's been here 2 months and seen enough scandal and scams to last a lifetime. All I got to say is thank you Sean for bringing this payroll scam to light and opening a lot more of Perus citizens eyes to how low and scandalous our town and mayor really are.
Anyone that has ever had a problem in peru knows the mayor won't answer the phone for a complaint and definately does not return calls. Especially now that he's in hiding.
SHAME ON YOU CITY COUNCIL...YES, ALL OF YOU!! If the city council allows this to happen, it is truly a disgrace! Scott Harl, you are a disgrace! This man (Sean) has been bullied right out of town. This calls for a public hanging in the middle of "town-square". Does the city of Peru not have a "no-retaliation clause"? Sounds like Harl has retaliated against Sean for bringing illegal actions to light and trying to do the right thing. Sean you have done some much for the city in the short time you have been in your role. Be proud of being "that honest person" that the city of Peru needs so BAD!! May you rot in hell, Harl!! City Council, ALL of you need to intervene and stop this and do the right thing...Do YOUR job!!
Perhaps he's taking a job with Chamlin.
plow just went by my house. it is 9:08
8:28 is right, the council must do their job and do it right. funny how everything has become very quiet for the past few weeks, actually since the Friday meeting with the judge. And then the engineer drops this bomb. How much better can it get. you did the right thing Sean. and do not let anyone tell you any different.
Check Harl's election fund records. Mr. Sean donated to that fund.
Mr. Sean Mikos, In agreement with 5:13. You unfortunely have walked into a political snake pit and are making a very intelligent exit. I do hope you gain from this experience and in the future you you achieve the success that you deserve. You have done oustanding work in Peru which is appreciated. Unfortunely you are not the only person to be mistreated by Peru city officials. The city has a long and often used reputation of running off people who are not best friends or relatives.
If you go back approximately 70 years ago you will find a city attorney by the name of pershing who Peru officials were not fond of. He also left Peru and evidentually became Attorney General of the State of Michigan.
Appears that Harl is good at accumulating a war chest and has collected from all his appointments.
IT IS SEANS' HONESTY THAT MAYOR HARL DOES NOT LIKE.
I would be very cautious of any appointment that Harl makes from now on. Harl is definetly a bully and wants only people who will cower to his desires.
It is now more apparent that Harl expects people to take the bullet for him and is a very unthankful person to work for.
Scott Harl is not Mayor material even after holding the office for 4 1/2 years. His ability has decreased in this time frame rather than increased and he should vacate the office of Mayor.
Is it OK to drink from a flask while driving a snow plow?
Harl you are a coward! You, your wife and I have spoken often and I allow you to think that I'm on your side. Little do you know I only tolerate you two bc I want to be around when everything comes crumbling down. I will turn my back on you as you did to many during your time in office. I dream of that day I can tell you what I really think about you and your wife. Till then I will be your "friend".
Just an observation...but it appears that when the world needs an enema, they will insert the tube in Peru, Illinois.
Sean should run for mayor next time. It would be a landslide!
Just checked again. This article is not on the NT Websight. I guess only the print subscribers get this news.
Some are saying Sean has done a wonderful job in the short time at it. Not being sarcastic but what has he done to merit that praise? Maybe exposing the payroll fraud is worthwhile but what else?
Thanks to the library director for the clear explanation of the tax money that it receives.
Harl is getting everything he wants. He's gotten rid of the whistleblower. Next he will use a group of citizens to his advantage by getting behind their at-large initiative and forcing the terms to end for all those pesky Aldermen. The Aldermen who wouldn't sweep it all under the rug like he wanted. Funny, the same people who got Harl elected will be the ones who consolidate his power. And they will call it democracy, not realizing what they have done.
10:33 AM
I was never personally introduced to Sean but have observed how he conducted himself in his job and I just know that he was doing what he has been educated to do and that was to be an engineer. Wherever he goes now, I am sure he will conduct himself in an honest and forthwright manner. In the short time, he has been in Peru I think that is how people have judged him. In spite of stupid things happening within the department like a "missing truck", he has been conducting business as he should have been. I have a gut feeling that not everyone in the department was prepared for someone "telling" them what to do and and what they were responsibile for doing. Through 2 superintendents no matter how nice a guys they were, they were very lax in how they managed their employees and the adjustment as to how that department should be run was not being done until Mr Mikos was hired. And their certainly was little support at city hall at the top and how much the aldermen knew, I don't know. Where we go from here, I don't know.
10:43 AM
You are as wrong as wrong can be. Not one person associated with the initiative will ever and I repeat ever make a deal with Harl. Most of them would not even cross the street to see him, he is absolutely persona non grata to anyone looking to make this a better city. Somehow I get the feeling you are attempting to undermine the initiative by associating Harl with it. That will not work and as blog administrater, I assure you it won't happen on the blog. I probably won't even publish anymore posts with the twist to the truth being written. We are too consolidated to be misled.
Who monitors/negotiates and/or collect payments for Peru rail? Recall in early 2009 there was discussion about the City not being paid? Is Schweickert also involved with this infrastructure? Will some please give a history on the rail?
Read Christmas parade blogs
Peru has a fever! And the only cure is..... More Cowbell!
10:34 here, my comment is in reference to the article in the NT today. Article very informative, nicely put by the director in terms that everyone can understand. From what I read the city is NOT hamstrung by the library.
2:27 I totally agree with you. I just read the article in the newspaper and I know have a better understanding of where the library is coming from and it is definitely not hurting the city.
What the article about the library did not say is that IF the library becomes its own district, the taxes will not be lower! The city will continue to levy the same amount, just for something else. The library will have their tax levy also - So taxes will go up! Meanwhile, both the city and the library will be able to say they did no raise our taxes! There should be no library district, and the city should put it to a vote so the people can decide if we want to keep the library or shut it down!
Shut it down, seriously?
6:21 Leader of the valley.
No pool, no new business, no library..
Just gun clubs, bars, churches and a failing high school.
What family would not want to raise their kids here?
The saddest thing by far is reading the comments here. Nothing good going on in Peru?
Criticize the lack of leadership by the mayor or state specific things you disagree with, but can we stop with the crazy comments about how awful our town is?
Can we stop with the personal comments and just ate things that are productive?
Can we stop spreading ridiculous rumors and just work towards good things we can do to help improve our city?
Despite the horrible economy in most places, I think peru has done pretty well. All you do is rip on people and things like the library or the high school or the airport or the concerts or pickleball.
Actually, I think all of those things are positive things and that's how most citizens think. I am thankful to be in Peru,and I am pretty sure a lot of the commenters arent even from here. our town is far from perfect I think we need better leadership, but I'll take our low tax rates, great schools, the airpornt a good library and many other amenities over any place around.
Nothing productive is ever born out of negativity. Focus on the positive and let's talk about how we can improve and do something better. Unfortunately this is only a place for spreading rumors and making critical comments. Maybe it'll change. Unfortunately it probably would ever will.
And the fire department Christmas party at Amici's last night I read on the Christmas parade blog. Could have had it at city hall catered in. Would that be more frugal Mr. Harl?
wasn't the library one of harl's campaign issues the first time he ran? wasnt he all about the library? what happened?
To 10:43 am, Real nice try there Einstein. Just exactly which aldermen are you referring to who will not "sweep it under the rug?"
There is only one alderman who is dedicated to exposing the payroll scandal and his name is Perez.
That is just one of many reasons why the others must all be run out of office via the At-Large movement or any other legal means. Including exposing their culpability in the payroll scandal as well as Harls. They are responsible the same as Harl.
First off, we pay the schools to educate our children. The argument that libraries are necessary for education is poppycock. Anything the library is doing to help with education is redundant. Peru’s library is mainly a popular reading library. Books and DVD’s are provided to patrons for entertainment purposes. Provided literature to the masses free of charge is from a bygone era. There are so many more cost effective and market driven methods of distributing information today. Why not take the money and subsidize the purchase of a computer and Internet connection for the “poor children of Peru?” Done correctly, the entire content of our current library could be stored in a closet at city hall. At least this would be more efficient. However, Peru does not have the ware withal to subsidize every want of every citizen. Despite collecting millions of dollars in added sales tax revenue, our infrastructure continues to crumble, particularly in the water and waste water area. There continues to be talk around town about a full time fire department. We don’t have the income to support continued spending on entertainment. Property owners and consumers are maxed out. The City needs to address the absolute needs of the community before there is any more talk about vote getting wants for entertainment. This includes bogus charity concerts, swimming pools and splash pads, baseball diamonds, the library, and yes – even fireworks.
Everyone on here that thinks Mr. Perez is above the corruption whatever became of the misappropriation of funds to his operation promise??? I never did hear the resolution to that?? Maybe that should be investigated!! I don't know why I am even bothering to blog this as it will never be posted because it may bring Lois's hero into question. Stealing is stealing, looks like the pot calling the kettle black!!!!
Could somebody find the answers as to the cost for the Christmas Party that was for the fire department at Amici's last night? Did every fireman receive a gift also? Receipt please? Post a copy of the bill and the receipt as to how it was paid and who paid it. Taxpayers have a right
to have answers regarding this.
9:06 PM
Until I hear otherwise, I will assume that the Fire Department paid for their own party and not with our tax dollars.
Lois, are you saying everybody went Dutch? Meaning each person or couple paid for themselves? Wonder if Alderman Perez will answer this. Didn't city part-time employees get $25, full-time $50 as a Christmas present? Did part-time firefighters get the $25? If so, are taxpayers being double dipped possibly if city paid for party or even if Liberty Fire Company (taxpayers/businesses donate to this for fire department equipment). If fireman received $25 from the city they could pay for there own steak and a soda. Answers please from a fireman it anybody who knows the true answers.
Lois, I disagree with you. I would assume the opposite of what you posted. What you said you would assume is what they want us all to assume. They want us to assume a lot of things because they don't want us to know the truth. That's why we haven't gotten answers to a lot of questions that have been asked in regards to the FD. This is also why this forum isn't well liked in a lot of persons eyes because bloggers could be on to them. 2+2=4.
5:59 PM
I am sorry I don't have answers for you and at this time of year I don't have time to even foia any information. I suggest you do some foia's and find out and give us the info.
This city has so many problems and it would be nice to see if we could get administration working which it is not now doing. Maybe then some of your questions might get answers. No answers will come from the mayor or members of the fire department. If money is not listed on the disbursements then no one will have access to it.
10:40 The argument that public libraries are necessary for education was made many years ago, and most cities of any size have them. Unfortunately, you seem to equate education as something you get from school. Maybe you kinda stopped there.
Libraries distribute content and media and serve the underprivileged. Most responsible governments want to maintain the access to materials to all citizens. Until all media is freely available to everyone, the public libraries will serve an important function. They are a bargain.
I want to know why one of the fire trucks was at Amici's? Was it necessary to have it there in case a call came in? Was the engineer on duty at the party, and if so, was he drinking alcohol?
From Rodney Perez
To: 2:51
You are just hilarious... I challenge you to come out from behind your anon curtain and challenge me in regards to theft of funds. The time frame you are referring too goes back before I incorporated the organization. "All" funds were managed through the clerks office and not through me. My challenge to you is simple: if you can show proof that I mishandled (Stole funds) I will resign my position as alderman and never run for any office again, and not only that... I will resign from the Fire Dpt. So take that to the bank!!
Lois, please keep this post saved somewhere in your archives for any future reference.
If Mr.Anon isn't a coward behind a curtain then my challenge should be worth it for him to come out and take me on:-)
Lastly; The Peru Fire Department Party was very nice, Congratulations to Dennis Lemmer for receiving the Fire Fighter of the Year Award.
It's also very easy to find out the costs of a Christmas Party through FOIA "IF" the party was funded through city funds.
Merry Christmas to All:-)
Alderman Perez
To 9:39 and others concerned about FD party
From Rodney Perez
I was at this Christmas Party as I was every other year, The Fire Engineer who was on duty stopped by with the engine which was perfectly fine to do so, As he sat just a few chairs away and was Not drinking alcohol. He stopped in for about an hour for dinner then left back to the firehouse.
As Lois stated... If the FD spent tax payer dollars on this party it will show on Disbursements.
Thank you,
Rodney Perez
Back to the library. To those who feel it is a dinosaur that should be extinct, have you even bothered to check and see what the statistics are for the year? How many books and videos borrowed, number of patrons, success of story hours or summer reading programs. It is so much more than a set of dusty encyclopedias.
10:25. If that is true, then there should be no problem if we let the people vote on keeping the library or closing it.
What is the percentage of the total population of the City of Peru that conducted a transaction at the library in the last six months?
Thank you alderman Perez. How about a disbursement sheet from Liberty Fire? Did that organization pay for party? The question is simple Mr. Perez, who paid for party? If Liberty paid, it would be the taxpayers also. since they donate. Seems like the answer is being kept from us. I did not what so ever comprehend that the blogger was accusing you Alderman as taking the money. I comprehended the blogger as blogging a comment as to mismanagement of the funds as far as to what account it was in regarding the operation promise donation. Thank You.
If you don't like liberty spending donated money as they wish then don't donate. Its that simple. I don't donate money to a tax funded city department . That's my prerogative.
People who donate probably don't know what Liberty spends its money on. Correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't their mailer say something to the fact that donations are spent on equipment and training for the department? Does mailer say money spent on picnics, parties, gifts? What is wrong with this picture. Why haven't they ever disclosed their SPENDINGS? I use to donate to Liberty, but have not in a couple of years because of what I've been told. has Liberty Fire Company ever purchased ALCOHOL for the firehouse or at parties outside of the firehouse? No organization should be scamming people for donations other than what donations were solicited for on a mailer. Does mailer say parties? Right? Wrong?
To:7:11
From:Rodney Perez
Liberty Fire Company paid for the annual Christmas Party as they do every year. Liberty invited all Peru Firefighters to this party. I'm not a Liberty member therefore I'm not at Liberty to say what they do with their funds. I don't attend their monthly meetings nor have I any knowledge of what they spend their money on. If the taxpayers are concerned about how they spend their money then perhaps they should not donate.
Liberty does use funds for fire department equipment and vehicles etc. how much? I'm not sure.
Thanks!
Rodney Perez
For instance-Why would a person donate $25.00 not knowing that there is a possibility a portion or all of that $25.00 dollars will be spent on a steak dinner or a couple glasses of wine? If persons who donated that $25.00 knew that, they may well not donate and buy their own family a couple pizzas. Transparency and truth of spending.
I think Harl is trying to turn the attention away from him and start arguements on here in other areas. Who cares if firefighters had a Christmas Party I think they deserve to have one. Maybe Liberty shouldnt be paying for it us taxpayers should be. Peru is a laughing stock some leader of the valley.
And there you have it folks, your donations pay for a Christmas Party with alcohol served. Cost probably a couple grand. Thanks Rodney for answering.
Did I hear Joe Ospenski will be named new public work super? Good grief what is this city coming to?
Joe O, the Democrat Party hack that lost re-election as the commissioner of the most expensive 7 miles of road in the county?
First and foremost I would like to say I like Alderman Perez. There have been many times where people have inquired about the fire department and the fundraising organization of Liberty Fire Company as to the spending of monies that is donated to that organization which many people who donate money are under the impression that money is spent for equipment and training for the fire department. That's great. However, a blogger had asked about who paid for the recent Christmas Party for the fire department hosted at Amici's. After reading blogs many times, Alderman Perez's blogs of 9:56 and 10:13 caught my attention. I understood his blogs as, check city's disbursement sheets "if" city paid,..., then the fire department/Liberty paid.... Shame on you Alderman Perez, were you not a member of Liberty Fire Company prior to becoming an Alderman? So, if Liberty has always paid for the Christmas Party for the fire department you would have been able to answer that question from the beginning of questions from bloggers. I comprehended your answers to bloggers being very evasive in the beginning, when you actually knew the truth. You were once a member of Liberty Fire Company. As an Alderman you Mr. Perez would also have knowledge as to if the city paid for party or not. Would not that expense have needed approval? One last question to you Mr. Perez, did you as a fireman and all the other fireman receive a gift of something at this Christmas Party? If so, what was it? Did Liberty pay for gifts also if fireman received one? Did the wives/girlfriends/boyfriends receive gifts also? Looking forward to the answers. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Was Joe O on the fire department at one time also?
7:06 & 2:56:
At least we would have someone who knows how to get the job done! I hear the township is in dire straights since Joe left!
The new township highway commissioner was elected to disband the district and the tax drain on city residents. So far, he has failed. He has one term to complete this simple task - then we bring in another replacement. Dollar for Dollar - the township highway district is the biggest waste of money in the county.
not if a certain trustee can help it !
Joe O and his sidekick blew through tax money driving in circles. So glad the twp truck doesn't drive by doing nothing now!
We keep asking Perez questions about liberty. He isn't a member of liberty like he said. Other fireman aren't members of liberty either. Liberty is a private organization now. He just like us can't get info on liberty because they don't have to disclose it . Peru fire still has monthly meetings that are open to public by law. They are probably posted at city hall by law what days of the year. Usually first Wednesday of the month. . If you have questions feel free to go attend meetings and ask. Rodney can't answer questions about liberty. Only fire Dept questions. And if you don't like liberty spending habits then don't donate. The fire Dept is funded by tax dollars. Liberty is just a men's club.
6:55
no I heard it sat in the township garage for six months and it cost over 4,000 to fix it!
I heard Joe O spent over 2800.00 to fix the A/C in the truck so him and Dooley could stay cool during the winter.
6:26
there is a difference between fixing what needs to be fixed and paying because of incompetence!
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