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
There doesn't seem to be much being said or reported with regards to this issue. The news tribune hasn't even, as of yet, tweeted a comment. Many, many questions arise with regards to this missing vehicle now being mysteriously found in Putnam County. Let's face it. Putnam is not Chicago where you could easily hide this monstrous truck. Will we ever learn the truth. The next city council meeting isn't until Jan. 13th.
Hmmmmm... isn't the overtime report supposed to be released today also? Is it possible there is a coup d'état going down? Or is Hurl the one cleaning house?
It's easy to catch someone in a lie if you are a good listener. Any occupation can have chief in front of their name: chief housewife, chief barber, chief newspaper carrier, chief valet attendant, chief driver, chief salesperson, chief bartender, chief waitress, chief doctor, chief adult entertainer, chief comedian, we are all chiefs. Peru is a joke.
I ask again for anyone from the City reading this. Why doesn't the City of Peru utilize a fleet management and asset tracking system (like LoJack or one of the many other variants)? We have so much money invested in rolling stock and other expensive portable assets that it makes sense to track their whereabouts. Granted, a professional automobile thief might be able to circumvent such a system given enough time. But, its obvious that the "misplaced" truck was not stolen by a professional thief. There are many questions concerning how the City of Peru manages the fleet of vehicles. All in all, I'd say we have an extremely unprofessional organization being run by political hacks.
I just reviewed on the website a list of campaign donations to Harl. I noticed a couple restaurants. Where was Harls victory patty? Where have other city departments held parties? Who is the cities attorney? Who gets bids/contracts? Who is a city employee? A lot of names and businesses on that list that benefited financially by donating to Harls campaign. Everybody should check that list out. I now see how Harl plays ball. Maybe somebody can write a children's book about the truck that was lost and now it's found. Good gracious. .
How about this for a Chief, Chief Geronimo, or better yet Chief City Employee, Duck, Deer & Bunny Hunter. Went to extent of joining the same union local as the Mayor and than he screws everything up by hiring a college educated kid. Probably like everything else in Peru it has been going on for years and handed down from one generation to the next which has always made it ethical until that young dumb bunny from the U of I showed up. He never understood that certain practices have been accepted like a lot of other wink, wink traditions. Every year that truck was returned in less than 5 to 6 months when all hunting seasons closed. If nobody knew what difference did it make, considered a simple fringe bene. In the good old days the truck was used along with the post hole digger to bury the remains of deer until the EPA caught up to the club and fined them. You remember the club between LaSalle and Utica along the canal tow path. That darn dumb, young bunny spoiled a lot of good things. Oh well, we taught him and in less than 5 full months too. Hey got his but out of town quick! Rule #1 don't mess with any Dynasty, Duck or Peru.
Oh, the truck. So close, but yet so far. Doesn't missing or stolen vehicles get reported to police departments? Where the police department would have an alert for the lookout for vehicle? I find it hard to believe that it was found in Putnam County and that law officials didn't see it. In a barn? Garage? Can't wait to hear details on this truck as to exactly how it was located.
Why on the City's website under code of ordinances still list alderman who are no longer Alderpersons? Shouldn't that have been updated in April 2013? Who's in charge of website? -----------------------------------------------?
I bet you one of the boys "borrowed" it to hall fire wood and got spooked when the new guy started asking questions. Is it legal to cut timber in a wildlife preserve?
The truck should really be examined carefully, but I can guarantee that wont happen. Because of course, we are all nuts.
City of Peru trucks have, for a fact , been used by private parties outside of the City Limits to dump illegally.
Just another blog allegation right? Just another Kristy conspiracy? No. It is true. There are multiple witnesses and documentation.
Nobody cares.
Until the City of Peru has a fleet management system and some semblance of professional management it will continue to be used by the business owners and families that have run this city without the nasty business of being elected.
If the city has already rec'd over $35K for the truck and a new one cost the city over $140K the old truck had best be in real good shape. How many pieces to the puzzle are now involved in the formation of the Peru lost-found dump truck scandal? Would you add with reason some of the characters I have not included but you feel should be; Mayor Harl, Gary Bleck, 2 shop foremen, specific employees of the public works department and only for informational purposes Sean Mikos. The 2 city aldermen who are in charge of the public works committee should also be questioned.
I have asked that also and It was the Mayor's secretary at one time and may still be. That may be for only putting new announcements. Connecting Point does the maintenance. City Clerk puts on the videos. In other words there doesn't seem to be one person in charge.
When are people going to accept the Peru government concept of multi tasking. *Chief of Police, Trustee of Peru Township, Co-Director of ESDA, Co-Director of Public Works *Chief of Fire Department, Building Inspector, private businessman, Co-Director of ESDA, Co-Director of Public Works *Treasurer/Budget Director *City Clerk/private businessman
As a citizen of Peru, I would be satisfied if any of my appointed or elected officials were at least capable of performing effective "single-tasking". Just because you place multiple titles behind a name doesn't mean they are capable or qualified to perform all those duties. The Peru City Council and Mayor have bestowed multiple titles and excessive salaries on unqualified appointees and the taxpayers suffer the consequences. Until we eliminate the political glad-handing by changing to Council-Manager form of governemnt, Peru will not progress.
Regarding the city's non-updated website, what do this paid city employees do all day? Aprils election was 9 months ago. Are some city workers too busy shuffling money to and fro different accounts? Curious.
Anon 9:51 and 10:52 lets all three of us be happy because if I was capable of obtaining such secret info and told you, "I'd have to k_ _l you" I am sure that you understand the mafia and the macho view of Peru political vendettas. The majority of this group lives by its own code attacking interested citizens when in question of multi million dollar 5 year contracts or committing the mortal sin of political insubordination - smirking. You don't have to actually commit this sin yourself to be accussed of it publically. But when you are sitting direcly in line of certain Peru Political Kings (PPK) you will most likely be verbally attacked. Incidentally why do certain PPK's always personally attack the opposite gender especially if they are over 35 and are known to publically express themselves in a knowlegeable manner? It is always the certain few who display a manner of bullish authority. This type of behavior set in when informal meetings were eliminated and all meetings became formal eliminating the ability of constituents to express themselves along with elected official as subjects were being discussed. This is the year 2014 that we will experience the major undertaking and goal of the present Peru administration and council take place. It is the one long range plan that this group has driven itself to achieve. First action was to get all elected officials changed from a pay plan in which you had to be at a council meeting to be paid. Upon passing this plan by council vote the next step became evident which was to reduce the number of meeting per month by one. Now things are really rolling in the elected representatives preferred pathway. Oh, hold on the final step is even better, A junior appointed alderman decides that another meeting per month should be eliminated staring January 1, 2014 vote taken and passed. End result is that now there are 1/2 of meeting previously held and the pay being salaried is the same as if all meetings which was one a week are taking place.This same group voted themselves to be salaried , reduced number of council meetings by 50%, but keep the pay the same as if they were still meeting every week. The upcoming referendum of 4 ward aldermen, with 2 at large and everyone having to run to stay in office sounds better every day.
All city employees should have to document what they do exactly in a day. Therefore, after a period of time, this would be evaluated. A reduced salary should be given to employee that doesn't have the work capacity to deem their salary. My question; how many honest work hours does the code enforcer/ building inspector spend for that appointed position a week? Fire Chiefs position a week? We have 3-4 fire engineers stationed 24/7 at the fire house who have done and do some work pertaining to the fd(ex: wash and wax apparatus), waiting for a fire call so they can drive a fire truck to the scene. A lot of down time. My question is how many fire calls each year from 07-2013. Why a full-time fire chief appointed by Harl. Has Harl spent our taxpayers frivolously to give a friend a full-time unnecessary position. If fire calls per year on an average hasn't changed since Baker vs. Harls mayorship then I feel he did taxpayers a dis-service. Easy record keeping to publicized how many fire calls. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the appointed full time fire chief say one time that most calls refer to car accidents? The pieces of the puzzle don't fit. A new mayor could figure this out.
I don't know where to blog this. Here we go. I was reading a newspaper article regarding yesterday's gas line break. I was a little confused by the article and picture. Peru ESDA closed one block with ESDA Vehicle and signs. ESDA vehicle driven to scene by who? And Peru Fire Department called to bring a Truck. Who drove fire truck? A full-time fire engineer? Now, doesn't our fire chief have a suburban type command vehicle? Did he drive that? Or as co/director of ESDA, did the police/fire chief drive that vehicle. I never have heard of peru ESDA until about 2 years ago from a article in paper. As far as gas leak, don't you call the fd and gas company. How can a person be ESDA person plus do their job as fire chief if and when the occasion arises? Explanation please of ESDA. Is there a committee for this? Are they appointed by Harl? If a committee who is on it? Just confused after reading paper. Does LaSalle have ESDA?
How is it that the PPD is doing the investigation on a truck that ended up in a rural conservation area of Marshall County? Isn't that out of their district?
During the floods that occurred last year near the Shippingsport Bridge between La Salle and Oglesby, wasn't it the Conservation Police that were in charge of the details? Shouldn't the conservation police, the Marshall County Police or ISP be handling the details of this theft since it ended up in their district?
ESDA co-directors were being paid $1,900 a year approx. . So now one ESDA co-director's pay is included in the $84k a year salary by Harls appointment as Full-time fire chief. Prior to Harls appointment of fire chief was our fire chief/fire Marshall being paid approx. 10k a year? So Harl added his appointment to fire chief as behind building and code enforcer at a cost of 71k a year salary for that position? Is this frugal? This isn't including any benefits paid by the city.
Should they have the lead and don't or the conservation police, Marshall county police or ISP should have the lead and do? Maybe the PPD have been placed in a political stranglehold (coverup) where they are on the defense rather than the offense? Rather serious business when insurance companies become involved and political appointments quit without a better position waiting for them somewhere else! Call Bell City, California to see how to handle this.
Peru has one huge step in the political scheme of getting $35K for the old dump truck from the insurance company. They therefore went out and bought a new and a used dump truck, now the lost dump truck has reappeared and the insurance company will want its money back along with doubtful trust in dealings with Peru. This leaves one major question which is where is Peru going to get the money to pay for the new used dump truck? Also how much will this investigation cost the Peru city taxpayer?
Very strange that truck was stolen in sept., and no hunters or DNR in this wooden area hunting deer in nov., and dec, didn't see this orange beast. Very odd that it had sat in the same place for over 3 months.
I find it strange that it was reported missing sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning. Who would have been there Saturday or all day Sunday? The department doesn't work those days and there wasn't a snow storm. Does someone check this remote building out on a regular schedule to look for break-ins? Is that how we know it was okay until Sunday night? Too many unanswered questions. Do we leave the keys in all our vehicles? If so do we have an alarm system set up?
In Sept. the foilage is still on all the trees, Did you notice how many trees around it. It would have been covered up. I think this was probably a kids prank, and then they got scared and dumped the dump truck.
1:07 A responsible department would have maintained a locked bldg. Is there by chance fencing around this blg?
How many people even know where this bldg is? or know what is in the bldg? By kid I assume you mean under the age of 18 and with that in mind I disagree with you on all points. If somebody drove to the location and left it there, someone must have followed right behind to bring them back. I am pretty familiar with the area between Henry and Sparland where supposedly if was dumped. You are indicating a kid from the area knew his way to the location and planned it all out knowing the bldg. was unlocked and the keys were in the truck?
Lois you are correct on all counts. As for being a kids prank, if adult B.S. and kids prank are one and the same. You could call it kids prank. When does a kids prank end and a adults responsibility begin. I am referring to the new years Eve fire at Westclox building. I don't remember any city officials or adults having to account or taking any responsibility for permitting a plastic inferno being allowed in a residential neighborhood? One thing that the Westclox fire and the missing dump truck have in common is insurance problems. What steps have been taken for the entire city of Peru to make sure that we will never be faced with a cancer causing fire and smoke screen which develops from blazing plastic fires never happen again and please don't answer that our city officials are inviting another prospect within our city limits. Yes last New Years the Westclox fire was exposing human beings to cancer causing agents in that it was a plastic fire giving off fumes. Plastic is not harmful as it sat there but once it is heated it is toxic and can also cause cancer.
3:10 PM Many times what might look absurd turns out to be what really happened. I believe the police departments whomever they may be should take all tips or calls seriously and investigated until proven otherwise. Many times some of the city officials have thought comments I or others made were ridiculous although certainly not anon and were proven true, but no acknowledgment was ever made of the truth that previously was thought ridiculous.
Truck gate 2013, this has all the earmarks of a Lifetime made for TV movie!! LOL What next???? People in this area need to find something constructive to do!!!
Just remember the guys do work when it is cold , streets are clear . fixing a broken water main by my house. All of you that complain all the time do you work out in these conditions? I don't think so. hats off to the guys out getting the job done!!
Yes, I have worked outside along the Illinois River all day long in the coldest of winters. I was never fortunate to be a city employee making the huge hourly wage or getting fringe benefits as these guys do. I also had to work hard all day. Never thought of getting 2 cups of coffee while getting paid before I started or starting lunch early and going back to work late. Everyone is familiar to the habits of the grass cutting crews and three men on the leaf vacuum crews one driver, one passenger and one person to vacuum. couldn't the passenger get out of the truck to rake leafs along side curbs and the sidewalk and also clean off the sewer tops to keep them open for rainy weather. In conclusion I was sent home without pay in inclement weather and laid off when there was no work. No one was ever kept on to build BB Gun Clubs, as well as 4 to 6 employees for 4 to 6 weeks, when work ran out. When has any department had a lay off in Peru? One way to solve the problem of city workers having to work outside would be to outsource it. Has the budget director ever performed a cost analysis from time to time? May be a good idea for him to do.
5:01 PM EXCELLENT, Wake up everyone and get this area straightened up the way it should be. Right to WORK! If you have a job and are happy, there should be no problems with someone telling you that you can not go to work. If you are not union and have a bid and WON, you should not be harassed (a big rat) and left to do your job your way.
Right to work city, right to work county, outsourcing these are all brothers of competitive bidding which would save the taxpayer bundles of money. It is a shame that businesses have to make it or break it on their ability. Meanwhile the governments main objective is to spend all it can get because they believe that they will no get as much next year if they don't. The government consists of elected officials whose main goal is to get reelected. We are really in a mess.
Outsourcing is a economic way to save but everyone in Peru thinks companies like TEST rips the city off. Still no one here ever said what it would cost the city to do it themselves! Too many hard nose closed minded people in and out of government to be open and honest at this time.
Wouldn't it be great to observe a job and see big rats in different colors such as pink, yellow, baby blue, red blue & white, gold, silver, envy green, jealous red. or maybe a couple of camouflage cats. Do you think those it was attended for would realize? Here kitty kitty, here kitty kitty.
Anon 7:48 Where did you get the data by which you could come to the conclusion that EVERYONE in Peru believes that companies such as TEST rip the city off. Too make such a statement as you have you would have had to interview everyone in Peru. The problem in Peru was specifically that a multimillion dollar contract for a time frame of five years was agreed upon without open competitive bidding being published and offered to other and all companies which offer water and waste water services. A deeper problem is that one of the main foundations of capitalism and democracy was infringed upon - OPEN COMPETITIVE BIDDING - by the city government of Peru.
outsourcing is not cheaper-check your facts. those city employees do work hard anyone that has a job is entitled to breaks and lunch it is the law and if someone says they have NEVER taken a little longer lunch or break is a storyteller. i dont think these employees if they do take a longer break or lunch do it on a daily basis. i think those clock watchers should perhaps get a job of their own or volunteer somewhere and not have their lives revolve around someone else just saying
Anon 6:26 If anyone has to get a job I can assure you that they will have more experience with clocks than the city employees. Are the Peru city employees time clocks still being used, if not WHY?
Please if a person has an incompetent supervisior more then likely they're going to milk they system and be lazy and take longer breaks and lunches. Especially in todays workplace when many persons don't have a work ethic. Just look at summer hirees, they're on their cell phones while on the clock. Cell phones should not be allowed and left at the shop when they are working. All employees should have to do this.
@10:12 I agree with you on everything but the cell phones. Possibly I would allow the employee to have his cell phone on his person but he could only use it on scheduled breaks, lunch and after the work day is finished. Emergencies and work calls would also be permitted. I don't know how general you are being in reference to a incompetent supervisor but I do know that in a 5 month transition period from long term incompetence to a good supervisor a certain amount of responsibility pertaining to the job and why one was hired should be shown by the workforce.
If outsourcing is not cheaper and just efficient over a period of time why have most major corporations made it a standard practice whenever possible. You must remember that the expense of a employee does not stop with a weekly paycheck. In most cases the employee costs the employer more in fringe benefits than he does in hourly pay. Whereas outsourcing allows you to pay for the job contract and only the agreed upon contract.
5:03 I think your premise is a false start, just like many of the uninformed people who post here. Most corporations have not made it a "standard practice whenever possible" to outsource employees.
I work in big business and outsourcing is usually done for either very low skilled jobs (like cleaning) OR for a one time job that has a beginning and an end.
There are major disadvantages to outsourcing people, the biggest being the quality of the workforce. If you are talking semi-skilled or certainly skilled labor, there are huge disadvantages. I've seen some just walk off of a job. You could say so what, replace them. To a small extent yes, but if you say that, then you have no idea what it means to have good people to run a business. They are not slaves. You need people who are committed to the organization long term.
Also you are paying for the salary and benefits and workers compensation through the contract, plus the profit for the entity providing the workers. As a result the workers provided are usually much lower in wage (and quality) then those employed directly by the company.
Could outsourcing jobs be cheaper in the short term? It could. The key is having the right number and type of employees for the work needed. That is an efficient work force.
I read a lot of ideas on here that people absolutely do not understand. I happened to have worked in this area of management, so I wanted to shed some light.
The bottom line is arguments can be made about the efficiency or number of employees, but you had better be very carefully if you are talking about outsourcing city workers.
Anon 8:50 I also have worked in this area of management since the early 1980's and have a solid history of knowing when it is beneficial to utilize and not to utilize outsourcing. The biggest factor curtailing outsourcing is management. If you have management (upper, middle and especially lower hands on) that is knowledgeable of their areas processes, equipment and how to perform the jobs properly for maximum efficiency and production outsourcing is not a problem. A good manager will start with the lowest skilled job and eventually keep increasing the level of jobs to be outsourced. For example outsourcing could be started with grass cutting and general clean up of areas, outsourcing could be beneficial in dumping the 55 gallon garbage drums that are in the city parks and also in leaf vacuuming. As a history is created in outsourcing those who implement the system find that the same people start coming back so there is a familiarity of jobs assigned and job skills acquired. Managed properly the savings are astounding and in time you should have a background of the working skills of this group to know who to ask for and who to avoid. Also this group is a source to hire from if the need came to increase the workforce. A area in the police department is outsourced very successfully and that is the independent crossing guards at schools. Does anyone know how many years Peru has had independent school crossing guards?
@8:50 Yes, you need people who are committed to the organization long term. You also need organizations that are committed to the people long term. Where are you going to find either. Years ago industry started taking its production from the Midwest and migrating to the South and out of the USA. Many men and women lost their jobs and many families had to take huge steps backwards. Entire plants were shut down and moved with a result of a work force of long term employment being left with the feeling of desertion by their employer who they believed would never move i.e. Westclox, Union Carbide, Borg Warner, Libbey Owens Ford, CF, Snap On and on and on. At that time and still to this day those who were affected never have forgotten and their attitude is a result of the company's treatment of them. At the time this was happening I had asked human resource managers if they felt what they were doing was going to have a negative response to the Midwest areas workforce. Sad to say I had sat in seminars of 8 to 10 Human Resource Managers who at that time did not care how the employee was treated and were not intelligent enough to think downstream. Please do not respond with how dedicated your work force is because no one has a work force equal to the 50's and 60's, the 70's and 80's. Today people realize they are working for themselves, protecting their own backs and if a better opportunity arises take it before they too are left out with nothing. Remember you reap what you sow and if you do find a fair employer don't bite the hand that feeds you.
74 comments:
can't wait to hear the story behind this one.
Maybe one of the newly appointed
"Super Chiefs" will actually make a statement regarding the "Mystery of the missing Dump Truck"
Hey, I like the sound of that,
"SUPER CHIEF", "SUPER CHIEF",
"SUPER CHIEF".
There doesn't seem to be much being said or reported with regards to this issue. The news tribune hasn't even, as of yet, tweeted a comment. Many, many questions arise with regards to this missing vehicle now being mysteriously found in Putnam County. Let's face it. Putnam is not Chicago where you could easily hide this monstrous truck. Will we ever learn the truth. The next city council meeting isn't until Jan. 13th.
Can always count on Rod to blow the whistle.its been found a week ago and now just getting reported? Insane!!
Hmmmmm... isn't the overtime report supposed to be released today also? Is it possible there is a coup d'état going down? Or is Hurl the one cleaning house?
It's easy to catch someone in a lie if you are a good listener. Any occupation can have chief in front of their name: chief housewife, chief barber, chief newspaper carrier, chief valet attendant, chief driver, chief salesperson, chief bartender, chief waitress, chief doctor, chief adult entertainer, chief comedian, we are all chiefs. Peru is a joke.
I ask again for anyone from the City reading this. Why doesn't the City of Peru utilize a fleet management and asset tracking system (like LoJack or one of the many other variants)? We have so much money invested in rolling stock and other expensive portable assets that it makes sense to track their whereabouts. Granted, a professional automobile thief might be able to circumvent such a system given enough time. But, its obvious that the "misplaced" truck was not stolen by a professional thief. There are many questions concerning how the City of Peru manages the fleet of vehicles. All in all, I'd say we have an extremely unprofessional organization being run by political hacks.
9:53 Who said the truck was found a week ago? If so how come it's just coming out now?
10:03 Even if the report is released today how will we find out it's results?
Next council meeting Jan. 13th.
I just reviewed on the website a list of campaign donations to Harl. I noticed a couple restaurants. Where was Harls victory patty? Where have other city departments held parties? Who is the cities attorney? Who gets bids/contracts? Who is a city employee? A lot of names and businesses on that list that benefited financially by donating to Harls campaign. Everybody should check that list out. I now see how Harl plays ball. Maybe somebody can write a children's book about the truck that was lost and now it's found. Good gracious. .
Doesn't it take time to think about a lie,'and how one is going to answer questions pertaining to that lie? One has to have a great story you know.
How about this for a Chief, Chief Geronimo, or better yet Chief City Employee, Duck, Deer & Bunny Hunter. Went to extent of joining the same union local as the Mayor and than he screws everything up by hiring a college educated kid. Probably like everything else in Peru it has been going on for years and handed down from one generation to the next which has always made it ethical until that young dumb bunny from the U of I showed up. He never understood that certain practices have been accepted like a lot of other wink, wink traditions. Every year that truck was returned in less than 5 to 6 months when all hunting seasons closed. If nobody knew what difference did it make, considered a simple fringe bene. In the good old days the truck was used along with the post hole digger to bury the remains of deer until the EPA caught up to the club and fined them. You remember the club between LaSalle and Utica along the canal tow path. That darn dumb, young bunny spoiled a lot of good things. Oh well, we taught him and in less than 5 full months too. Hey got his but out of town quick! Rule #1 don't mess with any Dynasty, Duck or Peru.
Oh, the truck. So close, but yet so far. Doesn't missing or stolen vehicles get reported to police departments? Where the police department would have an alert for the lookout for vehicle? I find it hard to believe that it was found in Putnam County and that law officials didn't see it. In a barn? Garage? Can't wait to hear details on this truck as to exactly how it was located.
I think you are all nuts
The newspaper report says it was found on Sunday (29 Dec) by a hunter and it was in a wild life preserve in Marshall, not Putnam County.
Why on the City's website under code of ordinances still list alderman who are no longer Alderpersons? Shouldn't that have been updated in April 2013? Who's in charge of website? -----------------------------------------------?
I bet you one of the boys "borrowed" it to hall fire wood and got spooked when the new guy started asking questions. Is it legal to cut timber in a wildlife preserve?
According to WLPO the truck is in pretty bad shape.
The truck should really be examined carefully, but I can guarantee that wont happen. Because of course, we are all nuts.
City of Peru trucks have, for a fact , been used by private parties outside of the City Limits to dump illegally.
Just another blog allegation right? Just another Kristy conspiracy? No. It is true. There are multiple witnesses and documentation.
Nobody cares.
Until the City of Peru has a fleet management system and some semblance of professional management it will continue to be used by the business owners and families that have run this city without the nasty business of being elected.
If the city has already rec'd over $35K for the truck and a new one cost the city over $140K the old truck had best be in real good shape. How many pieces to the puzzle are now involved in the formation of the Peru lost-found dump truck scandal?
Would you add with reason some of the characters I have not included but you feel should be; Mayor Harl, Gary Bleck, 2 shop foremen, specific employees of the public works department and only for informational purposes Sean Mikos.
The 2 city aldermen who are in charge of the public works committee should also be questioned.
1:58 PM
I have asked that also and It was the Mayor's secretary at one time and may still be. That may be for only putting new announcements. Connecting Point does the maintenance. City Clerk puts on the videos. In other words there doesn't seem to be one person in charge.
When are people going to accept the Peru government concept of multi tasking.
*Chief of Police, Trustee of Peru Township, Co-Director of ESDA, Co-Director of Public Works
*Chief of Fire Department, Building Inspector, private businessman, Co-Director of ESDA, Co-Director of Public Works
*Treasurer/Budget Director
*City Clerk/private businessman
As a citizen of Peru, I would be satisfied if any of my appointed or elected officials were at least capable of performing effective "single-tasking".
Just because you place multiple titles behind a name doesn't mean they are capable or qualified to perform all those duties.
The Peru City Council and Mayor have bestowed multiple titles and excessive salaries on unqualified appointees and the taxpayers suffer the consequences. Until we eliminate the political glad-handing by changing to Council-Manager form of governemnt, Peru will not progress.
Isn't fire chief safety officer/fire Marshall? I thought the certified state fire Marshall is a true fire Marshall.
Regarding the city's non-updated website, what do this paid city employees do all day? Aprils election was 9 months ago. Are some city workers too busy shuffling money to and fro different accounts? Curious.
Is there an organization chart that shows the duties and responsibilities of each employee?
better yet, is every position defined and justified?
Better yet is there a chart that shows what jobs have been completed each day and who worked on them?
Anon 9:51 and 10:52
lets all three of us be happy because if I was capable of obtaining such secret info and told you, "I'd have to k_ _l you"
I am sure that you understand the mafia and the macho view of Peru political vendettas. The majority of this group lives by its own code attacking interested citizens when in question of multi million dollar 5 year contracts or committing the mortal sin of political insubordination - smirking. You don't have to actually commit this sin yourself to be accussed of it publically. But when you are sitting direcly in line of certain Peru Political Kings (PPK) you will most likely be verbally attacked.
Incidentally why do certain PPK's always personally attack the opposite gender especially if they are over 35 and are known to publically express themselves in a knowlegeable manner? It is always the certain few who display a manner of bullish authority.
This type of behavior set in when informal meetings were eliminated and all meetings became formal eliminating the ability of constituents to express themselves along with elected official as subjects were being discussed.
This is the year 2014 that we will experience the major undertaking and goal of the present Peru administration and council take place. It is the one long range plan that this group has driven itself to achieve. First action was to get all elected officials changed from a pay plan in which you had to be at a council meeting to be paid. Upon passing this plan by council vote the next step became evident which was to reduce the number of meeting per month by one. Now things are really rolling in the elected representatives preferred pathway. Oh, hold on the final step is even better, A junior appointed alderman decides that another meeting per month should be eliminated staring January 1, 2014 vote taken and passed. End result is that now there are 1/2 of meeting previously held and the pay being salaried is the same as if all meetings which was one a week are taking place.This same group voted themselves to be salaried , reduced number of council meetings by 50%, but keep the pay the same as if they were still meeting every week. The upcoming referendum of 4 ward aldermen, with 2 at large and everyone having to run to stay in office sounds better every day.
5
you mean a time sheet?
All city employees should have to document what they do exactly in a day. Therefore, after a period of time, this would be evaluated. A reduced salary should be given to employee that doesn't have the work capacity to deem their salary. My question; how many honest work hours does the code enforcer/ building inspector spend for that appointed position a week? Fire Chiefs position a week? We have 3-4 fire engineers stationed 24/7 at the fire house who have done and do some work pertaining to the fd(ex: wash and wax apparatus), waiting for a fire call so they can drive a fire truck to the scene. A lot of down time. My question is how many fire calls each year from 07-2013. Why a full-time fire chief appointed by Harl. Has Harl spent our taxpayers frivolously to give a friend a full-time unnecessary position. If fire calls per year on an average hasn't changed since Baker vs. Harls mayorship then I feel he did taxpayers a dis-service. Easy record keeping to publicized how many fire calls. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the appointed full time fire chief say one time that most calls refer to car accidents? The pieces of the puzzle don't fit. A new mayor could figure this out.
I wonder if the dump truck was a message from a certain labor group.
I don't know where to blog this. Here we go. I was reading a newspaper article regarding yesterday's gas line break. I was a little confused by the article and picture. Peru ESDA closed one block with ESDA Vehicle and signs. ESDA vehicle driven to scene by who? And Peru Fire Department called to bring a
Truck. Who drove fire truck? A full-time fire engineer? Now, doesn't our fire chief have a suburban type command vehicle? Did he drive that? Or as co/director of ESDA, did the police/fire chief drive that vehicle. I never have heard of peru ESDA until about 2 years ago from a article in paper. As far as gas leak, don't you call the fd and gas company. How can a person be ESDA person plus do their job as fire chief if and when the occasion arises? Explanation please of ESDA. Is there a committee for this? Are they appointed by Harl? If a committee who is on it? Just confused after reading paper. Does LaSalle have ESDA?
I believe ESDA was Civil Defense in the past and did very very little regarding emergency or civil defense.
How is it that the PPD is doing the investigation on a truck that ended up in a rural conservation area of Marshall County? Isn't that out of their district?
During the floods that occurred last year near the Shippingsport Bridge between La Salle and Oglesby, wasn't it the Conservation Police that were in charge of the details? Shouldn't the conservation police, the Marshall County Police or ISP be handling the details of this theft since it ended up in their district?
yes. I think the conservation police have the lead in this investigation.
ESDA co-directors were being paid $1,900 a year approx. . So now one ESDA co-director's pay is included in the $84k a year salary by Harls appointment as
Full-time fire chief. Prior to Harls appointment of fire chief was our fire chief/fire Marshall being paid approx. 10k a year? So Harl added his appointment to fire chief as behind building and code enforcer at a cost of 71k a year salary for that position? Is this frugal? This isn't including any benefits paid by the city.
Should they have the lead and don't or the conservation police, Marshall county police or ISP should have the lead and do?
Maybe the PPD have been placed in a political stranglehold (coverup) where they are on the defense rather than the offense?
Rather serious business when insurance companies become involved and political appointments quit without a better position waiting for them somewhere else! Call Bell City, California to see how to handle this.
"... aside from broken windows, is in good condition, Bernabei said."
Peru has one huge step in the political scheme of getting $35K for the old dump truck from the insurance company. They therefore went out and bought a new and a used dump truck, now the lost dump truck has reappeared and the insurance company will want its money back along with doubtful trust in dealings with Peru. This leaves one major question which is where is Peru going to get the money to pay for the new used dump truck? Also how much will this investigation cost the Peru city taxpayer?
Very strange that truck was stolen in sept., and no hunters or DNR in this wooden area hunting deer in nov., and dec, didn't see this orange beast. Very odd that it had sat in the same place for over 3 months.
I find it strange that it was reported missing sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning. Who would have been there Saturday or all day Sunday? The department doesn't work those days and there wasn't a snow storm. Does someone check this remote building out on a regular schedule to look for break-ins? Is that how we know it was okay until Sunday night? Too many unanswered questions. Do we leave the keys in all our vehicles? If so do we have an alarm system set up?
In Sept. the foilage is still on all the trees, Did you notice how many trees around it. It would have been covered up. I think this was probably a kids prank, and then they got scared and dumped the dump truck.
1:07
A responsible department would have maintained a locked bldg. Is there by chance fencing around this blg?
How many people even know where this bldg is? or know what is in the bldg?
By kid I assume you mean under the age of 18 and with that in mind I disagree with you on all points. If somebody drove to the location and left it there, someone must have followed right behind to bring them back. I am pretty familiar with the area between Henry and Sparland where supposedly if was dumped. You are indicating a kid from the area knew his way to the location and planned it all out knowing the bldg. was unlocked and the keys were in the truck?
Yes there is a large industrial fence around the property perimeter.. The truck was driven right through it.
Lois you are correct on all
counts.
As for being a kids prank, if adult B.S. and kids prank are one and the same. You could call it kids prank. When does a kids prank end and a adults responsibility begin. I am referring to the new years Eve fire at Westclox building.
I don't remember any city officials or adults having to account or taking any responsibility for permitting a plastic inferno being allowed in a residential neighborhood?
One thing that the Westclox fire and the missing dump truck have in common is insurance problems.
What steps have been taken for the entire city of Peru to make sure that we will never be faced with a cancer causing fire and smoke screen which develops from blazing plastic fires never happen again and please don't answer that our city officials are inviting another prospect within our city limits. Yes last New Years the Westclox fire was exposing human beings to cancer causing agents in that it was a plastic fire giving off fumes. Plastic is not harmful as it sat there but once it is heated it is toxic and can also cause cancer.
Chief of Police says it was taken for a joy ride according to tribune. How would that be determined?
3:10 PM
Many times what might look absurd turns out to be what really happened. I believe the police departments whomever they may be should take all tips or calls seriously and investigated until proven otherwise.
Many times some of the city officials have thought comments I or others made were ridiculous although certainly not anon and were proven true, but no acknowledgment was ever made of the truth that previously was thought ridiculous.
Truck gate 2013, this has all the earmarks of a Lifetime made for TV movie!! LOL What next???? People in this area need to find something constructive to do!!!
4:16 Watching the way our tax dollar is being abused is very constructive.
Today would be a good day to use that truck. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Just remember the guys do work when it is cold , streets are clear . fixing a broken water main by my house. All of you that complain all the time do you work out in these conditions? I don't think so. hats off to the guys out getting the job done!!
We would have fewer water main breaks if the "Harl Tax" was used for infrastructure as intended instead of ONLY road pavement.
11:17, no kidding, they get paid very well for their work. It's their job. And just remember most of us work too.
Yes, I have worked outside along the Illinois River all day long in the coldest of winters. I was never fortunate to be a city employee making the huge hourly wage or getting fringe benefits as these guys do. I also had to work hard all day. Never thought of getting 2 cups of coffee while getting paid before I started or starting lunch early and going back to work late. Everyone is familiar to the habits of the grass cutting crews and three men on the leaf vacuum crews one driver, one passenger and one person to vacuum. couldn't the passenger get out of the truck to rake leafs along side curbs and the sidewalk and also clean off the sewer tops to keep them open for rainy weather.
In conclusion I was sent home without pay in inclement weather and laid off when there was no work. No one was ever kept on to build BB Gun Clubs, as well as 4 to 6 employees for 4 to 6 weeks, when work ran out. When has any department had a lay off in Peru?
One way to solve the problem of city workers having to work outside would be to outsource it. Has the budget director ever performed a cost analysis from time to time? May be a good idea for him to do.
Outsourcing jobs would save the city huge amount of money.
5:01 PM EXCELLENT, Wake up everyone and get this area straightened up the way it should be. Right to WORK! If you have a job and are happy, there should be no problems with someone telling you that you can not go to work. If you are not union and have a bid and WON, you should not be harassed (a big rat) and left to do your job your way.
Right to work city, right to work county, outsourcing these are all brothers of competitive bidding which would save the taxpayer bundles of money.
It is a shame that businesses have to make it or break it on their ability. Meanwhile the governments main objective is to spend all it can get because they believe that they will no get as much next year if they don't.
The government consists of elected officials whose main goal is to get reelected.
We are really in a mess.
5:10
Outsourcing is a economic way to save but everyone in Peru thinks companies like TEST rips the city off. Still no one here ever said what it would cost the city to do it themselves! Too many hard nose closed minded people in and out of government to be open and honest at this time.
Wouldn't it be great to observe a job and see big rats in different colors such as pink, yellow, baby blue, red blue & white, gold, silver, envy green, jealous red. or maybe a couple of camouflage cats. Do you think those it was attended for would realize? Here kitty kitty, here kitty kitty.
7:59 ????????????
3:10
because he can say what he wants to get what he wants.
Anon 7:48 Where did you get the data by which you could come to the conclusion that EVERYONE in Peru believes that companies such as TEST
rip the city off. Too make such a statement as you have you would have had to interview everyone in Peru.
The problem in Peru was specifically that a multimillion dollar contract for a time frame of five years was agreed upon without open competitive bidding being published and offered to other and all companies which offer water and waste water services. A deeper problem is that one of the main foundations of capitalism and democracy was infringed upon - OPEN COMPETITIVE BIDDING - by the city government of Peru.
Prior to this city truck missing, when was the last time it was used? And for what purpose?
outsourcing is not cheaper-check your facts. those city employees do work hard anyone that has a job is entitled to breaks and lunch it is the law and if someone says they have NEVER taken a little longer lunch or break is a storyteller. i dont think these employees if they do take a longer break or lunch do it on a daily basis. i think those clock watchers should perhaps get a job of their own or volunteer somewhere and not have their lives revolve around someone else just saying
There needs to be a like button for the comments.
Anon 6:26 If anyone has to get a job I can assure you that they will have more experience with clocks than the city employees. Are the Peru city employees time clocks still being used, if not WHY?
6:26
someone who knows what they are talking about - good comment!
Please if a person has an incompetent supervisior more then likely they're going to milk they system and be lazy and take longer breaks and lunches. Especially in todays workplace when many persons don't have a work ethic. Just look at summer hirees, they're on their cell phones while on the clock. Cell phones should not be allowed and left at the shop when they are working. All employees should have to do this.
@10:12 I agree with you on everything but the cell phones. Possibly I would allow the employee to have his cell phone on his person but he could only use it on scheduled breaks, lunch and after the work day is finished. Emergencies and work calls would also be permitted.
I don't know how general you are being in reference to a incompetent supervisor but I do know that in a 5 month transition period from long term incompetence to a good supervisor a certain amount of responsibility pertaining to the job and why one was hired should be shown by the workforce.
If outsourcing is not cheaper and just efficient over a period of time why have most major corporations made it a standard practice whenever possible.
You must remember that the expense of a employee does not stop with a weekly paycheck. In most cases the employee costs the employer more in fringe benefits than he does in hourly pay.
Whereas outsourcing allows you to pay for the job contract and only the agreed upon contract.
a big advantage of outsourcing is that is that the cost of the employee is terminated upon the job finish.
5:03 I think your premise is a false start, just like many of the uninformed people who post here. Most corporations have not made it a "standard practice whenever possible" to outsource employees.
I work in big business and outsourcing is usually done for either very low skilled jobs (like cleaning) OR for a one time job that has a beginning and an end.
There are major disadvantages to outsourcing people, the biggest being the quality of the workforce. If you are talking semi-skilled or certainly skilled labor, there are huge disadvantages. I've seen some just walk off of a job. You could say so what, replace them. To a small extent yes, but if you say that, then you have no idea what it means to have good people to run a business. They are not slaves. You need people who are committed to the organization long term.
Also you are paying for the salary and benefits and workers compensation through the contract, plus the profit for the entity providing the workers. As a result the workers provided are usually much lower in wage (and quality) then those employed directly by the company.
Could outsourcing jobs be cheaper in the short term? It could. The key is having the right number and type of employees for the work needed. That is an efficient work force.
I read a lot of ideas on here that people absolutely do not understand. I happened to have worked in this area of management, so I wanted to shed some light.
The bottom line is arguments can be made about the efficiency or number of employees, but you had better be very carefully if you are talking about outsourcing city workers.
Anon 8:50 I also have worked in this area of management since the early 1980's and have a solid history of knowing when it is beneficial to utilize and not to utilize outsourcing.
The biggest factor curtailing outsourcing is management. If you have management (upper, middle and especially lower hands on) that is knowledgeable of their areas
processes, equipment and how to perform the jobs properly for maximum efficiency and production outsourcing is not a problem.
A good manager will start with the lowest skilled job and eventually keep increasing the level of jobs to be outsourced. For example outsourcing could be started with grass cutting and general clean up of areas, outsourcing could be beneficial in dumping the 55 gallon garbage drums that are in the city parks and also in leaf vacuuming. As a history is created in outsourcing those who implement the system find that the same people start coming back so there is a familiarity of jobs assigned and job skills acquired.
Managed properly the savings are astounding and in time you should have a background of the working skills of this group to know who to ask for and who to avoid. Also this group is a source to hire from if the need came to increase the workforce.
A area in the police department is outsourced very successfully and that is the independent crossing guards at schools. Does anyone know how many years Peru has had independent school crossing guards?
@8:50 Yes, you need people who are committed to the organization long term. You also need organizations that are committed to the people long term. Where are you going to find either.
Years ago industry started taking its production from the Midwest and migrating to the South and out of the USA. Many men and women lost their jobs and many families had to take huge steps backwards. Entire plants were shut down and moved with a result of a work force of long term employment being left with the feeling of desertion by their employer who they believed would never move i.e. Westclox, Union Carbide, Borg Warner, Libbey Owens Ford, CF, Snap On and on and on. At that time and still to this day those who were affected never have forgotten and their attitude is a result of the company's treatment of them. At the time this was happening I had asked human resource managers if they felt what they were doing was going to have a negative response to the Midwest areas workforce. Sad to say I had sat in seminars of 8 to 10 Human Resource Managers who at that time did not care how the employee was treated and were not intelligent enough to think downstream. Please do not respond with how dedicated your work force is because no one has a work force equal to the 50's and 60's, the 70's and 80's. Today people realize they are working for themselves, protecting their own backs and if a better opportunity arises take it before they too are left out with nothing. Remember you reap what you sow and if you do find a fair employer don't bite the hand that feeds you.
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