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
Lois I don't know what column to put this in. WELL THE CITY HAD ITS VOLUNTEER CLEANUP LAST SATURDAY. I BELIEVE THEY DID A FINE JOB. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE THE 600 BLOCK OF 9TH STREET, THE DIRTEST STREET IN PERU. CATCH BASINS ARE COMPLETELY COVERED WITH TRASH, IMPOSSIBLE FOR WATER TO GET IN THEM. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY FIRST WARD ALDERMEN FOR 2 YEARS AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WAS DONE. CITIZENS OF PERU COME AND TAKE A LOOK. THANK YOU ALDERMAN PEREZ FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU DO. MARV G.
I no this has nothing to do with subject , but who's blog had place to attach pictures because some are worth a thousand words ? Mine would be of two city trucks following each other across tenth street today . ( the blind leading the blind ) . My wife calls it ( job security ) . One stops , the other stops ! Nobody gets out of either truck ? Then they go another block . Job security bull ---- . Just like part time taking city trucks home for lunch !
Well after reading comment from Marv and Lois a buddy and me left Johns place and took a ride to 600 9th and 9 and Pulaski to see firsthand what they were referring to. Wow there is a few leaves and some small amount of garbage piled up. Horrible Peru…please drop everything the 1% who lead the PAL think they should get special city services are too lazy to help out. Marv and Lois…step up and take 5 minutes out of your busy day and clean it up yourself. On the way there we saw three different people outside their homes picking up on the streets in front of their homes. I guess 99% of us can do that but not Marv Lois and company. It must be more fun to complain. If it is so bad here move. I am so upset with myself. I was part of the PAL fringe group because some if the ideas are good but it is now out of control consider me out.
2:37. "A buddy and I" is the correct form of sentence structure. Sorry had to blog that. At "John's" You must be one of the boys. I can read between the lines of your blog. First off, what is wrong with noticing jobs not being performed when our taxes pay for employees salaries? If you owned a business would you want your employees being paid to do nothing? I bet not.
In front of your or my home, no it is not too much to ask but the circumstances being discussed do NOT involve a catch basin in front of our homes and I know not in front of the home of the person who wrote in earlier. In fact I drove by and the blocked basin is on a corner full of leaves and trash and in an area of many rentals and in areas such as this all over town, they will not be cleared by the people living adjacent to them. With the thought that home owners should clean in front of their own residence, does that mean that landlords should go to all the homes they rent out and make sure catch basins are clean. No it doesn't and that is where the city is not fulfilling their responsibility.
When I go walking, I don't carry a bag and shovel to clean up the basins that I see on my travels. Some are on city property and I have personally been watching an area on an island on Rte 6 for at least a year and it has never been cleaned. Not a huge deal but it is not my responsibility and evidently I must be the only one who cares that it is there.
Are you aware of the huge increase in rental homes in Peru that don't have long time residents in them. Those people don't even notice the things that homeowners see.
To the two gentlemen who left the local business, @7:29 PM, Marv G., Lois and all others. It is wonderful that you as private citizens have taken the amount of pride in Peru that each of you have. Yes, each and everyone of us should partake in the stewardship of our city as much as we possibly can. This stewardship can take on many forms and changes as the steward ages. I do know that Lois and Marv have been active and positive citizens of Peru for many years, but as the years have passed so does some of the physical strength although the desire still exists. The duties stated are the reason a public works department exists and if their are reasons the responsibility is not being performed the SPW should acknowledge the reason or reasons why. Otherwise our taxes have been payed to enable the cities department heads to perform needed upkeep with their city employees. How many individuals will be hired this summer and has anyone thought of segmenting this group as a department of its own with direction from the mayor for specific assigned duties and hiring adults with work experience as supervisors.
Recently a election was held in Peru concerning the reduction of 2 aldermen and the creation of 2 at large council members. A group favoring no change in the councils 8 representatives rather than 6 campaigned and advertised on the day before the election that the present set up involved and sustained FAMILY VALUES. What did they mean by the term Family Values and how did it have any association with this election. Has anyone else heard that a certain alderman when called upon to state ones opinion on the unbid, unadvertised TEST contract would read a prepared statement and not discontinue reading when his constituents would speak. When is this rookies 1st year in office, it has to be very close to a year ago today? All who are thinking of being a candidate for next springs election Think Strongly Peru needs you.
10:27 - great point! The population of Peru is aging and many residents are unable to clean their catch basins. I'm all for helping out my town, but we pay people to do this work. Nobody volunteers to come do my work. I do my work and I get paid to do my work.
I don't agree with having the mayor give direction to the summer help. He is clueless when it comes to what needs to be done. He himself has said he doesn't "micro-manage". He doesn't because he can't because he doesn't know what needs to be done.
Let the "King Bernabei" team give the summer help guidance. They're running everything else in town anyway!
People on this blog want citizens to clean in front of their homes. Citizens "are" volunteering to plant flowers. Citizens "are" volunteering to walk the neighborhoods and clean up the trash. And yet, nobody from the city is thanking them. However, it seems that lately we are constantly being asked to thank our public works employees for doing their jobs and, by the way, being paid handsomely to do so. In my opinion there is something wrong with this picture.
Anon 7:53 The "King Bernabei" is the last team that I want running summer help I'd much rather hire the Batman Robin duo and their Bat mobile. At least I'd be assured that we would't have more summer help from out of Peru than in Peru. When are the CP and FC doing the $90K+ and $80K+ positions they were hired for? Their Co-SPW and now Co HD. electrical department was stated as a temporary fix for the length of 2 months not 5 months or longer. If someone or more than one employee can keep taking on added responsibilities don't others question how full time is their main position and what will keep both of them busy enough for 2 full time positions when the SPW and EE are hired? Has anyone thought of combining the FC and CP positions? The positions are both under the same roof and ample time has been proven to be available.
I'm not talking about digging out all the crap from the sewer. I'm talking about going to the front of your house with a broom or shovel and clearing off the sewer grate. Come on now, I can understand it if you are in a wheel chair or bedridden, but honestly, if you can walk around the grocery store you can clear off a catch basin. This is the problem with Peru and lately our country. Everybody thinks the government should do everything for them. Well folks, the government at all levels is about flat busted broke and if your are going to wait for a city worker to clear the leaves and trash off the sewer grate, then you deserve the water that backs up when it rains. If everyone that is capable kept their eye on one basin, the problem would be solved without a city worker, without a union rep, but maybe with an inflatable rat. Furthermore, I think the fine for blowing debris into the street needs to be increased to $1,000 and enforced without mercy! It is grass cutting season again. Last year I saw many old time Peru residents blowing leaves and grass trimming into the street all the time. Its like nobody cares! Well folks, don't expect help until you learn to help yourself. Maybe if we all worked together things would be better and we would not need as many city worker or the part time summer help.
11:30 pm. anon....you are staying up much to late and should be resting and not getting excited by this TEST contract. I think you may have been drinking that same gogo juice that has been served by some self-serving water testing opponents, that may be interested in treating our water. Beware. First item is that the contract is for a service, its a service that if done in house it would cost Peru much more than the current monthly payment. Its valuable service that we all utilize and what's more important than quality water? Its a service that if Peru is not satisfied with can eliminate within a few months. Those who perform the service have done it well and nobody disputes that. Those who perform the service live in your neighborhoods and make sure that quality is in place. They take pride in the work. You have a guarantee and a history that Peru will have clean water. That has not always been the case. The price increase in the contract has been very minimal-c.p.i index. Its a service just like the police, fire, ambulance! You can even say clean water is good for FAMILY VALUES.
7:53- regarding your last sentence- the whole community from what I've heard is laughing at the temp supers. The PW and electric depart., have qualified people already working for the city who should have been appointed the temp of the department. They have the experience and qualifications. Harl made himself look like a fool, and those who accepted also made themselves look like fools for not having the qualifications or work experience in those departments. Plain and simple.
My best friend’s husband works for the public works. He tells me that the public works department has never run better or more efficient with King and Bernabei at the helm. Yes they made some new rules that the guys at first were not happy about but now they think it was the best thing that could be done. And if the city goes out and hires new superintendents without letting this run for a while they are wasting money. These bosses give daily direction as to what will be done and then the work gets done. If it is not the workers are held accountable. This new arrangement has helped the city save money, more work is getting done than ever before and there is finally accountability. Why in the world would you people want the city to go out and hire more bosses when the work is getting done like this. Maybe you don’t like the mayor or 7 of the aldermen or the chiefs but please put what is best for the city instaed of yourself. It is working great so the negative bloggers must be upset that the city is doing good things and are afraid they won’t have political ammunition for their next agenda. I don’t always agree with Lois but I respect her because when she sees good work she is not afraid to recognize it. I heard she also is not afraid to go see Bernabei and King with questions or concerns and they have actually sat down with her and have been very receptive to her.
12:20 thank you for the reasonable, intelligent comment. That is very refreshing when you read the horrible comments by people, most of whom have no idea what is going on but seem to exist to criticize everything. I have also heard many positive comments. Leadership requires common sense and the ability to manage people as much as anything, not great knowledge of pipes, storm drains or trucks. They are getting the job done and KUDOS to Peru for letting this happen at least for now.
I say the police chief could be the fire chief also, and save 84k a year. Less expenses on gas, vehicles, etc.. Don't forget there is an asst fire chief who has been with the fire department many many more years then the appointed fire chief who moved into the area in 2000 I was told. A package of positions? Fire chief, building/zoning officer, safety officer, ESDA co-director, temporary super of public works, temperorary super of electric department. Qualifications and experience in all these departments? This alone I find very questionable. Is this mismanagement of a city? Is this a reason why the city needs a manager? If An employee has been with the city 15 years or so(just an example), why not give them a reasonable raise to be the superintendent and offer them the job? . Think of the savings that's right in front of your face. Then replace that employee if needed at an entry level salary. I'm not a CPA, but this makes sense.
"I believe your 1st ward Alderman has said that if it is your property, it is your responsibility to clean it up. Why should the City resources clean up your property? Catch basins should be cleaned on a very consistent basis. I have a idea..( taken from a post at (9:00 AM) this morning and signed by ANON. Just wanting this person to know I did not delete the post without disgust at it and with a lot of consideration as to the type of individual who thinks they can criticize and think I would allow it on the blog.
My comment to you is that you are a perfect example of the worst of this city as you insult and make fun of someone who has the honesty and integrity to sign their name and you being the kind of person you are , simply choose to hide behind ANON while being rude and insensitive. You will know who you are and I don't care who you are.
anon 11:07 alderman, yes water treatment is a service, a service which is performed nation wide. so it can be stated that test has no particular knowledge more than any one else such as a coke cola formula for water. also you are the one and the only one who mentions the cost of in house water treatment as if it is the only alternative besides test. it is time you realize and acknowledge the fact that the council failed the citizens of Peru by not advertising and obtaining bids for water treatment. By not obtaining bids you have created no idea or proof as to what is the current market price for water treatment service and are possibly charging your constituents way too much for the last twenty five years as this contract in in the fifth rider stage. shame on you for not following the ordinances which you have created and are your guidelines and above all for not practicing democracy in AMERICA.
11:07 why do people like you continue to try and justify paying over 35 per cent more for these quality services compared to competitive bids from other suppliers.
There was no attempt to even SEE what options were avaiable. There was An active effort to SUPPRESS such a bid.
Just tell me why. Why did we not even look? The aldermen could still say they would not be comfortable with the other bid. They could have awarded it conditionally, as you say... Pulling it away in a few months if unhappy. Test would still be there... And the workers likely would have remained the same... Even with a pay raise. But the city would have a pool with the money saved.
Who knows, maybe Test would have actually bid in a competitive manner? We will never know.
I read in the paper tonight that there is going to be an Easter Egg Hunt at Baker Lake in Peru. Isn't Baker Lake a public park? Yes it is and it is not appropriate to have an Easter event there. The government should not be promoting of any religion and we can't allow our PUBLIC ASSETS to be used to support the religious views some people. I DEMAND THAT THIS EVENT BE CANCELED!
Too funny! A public park can be used for any religious venue! 5:49, what's your view on the concerts at a public airport? Holding an event for a personal financial gain? And with a city actually in a round about way promoting it? And what I mean by that is, of the people being the parking attendants. Wonder if those parking attendants also volunteered to pick up trash in the city with all the other people who volunteerd ?? Some probably didn't want to get their polo shirts/Nautica apparel dirty.
it is OK to do all that stuff because it doesn't involve religious ideas. But if they have an Easter concert or Christmas concert at the airport that would be bad. In fact, didn't Peru have a Christmas parade? That is intolerable for a city to do. We need to get with the program folks, progressive cities don't do this kind of stuff - it is bad and breeds intolerance into the younger generation.
I don't know whether you are trying to antagonize us or what but I do not like your secular progressive ideas and they will not prevail in any of the local communities. There are no religious symbols in the Peru Christmas parade and the last I heard Santa Claus was fine for the city as is the Easter bunny. Let's get back to business here in Peru as certainly there are much more important topics and I will not post any more of your ideologies.
Has anybody considered that maybe Bernabei and King don't want to continue doing all of those jobs? Maybe it's too much. They agreed to this as a temporary solution until the city could find a replacement. I think it's too much to ask of them to keep doing it even if it is working better than ever.
To 11:07 - You are certainly pretty well indoctrinated with the Peru philosophy of "protectionism" and "cronyism". The reason your weak argument is so easy to de-bunk is because it lacks any factual information. First, you claim TEST performs the service for less than it would cost the city to do the work in house. That claim was never substantiated or demonstrated by anybody with any real knowledge or credibility in the industry. Then you try to justify that there is no need to bid the contract because Peru gets a good deal from TEST. That is an assumption and an argument based on politics which could only be verified by an honest bidding process. Finally, you pull the old Fear-Card and try to frighten us Bumpkins by telling us that TEST has cornered the market on providing clean and safe potable water in Illinois. That proves you're a real "Genuine Guy". You and others like you in Peru who lack the courage of your convictions to just stand up and admit that you want TEST to have the work because they are a local company are such a phony bunch. Just admit it will you. You don't have a real argument to justify your position. You just want to direct millions in tax dollars to your friends and political supporters. PERIOD.
I know for a fact that the 700 block of 9th street is taken care of by the people who live there. MG also cleans out 2 catch basins not near his property and sweeps, the road to his entry way. Also keeps his property in tip top shape. So don't be critizing someone who wants the streets looking nice and not a mess.
Think citizens of Peru! If even the workers themselves are admitting that things are better now than ever then for many years were we wasting tax payer money by hiring Superintendents of Public Works? Were they not doing they're jobs? These SPW's were making good money. If they weren't doing their job where was their boss? A good mayor needs to take control of the reins and if he doesn't want to then maybe the city does indeed need a City Manager. Somebody needs to take control and care about Peru and its' citizens.
I swept up over 5 gallons of gravel from my street. Now what do I do with it ? Parkside Drive would yield a truckful. North Pulaski would yield a tandem load.
11:07, "If", and I know it's a big "If", but "if" the service contract for water and wastewater was ever honestly and fairly bid, and "if" a company other than TEST was to win that bid in a fair, honest, and competitive manner, that company would then advertise and recruit local workers, which would include any displaced TEST employees interested in hiring on. After that, the company that won the bid and very likely saved the taxpayers of Peru some money in the process, immediately becomes a local company with a vested interest in the community. That 11:07 is how the "Free Market Society" outside of Peru functions, and that 11:07 is the American way. Honest Americans demand fairness and an open market for goods and services. What you and most of the elected officials in Peru are promoting by protecting TEST, Chamlin, and others is not only un-American and inefficient, it's embarrassing, disgraceful, and results in higher costs for the services these companies provide because the companies are allowed to determine what they will be paid. They are essentially writing their own check. That's ridiculous and counter-productive. Unless of course you're a stock-holder or a principal with TEST or Chamlin of course. In short, the protectionism, cronyinsm, graft, and corruption being practiced by Peru officials and blindly endorsed by people like you 11:07 is contrary to real American Family Values. Shame on you all!
It does not matter what something costs if it is to a local business. MOST Progressive cities give a local business up to 50% advantage on all bids. So, if an out of town company bids $50, an in town company should be allowed to bid $100 and still win. That is the way it is supposed to work.
2:05 Most progressive cities do what? A city that pays a 50per cent premium is essentially practicing theft and malfeasance. That 50 percent is not magic money. It comes from us. It is LOCAL money, and has a much greater chance of bleeding out of the community the more it is concentrated in a few hands. After all, there is only so much you can spend here when you are well off.
So you are advocating that the masses pay a select few local wealthy business owners non market fees so they can be rewarded at our expense.
That is not "progressive" .. It was practiced in the middle ages, a system that kept wealth in the hands of a rich few landowners , protected by their armed thugs "knights".
You are advocating a concept called protectionism. Perhaps you are just a bad speller. They do both begin with P.
I hope the FBI looks into the non-bidding contracts given to TEST and Chamlin's to see if any political people are getting kickbacks or campaign donations in exchange for not allowing the contracts to be bid on.
@4:01 PM Please do not feel that the only reason people get involved in city politics (i.e. run for office) is to funnel tax money to their friends. In our country their are many towns, in fact in our country most towns that the citizenship is interested and respect their representation. This representation also respects its citizens and they EXCHANGE ideas . Many other towns have come up with great ideas and have passed them on but we have a certain group of individuals,politicians and private citizens who say "But this is Peru and because it works there does not mean it will work here therefore in the grand scheme of things we never try any ideas outside of this small groups creation. I cannot say that the only reason people get involved in city politics in Peru is to funnel money to their friends, but I will say that the majority of people once they are involved in Peru politics become only interested in self gain, local power and status.
9:33 That actually would be a potential investigation, but unless someone starts talking or there is some evidence, I don't know how far they would get. It's a pretty tight knit group.
10:28 at least one of them will do anything for more money; i feel sorry for the people stuck doing their original job - i'm sure they aren't getting any more money for doing the others job!
No it is probably included in the Recreation budget somewhere. This is definitely one person who should request no payment but a desire to volunteer for all the city has already done for him. There is second individual who I don't know the name of who may be more than a volunteer for pickleball.
Interesting thought 3:11. Look at the number of years of volunteerism that softball and baseball have compared to the number of years that pickleball came to town. Once again it depends on who you are...it is the Peru way.
3:11 Surely you are not indicating that he will receive a stipend for instructing pickleball. Baseball and softball have been around for many years with nothing but volunteer coaches who put in many hours with the kids. And how long has pickleball been in Peru? Peru has already contributed more than enough time and money to the ambassadors game.
@4:37 This is Peru where the city officials will thank the paid and ignore the unpaid volunteers. What is this employee giving back that he is getting more funneled to him/her. Yes I wrote employee. Anytime you are getting a benefit to such a extreme as this person has you become a employee because of the benefit and ability to call the shots. Has anyone found the proper spot for that bike seat yet? How much have our city representation paid for the entertainment of a few so far? These free loaders never go away!
10:04 Well, he/she got 4 pickleball courts along with nets, paddles, and balls permanently established in 28th street park. He/she got signs attached to the fence and the yellow safety caps added to the top of the fence and sole possession of the previous tennis court. All this for just a handfull of players. Now he/she is getting a permanent regulation sized court along with a temporary one built at Washington Park. And now he/she is going to get paid to give lessons???
50 comments:
Remember, we pay taxes on taxes in Illinois. Part of this is due to sales tax.
Lois it doesn't bring in more anything except pain at the pump.
Lois I don't know what column to put this in.
WELL THE CITY HAD ITS VOLUNTEER CLEANUP LAST SATURDAY. I BELIEVE THEY DID A FINE JOB. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE THE 600 BLOCK OF 9TH STREET, THE DIRTEST STREET IN PERU. CATCH BASINS ARE COMPLETELY COVERED WITH TRASH, IMPOSSIBLE FOR WATER TO GET IN THEM. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY FIRST WARD ALDERMEN FOR 2 YEARS AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WAS DONE.
CITIZENS OF PERU COME AND TAKE A LOOK. THANK YOU ALDERMAN PEREZ FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU DO. MARV G.
I no this has nothing to do with subject , but who's blog had place to attach pictures because some are worth a thousand words ? Mine would be of two city trucks following each other across tenth street today . ( the blind leading the blind ) . My wife calls it ( job security ) . One stops , the other stops ! Nobody gets out of either truck ? Then they go another block . Job security bull ---- . Just like part time taking city trucks home for lunch !
12:55 PM
You can't mail with your comment but you can email them to me and address is below the comment box.
Well after reading comment from Marv and Lois a buddy and me left Johns place and took a ride to 600 9th and 9 and Pulaski to see firsthand what they were referring to. Wow there is a few leaves and some small amount of garbage piled up. Horrible Peru…please drop everything the 1% who lead the PAL think they should get special city services are too lazy to help out. Marv and Lois…step up and take 5 minutes out of your busy day and clean it up yourself. On the way there we saw three different people outside their homes picking up on the streets in front of their homes. I guess 99% of us can do that but not Marv Lois and company. It must be more fun to complain. If it is so bad here move. I am so upset with myself. I was part of the PAL fringe group because some if the ideas are good but it is now out of control consider me out.
2:37. "A buddy and I" is the correct form of sentence structure. Sorry had to blog that. At "John's" You must be one of the boys. I can read between the lines of your blog. First off, what is wrong with noticing jobs not being performed when our taxes pay for employees salaries? If you owned a business would you want your employees being paid to do nothing? I bet not.
Come on people - is it to much to ask homeowners to clear the catch basin in front of their house?
7:29 PM
In front of your or my home, no it is not too much to ask but the circumstances being discussed do NOT involve a catch basin in front of our homes and I know not in front of the home of the person who wrote in earlier. In fact I drove by and the blocked basin is on a corner full of leaves and trash and in an area of many rentals and in areas such as this all over town, they will not be cleared by the people living adjacent to them.
With the thought that home owners should clean in front of their own residence, does that mean that landlords should go to all the homes they rent out and make sure catch basins are clean. No it doesn't and that is where the city is not fulfilling their responsibility.
When I go walking, I don't carry a bag and shovel to clean up the basins that I see on my travels. Some are on city property and I have personally been watching an area on an island on Rte 6 for at least a year and it has never been cleaned. Not a huge deal but it is not my responsibility and evidently I must be the only one who cares that it is there.
Are you aware of the huge increase in rental homes in Peru that don't have long time residents in them. Those people don't even notice the things that homeowners see.
To the two gentlemen who left the local business, @7:29 PM, Marv G., Lois and all others.
It is wonderful that you as private citizens have taken the amount of pride in Peru that each of you have. Yes, each and everyone of us should partake in the stewardship of our city as much as we possibly can. This stewardship can take on many forms and changes as the steward ages.
I do know that Lois and Marv have been active and positive citizens of Peru for many years, but as the years have passed so does some of the physical strength although the desire still exists.
The duties stated are the reason a public works department exists and if their are reasons the responsibility is not being performed the SPW should acknowledge the reason or reasons why. Otherwise our taxes have been payed to enable the cities department heads to perform needed
upkeep with their city employees. How many individuals will be hired this summer and has anyone thought of segmenting this group as a department of its own with direction from the mayor for specific assigned duties and hiring adults with work experience as supervisors.
Recently a election was held in Peru concerning the reduction of 2 aldermen and the creation of 2 at large council members.
A group favoring no change in the councils 8 representatives rather than 6 campaigned and advertised on the day before the election that the present set up involved and sustained FAMILY VALUES.
What did they mean by the term Family Values and how did it have any association with this election.
Has anyone else heard that a certain alderman when called upon to state ones opinion on the unbid, unadvertised TEST contract would read a prepared statement and not discontinue reading when his constituents would speak.
When is this rookies 1st year in office, it has to be very close to a year ago today?
All who are thinking of being a candidate for next springs election Think Strongly Peru needs you.
Time for Coffee. Bitter, bitter, coffee. Maybe get a lotto ticket to.
10:27 - great point! The population of Peru is aging and many residents are unable to clean their catch basins. I'm all for helping out my town, but we pay people to do this work. Nobody volunteers to come do my work. I do my work and I get paid to do my work.
I don't agree with having the mayor give direction to the summer help. He is clueless when it comes to what needs to be done. He himself has said he doesn't "micro-manage". He doesn't because he can't because he doesn't know what needs to be done.
Let the "King Bernabei" team give the summer help guidance. They're running everything else in town anyway!
People on this blog want citizens to clean in front of their homes. Citizens "are" volunteering to plant flowers. Citizens "are" volunteering to walk the neighborhoods and clean up the trash. And yet, nobody from the city is thanking them. However, it seems that lately we are constantly being asked to thank our public works employees for doing their jobs and, by the way, being paid handsomely to do so. In my opinion there is something wrong with this picture.
Anon 7:53 The "King Bernabei" is the last team that I want running summer help I'd much rather hire the Batman Robin duo and their Bat mobile. At least I'd be assured that we would't have more summer help from out of Peru than in Peru.
When are the CP and FC doing the $90K+ and $80K+ positions they were hired for?
Their Co-SPW and now Co HD. electrical department was stated as a temporary fix for the length of 2 months not 5 months or longer.
If someone or more than one employee can keep taking on added responsibilities don't others question how full time is their main position and what will keep both of them busy enough for 2 full time positions when the SPW and EE are hired? Has anyone thought of combining the FC and CP positions? The positions are both under the same roof and ample time has been proven to be available.
I'm not talking about digging out all the crap from the sewer. I'm talking about going to the front of your house with a broom or shovel and clearing off the sewer grate. Come on now, I can understand it if you are in a wheel chair or bedridden, but honestly, if you can walk around the grocery store you can clear off a catch basin.
This is the problem with Peru and lately our country. Everybody thinks the government should do everything for them. Well folks, the government at all levels is about flat busted broke and if your are going to wait for a city worker to clear the leaves and trash off the sewer grate, then you deserve the water that backs up when it rains.
If everyone that is capable kept their eye on one basin, the problem would be solved without a city worker, without a union rep, but maybe with an inflatable rat.
Furthermore, I think the fine for blowing debris into the street needs to be increased to $1,000 and enforced without mercy! It is grass cutting season again. Last year I saw many old time Peru residents blowing leaves and grass trimming into the street all the time. Its like nobody cares! Well folks, don't expect help until you learn to help yourself. Maybe if we all worked together things would be better and we would not need as many city worker or the part time summer help.
11:30 pm. anon....you are staying up much to late and should be resting and not getting excited by this TEST contract. I think you may have been drinking that same gogo juice that has been served by some self-serving water testing opponents, that may be interested in treating our water.
Beware. First item is that the contract is for a service, its a service that if done in house it would cost Peru much more than the current monthly payment. Its valuable service that we all utilize and what's more important than quality water? Its a service that if Peru is not satisfied with can eliminate within a few months. Those who perform the service have done it well and nobody disputes that. Those who perform the service live in your neighborhoods and make sure that quality is in place. They take pride in the work. You have a guarantee and a history that Peru will have clean water. That has not always been the case. The price increase in the contract has been very minimal-c.p.i index.
Its a service just like the police, fire, ambulance! You can even say clean water is good for FAMILY VALUES.
7:53- regarding your last sentence- the whole community from what I've heard is laughing at the temp supers. The PW and electric depart., have qualified people already working for the city who should have been appointed the temp of the department. They have the experience and qualifications. Harl made himself look like a fool, and those who accepted also made themselves look like fools for not having the qualifications or work experience in those departments. Plain and simple.
My best friend’s husband works for the public works. He tells me that the public works department has never run better or more efficient with King and Bernabei at the helm. Yes they made some new rules that the guys at first were not happy about but now they think it was the best thing that could be done. And if the city goes out and hires new superintendents without letting this run for a while they are wasting money. These bosses give daily direction as to what will be done and then the work gets done. If it is not the workers are held accountable. This new arrangement has helped the city save money, more work is getting done than ever before and there is finally accountability. Why in the world would you people want the city to go out and hire more bosses when the work is getting done like this. Maybe you don’t like the mayor or 7 of the aldermen or the chiefs but please put what is best for the city instaed of yourself. It is working great so the negative bloggers must be upset that the city is doing good things and are afraid they won’t have political ammunition for their next agenda. I don’t always agree with Lois but I respect her because when she sees good work she is not afraid to recognize it. I heard she also is not afraid to go see Bernabei and King with questions or concerns and they have actually sat down with her and have been very receptive to her.
12:20 thank you for the reasonable, intelligent comment. That is very refreshing when you read the horrible comments by people, most of whom have no idea what is going on but seem to exist to criticize everything. I have also heard many positive comments. Leadership requires common sense and the ability to manage people as much as anything, not great knowledge of pipes, storm drains or trucks. They are getting the job done and KUDOS to Peru for letting this happen at least for now.
I say the police chief could be the fire chief also, and save 84k a year. Less expenses on gas, vehicles, etc.. Don't forget there is an asst fire chief who has been with the fire department many many more years then the appointed fire chief who moved into the area in 2000 I was told. A package of positions? Fire chief, building/zoning officer, safety officer, ESDA co-director, temporary super of public works, temperorary super of electric department. Qualifications and experience in all these departments? This alone I find very questionable. Is this mismanagement of a city? Is this a reason why the city needs a manager? If
An employee has been with the city 15 years or so(just an example), why not give them a reasonable raise to be the superintendent and offer them the job? . Think of the savings that's right in front of your face. Then replace that employee if needed at an entry level salary. I'm not a CPA, but this makes sense.
"I believe your 1st ward Alderman has said that if it is your property, it is your responsibility to clean it up. Why should the City resources clean up your property? Catch basins should be cleaned on a very consistent basis. I have a idea..( taken from a post at (9:00 AM) this morning and signed by ANON. Just wanting this person to know I did not delete the post without disgust at it and with a lot of consideration as to the type of individual who thinks they can criticize and think I would allow it on the blog.
My comment to you is that you are a perfect example of the worst of this city as you insult and make fun of someone who has the honesty and integrity to sign their name and you being the kind of person you are , simply choose to hide behind ANON while being rude and insensitive. You will know who you are and I don't care who you are.
anon 11:07 alderman, yes water treatment is a service, a service which is performed nation wide. so it can be stated that test has no particular knowledge more than any one else such as a coke cola formula for water.
also you are the one and the only one who mentions the cost of in house water treatment as if it is the only alternative besides test.
it is time you realize and acknowledge the fact that the council failed the citizens of Peru by not advertising and obtaining bids for water treatment. By not obtaining bids you have created no idea or proof as to what is the current market price for water treatment service and are possibly charging your constituents way too much for the last twenty five years as this contract in in the fifth rider stage.
shame on you for not following the ordinances which you have created and are your guidelines and above all for not practicing democracy in AMERICA.
11:07 why do people like you continue to try and justify paying over 35 per cent more for these quality services compared to competitive bids from other suppliers.
There was no attempt to even SEE what options were avaiable. There was An active effort to SUPPRESS such a bid.
Just tell me why. Why did we not even look? The aldermen could still say they would not be comfortable with the other bid. They could have awarded it conditionally, as you say... Pulling it away in a few months if unhappy. Test would still be there... And the workers likely would have remained the same... Even with a pay raise. But the city would have a pool with the money saved.
Who knows, maybe Test would have actually bid in a competitive manner? We will never know.
What does any of this have to do with gasoline prices. Peru should remove the extra home rule sales tax from gasoline.
I read in the paper tonight that there is going to be an Easter Egg Hunt at Baker Lake in Peru. Isn't Baker Lake a public park? Yes it is and it is not appropriate to have an Easter event there. The government should not be promoting of any religion and we can't allow our PUBLIC ASSETS to be used to support the religious views some people. I DEMAND THAT THIS EVENT BE CANCELED!
Too funny! A public park can be used for any religious venue! 5:49, what's your view on the concerts at a public airport? Holding an event for a personal financial gain? And with a city actually in a round about way promoting it? And what I mean by that is, of the people being the parking attendants. Wonder if those parking attendants also volunteered to pick up trash in the city with all the other people who volunteerd ?? Some probably didn't want to get their polo shirts/Nautica apparel dirty.
it is OK to do all that stuff because it doesn't involve religious ideas. But if they have an Easter concert or Christmas concert at the airport that would be bad. In fact, didn't Peru have a Christmas parade? That is intolerable for a city to do. We need to get with the program folks, progressive cities don't do this kind of stuff - it is bad and breeds intolerance into the younger generation.
8:19 PM
I don't know whether you are trying to antagonize us or what but I do not like your secular progressive ideas and they will not prevail in any of the local communities. There are no religious symbols in the Peru Christmas parade and the last I heard Santa Claus was fine for the city as is the Easter bunny.
Let's get back to business here in Peru as certainly there are much more important topics and I will not post any more of your ideologies.
Has anybody considered that maybe Bernabei and King don't want to continue doing all of those jobs? Maybe it's too much. They agreed to this as a temporary solution until the city could find a replacement. I think it's too much to ask of them to keep doing it even if it is working better than ever.
To 11:07 - You are certainly pretty well indoctrinated with the Peru philosophy of "protectionism" and "cronyism". The reason your weak argument is so easy to de-bunk is because it lacks any factual information. First, you claim TEST performs the service for less than it would cost the city to do the work in house. That claim was never substantiated or demonstrated by anybody with any real knowledge or credibility in the industry. Then you try to justify that there is no need to bid the contract because Peru gets a good deal from TEST. That is an assumption and an argument based on politics which could only be verified by an honest bidding process. Finally, you pull the old Fear-Card and try to frighten us Bumpkins by telling us that TEST has cornered the market on providing clean and safe potable water in Illinois. That proves you're a real "Genuine Guy".
You and others like you in Peru who lack the courage of your convictions to just stand up and admit that you want TEST to have the work because they are a local company are such a phony bunch. Just admit it will you. You don't have a real argument to justify your position. You just want to direct millions in tax dollars to your friends and political supporters. PERIOD.
I know for a fact that the 700 block of 9th street is taken care of by the people who live there. MG also cleans out 2 catch basins not near his property and sweeps, the road to his entry way. Also keeps his property in tip top shape. So don't be critizing someone who wants the streets looking nice and not a mess.
Think citizens of Peru! If even the workers themselves are admitting that things are better now than ever then for many years were we wasting tax payer money by hiring Superintendents of Public Works? Were they not doing they're jobs? These SPW's were making good money. If they weren't doing their job where was their boss? A good mayor needs to take control of the reins and if he doesn't want to then maybe the city does indeed need a City Manager. Somebody needs to take control and care about Peru and its' citizens.
I swept up over 5 gallons of gravel from my street. Now what do I do with it ? Parkside Drive would yield a truckful. North Pulaski would yield a tandem load.
10:04 AM
Call public works and ask for a pick up of the gravel, they should do that.
11:07, "If", and I know it's a big "If", but "if" the service contract for water and wastewater was ever honestly and fairly bid, and "if" a company other than TEST was to win that bid in a fair, honest, and competitive manner, that company would then advertise and recruit local workers, which would include any displaced TEST employees interested in hiring on. After that, the company that won the bid and very likely saved the taxpayers of Peru some money in the process, immediately becomes a local company with a vested interest in the community. That 11:07 is how the "Free Market Society" outside of Peru functions, and that 11:07 is the American way. Honest Americans demand fairness and an open market for goods and services. What you and most of the elected officials in Peru are promoting by protecting TEST, Chamlin, and others is not only un-American and inefficient, it's embarrassing, disgraceful, and results in higher costs for the services these companies provide because the companies are allowed to determine what they will be paid. They are essentially writing their own check. That's ridiculous and counter-productive. Unless of course you're a stock-holder or a principal with TEST or Chamlin of course.
In short, the protectionism, cronyinsm, graft, and corruption being practiced by Peru officials and blindly endorsed by people like you 11:07 is contrary to real American Family Values.
Shame on you all!
We need to stop the sales tax on Gas! Doesn't anyone want to talk about that?
It does not matter what something costs if it is to a local business. MOST Progressive cities give a local business up to 50% advantage on all bids. So, if an out of town company bids $50, an in town company should be allowed to bid $100 and still win. That is the way it is supposed to work.
2:05 Most progressive cities do what? A city that pays a 50per cent premium is essentially practicing theft and malfeasance. That 50 percent is not magic money. It comes from us. It is LOCAL money, and has a much greater chance of bleeding out of the community the more it is concentrated in a few hands. After all, there is only so much you can spend here when you are well off.
So you are advocating that the masses pay a select few local wealthy business owners non market fees so they can be rewarded at our expense.
That is not "progressive" .. It was practiced in the middle ages, a system that kept wealth in the hands of a rich few landowners , protected by their armed thugs "knights".
You are advocating a concept called protectionism. Perhaps you are just a bad speller. They do both begin with P.
I'm starting to think that the only reason people get involved in city politics (i.e. run for office) is to funnel tax money to their friends.
I hope the FBI looks into the non-bidding contracts given to TEST and Chamlin's to see if any political people are getting kickbacks or campaign donations in exchange for not allowing the contracts to be bid on.
@4:01 PM Please do not feel that the only reason people get involved in city politics (i.e. run for office) is to funnel tax money to their friends.
In our country their are many towns, in fact in our country most towns that the citizenship is interested and respect their representation. This representation also respects its citizens and they EXCHANGE ideas .
Many other towns have come up with great ideas and have passed them on but we have a certain group of individuals,politicians and private citizens who say "But this is Peru and because it works there does not mean it will work here therefore in the grand scheme of things we never try any ideas outside of this small groups creation. I cannot say that the only reason people get involved in city politics in Peru is to funnel money to their friends, but I will say that the majority of people once they are involved in Peru politics become only interested in self gain, local power and status.
9:33 That actually would be a potential investigation, but unless someone starts talking or there is some evidence, I don't know how far they would get. It's a pretty tight knit group.
10:28
at least one of them will do anything for more money; i feel sorry for the people stuck doing their original job - i'm sure they aren't getting any more money for doing the others job!
Is the salary listed for the new Instructor of Pickleball in Peru? It might make all the softball and baseball volunteers want a piece of the action.
3:11 PM
No it is probably included in the Recreation budget somewhere. This is definitely one person who should request no payment but a desire to volunteer for all the city has already done for him. There is second individual who I don't know the name of who may be more than a volunteer for pickleball.
Interesting thought 3:11. Look at the number of years of volunteerism that softball and baseball have compared to the number of years that pickleball came to town. Once again it depends on who you are...it is the Peru way.
3:11 Surely you are not indicating that he will receive a stipend for instructing pickleball. Baseball and softball have been around for many years with nothing but volunteer coaches who put in many hours with the kids. And how long has pickleball been in Peru? Peru has already contributed more than enough time and money to the ambassadors game.
@4:37 This is Peru where the city officials will thank the paid and ignore the unpaid volunteers.
What is this employee giving back that he is getting more funneled to him/her.
Yes I wrote employee. Anytime you are getting a benefit to such a extreme as this person has you become a employee because of the benefit and ability to call the shots. Has anyone found the proper spot for that bike seat yet?
How much have our city representation paid for the entertainment of a few so far? These free loaders never go away!
10:04 Well, he/she got 4 pickleball courts along with nets, paddles, and balls permanently established in 28th street park. He/she got signs attached to the fence and the yellow safety caps added to the top of the fence and sole possession of the previous tennis court. All this for just a handfull of players. Now he/she is getting a permanent regulation sized court along with a temporary one built at Washington Park. And now he/she is going to get paid to give lessons???
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