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
This forum hopefully will be open and you can then ask questions you have about location, structures and playgrounds.
30 comments:
Anonymous
said...
This group of organizers for the splash pad means well but they are misguided. They will continue to flounder because Peru elected officials are sitting back becuase they lack the political courage to step up and take a position of support or opposition. That is just political cowardous and shows the lack of character and leadership by our aldermen and mayor. The Pool Group should call these elected officials out and ask them to step up and help or get the hell out of the way.
$500,000 for a splash pad? The council has to approve spending the money upfront and get paid back half. Is the council willing to spend $250,000 for a splash pad?
The Splash Pad is only $250,000. The other $250,000 is for a parking lot and other activities that are being planned in the park. Attend the Public Forum and get a detailed plan.
Off topic but, It sounds like our Treasurer has changed his view of the sales tax situation. Just a couple of weeks ago, we where still in the depths of the recession and we needed a property tax increase to make ends meet. Now it sounds like sales taxes have fully recovered from the recession. By the way, the official end of the recession was June 2009, almost five years ago.
If Peru really does have a surplus, they should give it back to the residents. We can't trust them with extra cash hanging around. They will want to buy another truck or something. Or maybe we can give it to Oglesby - I'm sure that person will post about that soon.
Why in the heck are color of signs going to be changed!? This is an unnecessary expense. Who is getting a kickback? We have too many other things to spend money on. Just because a wealthy suburban city or town has updated signed doesn't mean peru has too!!! This needs to be answered by Harl. Also, I saw out fire chief, co-super of PW, co-super electric dept., building inspector, code, enforcer, ESDA, safety officer, standing at a job site with his hands in his pocket, with a baseball cap on backwards, looking at a site. It looked as if he had another person with him. Was the person that was with him explaining his job to him? Why are we paying this person to do a job when another person actually seemed to be doing it? Does anybody know who this other person could have been? It was very comical actually. Sorry to say, but true.
They don't need to change the street signs until they wear out. Right now they are buying 54 signs for intersections that are not currently marked. The remainder will be replaced over time. It will probably take 100 years or more before the current signs wear out. For better or worse, the Federal Government has deemed it necessary to interfere at this very local level. As far as the other person at the job sight goes - do you have a description? Maybe he is a union rep, a buddy, some kid tagging along, the neighbor, a blogger, the mailman, the butcher, the barber, or maybe a candle stick maker. Your need to be more specific when complaining about a guy standing next to a city employee. But I know how you feel. I was watching the news and I saw a video of Governor Quinn talking and .... gasp! There was "a guy in a suit standing behind him".. I mean really, what are we paying Quinn to do when we always have a guy in s suit near him.
The Daily Fish-Wrapper report on the Peru Budget was such bull----! Treasurer Hylla has twisted and manipulated the numbers in that phony budget so that only a Forensic Accountant could sort out the fact from fiction. Hey, aren't there some Forensic Accountants from the federal government in town. Perhaps they will have a look at the "supposed" surpluses that are suddenly being reported. Hylla is reporting a $2 million "surplus" in the Water and Sewer Fund? If that claim wasn't such an insult to the people of Peru it would be funny. That fund has not seen a positive balance in more than 30 years and Hylla knows it. Shifting budget dollars around between funds for the express purpose of creating the "illusion" of a surplus is a damn dirty trick to play on the honest citizens of Peru. The current administration has no shame when it comes to misleading the public with a budget that is not indicitive of the actual state of Peru's finances. Shame on all of them that voted to approve that fictional document. If we don't get a professional city manager in Peru soon, a reality is going to come calling and it may be too late.
What has happened to "My Green Green Grass of Home"? A Home in which very seldom anything went wrong and if it did , it took very little tweaking to fix it. A Home which most were middle class had a lifetime job at Westclox, every one payed their bills and their 20 year mortgage in 20 years and were happy, kind and satisfied. A home in which everyone took pride and most stayed to raise their family. A Home which had a overabundance of lifelong friends, and if you wanted to visit relatives they were only a block or two away. As I remember Peru it was such a home, could the reason have been that everyone worked together for the good of each other rather than for themselves only.
Was the same person responsible for the Peru Budget as was responsible for the Concerts for a Cause accountancy held at the government airport? If not the same most certainly related. Worked much better when a variety of b.s. but recently smells all the same just like _ _ _ _!
Speaking of budgets..has anyone seen Township budget, usually approved sometime in March???
I heard today at John's place that Rigby is holding things up and North Pulaski is not going to be fixed this season, where is the first ward alderpeople to help?
Peru Township and Peru Township Road District are separate taxing entities. The Road District has its own budget which is controlled by the Highway Commissioner and the Highway Commissioner only. People keep thinking they are one and the same. They are not - they just happen to share the same building and some administrative employees. They also share the elected Township Clerk. Bottom Line - the Township does not Control the road district. The only one that has anything to say about that is Mr. Deboe.
@12:04PM NO! Lets stop repeating what has been recently expressed by a vote. People do not want a pool if it is going to raise property taxes, therefor they are unwilling to pay for a pool. Which leaves the creation of a pool up to private donations. If built privately the owner will be able to build the pool on purchased site and maintain the pool privately. No fund raising group of 3% of the total pool cost should be allowed to indicate to a city location and whether it builds a pool or does't build a pool as well as the type of pool. The general attitude that a few have this privilege starts with a government which takes public funds and government locations and uses them with private enterprises such as the concert. Peru government representation has developed this attitude in the last 5 years and now it is up to this representation to answer those who have worked so hard to accumulate a $100,000 towards a water recreational facility. One can only be a politician for so long and than the honeymoon is over and it becomes time to face reality.
We have plenty of pools in Peru. The YMCA, several hotels, not to mention the one in LaSalle - not all that far from the old Peru Pool. Considering children are prohibited from walking anywhere by helicopter parents, the LaSalle pool is a good choice if you want to swim in a public setting. For the life of me though, I don't understand why anyone in their right mind would get in a public pool. They are either so chlorinated that your eyes turn red for days afterword or they are so full of germs and other "things" from people that you end up with an ear infection - or worse. No, the days of a municipal pool are over. If people really think their children should swim in the soup, Peru should take the money and come up with some sort of agreement with the YMCA for discounted or free swimming "for the children." That's it, done and over - swimming pools are NOT a function of government.
3% investment in the total cost doesn't give you the right to call the shots. Who would pay personnel and upkeep once the pool is built? Hearing this I say forget the pool and the pool committee can pick its money back up. Can anyone tell me the last time a public outdoor pool was built in the area? See they are a outdated idea desired by a very few.
Anon 6:52 59% is a lot more. If you think 41% are enough get them together together and contribute enough money to buy the property, build the pool and maintain the pool. Than it will be that groups private investment and they can do what they want with THEIR pool. Good Luck.
11:28 what I am saying is 41% of the voting public were willing to have their property taxes raised to fund a swimming pool. You say "when is the last time a pool was built", every town already has a pool so there is no need to build one. Obviously 59% is more than 41%, put to say a pool is desired by a few is misleading and wrong.
Anon 10:35 AM It was 3:56 PM that asked when was the last time a outdoor public pool was built in the area. Your comment is the only one found that states every town already has a pool so there is no need to build one. Yes 41%, a minority, are in favor of raising their property tax, but since 59% are not in favor of raising property tax - no pool. As Mayor Harl stated in the debates the majority wins. That's the way it works. Anon 11:28 has given the most sensible solution to the 41%'s problem.
Anon 10:35 You are so correct in saying that every town has a pool so there is no need to build one. If you are questioning Peru their pool is at the YMCA.
30 comments:
This group of organizers for the splash pad means well but they are misguided. They will continue to flounder because Peru elected officials are sitting back becuase they lack the political courage to step up and take a position of support or opposition. That is just political cowardous and shows the lack of character and leadership by our aldermen and mayor. The Pool Group should call these elected officials out and ask them to step up and help or get the hell out of the way.
$500,000 for a splash pad? The council has to approve spending the money upfront and get paid back half. Is the council willing to spend $250,000 for a splash pad?
The Splash Pad is only $250,000. The other $250,000 is for a parking lot and other activities that are being planned in the park. Attend the Public Forum and get a detailed plan.
Speaking of getting paid back, what ever became of the $35,000.00 bogus overtime payments ? Is it a case of "losers weepers / insiders keepers" ?
ak - still the council has to approve spending $500,000 up front and will get back $250,000. Are they willing to approve that expenditure?
Off topic but, It sounds like our Treasurer has changed his view of the sales tax situation. Just a couple of weeks ago, we where still in the depths of the recession and we needed a property tax increase to make ends meet. Now it sounds like sales taxes have fully recovered from the recession. By the way, the official end of the recession was June 2009, almost five years ago.
As far as I know the council has not yet been approached with this issue. i.e. they haven't agreed to pay their portion of this adventure.
If Peru really does have a surplus, they should give it back to the residents. We can't trust them with extra cash hanging around. They will want to buy another truck or something. Or maybe we can give it to Oglesby - I'm sure that person will post about that soon.
Why in the heck are color of signs going to be changed!? This is an unnecessary expense. Who is getting a kickback? We have too many other things to spend money on. Just because a wealthy suburban city or town has updated signed doesn't mean peru has too!!! This needs to be answered by Harl. Also, I saw out fire chief, co-super of PW, co-super electric dept., building inspector, code, enforcer, ESDA, safety officer, standing at a job site with his hands in his pocket, with a baseball cap on backwards, looking at a site. It looked as if he had another person with him. Was the person that was with him explaining his job to him? Why are we paying this person to do a job when another person actually seemed to be doing it? Does anybody know who this other person could have been? It was very comical actually. Sorry to say, but true.
They don't need to change the street signs until they wear out. Right now they are buying 54 signs for intersections that are not currently marked. The remainder will be replaced over time. It will probably take 100 years or more before the current signs wear out. For better or worse, the Federal Government has deemed it necessary to interfere at this very local level.
As far as the other person at the job sight goes - do you have a description? Maybe he is a union rep, a buddy, some kid tagging along, the neighbor, a blogger, the mailman, the butcher, the barber, or maybe a candle stick maker. Your need to be more specific when complaining about a guy standing next to a city employee. But I know how you feel. I was watching the news and I saw a video of Governor Quinn talking and .... gasp! There was "a guy in a suit standing behind him".. I mean really, what are we paying Quinn to do when we always have a guy in s suit near him.
The Daily Fish-Wrapper report on the Peru Budget was such bull----!
Treasurer Hylla has twisted and manipulated the numbers in that phony budget so that only a Forensic Accountant could sort out the fact from fiction. Hey, aren't there some Forensic Accountants from the federal government in town. Perhaps they will have a look at the "supposed" surpluses that are suddenly being reported. Hylla is reporting a $2 million "surplus" in the Water and Sewer Fund? If that claim wasn't such an insult to the people of Peru it would be funny. That fund has not seen a positive balance in more than 30 years and Hylla knows it. Shifting budget dollars around between funds for the express purpose of creating the "illusion" of a surplus is a damn dirty trick to play on the honest citizens of Peru.
The current administration has no shame when it comes to misleading the public with a budget that is not indicitive of the actual state of Peru's finances. Shame on all of them that voted to approve that fictional document.
If we don't get a professional city manager in Peru soon, a reality is going to come calling and it may be too late.
6:41 your comment is both misleading and insulting to the residents of Peru.
No 9:59 am, That Budget is misleading and insulting to the residents of Peru.
What has happened to "My Green Green Grass of Home"? A Home in which very seldom anything went wrong and if it did , it took very little tweaking to fix it. A Home which most were middle class had a lifetime job at Westclox, every one payed their bills and their 20 year mortgage in 20 years and were happy, kind and satisfied. A home in which everyone took pride and most stayed to raise their family.
A Home which had a overabundance of lifelong friends, and if you wanted to visit relatives they were only a block or two away.
As I remember Peru it was such a home, could the reason have been that everyone worked together for the good of each other rather than for themselves only.
Was the same person responsible for the Peru Budget as was responsible for the Concerts for a Cause accountancy held at the government airport? If not the same most certainly related. Worked much better when a variety of b.s. but recently smells all the same just like _ _ _ _!
Speaking of budgets..has anyone seen Township budget, usually approved sometime in March???
I heard today at John's place that Rigby is holding things up and North Pulaski is not going to be fixed this season, where is the first ward alderpeople to help?
Peru Township and Peru Township Road District are separate taxing entities. The Road District has its own budget which is controlled by the Highway Commissioner and the Highway Commissioner only. People keep thinking they are one and the same. They are not - they just happen to share the same building and some administrative employees. They also share the elected Township Clerk.
Bottom Line - the Township does not Control the road district. The only one that has anything to say about that is Mr. Deboe.
is that so. i heard that the trustees were doing deboes work on the budget!
That is not legal so I doubt it is true. The Highway Commissioner is independent from the Township Board. They are separate entities.
About Washington School being torn down if no buyers..Would that be a good place for a pool if we should be able to get one?(money money money)
@12:04PM NO! Lets stop repeating what has been recently expressed by a vote. People do not want a pool if it is going to raise property taxes, therefor they are unwilling to pay for a pool. Which leaves the creation of a pool up to private donations. If built privately the owner will be able to build the pool on purchased site and maintain the pool privately. No fund raising group of 3% of the total pool cost should be allowed to indicate to a city location and whether it builds a pool or does't build a pool as well as the type of pool.
The general attitude that a few have this privilege starts with a government which takes public funds and government locations and uses them with private enterprises such as the concert. Peru government representation has developed this attitude in the last 5 years and now it is up to this representation to answer those who have worked so hard to accumulate a $100,000 towards a water recreational facility. One can only be a politician for so long and than the honeymoon is over and it becomes time to face reality.
We have plenty of pools in Peru. The YMCA, several hotels, not to mention the one in LaSalle - not all that far from the old Peru Pool. Considering children are prohibited from walking anywhere by helicopter parents, the LaSalle pool is a good choice if you want to swim in a public setting. For the life of me though, I don't understand why anyone in their right mind would get in a public pool. They are either so chlorinated that your eyes turn red for days afterword or they are so full of germs and other "things" from people that you end up with an ear infection - or worse. No, the days of a municipal pool are over. If people really think their children should swim in the soup, Peru should take the money and come up with some sort of agreement with the YMCA for discounted or free swimming "for the children." That's it, done and over - swimming pools are NOT a function of government.
3% investment in the total cost doesn't give you the right to call the shots. Who would pay personnel and upkeep once the pool is built? Hearing this I say forget the pool and the pool committee can pick its money back up.
Can anyone tell me the last time a public outdoor pool was built in the area? See they are a outdated idea desired by a very few.
FORGET ABOUT A POOL! IT IS A WASTE OF MONEY!!
41% is not a very few.
Anon 6:52 59% is a lot more. If you think 41% are enough get them together together and contribute enough money to buy the property, build the pool and maintain the pool. Than it will be that groups private investment and they can do what they want with THEIR pool. Good Luck.
11:28 what I am saying is 41% of the voting public were willing to have their property taxes raised to fund a swimming pool. You say "when is the last time a pool was built", every town already has a pool so there is no need to build one. Obviously 59% is more than 41%, put to say a pool is desired by a few is misleading and wrong.
Anon 10:35 AM It was 3:56 PM that asked when was the last time a outdoor public pool was built in the area.
Your comment is the only one found that states every town already has a pool so there is no need to build one.
Yes 41%, a minority, are in favor of raising their property tax, but since 59% are not in favor of raising property tax - no pool. As Mayor Harl stated in the debates the majority wins. That's the way it works.
Anon 11:28 has given the most sensible solution to the 41%'s problem.
My point was 41% is not "a very few".
Anon 10:35 You are so correct in saying that every town has a pool so there is no need to build one. If you are questioning Peru their pool is at the YMCA.
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