Road Blockage Between Walnut and Buffalo Until Further Notice

Today a water main was repaired at 7th and Walnut Street in the East end of Peru. Somehow an ATT line or cable was damaged and multiple phones are without service including ours. I heard that it will be closed most of tomorrow at least and through tonight.

Looking Back to Last July

"The council also voted 7-1 to hire Timothy S. McAnarney for $24,000 for one year as the city’s state government lobbyist, with Alderman Rodney Perez voting “nay.”"

The above quote is from a News Trib article of July 16, 2013. For the full story google Peru Illinois Hires Lobbyist.

During the past year I have heard little of his accomplishments but that does not mean he has accomplished nothing. Are you aware of anything he may have done for the city and do you believe the city will rehire him?

Volunteers plant natural garden at Princeton library - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

Volunteers plant natural garden at Princeton library - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
I love this idea and is located right along Rte 6 on Princeton's East Side.

 LaSalle did First Street downtown with the help of Boy and Girl Scouts, great idea.

Peru did Rte 6 with the help of volunteers and I wonder who will water them this year, remembering that Ald. Perez came out all summer to do watering on his own time.

I Think I Have Changed My Mind

For as long as I have been administering and posting my opinion on this blog, I have encouraged all of you to attend council meetings, make your appearance and if necessary make your comments.

It has really gotten to the point that absolutely no consideration is now given to those who give their time to go to a meeting.  First it was the 3 x 5 permission to speak cards and then told it was not a question and answer time, only comment and last week someone was put down because the mayor was unhappy with the end of meeting comment.

It is hard to understand when aldermen ask questions about a topic to be voted on and seem to express their disapproval and then turn around and vote to approve what they have just questioned but did not receive an answer to.

For the mayor or anyone else to take the council into closed session at the beginning of the committee of the whole meetings or a regular council meeting without announcing that ahead of time is the epitomy of rudeness. Time is money and valuable for most families and to have to sit and wait is totally unnecessary and shows a lack of respect to the residents.

I have attended fewer and fewer council meetings for those reasons and will not encourage any of you to attend unless you are getting some respect and information from your time spent there. This does not mean I won't keep up with what is happening but simply find better ways to get the information.

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Another decision this morning. Since I make myself vulnerable to malicious comments by having the audacity to sign my name, I have been criticized by some people when they disagree or just because they don't like the public knowing what is taking place in this city, I will no longer publish comments that have a personal vendetta and with nothing worthwhile to add to a conversation. I am not an elected official and I cannot vote or influence our current elected officials. They need to take the comment mine and yours, good or bad due to their votes and decisions because it is within their power to do right or wrong.

When was the last time any public official opened themselves to up criticism or compliments outside the council chambers in an informal meeting with their constituents?

Volunteering a good START to Streator prosperity - The Times: Local

Volunteering a good START to Streator prosperity - The Times: Local

Found this article to be interesting because of the citizen approach the city of Streator is taking in comparison to the tightly controlled committee structure within Peru government. Soon our mayor will be disbanding a long standing committee that worked without mayoral support to improve our downtown. It is my understanding that the mayor's pet committee Design and Review will become the key to any business or project in Peru.

Pros and Cons of a Splashpad for Peru in Washington Park

As many of you know, I have promoted a splashpad since the closing of our city pool. I also know that Vortex is the company to do it, they have done fantastic splashpads in other cities and will do it right.

I do not agree with all the bells and whistles and what I personally feel are unnecessary expenditure in order to qualify for a grant.
We want a splashpad, so why do we need to attach horseshoe pits (which we already have at Centennial Park), Volley ball which was once located at 28th street park but was removed maybe for not being used. Who will put up and maintain the nets and equipment or will it be bring your own?
And this goes for all the other goodies plus a new parking lot. We had a swimming pool before and it was used by more than the few who will use this and did not require a new parking lot.
The pool committee already has some funding and the city should be able to fund the balance as well a Fund Drive enabling the newly interested to donate. Build the splashpad. Period.
I know there are those who will be angry at the disagreement but Grant Money is NOT free money, it is all taxpayer money, always is and always will be.

Pros and Cons on Possiblilty of a Peru Splashpad

Lower electric brings Unytite to La Salle « Classics Hits 103.9 WLPO

Lower electric brings Unytite to La Salle « Classics Hits 103.9 WLPO

News Tribune news on Peru City Council Meeting

News Tribune news on Peru City Council Meeting

This article is confusing in the paragraph that mentions the combined salaries equaling $342,000. Former Supt. Gary and Bleck and former electric dept supervisor Jim Potthoff are 2 people, who is the third?

Peru City Engineer Hired

I did not personally attend the mtgs last evening due to the organization of the meetings. There was a Committee Meeting of the Whole scheduled and the agenda was poorly organized and was nothing more than  a listing of the committees in summary form. Since I had attended Finance and others had attended Public Works, I did not need to hear a summary of those minutes. And to have this scheduled prior to the council meeting still makes no sense to me.  It appears to just be organized to discourage attendance and the actual meeting agenda was the second reason not to go. I do wonder if this is all being done according to Municipal Law.  It is well known that the mayor and several alderman do not encourage public participation.

Later I found out that they did not publicly follow the agenda that the city created but instead went into closed session.  Personally I find this insulting to those who took the time to come to the meeting.  This is not the first time this was done and I do believe it is done on purpose. Why not put on the agenda that this Meeting of the Whole will consist of a closed session. Give the people who take their time to attend some respect.

I would like to thank Ald Ferrari for being the only council member who had the courage to ask a question about the Concerts for a Cause. The organizer has been publicly advertising concerts that were not approved by the city this year. At last I believe it was Public Works that announced last night  at the next council meeting they would approve the concerts.
I did notice on the information in the meeting packet for last night, the city had a disbursement of $10, 291 for the concerts before anything had been discussed. Talk about business being conducted behind the scenes, this is a prime example. Looks like nothing has really changed down at City Hall. And please tell us what that funding is for?

City Council Meeting May 5 - Important Selections From the Agenda

ROLL CALL 7:30 P.M



AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 2-ADMINISTRATION-ARTICLE III-OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES (TO DELETE THE OFFICE OF CITY ENGINEER)

MOTION TO HIRE CITY ENGINEER

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 5004 AS AMENDED, ENTITLED: “AN ORDINANCE FIXING WAGES FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF PERU, IL” (CITY ENGINEER)
MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 21, 2014

REPORTS

COMMITTEE REPORTS ALDERMEN

1. ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE Potthoff & Radtke
(Wage-Negotiations, License)
DISBURSEMENTS for May 7, 2014
2. PUBLIC WORKS Waldorf & Lukosus

(Airport, Electric, Street & Alley, Water & Sewer)

WATER & WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS REPORT for March 2014

Motion to approve Engineering Agreement for the 2014 Street Improvement Program-General Fund
Motion to advertise for bids for the 2014 Street Improvement-General Fund Project
Motion to approve Engineering Agreement for the 2014 Street Improvement Program-MFT

3. PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY Ferrari & Sapienza
(Fire & Police, ESDA, Health)
PERU FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT for period ending April 26, 2014
PERU POLICE DEPARTMENT SUMMARY REPORT January-April 2014

4. PUBLIC PROPERTY COMMITTEE Perez & Mueller
(Recreation & Parks, Buildings & Grounds)

REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY/ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
Corporate Counsel Doug Schweickert

MINUTES OF A JOINT ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND PLAN COMMISSION HEARING HELD ON APRIL 30, 2014 CONCERNING THE PETITION OF JAMES AND JUSTIN BEARD d/b/a BEARD BROTHERS REQUESTING A TEXT AMENDMENT, SPECIAL USE AND VARIANCES FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1612 FOURTH STREET, PERU, IL
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PERU ALLOWING ADDITIONAL SPECIAL USE FOR BEARD BROTHERS PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1612 FOURTH STREET, PERU, IL
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING SPECIAL USE FOR BEARD BROTHERS PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1612 FOURTH STREET, PERU, IL
AN ORDINANCE ALLOWING ADDITIONAL FREE STANDING SIGN FOR BEARD BROTHERS PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1612 FOURTH STREET, PERU, IL
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON NEW COMMERCIAL SIGN PERMITS
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING MAY 1, 2013 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2014, BOTH INCLUSIVE
AN ORDINANCE SEEKING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC UTILITIES AND ESTABLISHING THE POSITIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER AND PUBLIC SERVICES MANAGER
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 5004 AS AMENDED, ENTITLED: “AN ORDINANCE FIXING WAGES FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF PERU, IL” (ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER PUBLIC SERVICES MANAGER)




RESOLUTION FOR MAINTENANCE OF STREETS AND HIGHWAYS BY MUNICIPALITY-MFT FUND

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS

Motion to re-appoint Greg Vaccaro to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners for a 3 year term ending April 30, 2017

Motion to re-appoint James Coughlin to the Emergency Telephone Safety Board for a 3 year term ending April 30, 2017

Motion to advertise for Public Utility Director

Motion to appoint Scott J. Schweickert as Assistant Corporation Counsel

PROCLAMATION
National Bike Month-May 2014
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
ITEM NO. 1 Communication from the Peru C.S.O. requesting permission to hold picnic to include beer tent and rides in conjunction with the I.V. Rodders Car Show on August 17, 2014 at Centennial Park
ITEM NO. 2 Communication from Jim & Justin Beard requesting amendment for the Special Use Ordinance 4230 to include the purchase and sale of motor vehicles for property located at 1612 Fourth Street, Peru, IL
ITEM NO. 3 Communication from Derek Neahring requesting permission to organize a flag football league on Saturday’s at Baker Lake beginning on May 17th and ending approximately June 28th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
CLOSED SESSION