I impulsively decided to attend the council meeting this evening and there was a large number of people in attendance and of course all the medical marijuana startups trying to establish themselves in the city. I do question why so many want to be in Peru or is it that Peru seems to be making all of this public and other District 17 cities are remaining quiet. Keep in mind one per district and the question to ask is "what is the benefit to the city?" We seem to be spending an inordinate amount of city time with these ventures whereas according to the Ottawa Times, their city is handling it in a different manner and have been assured by unnamed companies that they would like to operate in their city.
From what I have read there is actually not much of an economic benefit to any city chosen, so who really needs them? And other cities are not even seeking them out.
One aldermen had questions about why the mayor changed the committee structure on such short notice and what was the benefit to the aldermen individually. The 2 aldermen shoved into the Public Service committee are going to have a long and lonely time on that committee which is dominated by Lukosus and Waldorf and Chamlin Engineering. The answer from the mayor about the change is in short nothing more than the law now allows him as a committee member on both committees to be meeting with one other individual on the committee without violating the OMA and you can bet that is what has been happening and will continue.
The second question is about the private and behind the scenes manner in which the mayor handled the offer that was make for the Coke distribution plant on Progress Blvd. Harl insisted it had been discussed in meetings and that the alderman should check the minutes and he said he had gone though all minutes and could not find any reference to this proposal. The mayor then mentioned something about private meetings and then Ald. Radtke said he vaguely remembered something about it. I hope you are getting the picture now about the way that Peru is conducting business for you. I am getting ticked off about how the mayor and some aldermen believe running this city is their own privately owned venture.
Does that sound familiar, a phrase you have heard before in Peru politics. If Peru mayors are unable to keep everything open and above board for the benefit of the taxpayers of this city, it is definitely time for the city council to seek an official CEO, a City Manager. We would not be paying NCIG to write grants because often city managers do that. We would not need a comptroller or budget director because the city manager usually does that. Tonight I can only think of the phrase I have see so often lately:
POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT AND ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY
Is this what we have now in Peru, a mayor attempting to control the decision making committees by installing himself as a voting member of the 2 remaining committees along with the aldermen in place that he has already favorited.
#OMA
#marijuana growing
#District17
49 comments:
Keep your eyes open for the video on this mtg., wonder if city will suddenly find it is corrupted and we cant view. At this point in time, it is not the film being corrupted, it is more like the inner sanctum at city hall.
I agree with you ! I think this city is headed in the wrong direction . I feel sorry if a new mayor is elected and has to clean this mess up !
Funny how Perez and Mueller were starting to work together, and Harl made sure they are on different committees now.
I too was at that meeting and have repeatedly witnessed the mayor showing disrespect and dissension toward certain aldermen. This bothers me because they are all supposed to be working for us - the citizens of Peru. His favoritism and behind the scene tactics are not an example of the open and honest government he campaigned on. He has a closed session at almost every meeting but yet (5 years later) it appears as though none of these sessions have been resolved because no minutes have been disclosed. Open and honest? I think not!
Open an honest government is an impossibility in Peru - at least the way things are set up now. We need a fundamental change in the way government is organized in Peru and how government services are provided. I for one am curious about this warehouse deal on Progress Blvd. Isn't if funny that it is one of the very few buildings in Peru that is for sale and being handled by a Chicago real estate broker? What "connections" are present in this deal to take a prime property off the market. It is currently advertised for $1.4 million.
What will be done with the rat trap on Peoria Street when Peru buys the warehouse on Progress Blvd.? (Face it, Peru will buy the building, there is absolutely nothing anyone can do to prevent Boss Harl from purchasing this building. Harl is the boss and nobody can stop him until next election - then we get a new Boss who will probably do the same thing). So... what will we do with the old building. Demolish it. How many millions will be spent on phony "asbestos abatement?" Which local 150 connected Chicago firm will get the contract to demolish the Peoria Street building?
Now then... this brings up the question of the building we are leasing on Market Street to park all of Boss Harl's toys. Will we continue to lease that building from the connected nail family? Come to think about it, they where supposed to give the money back in the form of a donation for infrastructure. Ha Ha Ha - not a dime since it fell from everyone's view.
Scams and Scammers - that is the "Peru Way."
Harl has that already figured out, it will become a "Brownfield" and someone else be responsible for its demolition. This is what he has said in committee.
What way was Harl showing disrespect toward any of the alderman?
9:55 Just watch the video and decide for yourself. If Harl ever lets the video get posted.
So the Peoria Street building will sit empty for ten years while we apply for grants to have it taken care of. It is still tax payer money - paid by you and me. The grant writers will make money, the demolition company will make money, the lawyers will make money, out Illinois Lobbyist will make Money, and our "Representatives" will make money. And we, the taxpayers, will pay.
$5 will get you $10 - there will be some "environmental" excuse to turn that demolition project into a multi-year, $10 million dollar project.
Found out yesterday that another business has bought the progress blvd building. Apparently the owner was not interested in waiting for our Mayor to get approval from the city council, so they went with another bid from a local business. Have not heard who that is yet?
Freido
oh what a relief.
11:14 senseless comments.
How will demolition companies get rich on a empty building?
What lawyers will make money on a empty building?
Your phrase should have questioned the cost of demolition not the cost of having a empty building.
Norma Rae, Jimmy Hoffa man the phones we have a payday coming soon.
Friedo
Glad to hear your still floating. Your inside knowledge is refreshing. Are you available as a campaign manager?
Clemenza
What I find interesting is the fact that the Peru council decided not to follow their own agenda last night to approve the recommendation from the Plan Commission to allow the "Special Use" to the company that wants to locate the M-M Cultivation operation in the former Yellow Freight terminal. The representative from that company addressed the council last night and basically warned them not to screw around and play politics with the Planning and Zoning for this type of business because the state will demand that the municipalities and their chosen M-M companies have "all their ducks in a row" before issuing any permits in each State Police district. Last night the Peru council put the approval of the first company on hold because of the emergance of a new player in the game, and low and behold this new player consists of some local investors including a former state senator that walked away from his elected duties just like Sarah Palin did in Alaska, but that's another story. This situation is so predictably Peru it's not even funny anymore. Peru's elected officials are going to steer their approval to a politcally connected group of local investors that don't have the slightest idea how to run this type of business, but, they are "connected". This group is going to exploit the Peru City Council's "backwards-ass" mindset of "steering" development to friends and political supporters whenever possible. So guess what? I think it's great. Go ahead Harl and you lacky aldermen. Go ahead and "Rig the Game" in favor of your pals and hitch your Pot Growning wagon to an imaginary company consisting of a predictable group of local big money speculators and watch the Illinois Department of Agriculture avoid Peru like the E-Bolla virus when it comes time select the lucky winner in our three county district area. This is classic Peru and I love it. Whether or not this type of business would provide good jobs or if it will be good for Illinois is yet to be seen. Whether or not the elected officials in the cities vying for these companies affections can adapt to the industry is also yet to be determined. One thing is for sure. Peru's elected officials will not adapt. They think they can play this deal like they play every other deal by stinking it up with favoritism and cronyism as is the "Peru Way". Then, after it's all said and done, Princeton, Ottawa, Hennepin, or maybe even Spring Valley will have themselves a new employer in
town and Peru's mayor and aldermen will still think they did the right thing. You can't fix stupid and in Peru you can't fix an ethically challenged city council unless you vote them all out of office. Sounds like a good start!
11:14. it is a mute point now, but anyway - but i'll try to clear this up for you. Starting from the beginning. The government excels at doing things very slowly. Therefore, once they would have vacated the Peoria Street Building, Peru would start the process of demolishing it. First they would need to ascertain the presence of hazardous substances - even though it is a forgone conclusion that the building does contain any number of hazardous chemicals besides the good old standby of asbestos. To make it official though, our engineering company would need to draw a bid proposal and publish it for us. This will take six months to a year and many billable hours. Once the bid is let, they will need to be reviewed. More billable hours - meanwhile the building is sitting empty but generating revenue for the engineering company. Once a bid is accepted, The Boss and his cronies on the Council will get around to funding the cleanup. They would then realize that they need some funding. So the lawyers and grant writers go to work along with our front man in Springfield "the lobbyist." All generating billable hours. So we will go through several renditions of how to clean up the "hazardous" materials. At least one councilman will come up with a cockamamie scheme about selling if for scrap value or other such nonsense. But in the end, we will either get a grant, issue a bond, or raise a tax to get the cleanup going. The cleanup will take some time - more than originally estimated - probably three times the original figure. Overlooked items will start adding up and the cleanup company will start charging more and the lawyers will get involved along with our engineering company and start generating more billable hours. Finally, the building will be ready for demolition. That will be put out for bids (billable hours for the engineering company and lawyers again). We will get a bid a start looking for ways to pay for it again. Another bond (lawyers get paid), probably a scheme to sell historic brinks or other nonsense, and finally the bulldozers will roll. The "Rat" might show up if we are lucky, otherwise we will be paying a connected demolition company from Chicago. Naturally, there will be overruns. More lawyers, more taxes, and more billable hours. Finally, after years of sitting empty, the old building will be demolished after spending god knows how much money.
12:23. It would be better if the investors got steered away from Peru. As has been stated before, having the growing facility in Peru does not bring any economic benefit to the City. Jobs are jobs and people can drive to Ottawa or Princeton just as easy as driving to Peru. In fact, having the facility in Peru will be a liability. Since the facility WILL BE located in an SP District 17 city - we need to demand an impact fee. They don't have a choice and the economic benefit (jobs) will be shared by all the cities. So all the cities should hold a meeting and decide how much the host city will charge the pot growers and all submit the same proposal. Personally, I think we could get the growers to pony up $100K for police, $100K for fire, and $100K for water and sewer every year.
This is not like other businesses - this is a government sponsored monopoly. The markup on the product will be hundreds of times the illegal street value. There will be no legal competition. The only thing to consider is how much to charge the company for moving here!
If you've ever driven past the public works building on Peoria Street, whether it be morning, noon, or night take special notice that the lights are on 24/7. Word has it that they can find the switch to turn off the lights. Can you imagine how much electricity has been wasted on that building throughout the years? Next time you drive buy check out the lights. I guarantee they'll be on.
12;40,12:50. Lets pray that a person that shares your values will never be elected. 12:23 all three posts come from the same person who has some experience in corruption. RATS, Bribes in the form of impact fees?
1:46. Can you name one good reason to provide incentives to a company that you are 100% sure will locate somewhere within State Police District boundary's? What is the point - they are going to build the factory, 100% for sure, no doubt about it, it will happen. The factory is going to provide jobs the people can drive to from Ottawa, Peru, LaSalle, Oglesby, Spring Valley, Princeton, or any other city in the district. The only economic benefit will be these jobs - which are guaranteed 100% going to happen in a District 17 City. Nobody needs to compete to get this facility - it is a government monopoly that is 100% going to happen. I have tried over and over again to explain this - nobody should be offering any special considerations. Instead, every City needs to get onboard and say: "Here is the deal Mr. Medical Pot Investor." Then grab them by the @*%%$ and squeeze.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is not like trying to get Ford or Cat to build a factory - they can go anywhere. These legal dope dealers are going to be located in every SP District in the State of Illinois! Take advantage of this and generate some revenue! This does not happen everyday.
Well, I am calling the FBI...No wait...I am calling Lisa Madigan about the FBI.
Did you hear that Mayor Harl is now in the band suicide girls? He is going to possibly naked at the airport.
I am telling the FBI that the suicide girls are driving around in a truck that has its lights on becuase they cant find the light switch. I followed them and do you know where the ended up??????????At the airport eating Lous LaGrotto pizza and they were trying to make a swimming pool.
YOU ARE ALL NUTS!!!!!!!
Mr. Conspiracy,
If you have been reading the articles in the newspaper you may have noticed that there has not been any mention of incentives. Peru has some bright business people on the Board.
Who is on those committees and who are the favorites?
Asbestos abatement is the biggest scam in the state. Worthless precaution unless the building had large amounts of steam piping. For the old Tobler building, we would be better off just getting a bung of sledge hammers, some kegs of beer, some bratwurst, and a few end loaders. Open it up to the public and let them swing away with hammers and get hammered at the same time. Maybe call "Demolition for a Cause" and charge an entrance fee.
3:24. the proposed location is in a TIF and an Enterprise Zone. They will need to pass legislation to remove the property.
LMBO-laughing my butt off. I'll bring my hammer.
3L20 I wonder if you were calling everyone else in school nuts when you had trouble keeping up with them. Just because this is all to hard for you follow does not make it unimportant.
I just don't get it. Pot doesn't have to cost anything. If somebody has a legitimate medical need, why don't they just let them grow it in their own house? Give them a permit, maybe charge something, and be done with it. Easy Peasy.
Too bad for all your pretend laws I could bury your mayor in an election against 150 local support and the BS in springfield. But your local laws permit my entrance and this town needs leadership from an outsider which i bring but cannot implement No wonder the Peru uproar ( no pun intended)
And kill the rat as sacred as you think it is because i just pulled my $500,000 investment with 20 jobs paying $45k Ba bye peru
Clemenza,
I would gladly be your campaign manager at no cost, and not look for any political favors after the election.
But only if you live in the second ward, and are planning to run against Rod Perez.
We need to rid our city of this goof!
Freido
Good riddance 9:44 PM. Go grow your pot in some other District 17 City - you will still be hiring people from Peru.
9:44 you write just like a person who could win an election and support a $500,000 investment. Yeah right. Real business people don't post on a blog before moving on and neither do legitimate political candidates. Specifically what "phony laws" in Peru made you decide to make this brilliant business decision?
You are a complete phony, but nice try. I'm sure you will get a couple of idiots who think you are legit, so it will be worth your time. See ya.
So many of these comments are hilarious. This is why whoever the bloggers support loses. Asbestos is a scam? Well that may be but it is the law. Local governments have to deal with it all of the time and would rather not, but it is the law. The law is the scam, but Peru is not doing anything wrong by making sure they deal with the asbestos.
I love how some of you criticize anything they do wrong, but you act like they should just blow off asbestos abatement. Public buildings have to deal with this. It's a fact. Stop with the stupid conspiracy theories.
I don't all of the decisions and I think Harl is a weak leader, but I love Peru. The comments on here do NOTHING to help better our community or move us forward. People gravitate toward positive not negative. Overall and despite some decisions I don't agree with, most of these city council members actually care about the city and what is best for their constituents. If you have had another experience, be sure to vote. I'm so tired of this forum only being used to degrade people.
So attack me and tell me I must be an insider. I'm am the farthest from that. I am just tired of watching my community get destroyed in a forum like this. And please don't tell me our aldermen are destroying our community because that is not the case.
Of course NO ONE cares what anonymous people think, and that includes my comment. But maybe sometime you should take a good hard look at yourself and see what you can do to help instead of the crazy ridiculous stuff that gets posted. This is all just noise and non one pays any attention. Every community has its issues but I'll take Peru any day of the week!
@9:44 PM You have aroused my interest, now would you please elaborate further so I can understand what you are expounding upon. Thanking you in advance.
The only thing MOST government officials care about is lining their own pockets.
Freido,
You are a man of great integrity. Most campaign managers want a nice paying political appointment that requires no work. They continue to turn on you even if you give them that no show job.
Clemenza
VP Corleone olive oil
I love that phrase "lining their own pockets." It's easy to say, but please 9:27, tell us how city officials are getting their own "pockets lined." Please tell us how they are making any money, besides their compensation for being an alderman, which of course is really not that much money and it is not "getting your pockets lined."
Is it going to a convention for city council members? Is it for a free meal? A slice of pizza? Are you serious? That is your idea of this stupid phrase? Because if it is something more please enlighten us!
OK 8:50 AM, You are entitled to your opinion and you have expressed it like everyone else on this blog. You are incorrect in much of what you say, but that's your opinion. My opinion is that free speech comes with some not so pretty or accurate comments sometimes, just like the ones you just made, but we all just take that into consideration when we try to sort it all out for ourselves. I don't think you are in insider at all. I just think you need to take a much closer look at the sub-standard quality of elected representation Peru currently has in office. Open your eyes and pay attention for goodness sakes!
8:50 if you're unhappy reading the blog, why do you continue to read it?
10:24 - look in the Mayor's driveway.
Is that the same Jon Chamlin that is going to develop Peru's Marijuana industry, that I recall a few years back seeing his picture on the front page of the News Tribune on top of the Hotel Kaskaskia. I believe he was going to be in charge of that restoration project. Good Luck, Peru.
2:15 its funny how our local "rich people" never spend their own money to do anything. They are always dipping into other people's pockets. Well, I guess that is how you get rich. Get other people to fund your ventures - no risk for you but you get all the gain.
Anon 12:44, what's in the Mayors driveway??
Anon 12:44 Did you find out what was in the Mayor's driveway? Did it have anything to do with him being Mayor? I really think that it's the Mayors' personal business to whats in his driveway!
Anon 6:44 Suicide Girls?
9:19 He purchased it after he became Mayor from the same business that the city purchased several similar but more utilitarian items. He made it a point to have it delivered to the municipal building since he was far to important to go to the business / "dealer" like everyone else does. Some say that it was delivered at the same time the city purchases where delivered, making the impression that one was contingent on the other.
3:20 I love your post! You are in the know of Peru politics and I love your sarcasm. Except that the bloggers are all nuts. The bloggers are more influential than you may think!
Anon 5:19, since your not saying what's in his driveway,I assume its his personal vehicle, that is over 2 years old. The city bought Ford trucks from Schimmer and an out of town dealer in the past, his is a jeep, so how are you equating your reference to the cities purchase and his?
My first time writing on the blog.If you watch the viedo, you can tell Mayor does not like any questions from Mr. Perez. I guess thats because hes the only one he can't control. I hope Mr. Perez keeps asking questions. At least hes not a bump on the log, and you can tell hes working for the people in Peru. The others are not.
Doesn't Illinois require a license plate on the front of vehicles? I believe I saw our fire chief with many other positions driving a new white GMC pick-up truck which also sits in his driveway backed in without a front plate. Is this a new city of peru vehicle? Or his personal vehicle? Shouldn't it have a front plate to be able to be legally driven? Isnt Illinois one of many states that require a front plate? Are tickets given to people/businesses who don't abide by the law?
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