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These are the remaining pages of the foia. We as taxpayers already pay the salary of Rep. Mautino (D) from Spring Valley and representing the 76th District of which Peru is part of and additionally Senator Sue Rezin (R) of Morris maintains an office in Peru. Add onto that the $14,000 we pay yearly to IVAC. Peru has a Economic Director.
My question is what did we get for the $24,000 we paid to the Lobbyist? This topic will be presented at the Finance Committee @4PM and they will talk (I hope) about whether he supplies services that Peru cannot survive and move ahead without.
On a personal note, I have always been an Independent voter and have never voted any party line and I am finding this hire to be a very Democratic associated individual. We don't vote a political party when we elect a mayor or aldermen but I realize while they don't run on a party ticket they have a right to personal party associations but I don't want them imbedded in a small city government. Get help from all and don't get too cozy and you will get a bit more from all of the them.
21 comments:
Hi Lois. The purpose of a lobbyist is to get the government to spend money. Illinois Democrats are good at that.
I bet most of the Alderman are strong union Democrats.
Does anyone out there believe the aldermen should have had that information I just posted before i did the foia?
The contract was forgotten and the information was given AFTER I asked for the information. What's wrong, was everybody so busy with the concert they were not doing the cities business?
Anon 7:31 Lois the answers are YES and YES!
That is the way Boss Harl operates. I bet he was planning on slipping the contract renewal onto an agenda as an "oh by the way" item at the last minute.
This also shows that the Boss is actively engaged in trying to sell and buy real property. Is he going to explain his plan or keep it a secret?
If the council is smart, they will drop the utterly useless contract.
Lois, The point you make @7:31 is exactly what I have been saying for years. These aldermen do not put the effort into the duties of the office. They are not leaders, they are being "led", and they have no initiative to put in the work in order to be informed and on top Harl's back-room shenanigans. Harl is sneaking around behind the scenes pretending to be a political big-shot and running up the expense accounts for him and his phony lobbyist and the aldermen don't even demand accountability from Harl to keep them informed.
When you look at these activity reports from the lobbyist it's obvious to see that his sole purpose is to establish political contacts for the benefit of Harl's future political aspirations. Thre lobbyist is in fact nothing more than Harl's publicist. As a taxpayer in Peru I don't want my tax dollars used to promote a second-rate, ethically challenged, self-serving, narcissistic mayor with obvious delusions of grandeur.
When a employee applies for a professional position he is interviewed, in this particular instance I would think he would have to interview again with the city providing his past progress for the city and his future ideas and plans for the city.
As for arranging meeting wirh local Representative Mautino and Senator Rezin this should be done by the CEO of the City of Peru, Mayor Harl. There is no need to continue to run up unnecessary expenses of hiring someone to perform a function of someone already employed by the same entity. Presently Peru has the lobbyist, a Director of Economic Development, a private firm, the Chamber of Commerce, Representative Mautino and staff, Senator Rezin and staff, Mayor Harl and staff etc., etc., etc. hired all for the same goal. Would and /or could any of the above publish their production and results?
I have a couple of questions:
Did the city get the $150,000 water grant?
Why couldn't Vickrey call AT&T himself about cell phone coverage?
Did Mr. McAnarney submit any expenses (which needed to be pre-approved by the city) beyond his $2,000 per month salary?
Look whose signature is on the contract. Although the council had to vote on this hiring it was still signed by the mayor and it should have been brought back to the council by him for their recommendation as to whether hire the lobbyist for another year. Today is August 20th and there should have been one full council meeting this month already, or better yet why not discuss this at a July meeting before the contract expired. I bet 4:55 is right, and maybe the contract automatically renewed already.
Lois: At 7:31 were you insinuating that the aldermen received this information after you foia'd and received it yourself? Do citizens have to remind our government of the things they have forgotten or the things that got thrown on the back burner? Shame on us!!
I am calling the Suicide Girls!!! Enough is enough :)
Thats just a joke but its funny...admit it ! Have a nice day
Did anyone else think that two "news" stories in the NT this week where actually advertisements? There was one for real estate with some interesting utilities comparisons, but obviously an advertisement. Now there is one for cars.
With all the hard news to be reported in Peru, why do they do this. Do they think we are idiots?
Attended the Finance meeting today and I believe the mayor would be very unhappy if the lobbyist contract is not renewed. He wants to remain in the political loop more than he wants to be mayor of Peru in my opinion. Still putting my thoughts together on that mtg.
Before Boss Harl is ousted in the next election in 2017, i tend to think that he will push for a new fire department and police station facility, and also a full-time fire department. You know surburban style. His little ducks are in a row. Look at who he has appointed to positions. The city needs a major overhaul. Who knows how many building permits for new homes have been issued since Boss Harl has been in office? How many homes in Peru are rental property?
Anon 1:53 Suburban Style to most of the under 60 age group is the modern today in the United States. Although not all of the decisions made by the Mayor are popular it is unfair to blame him for the national economy and banking trends which have dictated to the housing market. Looking at Peru the school system has made another huge step in the school system this week and this will help the positive appeal of the city.
You can have the best school system in the United States, but if there aren't decent paying jobs for people whom have or will be having children, aren't going to move to this area. With this being said a park district would be an added plus, or at least a outdoor swimming pool. All this is higher taxes. It's fully understandable that our elderly don't want or can't afford higher taxes and neither do I. I know a person who has 45 rental properties in the area of peru and surrounding towns/cities, this tells me this area is going nowhere. I myself will be moving out of peru in the next five years, and my house will probably be bought by a real estate investor and become a rental property. College graduates are not returning to their hometown of Peru. I have three college graduates and one who works in the trades. My three college graduates work and live elsewhere. Only so many people will be hired in the sand plant industry/marajauna plants.
Anon 12:59 PM A outstanding school system is at the top of inquires of corporations gathering information about a city which they are thinking of. A ample and ready workforce with good work ethics and acceptance of a wage which will be increased in time with the facilities success are a must.
Recreational facilities such as the Peru YMCA are huge and a park district would be a plus. Peru is already updating its roads.
Because the sand plant industry/marijuauna production facilities are looking into our area this does not mean that other industries will not come creating additional jobs.
A big plus to the future of Peru would be for everyone to have a positive, progressive attitude with a smiley face.
A big plus would be for everyone to have a smiley face? Is this Peru or Stepford? Gawd....
Anon 4:39 Call it what you want Peru or Stepford but smiley faces would be a +. Don't you find it - to go out in the public and see nothing but grumpy faces which also indicate a clone of Stepford. Maybe you had best stop and look in a mirror. What do you see?
Gawd, what a attitude!
Anon 4:39 PM Just for curiosities sake would you comment on Russ Limbaughs dumbing down of America?
8:57 All I need to comment on Rush Limbaugh is in the tittle of his book, How Things Ought to Be.
I prefer to deal with things as they are, instead of clinging a false rosy picture of a past that NEVER existed except in old Smiley face's mind.
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