Can someone please tell me what an ad in the yearbook consists of? In my mind it must be something like City of Peru Congratulates LP students for a great year. Do our aldermen have any clue as to how many parents, grandparents, relatives and businesses look thru the yearbook.? In fact yearbooks become collectable items through the years. The only question the committee chair asked is "Have we donated to this before?". If the answer is NO, the request is tossed.
I want to tell the aldermen that the people pictured in that book also spend money and lots of it because many live in Peru and the rest live in communities that shop and spend money in Peru.
I believe the ad is something all local cities should spend the money on because the school is educating our children. If you know what cities buy an ad, we on the blog would be interested in hearing about it.
Ald. Perez asked about a donation to the LP band and NO was the answer. It was also said by someone that they thought LaSalle did donate.
But then they turned around and made a $500 donation to Illinois Valley Super Bowl for the 17th Annual Illinois Valley Professional Bowlers Tournament September 6th through 7 because they spend money in our city.
As I left the City Hall, lots of young people were bringing in boxes of candy to the Community Room as they get ready to work and sell candy for the Band. The kids take the time to do this regardless of the weather and the time away from their fun stuff. Rather Ironic isn't it.
If you would like to encourage the aldermen to turn their decision around and yes donate some money for an ad in the yearbook and look like a city that supports your schools.
Think about what just happened a few weeks ago when the city eagerly spent dollars to support a private business venture at the airport and the aldermen and clerk willingly donated their time to park cars and not enough money was generated to even give the "requested charity" any dollars.
How much money did we spend on Central States? Was it all because you thought the travelers were spending dollars in your city? Maybe they did and maybe they didn't.
Present at this mtg was Ald. Potthoff, Ferrari, Radtke, Sapienza, Mueller, Lukosus, Perez, Mayor Harl, Dave Bartley, Doug Bernabei, Eric Carls (engineer).and Bob Vickery. The committee then went into closed session after the meeting.
57 comments:
The only thing Mayor Harl and his Minions care about is themselves and getting what they want. They don't care about the community because it they did they would do things for the community like LaSalle does and Ottawa does. This entire City is a joke and there needs to be change on this council come the next election I hope there are different people on the ballot then who is currently in office because they have my vote.
Have seen Harls red face in newstribune many times at the cost of taxpayers...We need 3 new alderman and please governement gods keep Waldorf off the ballot
I just talked to someone from the L.P. T. S. and I was told the ad was $90.00 and that Peru could advertise anything they wanted to. Circulation for the yearbook is 1000+ people.
Fellow bloggers lets all send Lois money to buy an ad for the LP yearbook. It is only 90.00. How about is Lois? We can put the web site and advertise the blog.
Thanks for sharing this Lois. Ironically under another topic you have a blogger who wants to consolidate the schools across the county. Unbelievable. To each his own I guess.
Support of our local schools is important to a communities success. The council not supporting this is really to bad .
Let's see if each alderman and the Mayor wanted to pitch in 10 bucks each, it would be paid for and the ad could have included all of their names as Peru officials. Why do we have to think of these things?
Maybe Noonan could throw a concert for the yearbook ad?
No wait, then LP would end up paying her and need all the students to sell tickets and hawk food.
I am sure she will never throw another one, since they havent donated squat for a few years now. She is losing so much money, she will need to throw a charity concert for herself!
No wait, she already did.
Not to mention the LP Band marches in EVERY city of Peru parade! These great kids VOLUNTEER their time for Peru! As a parent of a former band student, I know Mayor Jeff Grove and the city of La Salle generously donate to the LP Band. Typical Peru Council, save for Alderman Perez. He truly is an advocate for our children, the future!
Boss Harl won't give the money because he won't get anything out of it.
That being said, I think it is silly for a city to "advertise" anything other than a job opening. The "advertisement" in the yearbook is simply an acknowledgement that they gave a donation. As far as "donations" go, the city SHOULD NOT be donating to ANYTHING! PERIOD! If the city has an extra $90 - it should be sent back to the taxpayers. It is all the little expenses like this that cause a budget to get out of whack.
And 10:10 PM - I will continue my efforts to reduce the number of schools in this county. We don't need this many schools and can get more bang for our buck by creating a centralized system with a campus in each population center. Consolidate LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby in to one! Shut down the older buildings - build larger ones - sell off unneeded land. Fire most of the administration!
Grab your wallet and head for the hills folks! They are using the argument that "it's for the children." Every time I hear anything close to that, I can almost hear my bank account draining.
Well - I'll tell you what. The Education Industry (and I do mean Industry) in the State of Illinois is about one thing and one thing only. Separating hard earned cash from the taxpayer and distributing it to their network of friends. Be it the IHSA, local contractors, or overeducated PhD's with absolutely no experience in the real world. It is time to scrap the entire system and start over again!
Why don't they (the students) ask Mr. Flimflam the Organ Man to take out an advertisement in their annual? How much money did LP flush down the toilet fixing that useless boat anchor of an organ? Oh... how about the contractor for the multi-million dollar "Sports Complex." Another sink hole LP is trying to fill with tax dollars.
Nope - it might be for the wrong reason, but Peru was correct in telling them NO!
I run hot and cold on this topic. I think it is good policy to have good publicity for whoever wants to read the ad. But, in my mind, not many people read the ads. Commercials on TV have poisoned the minds of the viewers and mostly only the news is read in the paper.
Last year a big deal was made about Peru donations by Alderman Perez. Now we are complaining about adds in the taxpayer yearbook?
Double dip the taxpayers....yearbook costs taxpayers, yearbook add taxpayers.
Think citizens and fellow bloggers of the city of Peru. We give $500 to the Superbowl (a private business) to host a tournament.
We do it because we say it will bring money into Peru. Where is the Superbowl located people? Peru? Whether or not we give them $500 participants in the tournament will stay in town and spend money here. When the tournament is over they will leave Peru and go home. The LP band children and parents live in Peru and spend money in Peru on a regular basis yet we won't support them? I think we need to start rethinking our donation list. My opinion. What do you think?
Don't forget the donation to the sports programs. Football, basketball, volleyball, golf, cross country, regionals. And the school play, chorus, band programs and the various trips that need sponsors. The mentor program, the prom, homecoming dance. And the newspaper adds that promote all of those events.
And the city should remember that other high school and local grade schools that host event for our kids.
No. It's just not right. Tax supported organization donating to other tax supported organizations is fundamentally wrong.
As far as the bowling contest goes - tax money should not be spent on that either. Same for the car show, the fireworks, baseball tournaments, pizza concerts, everything. It is not a function of government and the city should not be giving any of them money.
In my opinion, the organizers of these events are being lazy by asking the city to give them money. If they need more money for their event - then they should organize a fundraiser. Do some work instead of asking for a handout from the government.
Thanks for your comments pro or con. I really don't like the word "ad" for the asked for donation. I think it would have sounded much better if the city were asked to help sponsor the yearbook by donating and their name would be listed among the other donors helping to.
This is something the students look forward to and most will keep for a lifetime, looking at through the years and remembering those years.
I just think that education is something the city should be proud to support especially when they donate to any event that "might" stay in our motels and pay the honored hotel motel tax. I would like to see instead some Community Pride for something beside the Hotel Motel Tax.
Do we pay the LP Band for marching in our parades or participating in the Memorial Day Event each year?
My kids are grown so I don't know who puts their name in the school annuals so please check yours for me.
Forgot to mention in the post that our Economic Director was granted several thousand dollars to go to a convention in Chicago and set up a booth and I don't have exact name for this but something to do with shopping malls.
A 90 dollar donation to the L-P yearbook fund makes news on this page? It tough to find fault with that decision. If they granted the request by Alderman Perez, where would it stop? I got 150 other groups that are more deserving that a yearbook club.
How about donations of monetary value to cops for cancer(a great organization). Does the police department or fire department donate to this? Does Liberty Fire Company? Who donates to Liberty? The taxpayers and businesses. Does this make sense? Donate to one and then they donate to another. Car show event/donation?? Isn't there a scholarship donation from the fire department? Where does this money come from. Seems to be a bigger picture other then what's been stated in these comments. I need a donation to get a new engine for my car. The alderman and mayor could have donated approx $12 each and could have been a done deal. Plus, maybe they could use their donation as a tax write-off. Does it depend on who is who and who would get a donation. How about the shooting range, who has donated to that? Blah...
What happened to the days when yearbooks were provided without advertisements? The students also pay for the yearbook. Must be a high cost of administrator salaries with the yearbook coordinator. Students provide the labor for the photos, artwork. Where is the major costs?
When a group or organization asks for money, how is that done? Do they come to a council meeting or do they make a phone call, just what is the procedure? Also do they have to give the city a report after their event on what exactly the money was used for...for example advertising, food, alcohol, etc, etc.?
11:37 Good questions. Requests are normally written and sent to city hall. To my knowledge no reports from organizations are given and no one has actually proven that these donations have increased sales in our town.
Harl could have paid for that donation. He paid to have his name on the LP Monopoly game.
I think it is absolutely crazy that donations are asked for for the yearbook. Downsize the yearbook, make it affordable for all students to purchase. There should be no ads in yearbooks. And I believe in uniforms for public schools also. I had kids in school systems, and I felt bad for the students whose family's couldn't keep up with the Jones's by expensive attire. Navy blue, khakai, white combinations, no shorts, polo type shirts! This would help the whole system.
What the heck? Are we running the schools now and telling them how to do their yearbooks? Who cares what you think about the yearbooks! This is ridiculous Lois. Can we go back to some real discussions instead of a $90 yearbook ad? This is why no one takes the blog seriously. They voted. It's over. Moving on!
Maybe some of the teachers could pitch in with a cash donation.
I do not believe the city should use tax payer money for an ad in the high school year book. If the elected officials want to spend their money to have their names in the year book then that is okay. Yes some of the elected officials get involved with the high school students, and those that don't may want to consider some volunteer time and get involved with various high school programs and be mentors.
I hope the school asks from more of the coming from the businesses where students hang out. I have looked back at my high school years and we talk about the places (4th street bakery(which was Big Apple Bagel). The businesses where students made memories during their high school years. The year book is about the memories of people and places when you were in high school.
When I was in high school, I was on the yearbook committee. The students do spend time fundraising money, they try the best to keep the book affordable. They spend many hours/evenings/weekends working on the yearbook. They are learning a valuable skill of coordinating a project. Their time is volunteer.
Some of you think it's crazy for LP to ask if a city wants to place a congratulations type ad in their yearbook at a cost of $90 yet nobody seems bothered that we donated $500 to a bowling alley to have a bowling tournament. Or a $1000 to a car show. Or money to a fishing tournament. Or central states baseball. etc.
The city council should give donations to all that have requested a donation. Then we can criticize them for giving away taxpayer funds.
Obviousaly there are many viewpoints expressed above on the bloggers comment some serious and others in jest many making sense and others not.
So lets get down to business and appeal to those who had previous experience or have taken the time to develop a acceptable plan for Peru to encompass donations and share it with those involved.
Personally I wish the donations never started but now that they have I believe it would a almost impossibility to stop and still attract activities. If certain guidelines would be created and followed eventually most donations that are applied for would eliminate themseves and recent dilemas will no longer developed.
What are your ideas on the development of a feasable plan?
maybe they used the money from the hotel/motel tax to give to the superbowl for the tournament.
8:23 They should have to present a plan on what they will do with the money before it is given, and then after, receipts should be given to the city clerk.
I have heard through reliable sources that a new construction project is stuck and is in jeopardy of never being started. It sounds like there is or was a plan to build a movie theatre complex north of HyVee to replace the movie theaters in the mall (I think the owner plans on shutting these down do to obsolesces and financial considerations dealing with the current location).
Anyway - I heard that our beloved Boss Harl wants to impose or greatly increase the "amusement tax" and apply it to movie tickets.
Maybe the TIF Zone in LaSalle would be more accommodating to the movie theater complex.
1:51 PM
Thank you. I have heard Mr. Vickery speak of a movie complex in rather hushed tones but never with details. I guess everyone else at Finance knew what it was about but they did not want any visitors to be aware.
I think you are right about an end to it or at least a delay.
La Salle would welcome a movie theater, it has been without one for a long time.
Greed becomes the end of many things.
I am 8:23 AM and I thank 10:56 for 2 outstanding suggestions. These are the type of comments we need and what is meant by constuctive criticism. 10:56 I especially appreciate your suggestions because they are easy to achieve and provide all the documentation needed plus the city clerk does not have to be a CPA to understand them or to provide additional suggestions.
I would like to see donations limited to those individuals and organizations that are located in Peru and are to take place in Peru. Most likely I would say that if a private business is asking for the monetary donation I would refuse it. Also the donation would have to fit within the definiton of acceptance under the hotel motel mission statement.
Lastly the Director of Economic Development would be responsible for approving or disapproving the donation and if approved he would have to submit a written formal report on the increase in numbers of rooms rented and increased motel hotel revenue associtated with the donation. This report must also be signed by the hotel motel manager or business manager where guest has spent money. What reports are presently used for measuring donation effectiveness?
And whwere do you find greed in having a new movie theatre in Peru. Is it a RUMOUR that the city is considering to impose or increasing a tax. Which is it?
Is it that no one has made a committment because it is only speculation?
Lets not be upset because every time speculation takes place and we are not informed of the speculation we retaliate with LaSalle will take it. I have heard of no from Peru refusing it.
This is what recently turned many away from the pool committee. To say everything must be directed towards what I want and nothing else should not be done until I get what I want is one sure way of never getting it. To have a movie complex in Peru is great and if it relocates I hope it is in Peru although I knew nothing about it until I read 1:51 comment.
I heard it from an elected official. The holdup is the amusement tax. The amusement tax increases the price of the tickets and they don't believe the market will accept this increase. Other than that, they are ready to purchase the property and start building a multi-screen stand alone movie theater complex.
Keep in mind that the amusement tax was mostly collected from the illegal slot machines - that is gone now and despite having the state gambling money, Boss Harl wants the amusement tax money also - and more. They say you could see dollar signs in his eyes when the tax on movie tickets was brought up. That is how Boss Harl rolls - he has never seen a tax he doesn't want to collect. He wants to squeeze the public for every penny possible.
Another business moving out of the mall. I give that place five years before it shuts down. People don't go to indoor malls anymore. Shopping in no longer a day long social experience. People want to get in and out as quickly as possible.
Why does it seem that we always want to bring in another business that we already have several of in town? Competition is good but too much eventually results in someone leaving town.
2:18 an excellent post in my opinion. You posed a question that I have often asked. "How do we determine that an event we donated to provided additional monetary contributions to Peru?" In other words who can show us proof that our hotel business, restaurant businesses, etc. increased when these events we sponsored occurred? That always seems to be the reason we donate to such events as the S.V. fishing tournament and the bowling tournament.
9:20 I agree, and another way to get proof of performance would be to pay them after they turn in receipts.
Anon 7:36 If the gambling machines were illegal how did they pay the amusement tax????????????????
5:29, the machines themselves where not illegal. Paying out was illegal. As if somebody would be dumping $20 bills into machines that did not pay.
Every machine had a tax seal on it. Lots of nodding and winking going on in LaSalle County.
Did anyone else read that article in the News Tribune about the proposed rail connection to the Chicago transit system. The NT played it up like it would bring a return to prosperity and bring thousands of people to "go shopping" in LaSalle and Peru - Just like the 1930s and to a lesser degree through the 50's and 60's. What the article failed to mention is the real reason people came from Chicago to LaSalle - Peru. Drinking, gambling, and a some old fashioned establishments for "working women." You see, while Chicago was cracking down on these activities, our local officials turned a blind eye.
People where not coming from Chicago to shop at the hardware store with squeaky floors - unless there was something going on upstairs. :)
I can't believe the quote in that article. Something to the effect that LaSalle Peru relies to much on manufacturing jobs and should expand into tourism. WTF! They actually think people will buy that malarkey they are selling. Of all things... they are saying we need more minimum wage jobs in the Illinois Valley - and seasonable to boot.
The only thing "they" are thinking about is how to get more tax revenue from the people - be the people living here or people they think will come here.
10:55 AM
We in the Illinois Valley already have connections to Chicago etc thru RR depots in both Mendota and Princeton. Maybe there should be a regular shuttle for people going to the Chicago area to take them to either of the established Railroad depots. I could think of better uses for taxpayer dollars than even thinking about another RR to LaSalle Peru. I believe Ottawa looked into this sometime back so people could commute to the city for JOBS but don't know where that ever went.
Lois - regarding the RR - it is part of the same initiative. I think the NT is trying to spin it as a way to get people to come to L-P to shop vice get people from L-P to Chicago to work.
I don't really think it is necessary for us to have a rail connection to Chicago. I for one will never spend ANY money in that part of the state again. With the exception of air travel I never go to Chicago or any of the surrounding communities. At the airport, I won't even buy a bottle of water. I'd just as soon die of thirst than give those Chicago and Cook County Blood Suckers any more of my money.
I'm wondering if this train line extension would be considered part of the RTA (Regional Transportation Authority). I believe it would.
Something we need to know and the article did not say is that the RTA's major source of non-fare box revenue is the RTA Sales Tax. The sales tax is imposed by the RTA in the six-county region of northeastern Illinois and collected by the State of Illinois. It is the equivalent of 1.25% percent on sales in Cook County and one-half of 1 percent (0.50%) in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. If they extend a train into LaSalle County, would we need to pay an additional 0.5%?
Is this a sneaky way of getting money from us to fund a mostly Chicago system in exchange to one or two trains a day?
We don't need that! First off, people who live down here is corrupt Peru are not going to be working in corrupt Chicago. Tax rate terrible, and a pack of smokes is $11. And Gosh, a bottle of bud is $5-7 bucks on a good day. I wonder if we had a rail system here if our elected city official would use it when attending the butt kissing convention in Chicago? Enough said!
Anon 3:56, you really have some problems with the thought process you are putting out. You just don't come across with an educated statement, before you blog ---THINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12:51 People could work there and live and spend and raise kids here. Think.
You look at it with typical Ill Valley downstate fear of anything Metro.
Easy low cost transportation from Union Station in Chicago to LaSalle and Peru will also bring crime and homeless people. No thanks. If I get a job in Chicago I'll either drive or move closer.
Please, go to Tinley Park, New Lenox, Joliet and these are quadruple + the size of l-p area, whereas they have a rail system to Chicago. The Illinois valley will never come close to needing a rail system. Heck, people who live and or have grown up in the illinois valley have never or are clueless how to get to the city. I have met people in their 30+ that have never been to Chicago that live here. People have big dreams, but reality is what it is.
Where Tinley Park, New Lenox, and Joliet always quadruple + the size of the L-P area or is the rail system one of the factors in the equation that has gotten them to this size and helped maintain it. Most everyone from this area had been to Chicago several times before the rail system was taken away. The rail system will not only take people to Chicago it will bring people from Chicago to the L_P area resuting in progress.
Again - inexpensive transportation will bring criminals and homeless to the area as well.
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