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
Did they play 76 Trombones? It would be appropriate, because we have trouble here in River City. We even have our own Flimflam Man to lead the City Council Chorus.
Lois....may i say this is one of the reasons you and this blog are not always taken seriously...did you really have to post that comment from 3.15 when you had just said a very innocent comment on LP band..this is homecoming for some high school kids...do yourself a favor..either edit these comments or hire someone to do it for you if you want serious readers to take you seriously..there are issues and problem that need to be discussed like adults.
3:15 PM Humor is a very important part of life. I was not offended and sorry you were. Rather I thought of my son who played First Chair trombone in the LP band and he might be laughing if he read this too. Being too serious all the time is not good and I appreciate sometimes people make associations. Is it the Flim flam man that offended you or the River city. All of this made a great movie which we have enjoyed many times.
Can someone tell me what is that temporary like garage on walnut st is it.typical rental un first ward where is mueller or Ferrari....a temp gatage covering shouldn't be allowed by code, mr king where oh where are you.
Just a clue building inspector king maybe you can drive the peru fire chief trick to walnut and get that ugly metal temporary garage down
to the individual who is posting comments of Alderman Perez which are untrue and blatant lies, I will not post, unless you post your name and I can verify that it is your legitimate name. You are opening yourself up to legal action by the injured party and I will not post unless I can also verify they are true.
To 8:31 pm, You really need to lighten up. Political sarcasm has a long and honorable history in America and you should make an effort to understand the reasons and the benefits of sarcasm when commenting on governemnt and elecgted officials. Sarcasm allows us "dissentors/outdiers" to critique our elected officials in a way that no other criticism can. Public officuials deserve to be criticized when they are inept and ineffective leaders as most of them are in Peru. Peru officials deserve any spoofing they get by virtue of the silly self-serving policies they promote and arcasm allows us to point out the incompetence these officials exhibit. Many folks in Peru agree that Harl is a "Flim-Flam Man" and that he is very similar in appearance and personality as Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. That is just an observatiion that anyone is entitled to point out. Just look at some of the characters on Peru's city council for crying out loud. We have a Barber-alderman as chairman of a committee where he considers himself a civil engineer and a city planner when in fact he lacks any working knowledge of infrastructure in any sense of the word "infrastrucure". We have an alderman in the firsat ward whose profession is "motor delivery boy" whose sole contribution to the city is to show up at community events and who runs for alderman to supplement his income. you can't make this stuff up and it deserves to be pointed it in some shape or form. Sarcasm allows us the opportunity to inform the public who these people really are. Harl is a phony who conducts city business behind closed doors. Waldorf has delusions of grandeur and is being played for the fool that he is by Chamlin and others. Ferrari is in it for the paycheck, and on and on and on. Now, most of them are apparently opposed to allowing questions being asked of them. What the hell kind of government is that? They deserve any criticsm they get for making policy designed to allow themselves to be "unaccountable to the public". They deserve criticism because most of them are sub-standard elected officials. Politics is a dirty business 8:31 pm, and sarcasm allows us to call them out for their lack of leadership, ability, and vision, because that lack of ability has a significant negative impact on the citizens of Peru, including you. Sorry that you lack any idea of how weak your Peru elected officials really are and that you obviously lack any sense of humor or sarcasm. Tune in to Comedy Central week-nights from 10:00 to 11:00 pm CST for John Stewart and Stephen Colbert and maybe you will understand the value of expressing pourselves thru "Sarcasm".
In addition to your 9:58 post; My "Alderman Rodney Perez" Face Book page is also open to the public. I encourage anyone who may have concerns with either myself or the city....and feels a need for the public to read it, that's also a great place to post. The public can even get an idea how many people have read your post. I've had close to 10,000 people read one single post just a couple weeks ago. So please feel free to share your discontent directly with me, either publicly, or privately and I will be sure to address your concerns:-)
10:08- at least the individuals you mention are in the game to improve the city not their own personal reputations. This is in direct comparison to the one alderman who's obsessive use of social media more closely resembles "Keeping up with the Kardashians" than it resembles civic duty.
Anon 10:08, I agree with you on using sarcasm as long as it doesn't get personal. What I mean by that is when you make fun of the way he looks, example some of you calling Potthoff "Putin", and calling Harl "Rob Ford", that is getting personal and beyond sarcasm. Stick with the sarcasm addressing political dislikes, making fun of someone's appearance is what kids do.
9:05, and leave the dalmation puppy dog at home while driving city vehicle. Like the picture shows on facebook 815 Life fb. Our taxes pay for city work, not training a dog.
12:08 PM Leave your serious comments for serious issues and this is not one of them. Lighten up, it was cute and put no one in danger. Maybe a photo op but nothing more. We have serious FD issues but this is not one of them.
Never received that post from you so please try again and I just cleaned the Spam folder and the 4 I deleted were the usual stuff that had nothing to do with the blog, just the usual junk mail.
11:40 You guys get all bent of shape when a Politician uses Social Media to allow COMMENT and Contact.
Everyone knows civic duty is not allowing comments, and keeping a low profile, running the city humbly in secret sessions and back room deals.
Its better nobody ever sees you , and you can humbly stay humble running things in shadow, staying away from critics. Humility is such a humble blessing. Oh humble humble servants of humilty and anonymity.
Anon 3:46, your right there is freedom of speech, but that only goes so far, there is also protection under the law for the persons who are taking the abuse.
@Anon11:40 I'm sure you are referring to Alderman Perez? I'm retired and disabled so I don't get out often. Social media is all I really have. I wish more politicians interacted with people like Perez does. He keeps us up to date and he keeps everything real and genuine. He's not my alderman but wished he was. I've never seen any other local politician interact as he has and I really appreciate that about him. I read things on here about him, I really think people are just jealous of him. I never see negative things about him on Facebook which I'm on all the time. Alderman Perez seems to be a very well respected and liked person. The best part about him, he gives them hell down city hall. The rest seem to be a bunch of scared whimps.
This is 10:22 from above poster. I think alderman Perez is my alderman. I live in Liberty Village and a friend told me districts changed since last election. I just sent the alderman a facebook message to ask him. Is Alderman Perez now in my district? I would really like to vote for him. I will be his biggest advocate here. I can't get outside and around but sure can spread the word in here.
10:22 anon. Its nice to have a few to connect with on facebook. The most important skill that a small town elected officials can have is the ability to understand the many aspects of city government that is important to the citizens of that community. The things that affect your tax rates, long term future, and bottom line. Too many have these illusions of grandeur and make decisions based on their limited experience. Its good that you have a few that like to put up photos and help setting up chairs. Everybody loves those guys or gals. Let them join a service club.
Anon 12:10PM My sentiments exactly. A government is created to accomplish what we ourselves cannot achieve and no more. When a elected city official believes or wants us to believe he is fulfilling a civic responsibility by directing traffic at a private business he does not deserve to be reelected. These officials have already given enough away to certain favorites to prove who they represent and it not you and me, the taxpayer.
Mr. Rodney Perez is my alderman. I am so glad that I have someone in my corner that cares about my problems with the City. He is a great guy that stands up for what he believes in. I have attended the last two council meetings and from what I can see, outside of Mr. Perez,- all of the other city council members have so much brown on their nose it is amazing that they can see straight.
Anon 9:55 AM I did not like the abstain vote either but Alderman Perez explained that he sought the advise of two leading lawyers in this field and they both told him to abstain. End of Story!
Who is paying for all this legal advice he is using, lawyers don't do it for nothing, the question is, is he really using lawyers for every move he makes or saying he is. Is the city getting the bills for this or is it coming out of his pocket?
Did he abstain from voting on all the union contracts? And did he abstain from all those closed sessions dealing with all those employee contracts? And he abstains from all the marijuana zoning votes? I don't get it.
Anon 7:25 & 10:46 AM Alderman Perez has already stated in this blog that he obtained legal advice at the recent IML Convention of which he annually submits the lowest expense account of all Peru attendees. To keep comparing apples to oranges is ridiculous and a complete waste of time. Have you ever considered the reasons you do not get it are your own? This particular alderman cannot be accused of being shy when it comes to confronting controversy!
11:41, so what your saying is he goes to the IML gets all his legal advice in 3 days for the year, come on, during the year when something he voted on he has a tendency to say he sought legal advice on that subject, my concern is who is paying for that advice?
Anon 1:42 PM You, as a taxpayer are paying for some of that advice, as you are paying for some of the legal advice of all city representation. You certainly don't expect the city attorney to be Pro Bono.
What type of advice are you concerned about paying for? The type in which a alderman seeks so he is following the letter of the law or the end run advice of the "Super Majority" clause when "No Bid" Waldorf shoved the TEST 5th rider down our throats? Here is some common sense advice at no charge - the refusal to accept any competitive representation to TEST even when already in the council chambers at absolutely no charge to the taxpayers on a 5 year 3 million dollar contract translates into a "NO VOTE" for "NO BID" in the upcoming alderman race. When many corporations could and would do a equivalent job all bids of $20,000 and above by ordinance should be considered. When a elected official represents other than the citizens he should be fired and certainly not reelected.
11:41 why are you making things up? Alderman Perez does not have the lowest expense account at the IML convention. They were already posted here and his was one of the highest.
I think it is silly to debate things like this but someone on here has to tell the truth once in awhile. Lois probably won't post it again so check yourself.
Not all services should be bid out. Period. Professional services are different than hiring someone for a particular job like a road resurfacing job. No municipality bids out services like this annually. I'm not saying I agree with not comparing or justifying the cost, but good business is not always going the cheapest route.
I did not but someone else did and no point in my doing the same. Last year one or two of the aldermen did not submit their information until December.
The point is you criticize 7 aldermen constantly and one gets a free pass for everything. Then your one has higher expenses and it doesn't get a mention but people still actually think his is less. Hilarious.
Who and what percentage of those included in the city expense account brought back some form of a summarized report of what they learned at the IML? When taxpayers money is used to send someone to a business meeting I find it insulting that a private business interferes in this same time frame and that those whom I have paid for allow this interference. Historically two Peru businesses have a long time reputation of showing up at the IML to cleverly interrupt and buy their way to big profits. Many corporations have a ethics code which would limit the cost/employed person that can be accepted. What do the elected and appointed officials of Peru have in their ethic code as a guideline?
Not much was made about the convention and the expense sheets of the alderman. Or the fancy dinners. I think we all know why. A certain favorite participated in all the freebies that were offered. So much for candid reporting.
Does a Code of Ethics exist for elected and appointed positions in government representation of the City of Peru? If not why not? If there is a Code what does it state? Another question is what has Peru decided upon for a long range plan and a short range plan? Those cities which have created and set goals to achieve to judge themselves by are proven to be the successful. Many paths to success are a easy walk once teamwork is accepted by all involved and the easy out of looking for someone to blame is banished.
46 comments:
Love LP Band
Did they play 76 Trombones? It would be appropriate, because we have trouble here in River City. We even have our own Flimflam Man to lead the City Council Chorus.
Lois....may i say this is one of the reasons you and this blog are not always taken seriously...did you really have to post that comment from 3.15 when you had just said a very innocent comment on LP band..this is homecoming for some high school kids...do yourself a favor..either edit these comments or hire someone to do it for you if you want serious readers to take you seriously..there are issues and problem that need to be discussed like adults.
3:15 PM
Humor is a very important part of life. I was not offended and sorry you were. Rather I thought of my son who played First Chair trombone in the LP band and he might be laughing if he read this too. Being too serious all the time is not good and I appreciate sometimes people make associations. Is it the Flim flam man that offended you or the River city. All of this made a great movie which we have enjoyed many times.
Can someone tell me what is that temporary like garage on walnut st is it.typical rental un first ward where is mueller or Ferrari....a temp gatage covering shouldn't be allowed by code, mr king where oh where are you.
Just a clue building inspector king maybe you can drive the peru fire chief trick to walnut and get that ugly metal temporary garage down
to the individual who is posting comments of Alderman Perez which are untrue and blatant lies, I will not post, unless you post your name and I can verify that it is your legitimate name. You are opening yourself up to legal action by the injured party and I will not post unless I can also verify they are true.
To 8:31 pm, You really need to lighten up. Political sarcasm has a long and honorable history in America and you should make an effort to understand the reasons and the benefits of sarcasm when commenting on governemnt and elecgted officials. Sarcasm allows us "dissentors/outdiers" to critique our elected officials in a way that no other criticism can. Public officuials deserve to be criticized when they are inept and ineffective leaders as most of them are in Peru. Peru officials deserve any spoofing they get by virtue of the silly self-serving policies they promote and arcasm allows us to point out the incompetence these officials exhibit. Many folks in Peru agree that Harl is a "Flim-Flam Man" and that he is very similar in appearance and personality as Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. That is just an observatiion that anyone is entitled to point out. Just look at some of the characters on Peru's city council for crying out loud. We have a Barber-alderman as chairman of a committee where he considers himself a civil engineer and a city planner when in fact he lacks any working knowledge of infrastructure in any sense of the word "infrastrucure". We have an alderman in the firsat ward whose profession is "motor delivery boy" whose sole contribution to the city is to show up at community events and who runs for alderman to supplement his income. you can't make this stuff up and it deserves to be pointed it in some shape or form. Sarcasm allows us the opportunity to inform the public who these people really are. Harl is a phony who conducts city business behind closed doors. Waldorf has delusions of grandeur and is being played for the fool that he is by Chamlin and others. Ferrari is in it for the paycheck, and on and on and on. Now, most of them are apparently opposed to allowing questions being asked of them. What the hell kind of government is that? They deserve any criticsm they get for making policy designed to allow themselves to be "unaccountable to the public". They deserve criticism because most of them are sub-standard elected officials. Politics is a dirty business 8:31 pm, and sarcasm allows us to call them out for their lack of leadership, ability, and vision, because that lack of ability has a significant negative impact on the citizens of Peru, including you. Sorry that you lack any idea of how weak your Peru elected officials really are and that you obviously lack any sense of humor or sarcasm. Tune in to Comedy Central week-nights from 10:00 to 11:00 pm CST for John Stewart and Stephen Colbert and maybe you will understand the value of expressing pourselves thru "Sarcasm".
To: Lois
From:Rodney Perez
In addition to your 9:58 post; My "Alderman Rodney Perez" Face Book page is also open to the public. I encourage anyone who may have concerns with either myself or the city....and feels a need for the public to read it, that's also a great place to post.
The public can even get an idea how many people have read your post. I've had close to 10,000 people read one single post just a couple weeks ago. So please feel free to share your discontent directly with me, either publicly, or privately and I will be sure to address your concerns:-)
Thank you
Alderman Perez
815-245-7566 call/text
aldermanrodneyperez@yahoo.com
Facebook- Rodney Perez
Facebook-Alderman Rodney Perez
Twitter-Alderman Rodney Perez
10:08- at least the individuals you mention are in the game to improve the city not their own personal reputations. This is in direct comparison to the one alderman who's obsessive use of social media more closely resembles "Keeping up with the Kardashians" than it resembles civic duty.
Anon 10:08, I agree with you on using sarcasm as long as it doesn't get personal. What I mean by that is when you make fun of the way he looks, example some of you calling Potthoff "Putin", and calling Harl "Rob Ford", that is getting personal and beyond sarcasm. Stick with the sarcasm addressing political dislikes, making fun of someone's appearance is what kids do.
Lois, half the stuff you allow on YOUR blog can put you in jeopardy of legal action, keep that in mind.
9:05, and leave the dalmation puppy dog at home while driving city vehicle. Like the picture shows on facebook 815 Life fb. Our taxes pay for city work, not training a dog.
12:08 PM
Leave your serious comments for serious issues and this is not one of them. Lighten up, it was cute and put no one in danger. Maybe a photo op but nothing more. We have serious FD issues but this is not one of them.
Funny..I posted the L-P Band was and is Fantastic.It never got posted.Hmm
2:18 PM
Never received that post from you so please try again and I just cleaned the Spam folder and the 4 I deleted were the usual stuff that had nothing to do with the blog, just the usual junk mail.
11:40 You guys get all bent of shape when a Politician uses Social Media to allow COMMENT and Contact.
Everyone knows civic duty is not allowing comments, and keeping a low profile, running the city humbly in secret sessions and back room deals.
Its better nobody ever sees you , and you can humbly stay humble running things in shadow, staying away from critics. Humility is such a humble blessing. Oh humble humble servants of humilty and anonymity.
you are wrong 11:54, , it's a blog site. There is freedom of speech and thoughts.
Anon 3:46, your right there is freedom of speech, but that only goes so far, there is also protection under the law for the persons who are taking the abuse.
Anon3:46, if that's the case what is Lois talking about legalities for a person she feels is getting hammered on the blog. It works both ways!
5:24, not for public officials.
5:24 I have run much of this blog by lawyers and they never said anything might be considered libelous.
Saying something like" That dude is Fat" or "those politicians are on the take" is a big deal only in Peru.
So do us a favor and point out some particularly libelous statements. Just one from the past- it could be good for debate.
@Anon11:40 I'm sure you are referring to Alderman Perez? I'm retired and disabled so I don't get out often. Social media is all I really have. I wish more politicians interacted with people like Perez does. He keeps us up to date and he keeps everything real and genuine. He's not my alderman but wished he was. I've never seen any other local politician interact as he has and I really appreciate that about him. I read things on here about him, I really think people are just jealous of him. I never see negative things about him on Facebook which I'm on all the time. Alderman Perez seems to be a very well respected and liked person. The best part about him, he gives them hell down city hall. The rest seem to be a bunch of scared whimps.
This is 10:22 from above poster. I think alderman Perez is my alderman. I live in Liberty Village and a friend told me districts changed since last election. I just sent the alderman a facebook message to ask him. Is Alderman Perez now in my district? I would really like to vote for him. I will be his biggest advocate here. I can't get outside and around but sure can spread the word in here.
10:22 anon. Its nice to have a few to connect with on facebook. The most important skill that a small town elected officials can have is the ability to understand the many aspects of city government that is important to the citizens of that community. The things that affect your tax rates, long term future, and bottom line. Too many have these illusions of grandeur and make decisions based on their limited experience. Its good that you have a few that like to put up photos and help setting up chairs. Everybody loves those guys or gals. Let them join a service club.
Anon 12:10PM My sentiments exactly. A government is created to accomplish what we ourselves cannot achieve and no more. When a elected city official believes or wants us to believe he is fulfilling a civic responsibility by directing traffic at a private business he does not deserve to be reelected. These officials have already given enough away to certain favorites to prove who they represent and it not you and me, the taxpayer.
Mr. Rodney Perez is my alderman. I am so glad that I have someone in my corner that cares about my problems with the City. He is a great guy that stands up for what he believes in. I have attended the last two council meetings and from what I can see, outside of Mr. Perez,- all of the other city council members have so much brown on their nose it is amazing that they can see straight.
12:44 I vote abstain! That must be what he believes in. Abstain!
Anon 9:55 AM I did not like the abstain vote either but Alderman Perez explained that he sought the advise of two leading lawyers in this field and they both told him to abstain. End of Story!
Who is paying for all this legal advice he is using, lawyers don't do it for nothing, the question is, is he really using lawyers for every move he makes or saying he is. Is the city getting the bills for this or is it coming out of his pocket?
Did he abstain from voting on all the union contracts? And did he abstain from all those closed sessions dealing with all those employee contracts? And he abstains from all the marijuana zoning votes? I don't get it.
Anon 7:25 & 10:46 AM Alderman Perez has already stated in this blog that he obtained legal advice at the recent IML Convention of which he annually submits the lowest expense account of all Peru attendees.
To keep comparing apples to oranges is ridiculous and a complete waste of time. Have you ever considered the reasons you do not get it are your own? This particular alderman cannot be accused of being shy when it comes to confronting controversy!
11:41, so what your saying is he goes to the IML gets all his legal advice in 3 days for the year, come on, during the year when something he voted on he has a tendency to say he sought legal advice on that subject, my concern is who is paying for that advice?
Anon 1:42 PM You, as a taxpayer are paying for some of that advice, as you are paying for some of the legal advice of all city representation.
You certainly don't expect the city attorney to be Pro Bono.
What type of advice are you concerned about paying for? The type in which a alderman seeks so he is following the letter of the law or the end run advice of the "Super Majority" clause when "No Bid" Waldorf shoved the TEST 5th rider down our throats?
Here is some common sense advice at no charge - the refusal to accept any competitive representation to TEST even when already in the council chambers at absolutely no charge to the taxpayers on a 5 year 3 million dollar contract translates into a "NO VOTE" for "NO BID" in the upcoming alderman race.
When many corporations could and would do a equivalent job all bids of $20,000 and above by ordinance should be considered.
When a elected official represents other than the citizens he should be fired and certainly not reelected.
11:41 why are you making things up? Alderman Perez does not have the lowest expense account at the IML convention. They were already posted here and his was one of the highest.
I think it is silly to debate things like this but someone on here has to tell the truth once in awhile. Lois probably won't post it again so check yourself.
Not all services should be bid out. Period. Professional services are different than hiring someone for a particular job like a road resurfacing job. No municipality bids out services like this annually. I'm not saying I agree with not comparing or justifying the cost, but good business is not always going the cheapest route.
12:15 Lois did not post the IML listings - I did and you can find them in the disbursements.
1:15 PM
I did not but someone else did and no point in my doing the same. Last year one or two of the aldermen did not submit their information until December.
The point is you criticize 7 aldermen constantly and one gets a free pass for everything. Then your one has higher expenses and it doesn't get a mention but people still actually think his is less. Hilarious.
It most certainly did get mentioned. As I stated earlier I was responsible for printing those charges and Mr. Perez's was indeed one of them.
Who and what percentage of those included in the city expense account brought back some form of a summarized report of what they learned at the IML? When taxpayers money is used to send someone to a business meeting I find it insulting that a private business interferes in this same time frame and that those whom I have paid for allow this interference.
Historically two Peru businesses have a long time reputation of showing up at the IML to cleverly interrupt and buy their way to big profits.
Many corporations have a ethics code which would limit the cost/employed person that can be accepted. What do the elected and appointed officials of Peru have in their ethic code as a guideline?
Not much was made about the convention and the expense sheets of the alderman. Or the fancy dinners. I think we all know why. A certain favorite participated in all the freebies that were offered. So much for candid reporting.
Does a Code of Ethics exist for elected and appointed positions in government representation of the City of Peru?
If not why not? If there is a Code what does it state?
Another question is what has Peru decided upon for a long range plan and a short range plan?
Those cities which have created and set goals to achieve to judge themselves by are proven to be the successful.
Many paths to success are a easy walk once teamwork is accepted by all involved and the easy out of looking for someone to blame is banished.
print those costs again and itemize of each over the course of the last 2-3 years.
Anon 12:18PM Good idea, Thank you. When were the IML expenses on the blog?
post them under a recent heading
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