This is the question I asked of several aldermen after the meeting last evening and the answer I received is "tipping fees". It is a term new to me and I am sure to many of you who are reading this. An ordinance will be passed soon setting the price to be applied to the heavy trucks used for hauling sand, so much per ton per weight of the sand truck. I am sure each truck will not be weighed so it will be a general assumed weight per truck. This fee is to maintain the roads to be used by more trucks traveling more frequently on the route from the Utica Northern White Sands facility in rural Utica to the proposed sand processing facility in Peru and the annexed land in Bureau Cty. We should assume if the benefit to Peru is a tipping charge that the fee will be large enough to provide some profit to the city or there is no point to setting a fee.
An article in late October in the N.T. follows this post which puts a lot of what is being voted on now into perspective.
Next in line for benefits would be jobs for those in skilled in those areas, particularly the truck drivers which the article indicates are hard to find.
This meeting of the Planning and Zoning Board was the first time there had been any public discussion by anyone involved with the city. Never discussed at any previous council meeting or any committee of a whole public session. I am wondering if the discussions took place in closed session. Did the atty mention last night that he had had previous discussions with officials? Who is in charge of public relations in this administration?
The mayor was seen at the meeting for a short time and most of the aldermen were in attendance. I guess this leads to the question, "Does the public have the right to expected to be informed of issues that may affect Peru?" Many people here in Peru believe the answer is NO.
33 comments:
The tipping fees should only cover the extra cost to maintain the roads and other infrastructure required for the facility. It should not be considered a "profit" that the city can dump into the general fund to pay for other city requirements.
Given the history Peru has with comingling funds, if I was the company paying the "tipping fee" I would request that the money be put in a restricted use fund so it can be tracked easily.
The benefit to Peru will be that more people in the region will have a job and they will spend it in Peru's shopping district.
there are over a dozen very large coal fired power plants within a few hours drive of LaSalle-Peru. With the availability of rail, barge (river), and interstate trucking - I wonder if Peru could become a central storage and transportation center for all the coal these plants use. Sort of like a retail Distribution Center for coal - able to flex inventory to any one of the plants in North Central Illinois.
That would indeed be interesting. Bring all the inventory to Peru and then distribute it out to the plants.
Lois, Please identify the aldermen who told you the benefit to the city of Peru is "tipping fees". They should be indentified and held accountable for such an incompetent and narrow-minded response. "Tipping Fees" cannot be seen as a benefit to the city. Tipping fees are used to build and maintain the infrastructure that will allow the industry to move its product. These companies will know how much they should pay to improve and maintain the infrastructure and they will be willing to pay for only the roads they utilize, nothing more. They are not not going to subsidize any other roadways in Peru, and why should they? The mayor and aldermen are so damn incompetent it's unbelievable. They are clueless in everything they are allowed to be involved in. I guess that's why Chamlin is really the city planning entity. Interesting how when a common sense traffic study was finally suggested by Mr. Basaly the attorney for the sand company jumped in to say there is no need for delay and the Peru city engineer fell right in line by saying the traffic study can be ready in a week. So the city council, at the urging of the sand company was trying to ram this deal through without a traffic study (or any other advance research) for the Plan Commission to refer to. With Peru officials thinking that Tipping Fees will bring unlimited funds for them to waste on other things shows the massive void in quality and knowledgeable leadership on the Peru council. Don't be fooled by this short delay brought about by a brief bout of common sense from one Plan Commission member. This annexation and development will proceed on the "fast track" pretty much as the railroad and sand companies want it to. The mayor and aldermen will do as they are instructed by Chamlin which will allow Chamlin to "wet their beak" with some residual engineering fees and traffic studies, etc. The property owner at the meeting on Wednesday had it exactly right when she stated it has already been decided. She will have a very large and overbearing new neighbor soon.
This should not be looked at as benefiting any specific city. It will benefit the entire Illinois Valley.
The article in the NT glosses over an important point regarding why the land needs to be annexed into the municipality. The reason is that both of the county - BC and LC - boards are ANTI BUSINESS. These boards, overall, are controlled by agricultural interests. The facility would never be approved if it was left to the county.
It is time that we - the majority of LaSalle County citizens - take our county government away from the clutches of agriculture and DEMAND full development. How many opportunities have been lost to the Agriculture Cabal and their pawns the Tourism Faction?
I'm not sure if it is possible, but maybe it is time to get all the municipalities together and just start annexing ALL the unincorporated land in the County - thus negating the County Board Agriculture Cabal.
tipping fees? what a joke. the city should not be looking to exploit business. That is the problem. Peru looks at everything from the "what does it do for me" point of view. They might as well just come out and tell the company that unless you give us a substantial bribe, then we wont even listen to you.
We absolutely NEED this new industry. The INTERFERENCE by the do-gooders, environmental radicals, NIMBY's, and elitists MUST STOP!!!!!!!!
8:57 I guess your against the prospect of the company paying for the infrastructure that they will need for the many jobs they will provide. I compliment the thought that a few members of the city council are on the right track. Why should the residents pay for the improvements? Other companies have utilized Peru roadways and not given a cent to the repairs. The councilman or planning member wants to see how the company works, not because of their concern about traffic or tipping fees. The attorney told him to visit Quality Sand in Peru or the various other similar operations. That makes sense. Traffic wasn't his concern, it was traveling sand. Reviewing the operations a few miles away would solve that concern.
12:28 We need this industry, even if it costs the taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars to maintain the roads that could possibly be destroyed by the excess truck trafffic? And the reason for that would be what? I'm curious.
12:28 Elitists? Doogooders? NIMBYS? environmental radicals?
Is that what you call anyone with a brain?
All the idiots must stop calling anyone with a brain an elitist or radical or liberal.
You cant say hey wait a second, lets do some due diligence here without some local bigwig shouting you down and saying you are a Chicagocrat.
1:59 PM, if the shoe fits. The Chicagocrats see private enterprise as a way to expand government. They use the NIMBY's, environmental radicals, liberals, and emotion prone TV watchers to extort money from private enterprise. Tipping fees to maintain infrastructure used by the industry is a sensible thing. It sounds to me like Peru wants to use tipping fees to fund their much more. Our city leaders are all about "dipping their beak in the well."
I don't care if it is a manure plant and it fans the smell south - WE ABSOLUTELY NEED JOBS OR THIS ENTIRE AREA IS GOING TO DRY UP AND BLOW AWAY!!!!!!!!
On the other hand - maybe we should just tell people to go away. Sorry kids, nothing to do here - go away and good riddance. Send us a post card every once in a while, tell us what it is like to live in a community that values jobs and work.
The tipping fees are only going to cover the cost of repairs for the damage the extra trucks will cause. They are moot. If there wasn't an increase in truck traffic, there would be no need to repair the roads. I'm glad their paying the tipping fees to repair the roads, but the city will not benefit because of these fees.
You are missing the point people. Yes, the tipping fees are a good and sensible thing; to repair the roads and pay for the extra stress on other infrastructure items. However, by the sounds of at least one Alderman - Peru wants to make a profit. I.E. take more than is enough and use it for other things - such as employee raises, new trucks, Gold Plated Health Insurance, Christmas Parties, Chicago Conventions, etc.
If nothing else, WE need to demand the these fees be put in a RESTRICTED USE ACCOUNT which can only be tapped when a legitimate need is identified. Otherwise, the area will look like the west side of Water Street in a couple of years and the new mayor will be looking at an empty checking account and a lawsuit from the sand company asking what happened to their infrastructure money.
Sorry for being a pessimist. But that is what generally happens in Peru.
Anon 6:59 AM
"and use it for other things-such as employee raises, new trucks, Gold Plated Health Insurance, Christmas Parties, Chicago Conventions, etc."
Yes all of the above plus much more, $1600.00 Xmas Trees, dump truck to replace dump truck that comes up missing days after it is gone, unneccessary rent, highly inflated costs for city upkeep during the summer, long term contracts, long term contracts, long term contracts.
Now I ask everyone else to list some of the unnecessary expenses they know of. Remember right or wrong the people representing you truly believe they are correct most of the time as witnessed by a mandatory 7-1 vote.
4:18 I am sick of people saying I am a liberal because I QUESTION a company with a poor track record of environmental compliance and say NOW is the time to negotiate with them in seriousness about making certain this is in the right location with the right protections. Jobs are not spelled GOD, and its not my fault the leadership sits on its hands while other towns grow and compete -and continues a good old boy local patronage sytem, instead of getting real industry.
This deal SMACKS of backdoor crap, falling their lap. This company knows where it can find an unquestioning population , news media that covers Pleasantville, and a government that can be signed sealed and delivered.
I wish this thing was in your back yard. NIMBY shoes would be purchased quickly I suppose.
10:54, would it be better if it was a few miles to the east? Then you could take your NIMBY liberalism to the LaSalle council.
The reason for the location is the rail spur and the availability of land. You are essentially saying that this company is EVIL and that their stated corporate goal is to kill people with particulates that they purposely fan into the wind. The last time I looked, you can't turn a profit by killing your neighbors and you can't turn a profit if you are always defending yourself in the courtroom.
I think most of the bad press on this company actually comes from unsubstantiated rumors created by people and organizations that want to basically outlaw hydraulic fracturing. Just like abortion, guns, fake racism, the police, and the made up war on women... stories are crafted to make the people they HATE look EVIL.
That is why some of the comments I post are "over the top." It is an attempt to show how silly the Liberals and NIMBY's are by making extreme statements in the opposite direction.
This company wants to make money. They can't make money if their product is blown all over LaSalle County. Even when precautions are taken, product loss will occur. But it will not be normal and I think it will be acceptable and tolerable.
Finally - this attitude that Peru has needs to end immediately. Everything can't be a money making venture for the government.
oh... I forgot to bring up one thing to illustrate the tipping fee issue.
What would people say if the Peru council suddenly decided to charge a fee to owners of vehicles registered to addresses in Peru? Something like $100 per year for anything with a "car plate", $250 a year each vehicle with a "truck plate", and because these people are obviously rich and can afford it, $500 a year for anything with an "RV" plate. Maybe we could put a multiplier on each "extra" car that can't fit in a persons driveway and must be parked in the public thoroughfare.
How far do you think a policy like that would fly my liberal friends? I mean it is for the betterment of the community after all.
Last Wensdays meeting was a perfect example why the average common man hates big business and its leaders, politicians and attorneys.
The planning and zoning board did a very good job but no matter how they vote Peru is getting White Sands. The city council and administration will make sure of that.
This will end up costing Perus' taxpayers a fortune. The improper sale of the railroad will be a pittance in comparison to the cost of the purchase of farmland and a alternate road. Don't be fooled, remember back to when J&L got a super highway leading to Interstate I-80 north of their plant. This will be a lesson entitled "VOTE WITH YOUR POCKETBOOK".
The only reason Peru owns the RR spur is because the company that owned it was going to remove the rails and sell off the land. Peru purchased it because it would be attractive to future industrial development. As things stand now, I see no reason for Peru to continue with its ownership.
Lois, why are you afraid to post some blogs that question another blog who questions his opinion without fact. I use no name calling, swearing or names, just want to know how some blogs come up with their opinions.
Wasn't there a lawsuit against the city a few years back? Was this lawsuit brought on because the city owns RR? What did thus cost the city?
5:31 PM when you post a comment, do you see if it says at the top of the page "comment accepted and will post after blog owner approval"? That's how you know if you're posting correctly.
Anon 6:46PM
You have very good questions? Doesn't the city also have court proceedings presently on a proposed TIF?
It would be wise to accumulate what the total legal expenses add up to in each calendar year and why. What are the responsibilities of the Peru City Attorney? This question is asked because under New Business for tonights meeting is a motion to be made to obtain Attorney Herb Klein to represent the city regarding OSF lease at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport.
Shouldn't the City Attorney represent the city rather than outsourcing legal expenses?
Also in question is a motion to renew 2015 lawn mowing program with D&M Landscapping (3yr.-0%increasee). How can this renewal be processed since Peru has a ordinance stating that all contracts $20,000 and above must be let out for bids. All can be reassured that this bid will stay inhouse and no legal outsourcing will take place. It has become the method by which business is conducted in Peru Politics when nepotism is involved.
9:31 - it is probably a conflict of interest issue for the legal case.
I do not understand how there is a possibility of a conflict of interest for the legal case.
If the reason Peru often outsources its legalities is conflicts of interest by its present city attorney of 30+ years possibly it is time to change legal representation. It appears he has made a lot of conflicting investments.
12:29 - that is a good point. We should have an attorney that does not have a practice in the Illinois Valley - possibly look to Streator or Morris. If it is a conflict due to business reasons - and nobody knows if that is the case, that is only a guess - then it would be another example of people that are tied closely to local businesses interests being deeply involved in the local government.
We need to hire a management firm from outside the area to run the city.
Hiring a city attorney outside the Illinois Valley, that would be the best way to go about it. I know a couple cases over the past several years where cases were in Lasalle county, whereas the parties involved had Lasalle county attorney's, meaning their firms location in Lasalle County, and in several cases switched attorneys and retained attorney's where their main office is located in another county to proceed with their case in Lasalle county. And from what I know with 100% accuracy that there is a lawsuit against a very well known law firm whereas they were reported to the Illinois Judiciary Inquiry Board not so long ago. This is all I feel comfortable with in blogging at this time. There is a website for the Illinois Judicial Inquiry board to look information regarding disaplinary action towards attorney's. I don't know if the one case I was referring to earlier has been documented on that website yet.
Right or wrong it is pathetic that people are so insecure with the present city management that they want to go out of town to employ leadership.
The present administration and council have created this image of complete self serving attitude of the politician, to the politician, for the politician. This image has to be remembered this coming April 7, 2014 when the individual has the right to vote for whom they feel will serve the office in a manner that it has been created for.
The holidays are a time of the year in which most are busy with family, school and job festivities which makes for a perfect time frame for questionable and improper business practices to be pushed through.
Many students of small government adminisrations claim that Peru is the first city with a Mayor who will not consider a city manager but has relinquished the majority of his elected poweres to a appointed official to manage the city. Previously appointed officials served at the will of the Mayor but developments of the last year have developed questionabe doubts.
There are agressive, hard working, honest and intelligent citizens in Peru who hopefully run for city political office. Upon running we must realize that it is our duty to see that they are elected.
It has been questioned whether the representative of the railroad was more of a railroad man or a sand man and I don't mean Mr. Sandman bring me a dream, more like Mr. Sandman bring me a nightmare.
8:50 - Why do you hate people that are trying to develop business in this area? Are you connected to the Corn Dog Crowd? Or perhaps the Corn Stalk Cabal?
4:22 PM
I don't think anyone hates a business but there are honest businesses and then there are the unscrupulous ones and people are just trying to get answers and be sure what is said upfront is true. And to know that the people in the city making decisions know what they are doing that will benefit the people more than cause them problems
And be fair to all companies, not just the companies run by their friends.
@4:22PM
From deep in my heart I assure you that no hate is involved. But I am very inquisitive of those who have people who they have experience with following them from meeting to meeting to inform others of how poor a neighbor they are, how they never followed thru with their previous promises and can show in print and pictures why they are not to be trusted.
A good example of how clever these individuals are is that their attorney, a local man I am told sat in front of everyone claiming they went as far as to hire outside sources and than he introduced their engineer whom I have witnessed sitting in front of the Peru city coucil as a consultant for Peru and a employee of Chamlin Engineering. You know you don't have to be a Mom, Dad,Sister or Brotheer to be in the family a Aunt, Uncle or cousin fits the definition also.
Anon 4:22 PM
There is no indication of hate being involved for or from anyone by the he many people who have asked questions and made comments of the potential business being propposed in this area.
The occupation of those questioned is to be questioned and to answer the questions truthfully so that those in question may reach a conclusion of if this is what they want or do not want. Presently the list of questions have grown and the experience of those who have prior background with this industry are very negative.
A huge question never asked would be: Why didn't the former Illinois Valley resident, Mr. Essl, personally represent the corporation he is a excutive v-p of at the zoning and planning committee meeting if he has positive faith of his industry?
4:22PM This is only a bussiness question which would have made common sense to do, nothing personal.
As for your question if anyone inquisitive is connected to the Corn Dog Crowd or perhaps the Corn Stalk Cabal I have not spoke to anyone that definitely understnds it. Since a comment such as this is made at the time it is made I would consider it negative and the first step toward being a hateful comment.
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