Congratulations Peru, and Special Thanks to the Friends for Peru Pool for your hard work and commitment as you worked to receive a grant for the Splash Pad.
Photo with Governor Quinn, And members of the FFPP- Debbie, Claudia, and Anita.
Saturday, January 03, 2015
Peru Splash Pad Thanks to Governor Quinn
At Governor Quinn's Mansion in Oak Park IL. With Friends for Peru Pool and Mayor Harl as Governor Quinn makes announcement for the winners of the OSLAD grant.
Congratulations Peru, and Special Thanks to the Friends for Peru Pool for your hard work and commitment as you worked to receive a grant for the Splash Pad.
Photo with Governor Quinn, And members of the FFPP- Debbie, Claudia, and Anita.
Congratulations Peru, and Special Thanks to the Friends for Peru Pool for your hard work and commitment as you worked to receive a grant for the Splash Pad.
Photo with Governor Quinn, And members of the FFPP- Debbie, Claudia, and Anita.
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121 comments:
Pork!
Outstanding!
I'll try to be polite. But, it is S*&% like this that is bankrupting our state! I'm happy the Quinn will no longer be a problem. But we still have Mautino to deal with! By only 300 Votes!
I think this is wonderful that our kids will get something. Yet, no wonder this state is in the shape it is in. Where can we get a copy of the grant information and the application regarding our city that was filled out in order to have been considered for a grant for the splash pad? Would be interesting what this paperwork states. A shout out to all those who were involved in making this come to fruitration.
8:28 PM
I think this information would be available from our City Clerk. A foia for all expenses and applications for the grant should be available from there.
There are literally thousands of these pork barrel programs littering our state and federal budgets. People complain about pork – except when the pork is for them. It is time we tell Mautino, Rezin, Rauner, as well as Kirk, Durbin, and Kinzinger – No Thanks! Keep you pork! Here are some tidbits about this boondoggle.
The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program is a state-financed grant program that provides funding assistance to local government agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and open space. The federal Land & Water Conservation Fund program (known as both LWCF and LAWCON) is a similar program with similar objectives. Both are managed in Illinois by the Department of Natural Resources with concurrent application due dates, equal grant maximums and similar general rules. Projects vary from small neighborhood parks or tot lots to large community and county parks and nature areas. The state program is financed by a percentage of the state's Real Estate Transfer Tax. The federal program is financed nationally by revenue from OSOD leases.
5/21/2014 NT – “The council authorized applying for a state Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant for a splash pad at Washington Park. The grant would pay half of the estimated $512,100 project cost.”
5/13/2014 NT – “The plan also includes bocce ball, volleyball and horseshoe courts, picnic tables with board games painted onto them and a parking lot for 50 cars. The total cost would be 512,100. The city would apply for a state recreation grant that, if awarded, would pay half the cost if matched.”
Oh – by the way, Peru still needs to foot the bill for half of this.
6:58 a.m. Half of $512,100 is $256,050. FFPP has about $100,000 available to use for the splash pad project from donations and various fundraisers. That brings the city's total to be paid for the project to about $156,050. Do you think the council will approve this expense? I do, because any alderman who votes no to this will not get re-elected in April.
Congratulations ladies of the FFPP. You worked long and hard to achieve your goal. I hope the next step is much easier for you and that you get to see your dream come true this summer.
The "goal" was a swimming pool. The Peru City Ordinance that was created to manage the money for the FFPP specifically states that the money must be used for a pool - nothing else. It also states that donations will be returned if they try to use the money for other purposes.
I don't see line item in the budget for this project. Everyone should vote against any unbudgeted non-emergency project.
I've got one word to describe this gross waste of taxpayer money: Cryptosporidium.
Is there anybody currently on the city payroll that knows how to manage a splash pad to be sure it is safe? I suspect no. Will we be outsourcing to TEST to be sure it is clean? How much will that cost?
@11:40 am, the money being used for only a pool issue was addressed. People who donated were asked if their donation could go to this project instead of a pool. Each person that donated had the choice to say yes or no.
Was the unbudgeted Vactor truck an emergency? It was not. We could have continued outsourcing this service.
I understand that initially we applied for only funding for a splash pad but the people who wrote the grant (North Central Council of Gov. - NCIC) came back and told us no funding because we needed to want money for more bells and whistles. Therefore we are getting a Horseshoe Pit (already have 1 at Centennial), a Volley Ball court, a parking lot and checker game picnic tables. Why does everything have to be so complicated?
Lois, I agree with you. A splash pad only was what was requested and would have been cheaper. Illinois loves to waste money!
1:40PM ; two wrongs don't make a right.
They may have asked the people that gave the money - but did they change the ordinance? I think not, Peru never carries through on anything.
I hope we are ready to hire a full time sanitation worker this year - Somebody will need to scrub this thing down everyday. Maybe one of the aldermen's kids can do it part time in the summer, but we know the kind of work they do. Then there is the daily testing of the water, lets call that about $75 a day - not really sure, maybe somebody failure with the appropriate tests can chime in. Then there is liability insurance for the little tykes that will inevitably crack their skull. What will that cost - maybe the new alderman candidate can answer that.
What's so complicated about everyone getting their hands in the cookie jar before the next administration puts the lid on it?It is a shame that if that money was the sole property of each person involved they would not spend over $500K of their own but since it is government money they have inflated the cost of a splash pad at least $400K. The next time taxes have to be paid remember this as the perfect example of government spending and how people are falling for it. If this group had enough to build a splash pad they should have build it and not wasted state money on things Peru alredy had. Since when is it good business to spend 5 times as much as needed, your paying for the additional $400K as are your neighboring citties. Why is Peru aalways the local city wanting every other town to pay for what it wants?
If you don't know anything about a splash pad, maybe you should keep your comments to yourself or do some research! We better take down the swings, the tennis courts, the baseball diamonds, playground equipment, etc. because they require maintenance.
While you are researching a splash pad, you can also look up why the state is broke. I really don't think it has anything to do with providing money for family recreation.
3:58 PM
Just like a swimming pool requires daily upkeep and water analysis to keep it safe for swimmers, on a smaller scale splash pads do also because of the possible health risks. Look it up, this is a bit different than dry playground equipment.
It appears Lois and some of her followers are now against the splash pad. I see Linda is for it. This could get good.I think I will come down on being for the pad and the kids!
4:20 PM
And it seems like you do not know what you are talking about. I mention monitoring for kids health and you think I don't want it. I was promoting a splash pad every since the pool was taken out. You are cluelessl. Go into years past of the blog and you will even find pictures. Wake up.
Look at it this way, at least a splash pad will be used on a daily basic and money well spent by the city. Hopefully the hours will be accommodating to working family's for evening hours.
What I want to know is when and where did we hit a jackpot? It seems as though money is not a problem anymore. It's spend, spend, spend. We're repeatedly told outsourcing saves us money yet no one has asked how. Especially since our payroll has not changed one bit but yet we've added outside services. Most of our aldermen, in my opinion, fail to ask questions and seek answers. I listened to the video of the last meeting and found many comments made that needed further explanations (especially with regards to the purchase of the vac truck and the grass cutting contract). Yet, our aldermen just seemed to go with the flow.
4:20 I didn't say whether I was for it or against it and what difference does my opinion make? I just felt the FFPP deserved credit for working so long and hard to get closer to their goal. Where did you get the impression that Lois and some of her followers were against the splash pad? Why the criticism and negativity?
payroll is down 1.42 million a year in salary and bennies compared to 5 years ago. Call Hylla to verify if necessary but the facts are the facts.
Linda you are on the park board. Are you voting yes or no to allow it. Yes or no Linda. The FFPP and the residents deserve to know since you are now a public official. Yes or No?
Linda doesn't have a vote on whether the splash pad gets built or not. It's not the park board's decision. It's a council decision. The park board does not make decisions like this.
6:32 For your information I do not have a vote on this issue and why the sarcasm? I was just congratulating the FFPP for their perseverance and hard work. I was trying to be nice.
I don't believe for one minute sake rise have changed that much how is that possible?
Linda, you asked why the criticism and negativity? That is what the blog is. Sorry you have to put up with it but when people wonder why more good people don't run for public office, it is these types of forums that contribute a great deal to that. I know some people feel entitled to say anything they want about public officials and, within reason, they can. But the awful things said about people here do absolutely nothing to help the candidate pool. I'm pretty sure many of the anonymous commenters would never dare run for public office. That and comments like this will often be censored. Pretty sad.
Thank you Linda and Lois. I know you have always supported the splash pad idea and Friends for Peru Pool Committee. The committee has spent countless hours for the last four year and we appreciate all the support we have gotten.
To those of you with negative feelings, I hope you will see the positive, when the project is complete.
Hurl should've stayed home and done some knitting . He didn't even want to apply for any grants ! Why did he go and now all of a sudden its a great idea and the city will try to get it done quickly. What a two faced crum dumb.
10:08 PM
He would not miss the opportunity to rub shoulders with the biggest Dem in the state. Maybe things will be different with a new governor, we can only hope. It appears that is what he wants to do most of the time and not be actually governing the city.
Projected total bill of $512K, state pays 1/2 , private pool committee pays approximate $100K. Where is the balance of $150K going to come from? Who is determining what the best Peru location for a splash pad would be? It surely cannot be near the Washington Park tower, especially with the problem of STRAY VOLTAGE. A swimming pool was demolished because it was determined to be a safety factor hopefully Peru will not replace it with another safety factor in the same end of a park as the tower is.
So it is not appropriate for the mayor to play this role? Please. It's his job.
Spot on 8:54!
Quinn is far from being the biggest Dem in the state. He is nothing but a mouthpiece or front man for the real power - Michael Madigan. He was put in place by Madigan to serve Madigan. Madigan rules Illinois and every other Dem in the state does exactly as he says.
The new governor will find out soon enough - it will be an interesting battle. If Gov. Rauner gets anything done it only be what Madigan allows. That way, he can shift the blame for Illinois' problems from the liberal Dems to Rauner. Yes... it will be an interesting four years.
It will also be interesting how our local Dem big shots - Hicks, Mautino, and Harl - come out in the mix. Our local voters aren't to keen on Chicago Dems anymore and it is important to continue to tie these guys to the powerhouse in Chicago.
10:43 - please define Stray Voltage. There are enough reasons not to spend money on an overgrown lawn sprinkler - we don't need to add paranoid theories.
Voltage is a naturally occurring phenomena - voltage is everywhere. Voltage in and of itself cannot harm anyone.
Now maybe you are referring to the radio frequency emitted by the radios in the cell tower. They are no different near the tower than they are anywhere else. Perhaps you should put some tin foil in your hat?
The real reason Washington Park should not be used is because it is haunted. Yes - that was the sight of Peru's first cemetery and they NEVER moved the bodies. The place is just crawling with ghosts. :)
Madigan reminds me of that Evil Leprechaun from the movie.
STRAY VOLTAGE
If you think this splash pad is bad - here is some more Illinois Pork that Madigan and his budget minion Mautino distributed.
$2.26 million on cable TV for inmates
$2.37 million for the construction of a 3-D downtown cinema in Granite City
$750,000 on a new government shrubbery program
$200,000 to Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour Inc. for the development of “eco-friendly customized zip lines”
$124,720 to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority of Navy Pier to host the Lego Kid Fest Chicago at McCormick Place
$75,000 to Chicago Football Classic Inc. for a three-day event that included the Chicago Football Classic game at Soldier Field
$9,941 for Springfield Park District bobbleheads
$20,489 to Swine-time Pig Racing in Rock Island County
Yup - this is what our busy state legislature does with their time and our money.
When they come asking for more money - you know what to tell them.
As counterintuitive as it sounds - the only way to solve the spending problem that Illinois has is to let them - them being the legislature - continue to spend. Spend, Spend, and Spend some more.
Spend so much that nobody will lend us more money. Then, once the spending is in place - raise taxes on EVERYTHING. Raise the income tax, raise the sales tax, raise the gas tax - Raise EVERY tax to cover the spending. What will the average citizen do when sales tax is 25% on food and 35% on everything else?
Some pain must be inflicted to get people to demand reductions from government. And the only pain people will understand is a heavy tax burden.
Lets start with taxing retirement income. Why should those on Social Security and a pension get this free of Illinois income tax - I say tax away, since the group receiving these benefits are very good voters. When they see their fixed incomes being sucked up by Springfield and Chicago - I guarantee things will change in the Illinois budget.
Stray Voltage is not a paranoid theory. It is a recent subject of all major networks in the last week. Stray Voltage has caused injuries and deaths and is ignorned until too late. What are the safety checks and plans in Peru for checking of stray voltage. The city is responible for safety precautions as Peru owns its own electrical facility. What precautions have the public Works aldermens committee and Doug Bernabi spearheaded. Anon 9:08 you are making a bad joke out of a subject you don't have a clue about. As for a professional definition and explanation I will leave that to professional sources. Until you learn the difference between Stray Voltage and voltage I'd pray you do the same.
Research drownings due to voltage, it happens in lakes, rivers, etc. Wonderful for getting a splash pad, let's leave this to the professionals (outside peru)to design and build for safety.
10:27 - what you are talking about comes from improperly installed electrical appliances such as pumps in a pool or the shore power system for a boat. Boats are more problematic since the ground is usually the hull. It does not come from a radio tower. Possibly from the electrical supply to the radio equipment, but not due to the radio frequency being generated.
Another source of your so-called "stray voltage" could be a high voltage power lines. An induced current can be generated by high voltage power lines - but this current needs a low resistance path to flow.
Water is not a good conductor - it is the impurities in water that allow current flow. In fact - 100% pure water is an insulator. Not that it matters because Peru does not have very good water and it is full of minerals. Bottom line - don't worry about radio waves but be sure to install electrical equipment up to code. Get an electrician to do any necessary work on your pool pump. Also - don't swim in a marina. It's not just electricity that will get ya' - boats often flush their toilets into the water and those propellers hurt when they hit you in the head. :)
Stray Voltage also takes place on metal fences and light poles. Now that it is a subject proven to be aware of what precautions has the city taken, who do they go to for out of town professional advice.
By out of town professional advice I mean a independent consulting firm which has highly skilled and educated personnel in the field in question. Yes, Peru has the IMEA, IML, grant writing firm, local consultants for over 60 years etc. all of which are connected and dependent.
Recently at Peru City Hall a well spoken gentleman explained what he meant by a qualified, national, independent consultant in a particular field, unfortunely local engineers with local ties and past failures were passed off as such.
Peru has been and continues to be the same old faces preaching the same old things lining their pockets in the same old ways.
Lets be happy for the city and kids and nice job to the people who did all the work on this. Everyone else quit your bitching.
As long as the company that's installing the Splash Pad is local that's all I care about.
I think this is a win for Peru. It gives the youth something to enjoy during the summer months. Though can SOMEONE tell me this. I saw that the splash pad is going to be in veteran's park. Why would it be there and not a better location like Washington Park, a place surrounded by neighborhoods, so the children of Peru can walk or bike there safely?
I still think council has to put their stamp of approval on this project and accept their portion of the cost. Will there be any money left in the pot after all the spending we've done recently?
Who will be responsible for codes and inspection of the job for splash pad? Who is highly qualified and state certified to oversee this project? Do we have such a person? Supervisor electric department? Who is it?
10:31 am. Chamlin's already has the design and building specifications. It won't be going to an out of town engineer. Silly, person, you know Chamlin's runs Peru!
watch out - 12:13 invoked the "its for the children" clause. We can justify anything by simply uttering the phrase, "its for the children." But, lets take a closer look. Looking at the data, I figure we have less then 1,000 little tykes that will use this facility. Remove about 50% of them because they have helicopter moms that will not allow them near anything remotely dangerous or fun - that leaves about 500 kids that will splash away at the pad. Now lets look at the weather. Only three months that are even remotely worth considering; June, July, and August - these are the only months when the average temp gets above 80 F. So this pad will be in use about 90 days per year. Now, I figure that once installed, the equipment will last about ten years. Or, 900 days of use. So, $512 K divided by 900 is about $569 per day. So, the way I look at it, to pay for this thing today - we need to charge each kid $1024.20.
Guess how much a youth membership costs at the YMCA? $21 per month.
So - why don't we take the $100,000 from the pool fund, give it the YMCA with the stipulation that kids from Peru under a certain age swim for free for 10 or 20 years?
If you were interested in what was going to be discussed in any of our 2 committee meetings you could previously refer to their agendas. Not any more. The last several agendas for the "Public Services" committee (the one that would discuss such purchases as the vactor and street sweeper vehicles) provides no information what-so-ever. It is strictly a blank format. My question is "WHY"? Don't they want people to attend or to know what's going on in their city? This is, in my opinion, another tactic to keep citizens and those aldermen who can't attend a 10:00 a.m. meeting in the dark.
I wonder why the NT does not have this story yet?
12:47 why would we give it to an "out of town" engineer? To make you feel better? Chamlin does not "run the city", they are our engineer as they are for a number of other cities as well.
how are they going to keep the seagulls away?
why don't they just create a beach, put in some ropes and a life guard tower and have swimming at Baker Lake? The entire project could be funded fro a few thousand dollars.
between the vactor truck and the tanker truck for the fire department, the city has spent about a million dollars that was not on any budget. Funny, I think it was estimated that a pool would cost about a millions bucks.
Sorry to add that aldermen who can attend the 10:00AM meeting are also in the dark and their only purpose is to attend the meetings so they can repeat what they are told to - Echo, Echo, Echo.
They have no more understanding of what a street sweeper is than a little old man with a straw broom. Also it is wasteful to spend over $400K to examine sewers when 3 men ride in a city truck at one time going by clogged sewer tops.
Most citizens believe that a little precaution should replace a lot of huge wasteful expenses.
Why is there such a difference between the figures the gentleman who owns a Vactor and did the city work claims he was paid and what the City Finance Officer claims he was paid? When does the IRS become involved? Is the FBI a division of the IRS?
not the YMCA. They teach kids to shoot. Didn't you see that article in the newspaper about nurf night and the pictures of kids with assault weapons toys.
Anon 2:13 Anything that could be funded for a few thousand dollars we don't want.
Yes Chamlin , for over 60 years has been Peru's one and only consulting engineer. A long long time to never be checked upon, even better than TEST. Next dynasty will be D&M and those that hide behind it.What makes you think that Chamlin's does not run the city? When you own the key to the bank you own the city-yes 60 years is a long long time! Start watching who is connected to who and you will know who is to get what in Peru. Most of these guys came into town in the garbage truck, fell out, and stayed with the stink still on them.
they should have ice skating on Baker Lake to. Put some firewood down there to burn, maybe have some piped in music. Heck - they could even put up a beer tent.
Wasn't it 3 years ago that a new command vehicle was purchased for the fire department? Who drives this one the assistant fire chief? The fire chief I believe drives a different one. Do we really have that many fire calls where we provide a command vehicle for a asst. Fire chief? Salary for this position? ($2,500). Who is the person who pushed for all these new vehicles for the city over the last couple years? Out of control spending to say the least.
2:29 PM - what does the IRS have to do with anything? And no, the FBI is not a division of the IRS. They are part of the Department of Justice.
The IRS is above the DoJ and above the government - they are.... the "Men in Black" that actually control everything. LOL.
4:18 PM
That would be a pretty big discrepancy in received payment from the city and taxes paid or due.
4:18, nobody wants the IRS to mess with them especially if their business is shady or a person's personal tax returns.
The IRS are the BAD GUYS.
1:33 p.m. I was replying to 10:31 who thought this project should go to an outside firm. Lol, like that will ever happen!!!
50 years ago Peru City
Council sought bids to extend
water lines north of Interstate 80
from a point on Shooting Park
Road near the “new” Peterman
Ford building and Dennler’s grocery store.
Lois, were you at the council meeting and what was the vote?
Did you do a blog post at the time?
@7:40PM
Why?
10:20, because they have powers that supersede our constitutional rights. They can take property and funds with their own system of courts that is above the criminal justice system. Third world dictators use the IRS as an example to model their secret police forces.
The only thing that Chuck Norris is afraid of is... the IRS.
NT is still quiet on the subject. But, it looks like Streator got a grant also - you should see what they are doing for $500K.
The Times also reported... "Other La Salle County projects awarded were $256,800 to Peru for improvements at Washington Park."
The Governor's Mansion is in Springfield but nobody has lived there in years. In fact, Governor Rauner can't move in due to the utter state of disrepair.
We need a law that states the following:
1. The governor is required to live in Springfield and conduct the state's business in Springfield.
2. All constitutional officers (treasurer, sec. of state, etc.) are required to live in Springfield and conduct the state's business from Springfield.
3. All departments of the State need to conduct all state business from Springfield and all department heads will be located in Springfield.
4. State offices located outside of the greater Springfield area will be limited to courts and satellite offices of the various state departments - drivers license facilities, IDNR, IDOT, etc.
5. The majority of state facilities in the Chicago area should be closed immediately. All salaries will be adjusted to reflect the cost of living in Springfield unless the employee is working in an area that has a cost of living that is LESS THAN Springfield. Chicago employees may relocate at their own expense.
6. In order to be legally binding, any law or executive order must be signed or issued in the Capitol Building in Springfield unless there is a state of emergency and the capitol is evacuated.
7. Springfield is the seat of government of the State of Illinois and ALL state business must be conducted there.
apparently our Library has an extra $33K laying around to toss into the splash pad project after maxing out their property tax levy.
7:49 At least they went out for bid!
9:19 - I think we should move our capitol to Madison Wisconsin or Indianapolis Indiana. Then make it against the law for anyone from Illinoi to hold a any political office in Illinois.
The next best thing would be to carve up the state between all the bordering states - except for the North East portion. We should wall that part off and give it to Canada. On second thought, Canada is a good trading partner; wouldn't want to move that. We should just burn that part of the state.
Wow 1:14, I think you have been watching to much television and not the news!!!!
To all concerned: Don't worry about chump change of $33K the city has a big book at city hall that everything has been dumped into a special section called the general ledger.
Where did the money come from for the Vactor Truck - Is it 100% from the street and water department or like everything else the electric department or retail sales tax.
If there is a problem financially in Peru it has always been hard to trace because of laundering of money until it finally reaches the correct mix of hot water and soap and spent way before it dries.
As for the always positive annual audit we are always told how good the city is doing, but never how kgood the city should be doing. Having a highly profitable city owned electric plant since the late 1800's and a extremely well developed retail section since the 1960's why doesn't a auditing firm tell the truth that Peru is doing about 25%to 30% efficiency of what it should be. Of course the audit corporations fit into the government scheme of things also and if they were completely transparent nobody would hire them.
Speaking of tranparency when will the public State of the City meeting be held and where? I am speaking of the puublic State of the City meeting not those given at private organizations. If the Mayor does not understand I mean the kind of meetings he promised in his campaign 6 years ago.
10:46, the audit only reveals that the books are kept correctly and legally.
But I'm with your 100% - This city is against budgeting and the implementation of restricted use funds. It is easier to keep everything in the General Fund where it is fungible - meaning it can be used for anything.
It would be like you or me going to the bank with our paycheck, cashing it, and carrying it around to spend all the time.
Don't hold your breath 10:51. Those meetings he promised will never happen. As a matter of fact all our meetings are becoming more and more secretive and more and more decisions seem to be being made behind closed doors. The decisions are made and then everyone falls into line.
10:51, Boss Harl only give his state of the city speech to the chamber of commerce. Individual citizens rarely - if every - donate money to his fund, so we don't count. Representation in Peru is directly proportional to the amount of money you give the Boss.
And the blog just gets a little crazier every day. Wow.
This administration is so afraid of this blog it's almost funny. That is why they do all of their business behind closed doors.
To 11:55, I agree. But this blog has room to get a "LOT" crazier, and I believe it will. It's very nice to be able to "unload" on Peru's elected officials and its very peculiar governing methods. Peru practices the "Chaos means Cash" form of government. Meaning when things a running right, the connected companies and individuals will maintain a steady flow of taxpayer dollars disguised as progress and improvement. Harl continues to pretend he is popular and important. The aldermen continue to protect the financial interests of the same people and corporations that previous aldermen used to protect. Together, the mayor and aldermen are easily manipulated by special interests who laugh at the ease at which Peru's elected officials give them whatever they ask for. Case in point, the sand companies who will reap huge benefits from the city of Peru in exchange for jobs and a promise to pitch in some cash for a small area of road improvement. Harl and the aldermen would bend over and grab their ankles for the Devil himself if they were promised a half-dozen minimum wage jobs. Now that's an image I need to get out of my head asap. EEEEWWWWW!
The 1:14 comment is a joke - you people need to recognize sarcasm when you see it.
Now what I heard is that Mayor Harl was kidnapped by grey aliens shortly after he was elected the first time. There has been a pod person running Peru ever since. Oh... and the Illuminati are actually in charge of the CSO. LOL :)
Thanks for reading 11:55
11:37 I got a copy of the audit and there are plenty of restricted fund areas and it would be the obligation for the auditor to point out if the funds were utilized for another purpose. You are not close to having any experience in accounting and looking for conspiracy in every corner.
And the blog gets crazier every day.
@11:55 AM Lois, How many years have you authored the blog. All of these years of expressing everyones personel opinions as long as they have been truthful without a doubt. The majority of subjects have been related to some form of government representation and yes Lois I have to agree with 11:55 AM that the blog has gotten a little/lot crazier every day. What 11:55AM has failed to state is the reason why the blog gets a little/lot crazier every day- the reason being the personnel and their decisions representing our government, Peru included.
In conclusion 11:55 AM the day you, me and everyone else elect qualified officials to represent us the blog will rectify itself that we will have very little need of it, but there will always be a need of freedom of expression. Wow.
thanks for reading 12:57
The only restricted use funds are the ones required by law.
As I stated in my comment, city finances are 100% legal and the audits are correct and proper.
So let me restate my point so you might be able to understand it.
Peru likes to operate out of the general fund whenever possible so they can spend as they wish. This gives them flexibility. However, I believe giving this kind of flexibility to a politician is unwise. This leads to decisions being made outside of the budgeting process. Another analogy if you like - if you keep all your money in your checking account and don't put some away - in another fund - to pay next months mortgage, you may be temped to spend it now on something besides what it was intended for.
Therefore - in my honest opinion, Peru lives day to day without a long range plan. This is bad for a person, it is bad for a business, it is bad for a city.
there is a full moon you know.
and as bernie says show me some more money!
12:35 there are no minimum wage jobs in the loading of sand. Truck drivers, and others are paid well. Are you critical of every business that sets up shop in Peru? And why? Most communities operate with many small hirings of 5-10 employees, this industry will hire many more. And the benefit of having more business is the spending power and supporting tax base provided by the business location. Your perfect city is one that has no business and we all live off of the subsidized efforts of the government.
Peru needs to catch up and join the information age. Things are getting much better but there is still room for vast improvement.
The days of government operating in the dark and outside of public scrutiny are over. Modern technology has made it possible to scrutinize every decision made by public official. For better or worse, everyone has the capability to provide input. So, if government officials need to be able to justify all the decisions they make. The days of a kick under the table followed by a nod and a wink are over. People are also tired of being told that our various government entities need more and more of our hard earned money. It is getting to the point that we - the people - need to tell them no more. Not one more penny will be spent unless it is justified to the Nth degree. The only way to stop an addict is to cut them off cold turkey. Our various governments are addicted to spending - we need to stop giving them more money. When additional funds stop coming in - you can believe me they will start to prioritize things differently.
1:48 understand that the city has a budget and that budget is approved by the elected of the city council. According to the laws of the government accounting standards those numbers reflect actual spending authority of each and every department. The budget is a plan for both short range and long term objectives of every city. Spending illegally makes good reading for those inclined to believe. You may disagree with spending for a new truck, new sewer cleaner, new fire truck or whatever. I would think that you may not be aware of the need to replace sewers, sidewalks, streets, but those who are there on the day to day operations understand that some expenses are required to maintain a strong city. That is what long range and short range budget tools provide.
I am responding because I believe that the city needed to provide those residents with flood issues all the protection we deserve and if it means $450,000 its tough.
11:25 AM, 1-5-15
Thank you for your explanation and I take your safety warning as a positive in regards to my well being. Since you seem to have some electrical knowledge possibly you would care to elaborate on the result of worn out electrical equipment that have been placed underground. The television networks state that deaths and serious injuries have been the result of unknown stray voltage, once again what preventive maintenance and safety program does the City of Peru have in place in regards to electrical stray voltage? As electrical sources age , similar to infrastructure, more problems will occur. Peru with no short or long range planning and its spur of the moment philosophy will find stray voltage to be a much more immediate safety factor than a broken water main. Broken water mains were never properly handled because of lack of boil orders and means of communication of boil orders.Water supply, electricty, police protection, fire safety etc. are some of the reasons we have a government not fireworks, dog sled pulls and all other flavor of the month projects.
12:52 you are only partially correct. The aliens were tall and green and the true power belongs to the tea party. The CSO is run by a outlaw group of retired martians.
Lois you are a very evil person. Enjoy your golden years and don't be filled with such hatred.
Elections are especially critical to the City of Peru because it is a city goverened by Home Rule.
The success of Home Rule is dependent upon the honesty of the politicians in charge of the city.
Many questions could be asked to determine if you are getting the representation needed. i.e. here are a few:
Are you as a citizen more involved if council meetings are open to the public or are closed session?
Do you believe that all government funded projects should be determined by open competitive bidding or by no bid super majority rules?
Do you elect a city official whom you believe will listen to his constituents viewpoints and consider them in his vote or did you elect this person to represent himself and not care what his consituents want?
Do you believe it is more efficient to employ many different consultants to get different viewpoints or to stay tied to one and the same consultant for 60 years and ongoing?
Do you believe that the present form of representation is qualified to manage a $50 million+ business or should Peru have a city manager along with a Mayor?
What questions do you have or is Peru beyond question?
2:59 PM, you are absolutely 100% correct. That is why the vac truck, fire truck and now the splashing pad should have all been included as line items in the budget under their appropriate departments.
No the CSO is not run by a outlaw group of retired martians but when looking at the Xmas decorations or the size of the banners in comparison to other area cities you would think so.
Anon 4:53 PM If I was the author of this blog your comment would never been entered. Both you and your comment are sad and if I was Lois I would censure all your comments and those even similar in the the future. Have another drink of the kool-aid.
4:53 What are you talking about? How is Lois being evil? What has she said to make you act so evil yourself?
4:53 Maybe Lois enjoys keeping the citizens of Peru informed, plus giving them an opportunity to voice their opinions. With more closed sessions and meetings held when no one is able to attend and agendas being generic this forum is the only place to find out what is going on in this city. Shame on you! Lois is not the one who writes the comments, and to call her an evil person, no VERY evil is uncalled for, and you should apologize or quit reading. Actually you love to read all this evil, don't you?
I guess of u wanna call the truth evil so be it. I find this site to be.very informative. GTL (got to love) those with affiliation of sort with political people in the city who don't like this forum. Or employees.
Lets leave Lois out of this argument, she is simply posting the contents of those who post on the Forum. She picks subject matter that is usually discussed from both sides of the fence. A few others look for ways to attack the local officials with rumors, lies and personal insults. The fact that they care and are allowed to express these thoughts is a sign that democracy is still alive. If you want real information talk to some the Mayor, some alderman, those who understand city business. I had a 30 minute discussion with my alderman and he discussed my tax rates, sand transportation, city finances, pensions and more. I tend to believe that most will be happy to discuss your concerns.
To 2:59 pm, Here is why people like you are the problem in Peru. You are uninformed and unaware of the facts. You are mistaken by in your thinking that flooding issues will be solved by spending $450,000on a Vac-Truck. Furthermore, you just assume that buying the truck was more efficient and economical than continuing to outsource the service becuase numbers were presented that justify that line of thinking. The truth lies in the fact that that flooding in Peru is the result of multiple causes including but not exclusive to plugged up storm and sanitary sewers. The numbers Waldorf used to justify purchasing the truck were "inflated" and "incorrect" becuase they represented amounts paid to Michelini for other services he provided to the city added on to the Vactor services. The numbers were "cooked" and Harl and most of the aldermen knew it and they all just went along with it. That is more Peru politics at its ugliest and most revealing. It's a scam and nobody does anything to stop it.
10:10 I guess the proof would be to FOIA all those bills from the city clerk's office over the course of the last 5 years, since the flood. Maybe the other services are related to a vactor truck? I would think that the figures presented to the city officials was what they based the decision on. What would there be a scam with the purchase of a vactor truck that many smaller cities have in their arsenal?
Numbers are "cooked." That doesn't surprise me. Nice transparency. Keep paying attention, and more discrepancies will magically appear. Sometimes when a person is too quiet, they're lying or trying to skirt the truth. More ?'s need to be directed in a public forum such as council meetings to department heads. Wow, this would be interesting of their answers on subject matters. Personally, I don't think enough questions are asked by any of our alderman, yes, including Alderman Perez. Why doesn't our city operate like this?
8:34 why does someone have to be connected to someone to not like this blog. I am a business leader in the community but I am not really connected to anyone at the city and I know NONE of my close business associates who care what anyone says on the blog. It's just a place to read gossip.
More conspiracies of "cooking the books". Hilarious. Please keep talking.
I can tell you on this one that no one is cooking the books. This is a no brainer. My only criticism is they should have done it sooner. I'm glad the people involved got this done.
12:39 I watch many meetings on the web. Rod is the only representative the city has. City Hall is filled with scandals and deceipt. (Cooked County type officials) With that current administration including department heads who would one ask questions of? It's clear everything is spun into a web then thrown at us. Until new blood takes majority of those seats we will get what we're getting. (Smoke Screens) We need more representation like Perez. I could only imagine if we had more like him heads would fly. Asking crooked politicians questions is like asking a car dealer if the car you're test driving is for you.
7:34 you have discredited your "no brainer" belief that no one in the city is cooking the books by pointing out you are not associated with anyone at the City. I wouldn't call you a "Business Leader" by any means with your way of thinking.
8:39. Then we will all sit back and wait for your proof that the "books were cooked." All of the "books" are audited. All of the bills are public record. It was a business decision, one that I believe as a business person was long overdue.
We disagree. I am okay with that. But I am not the one making the accusations. Again, please prove to us how the numbers have been fudged to make this purchase a bad one long term.
Hmmmmm....or do you have an interest in the waste of money with the outsourcing that has been done?
Again. Stop hiding behind catch phrases that stir up emotions in fools and prove to us that the purchase of the truck (that all council members agreed was a necessary purchase) is such a conspiracy. We will be here waiting.
it really boils down to what is really meant by "cooking the books."
I really doubt that anything illegal is going on. Rather, the facts are spun to paint a picture that supports the administrations position. Sort of like the unemployment rate. It does not count the number of unemployed - it only counts, effectively, people collecting unemployment insurance.
So - if you want to justify buying something you simply pick and choose the numbers you want to include in the justification. You just have to know how to sort the statistics to favor your position.
Anyone who says "the only representation we have is Perez" is so out of touch with reality that it is ridiculous. Give me a break.
Everyone is a crook? They are all liars and deceivers? Lol. 7:50, how many of our current city council members have you met and gotten to know personally? Just curious. Please share.
I don't understand why someone who considers themselves a business leader would not identify themselves with their comment.
Was Jesse James a self proclaimed financial business genius or a bank robber. How many men 7:34 do you know that are in a business in which every dollar they put their hands on is pure profit?
If you are reluctant to identify yourself would you at least explain what criteria substantiates you as a "business leader"?
3:52 Your right the dog sled club, the fireworks to Baker Lake, the firehouse invisible donation to operation promise, the FBI, the abstain votes all go back to your elected leaders.
9:52 am Its called sarcasm. Nobody in the town town actually believes those statements. The statements are driven by family members and those who look for a good joke. Its nothing more. Laugh along. We need humor.
The City of Peru quite often stumbles over 3 letter abreviations. The FBI easied into town and easied out but the IRS will hang around to get all needed books necessary and than compare legally. When a government establishment claims to have paid someone $100,000 more than what the vendor claims the IRS becomes interested.
Okay 1:02. We will wait for the IRS report just like we waited for the FBI report.
10:18 I own my own small business, employ a number of people and I am involved in the business community. Sorry if the term offended you. I can take it back but it doesn't change who I am.
Why am I required to identify myself on a blog where only one or two people do so? I know why. Because I disagreed with you. That's hard for you isn't it? I'm sorry. I thought this was a place for discourse.
Speaking of discourse, you still didn't answer my question, but made some strange comment about profit. I will ask you again.
What are they doing to cook the books? Show us the numbers that are so far off. Many cities have a truck like this. Our aldermen unanimously agreed this was a good purchase at some point. We are still waiting.
Anon 1:34 PM
The latest city council meeting on video should answer your questions and bring you up to date.
You would not waited so long if you would have did some homework on your and stopped utilizing needless comparisons trying to justify the purchase of a truck without being able to justify the math of it.
Personnaly no one cares if your a business leader or not but do care if your decision and the councils decision was based on much sounder reasoning. We have a need of the service, but to outsource lawn service and go in house with sewer inspecting at the same meeting is not sensible business no matter who makes the decision. The more the council makes decisions the greater the need of new council members are shown.
In conclusion your questions are evident and answered in the council video and you have the ability to FOIA for further info.
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