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
I wish La Salle had the retail tax base Peru has. Not that Peru misuses its large income (that's for Peru residents to decide) but I feel La Salle could produce a lot for its citizens if it had that opportunity. Maybe the time will come when things will change. I hope I live to see all cities in our area get the chance to show what they can do.
Peru will never have a parade like this. It won't bring in tax revenue. In fact, it would distract people and they won't be spending money up north - thus it would have a negative impact on tax revenue. Remember - The goal of Peru's Government is to take as much money from the citizens as possible.
Sorry for putting this here. But, there is an article in the NT stating that Utica will be reviewing their Comprehensive Plan. When will Peru be doing that? I searched all over the Peru web page and can't even find a copy of the Comprehensive Plan. I would like to give the City of Peru some input regarding our Comprehensive Plan - it would be helpful to read the document first.
8:32 AM, that sounds like a great idea. The problem is Peru has no Comprehensive Plan for community development. The reason Peru has no Comprehensive Plan is because Alderman Rodney Perez suggested the city council work to create one and Mr. Perez's suggestion was immediately rebuked by the rest of the city council becuase they refuse to cooperate in any way with anything Alderman Perez puts forward regardless of the benefit to the city of Peru. They give their own selfish and petty hatred priority over the well being and future of the citizens they are supposed to serve. Genuine guys!
If you judge your city on how big are the parades, Peru will finish last. And besides they haven't been known for a large group of Irish that St.Patty day is known for. LaSALLE is perfect for the celebration.
Peru may have other priorities than a big parade, and why have two celebrations? LaSalle does a good job of promotion and celebration, why compete? Why duplicate?
That makes no sense. I think it is mandatory to have some sort of Comprehensive Plan - if nothing more than to help budget. I want to know when my street is scheduled to be repaved. Where can I look that up?
10:36 I'm not judging Peru on how big their parades are, but I am judging them on their community involvement and events, which are sorely lacking compared to other communities. Open your eyes and look what other towns in the area are doing for their community and you will see Peru doesn't nil for its residents.
1:29 I agree. They spend too much time working on balancing the budget and economic stuff. They have too much pride on low taxes to worry about parades. We need a parade marshall instead of finance and economic guys. Elect someone that likes to sled ride!
Oh, come on 1:29. We corral half the Illinois Valley onto Water Street every year to dodge trains while guzzling beer and watching bombs bursting in air all choreographed to a week FM radio signal.
For awhile we where charging a premium price for "no seating" concerts, I mean drink fests, I mean charity events at the airport. But some Scrooge decided to use the airport for airplanes.
Now don't forget about Pickle Ball. And then there is the annual Hotel Motel Fund Memorial Baseball Tourney and Over Time Makeup Days for Public Works.
Peru has a lot of activities used to generate more hotel and sales tax. I mean events for the people.
Your answer assures me that most likely you are one of our members making decisions and you don't understand or have a clue as to what you are talking about. But then you are not a part of the community but a part of the clique that is now running Peru. Most cities around us do all you mentioned plus do community work as well. They get it and Peru does not. This is one thing the city cannot hide. And your last comment also tells me you are one of the rudest of the rude. Yes I am thoroughly disgusted with those who are supposed to represent all of the residents but do not and do not even care.
So; what I'm reading here is that there is not a comprehensive plan for Peru? Is that correct? Much smaller cities have planning documents. How and earth can Peru operate without one? Or is it purely seat of the pants management?
Thought of the day: For a city of 10,000 and a budget of over $50 million annually where does our money go? $50 million/year gives us approximately $4+/month and yet our disbursements do not indicate that we spend that entire amount. Therefore, why isn't the Hydro paid for in full, why couldn't we have built a pool, why isn't the police pension fund fully funded, why isn't our sewer system top notch, why aren't our roads completely finished, etc., etc.? What percentage of that money goes to salaries? Just food for though over the weekend.
baying a bond issue early is not like paying off a mortgage early. You pay the coupon when the coupon is due. If you want to call the bond - if that option is even available - its all of the remaining principal. You can't just send in an extra fifty bucks a month.
Because Gov. Rauner is presently moving the State of Illinois in the direction of sound financial responsibility does not mean that Peru cannot have a splash pad. Peru has every right and ability to pay for their own splash pad.
* Instead of paying 50% of $547K for a splash pad and all the unnecessary bells and whistles included city government can reach back to what was suggested years ago. Consult with Ottawa, Illinois who has built a very popular splash pad for less than $100K of their own money.
The city should have no problem financing their own splash pad as evidenced by past expenditures and salary increases made in the last number of years. Possibly the drug fund money from the airport of $365K would pay for a splash pad as it did for a BB Gun Club. Peru surely has funding as the recent building at city hall, purchases of a fire truck, Vactor camera truck, dump truck, city street sweeper etc., etc., etc. indicates. Peru already owns the perfect site for a splash pad at the south end of Centennial Park where a parking lot is already available with playground equipment and bathroom facilities, and as a added plus a communication tower is not.
As a present city and state taxpayer I would rather see the financing be channled trough Peru than the state. Possibly this will stop the idea that the state funding is no cost to the taxpayer so lets spend $547K rather than $125K.
People must learn that no matter how much force the ball swings one way it comes back with more force the other way. We have swung state financial support to such a extent that Illinois is in a economic shambles that Gov. Rauner has very little to swing back with. This is a lesson that we are going to learn to pay our own way rather than the state paying it.
Recently Peru had a referendum on the pool. And the majority expressed that this was not a priority and they would not support the idea with tax dollars.
Drug funds? Its unlikely that the funds can be used for a splash pad.
Would you rather use funds to pay pension, fix sewers, repave streets or build that pool/splash pond? Or raise property taxes?
We should take our portion of the money and put it in the bank. It will be needed for something more vital in the future.
The concept of government spending every penny they get every year needs to be stopped. We need to budget a surplus and then save that surplus for an emergency.
We need to figure out some other way to take money from people to pay for our services in Peru. We are Home Rule - Home Rule cities are allowed to have a gasoline tax. We should do that.
Mums the word in the local papers about the grants being cut. We all know these where just vote getters for Mautino and Quinn anyway. I for one approve and hope the Governor continues running the weed whacker through the state budget.
The 911 Center is probably on a list somewhere also. Better not spend any of our own money until that check clears.
It's going to be a rough few years folks - but we will come out of it a better state.
Anon 7:30 PM Would you please site the location where it states that you must run for office to be able to express yourself. to all who continue to state that money secured from drug related situations can only be used for drug related items within the police department how did the C,PPD use some of the money for a BB Gun Club in Peru. Wouldn't it be something if IMEA said you could only use the profits made in electric departments for electrical purposes in the city. What per cent of taxes collected go towards the electrical department. A couple of years ago 24% of city taxes were for the PPD. Does it seem fair that a city department has control of a accumulation of large sums of money internally that the city cannot touch? Would drug related monies be large enough to pay the Chief of Police in Peru? What is the C,PPD salary/year?
The BB Gun Club is used as an educational activity to keep kids off drugs. People are correct in that the money can only be used for drug enforcement activities. But the rule is so vague that you can spin just about any spending to be related to drug enforcement.
11:39, there is nothing stating you have to run, but when your expressing yourself as supposedly the truth and hiding under anonymous you would be a more accountable source if you put your money where your mouth is and run or at least your name on the comment
What association does a gun club of any form have as a educational activity to keep children off of drugs. If the money can be used for a introduction of how to handle a gun or weapon safely it can be used for a splash pad for drug enforcement also. If the rule is so vague city officials had best take a good and extensive view of it and use this money for road improvements that police cars travel over at excessive speeds to catch drug peddlers. I have never personally seen this rule but now am becoming interested in why the police dept gets to call it their own in a home rule government if it is this flimsy. Little League, Youth football, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts. handicraft, splash pads and water activities, librarys and on and on and on have as much association as a BB Gun Club to keep children off of drugs. So city officials why arn't you picking up Judas' coins.
11:46 AM So if the C,PPD gives money to the city for a BB Gun Club which breaks state stature why hasn't the state claimed the entire $500K. Surely the Chief cannot be the sole authority of what the money is intended to be utilized for in Peru. Does anyone have access to the drug money laws. Maybe it would be wise to publish them on the blog and see if a BB Gun Club qualifies before the city loses the remainder of the money. Is the present C,PPD a lawyer who has passed the State of Illinois Bar exam? What is his pay per year and how does it compare to cities of similar size of Peru in Illinois?
Anon 1:40PM I've never heard of a splash pad used in a hold up, but BB guns are. Best choice appears to call proper state authorities and ask why a BB Gun Club has been allowed to be built with drug money.Maybe after this is straightened out the former city employee can get his job back. He would make a good witness to what went on.
Yes - a Splash Pad has been used "in a hold up." Things like splash pads and pools are used in "hold ups" every day. The "Hold Up" is the diversion of the my taxes to government programs that serve no legitimate government purpose. I for one am tired of being "Held Up" by my government.
36 comments:
why can't we have one in Peru?
I wish La Salle had the retail tax base Peru has. Not that Peru misuses its large income (that's for Peru residents to decide) but I feel La Salle could produce a lot for its citizens if it had that opportunity. Maybe the time will come when things will change. I hope I live to see all cities in our area get the chance to show what they can do.
Bobby thompson
Peru will never have a parade like this. It won't bring in tax revenue. In fact, it would distract people and they won't be spending money up north - thus it would have a negative impact on tax revenue.
Remember - The goal of Peru's Government is to take as much money from the citizens as possible.
Sorry for putting this here. But, there is an article in the NT stating that Utica will be reviewing their Comprehensive Plan.
When will Peru be doing that? I searched all over the Peru web page and can't even find a copy of the Comprehensive Plan. I would like to give the City of Peru some input regarding our Comprehensive Plan - it would be helpful to read the document first.
8:32 AM, that sounds like a great idea. The problem is Peru has no Comprehensive Plan for community development. The reason Peru has no Comprehensive Plan is because Alderman Rodney Perez suggested the city council work to create one and Mr. Perez's suggestion was immediately rebuked by the rest of the city council becuase they refuse to cooperate in any way with anything Alderman Perez puts forward regardless of the benefit to the city of Peru. They give their own selfish and petty hatred priority over the well being and future of the citizens they are supposed to serve. Genuine guys!
If you judge your city on how big are the parades, Peru will finish last. And besides they haven't been known for a large group of Irish that St.Patty day is known for. LaSALLE is perfect for the celebration.
Peru may have other priorities than a big parade, and why have two celebrations? LaSalle does a good job of promotion and celebration, why compete? Why duplicate?
That makes no sense. I think it is mandatory to have some sort of Comprehensive Plan - if nothing more than to help budget. I want to know when my street is scheduled to be repaved. Where can I look that up?
There is no Comprehensive Plan for Peru. They use a day to day management style and react to whatever the hot button issue is.
10:36 I'm not judging Peru on how big their parades are, but I am judging them on their community involvement and events, which are sorely lacking compared to other communities. Open your eyes and look what other towns in the area are doing for their community and you will see Peru doesn't nil for its residents.
1:29 I agree. They spend too much time working on balancing the budget and economic stuff. They have too much pride on low taxes to worry about parades. We need a parade marshall instead of finance and economic guys. Elect someone that likes to sled ride!
Oh, come on 1:29. We corral half the Illinois Valley onto Water Street every year to dodge trains while guzzling beer and watching bombs bursting in air all choreographed to a week FM radio signal.
For awhile we where charging a premium price for "no seating" concerts, I mean drink fests, I mean charity events at the airport. But some Scrooge decided to use the airport for airplanes.
Now don't forget about Pickle Ball. And then there is the annual Hotel Motel Fund Memorial Baseball Tourney and Over Time Makeup Days for Public Works.
Peru has a lot of activities used to generate more hotel and sales tax. I mean events for the people.
2:24 PM
Your answer assures me that most likely you are one of our members making decisions and you don't understand or have a clue as to what you are talking about. But then you are not a part of the community but a part of the clique that is now running Peru. Most cities around us do all you mentioned plus do community work as well. They get it and Peru does not. This is one thing the city cannot hide. And your last comment also tells me you are one of the rudest of the rude. Yes I am thoroughly disgusted with those who are supposed to represent all of the residents but do not and do not even care.
So; what I'm reading here is that there is not a comprehensive plan for Peru? Is that correct? Much smaller cities have planning documents. How and earth can Peru operate without one? Or is it purely seat of the pants management?
If peru had a parade you would all carb and complain it was not irish enough or we waste money on this. Shut up all you old gas bags
It looks like the $500K splash pad and horse shoe pit has been axed by the governor.
Thought of the day: For a city of 10,000 and a budget of over $50 million annually where does our money go? $50 million/year gives us approximately $4+/month and yet our disbursements do not indicate that we spend that entire amount. Therefore, why isn't the Hydro paid for in full, why couldn't we have built a pool, why isn't the police pension fund fully funded, why isn't our sewer system top notch, why aren't our roads completely finished, etc., etc.? What percentage of that money goes to salaries? Just food for though over the weekend.
baying a bond issue early is not like paying off a mortgage early. You pay the coupon when the coupon is due. If you want to call the bond - if that option is even available - its all of the remaining principal. You can't just send in an extra fifty bucks a month.
Because Gov. Rauner is presently moving the State of Illinois in the direction of sound financial responsibility does not mean that Peru cannot have a splash pad.
Peru has every right and ability to pay for their own splash pad.
* Instead of paying 50% of $547K for a splash pad and all the unnecessary bells and whistles included city government can reach back to what was suggested years ago. Consult with Ottawa, Illinois who has built a very popular splash pad for less than $100K of their own money.
The city should have no problem financing their own splash pad as evidenced by past expenditures and salary increases made in the last number of years. Possibly the drug fund money from the airport of $365K would pay for a splash pad as it did for a BB Gun Club. Peru surely has funding as the recent building at city hall, purchases of a fire truck, Vactor camera truck, dump truck, city street sweeper etc., etc., etc. indicates. Peru already owns the perfect site for a splash pad at the south end of Centennial Park where a parking lot is already available with playground equipment and bathroom facilities, and as a added plus a communication tower is not.
As a present city and state taxpayer I would rather see the financing be channled trough Peru than the state. Possibly this will stop the idea that the state funding is no cost to the taxpayer so lets spend $547K rather than $125K.
People must learn that no matter how much force the ball swings one way it comes back with more force the other way. We have swung state financial support to such a extent that Illinois is in a economic shambles that Gov. Rauner has very little to swing back with. This is a lesson that we are going to learn to pay our own way rather than the state paying it.
Recently Peru had a referendum on the pool. And the majority expressed that this was not a priority and they would not support the idea with tax dollars.
Drug funds? Its unlikely that the funds can be used for a splash pad.
Would you rather use funds to pay pension, fix sewers, repave streets or build that pool/splash pond? Or raise property taxes?
We should take our portion of the money and put it in the bank. It will be needed for something more vital in the future.
The concept of government spending every penny they get every year needs to be stopped. We need to budget a surplus and then save that surplus for an emergency.
can't use drug confiscation money for anything but more drug enforcement.
We need to figure out some other way to take money from people to pay for our services in Peru. We are Home Rule - Home Rule cities are allowed to have a gasoline tax. We should do that.
We are home rule - that's a fact. We can use the drug money for anything we want.
Mums the word in the local papers about the grants being cut. We all know these where just vote getters for Mautino and Quinn anyway. I for one approve and hope the Governor continues running the weed whacker through the state budget.
The 911 Center is probably on a list somewhere also. Better not spend any of our own money until that check clears.
It's going to be a rough few years folks - but we will come out of it a better state.
Right to Work in Illinois - 2015!
Anon 2:45, sorry you are totally wrong, only can be used for drug related Items within the police dept.
Just wondering if all you people with all the answers are running for office?
Anon 7:30 PM Would you please site the location where it states that you must run for office to be able to express yourself.
to all who continue to state that money secured from drug related situations can only be used for drug related items within the police department how did the C,PPD use some of the money for a BB Gun Club in Peru.
Wouldn't it be something if IMEA said you could only use the profits made in electric departments for electrical purposes in the city.
What per cent of taxes collected go towards the electrical department. A couple of years ago 24% of city taxes were for the PPD. Does it seem fair that a city department has control of a accumulation of large sums of money internally that the city cannot touch? Would drug related monies be large enough to pay the Chief of Police in Peru? What is the C,PPD salary/year?
The BB Gun Club is used as an educational activity to keep kids off drugs.
People are correct in that the money can only be used for drug enforcement activities. But the rule is so vague that you can spin just about any spending to be related to drug enforcement.
11:39, there is nothing stating you have to run, but when your expressing yourself as supposedly the truth and hiding under anonymous you would be a more accountable source if you put your money where your mouth is and run or at least your name on the comment
What association does a gun club of any form have as a educational activity to keep children off of drugs. If the money can be used for a introduction of how to handle a gun or weapon safely it can be used for a splash pad for drug enforcement also.
If the rule is so vague city officials had best take a good and extensive view of it and use this money for road improvements that police cars travel over at excessive speeds to catch drug peddlers.
I have never personally seen this rule but now am becoming interested in why the police dept gets to call it their own in a home rule government if it is this flimsy.
Little League, Youth football, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts. handicraft, splash pads and water activities, librarys and on and on and on have as much association as a BB Gun Club to keep children off of drugs. So city officials why arn't you picking up Judas' coins.
10:38, I think it is dictated by the State otherwise the state gets all the drug money recovered by the PPD. Home rule or not.
Ya, but BB Guns are FUN! Splash Pads are NOT FUN!
11:46 AM So if the C,PPD gives money to the city for a BB Gun Club which breaks state stature why hasn't the state claimed the entire $500K.
Surely the Chief cannot be the sole authority of what the money is intended to be utilized for in Peru. Does anyone have access to the drug money laws. Maybe it would be wise to publish them on the blog and see if a BB Gun Club qualifies before the city loses the remainder of the money.
Is the present C,PPD a lawyer who has passed the State of Illinois Bar exam? What is his pay per year and how does it compare to cities of similar size of Peru in Illinois?
Anon 1:40PM I've never heard of a splash pad used in a hold up, but BB guns are. Best choice appears to call proper state authorities and ask why a BB Gun Club has been allowed to be built with drug money.Maybe after this is straightened out the former city employee can get his job back. He would make a good witness to what went on.
@10:20 AM In your preaching of what others should do you forgot to put your own name instead of anon.
Practice what you preach, Lucifer1
Yes - a Splash Pad has been used "in a hold up." Things like splash pads and pools are used in "hold ups" every day.
The "Hold Up" is the diversion of the my taxes to government programs that serve no legitimate government purpose.
I for one am tired of being "Held Up" by my government.
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