On the agenda posted today, the meeting of the Peru Recreation Board will meet to discuss the cancellation of the July 3 fireworks due to weather related conditions. Even a week of dryness would probably not dry the land on which the fireworks are launched and displays set up. I believe this is the second time in 3 or 4 years time.
When the fireworks are contracted, some of the cost is paid up front is my understanding. Is it refundable, I don't know.
It is really time to get serious about choosing a new location, do you agree?
Water Street is becoming increasingly more industrial and not recreational. A joint celebration with La Salle is of course the ideal and logical solution but not one that I believe Peru would be interested in. Peru has always wanted to go their own way and does not share very easily that I can remember. The airport evidently is out due to FAA regs. Do we have another place suitable that people can agree to?
Lets put the money to something else, maybe a splashpad that could be used all summer and not looked at for one evening for about one hour. The businesses on Water Street should not depend on the city to provide them patrons. Perhaps they (businesses and/or local organizations) could have a celebration for families with some other attraction to draw them to the area.
Ideas??
57 comments:
Yes I have a idea. That idea being that every town in the area has a family event of fireworks, Peru included. But no other town has the difficulties that Peru has in staging the fireworks.
Some in Peru claim that the city never has any family activities, All agree that Peru should have more family activities. But is the primary dissatisfaction expressed by a few ruining it for all.
The CSO made the call on this...they are political action group the works in background to find candidates that believe in don baker era style politics...last year was a loser in money so they don't want to lose more
As of recent they financially backed Dave Waldorf in his race for alderman...
Too bad Peru is in the tornadic spin for the bottom of valley, I hope I'm next election we can find someone to even run, I wouldn't want to jump in drivers seat now it's a sinking ship
Unfortunately, the only thing that will be discussed at this meeting will be the postponement or outright cancelation. They don't want to discuss logical options to make the event better.
I have been saying it for many years. We need to think regionally. Have a 20 to 30 minute display for each city within 50 square miles makes no sense whatsoever. Water Street does not have the room to host an event like this and is downright dangerous. The only reason it has held on for so long is the CSO Beer Tent. And believe me, the days of that dinosaur are limited. Drinking beer in a tent, served by a few fat old crustaceans is not really my idea of fun. They should have a large pavilion with tables, a band, etc. And young ladies serving the beer. Through in some bratwurst and now you have the beginning of a festival. But this can't be done on Water Street in Peru. It can't be done at the airport either - the airport not for that sort of thing. They shouldn't even have pancake breakfasts there. So - where should events like this be held? Possibly the multi-million dollar sports complex. Maybe LaSalle's new park. Maybe in Spring Valley. Maybe the mall parking lot. Maybe St. Bede. Or maybe create a festival at Starved Rock.
How many years did Peru have a fireworks display without a contact, always the same company and for a few dollars under $20,000 so that not going out for bid could even be questioned? Similar to many other projects conducted in Peru when coming under question there is always another entity willing to lower the initial city expense i.e. the drug fund assisting the expense of the BB Gun Club so that previous financial commitments could be kept when city officials came under question.
Who knows exactly where the funding comes from to sponsor the fireworks - the city, the CSO, private donations etc.
Fireworks are nice but if the problem is that the Rec. Bd. is incapable to manage it, it should be given help or it should be discontinued. If no one knows how to do it correctly disband it!
I think we should stop having the fireworks. LaSalle has them, Utica has them, Hennepin has them, Spring Valley has them. It's just like not having a pool. People say LaSalle has a pool, Oglesby has a pool, and Spring Valley has a pool. Let's just make everybody go to other towns for recreation and entertainment. It'll save Peru a bunch of money.
9:36 AM, Nobody is "ruining" anything for anybody. Don't know what you are referring to as being "ruined". Peru elected officials will never agree to a joint celebration with LaSalla, that much i can tell you for certain. The enlarged egos of Peru's mayor and aldermen cannot allow for others to participate in what they see as something that "belongs to them" and gives the "bragging rights" to blow that Peru's celebration is the best around. The arrogance of Peru, it's elected officials, and the CSO is always most evident at this time of year. I hope they will do as they did last year and postpone the celebration until Labor Day so all of Peru's elcted officials can pay homage to the working "UNION" men and women of the Illinois Valley. Now that's worth celebrating. Can I get an AMEN?
In keeping with the spirit of the Peru way of doing business, I think Harl should establish a "Pyrotechnics Task Force" made up of some of Peru's most esteemed users and purveyors of fireworks, explosives, and other pyrotechinic recreational devices. Since Peru is now governed by the "Task Force form of Governemnt", the Pyro Task Force will be consist of only Peru citizens who have lost at least three digits on at least two seperate occasions from firework related incidents, and those injuries must have been sustained within the city limits of Peru and treated only at IVCH. After all, we have to keep it all Peru right? However, VAPING products for all your VAPING needs will not qualifiy as "pyrotechnics" in this case.
Sparklers, Snakes, Party Poppers, and other silly devices currently sold at "The Deli" will definately qualify the former alderman with the Pull-Tab addiction to serve on the Pyro Task Force. In fact, he should probably be the Chairman. BTW, as we move into summer here in Peru it's high time Harl create a "Port-a-Potty Task Force" to make all the critical decisions regarding human waste handling during the big Peru celebrations. Perhaps the expert executives at TEST will be willing to serve on the mayors all important Port-a-Potty Task Force.
8:24 Bottom line it's tax payer money that pays for your fireworks.
9:48 a very humorous comment. Do we need another task force? Recent notes indicate that the previous task forces like the infrastructure dissolved very quickly. And what is the recent task force going to come up with? The hiring of a city czar? They had a alderman that his purpose was to promote city events like the fireworks on Baker Lake, sled riding, flower planting, dog pulling and clean up days. With Rodney now gone what is going to happen to these events? We should let Rodney handle the fireworks and have them at Baker Lake and have gambling to pick out which home the first rocket will land on. Porta-potties will not be needed, we have a water source in Baker Lake. The beer garden can be the size of the soccer field and the entertainment with a live band located on the lake bridge.
Speaking of porta potties, has anyone noticed the his and hers at the entrance to the doggie park? There are restrooms at Veterans Park right? How much does the city pay for porta potties in a year?
They should just burn a stack of $100 bills in the City Hall parking lot. Just as entertaining as being served beer in a smelly old tent by (edited out) in a dilapidated industrial district. on Recreation Board Mtg Thursday June 25 re: Fireworks
Anonymous
at 11:26 AM
They don't serve beer in a tent! It's open air sales. The CSO pays for the potties. You won't need potties at Baker Lake, there are a lot of big trees and homes to utilize. 11:26 where have you been for the past 25 years? The ice industry left Peru many years ago, Go-Dan left town and Metalworks left us the contaminated site. We still have plastics and a nice lumberyard and a few restaurants and bars. Every few years there is a flood. Why invest in anything along the river area in Peru? with the many developments up river it will only get worst.
The Peru riverfront is not a recreation area. Our Economic Development Director should concentrate on more barge terminals. What we really need is easy access to the interstate from Water Street. Maybe beef up and extend Water Street to the west and join up with Terminal Road. Widen and beef up Terminal Road all the way to Route 6. That way we could accommodate a very large volume of truck traffic. Use eminent domain to take the boat club and develop that into another barge terminal. Raise the level of the stretch between the lumber yard and the boat club by about 3 feet. Use eminent domain to take the rat trap buildings and tear them down.
I admit that many of the satirical comments are clever and break up the day but people someone has to make a decision whether to have them on the 3rd. I can assure you that this decision will be correct with some and incorrect with others but whoever makes it will be sincere that he has made the best choice at the time. Whoever had has to make the decision I thank you for for making the safest and wisest of all choices.
11:11 How could you miss the pink one and the location of them is ridiculous. As you stated, Veteran's Park had restrooms why pay for more?
1l:49 If the launching site is under water or too muddy, of course you have no choice but to postpone them. However, why can't they be held on another date in July? I don't think spending $20,000 of taxpayers money should be done for the soul purpose of making money for the CSO or the businesses on Water Street. It's a celebration of our independence and if the CSO does not want to participate on a later date so be it. I don't think they should be completely eliminated because of the CSO. However, since this has happened 2 years in a row I really believe it is time to move elsewhere and come up with another plan.
get permission from the state and shut down rt. 251 for a few hours. launch them from just before the bridge.
better yet. just do it and worry about permission later.
1:49 who is the he that you refer to in your comment? just curious is all.
I have heard so many comments over the years in regards to who is actually paying for the fireworks. Does the CSO pay for them or does the City of Peru? If Peru pays for the fireworks,(thought it was in the city budget) then why are we worried about the CSO beer garden? Water street is probably the location that is the furthest away from the airport even though it's not a nice place to visit. I remember that the fireworks use to be at Washington Park, but I don't think the airport was in place at that time. What about IVCC? Great parking, open area??
The CSO is occupied by local business professionals, retired former politicians and current politicians which all but one city official is a member. Total conflict of interest when it comes to tax payer dollars but who would publicly stop the non sense? It's profits and political gain. Whatever the CSO wants they get.
They don't do that much for the city at all. They buy some flags and a few Christmas decorations every few years and that's it. It's a political scam is what it is.
What is the purpose for the rec board meeting tomorrow night? According the Water Street Pub ad in the paper tonight the fireworks have already been cancelled.
6:41 I can assure you that your tax dollars pay for the fireworks and not the CSO.
The taxpayers pay for the fireworks thru the Recreation Board's budget. IVCC sounds like a good location, but it's not in Peru, so that probably wouldn't fly.
Launch them from the 'retired' landfill. The racks that hold the mortar tubes can be tilted to shoot them closer to the viewers and just do away with any ground displays.
Maybe we should sit back, take a deep breath, and take a serious look at the real issue.
Rainfall has only been moderate. River flooding has become common. What has changed. Yes, more concrete up north. But that doesn't explain how rapidly the river rises after a rain fall. There is more to it. Something to look at - drain tiles used in corn fields. The fields today are designed to shed water AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. It is directed to the river in hours where it used to take days to "soak in". King Corn and the Agriculture Industry - the same guys that refuse to pay taxes - are responsible for countless millions of dollars in damage to cities throughout the Illinois Valley. King Corn is responsible for the fireworks being canceled yet again. The same King Corn that sprays poison from the air, sprays poison next to housing and schools, is responsible for the flooding.
"The CSO is occupied by local business professionals" - LMAO
To the blogger who stated that the CSO purchases flags, if you're referring to the flags for the cemetery you're wrong. They come to the city every year and ask for and get $600 of tax payer money for flags. I've never been able to understand why they need new ones every year and no council member has ever asked what they do with the ones from the previous year.
7:44 why are you LYAO? That is a true statement. The CSO is made up of local business professionals and politicians. All men too, no women allowed.
9:16 - Look for savings some place else. The flags you are talking about are for the graves of veterans. They cost about 22 cents each and are intended to be used once. After being in the weather for any amount of time, they fade.
Is it to much to ask for 22 cents to decorate a veteran's grave each year?
Why would IVCC want fireworks on the property? It is used for archery.
Landfill is also wet, just like the river area.
Baker Lake is close to homes and limited parking, Washington Park has the same problems.
Water Street has flooded twice in the last 20 years, that's a 10% chance. The only logical point is Water Street. Nobody will miss the fireworks this year. Go to a ballpark or area wide places like Hennepin, Chiraq or Ottawa if you really need the fireworks fix.
I bet if the fireworks were voted on by the residents of Peru with a referendum like...DO you want $20 of your electric bill to pay for fireworks, you would have 80% NO votes.
10:59, I'm LMAO about the words "local," "professional," and "CSO" being used in the same sentence.
The average age of an active CSO member is 70. They also haven't come up with a new idea since Carter was in office.
Not another session about the values of the CSO? Please understand its a group of Peru supporters, no social issues, no underground meeting to take over the world. A group that socializes to put back a few decorations in Peru. Its no different than a Rotary club, church group or mother's club at school. No motorcycles, no patch, no tattoos and no requirements. What is to gain by being critical to the CSO? Maybe you don't like a few in the CSO? Do you like all your co-workers or family members? The real comedy of this is the implied conspiracy that the CSO controls the Vatican called Peru.
12:20, I heard they are more exclusive then the Free Masons. Years ago, they where hold up in the basement of the Turn Hall and started some excavations. Underneath, they discovered the "Treasure of John Hays." He was the first settler here and founded the CSO. Well old John found gold under what is now Water Street. He used part of this gold to open a tavern and start selling 50-50's and Pull Tabs. The other half he buried in a secret place "up town." Many years later, the Grand Poobah of the CSO - who's lineage can be traced back directly to John, found a map. That is why it took so long to tear down Turn Hall - they needed to find the treasure. We are on our 17th Grand Poobah now and to this day, to be the Grand Poobah of the CSO, you need to trace your lineage directly back to John Hayes and have verifiable proof that you come from 100% "Peru Stock" - one drop of LaSalle blood in your family and you are disqualified. The Grand Poobah is also the only one trusted with the recipe to the fabled "Mulligan Stew" which is said to be the base for the Burgoo at Utica.
1:21 you are a great storyteller! You made me laugh!!
The CSO does nice things for Peru, but they don't allow or want women! I don't like that.
For those of you who think the CSO's average age is over 70 and it is not largely comprised of local professionals tells me one thing and that is that you clearly have no idea who is involved with the group. While it is a men's group, it is far more diverse than what you think. Keep "LYAO" while everyone else has another good chuckle at the nonsense on the blog.
@1:52 could you please fill us in on what the CSO does for Peru that's so great? You need to look what other volunteer groups do in other towns before glorifying the CSO. For instance- the laSalle group organizes and raises funds for All their events including wine fest downtown in the fall with a fireworks show- no tax payer dollars, Lasalle fun fest organized and funded by donations and 50/50 plant and maintain flowers and other things. What has the CSO done in comparison? The CSO is a poor excuse for a citizen service organization. It's a good ole boys club and that's all it is. I'd like to see how they cook their books. The city gives them money and so does a car club then they make money from the 4th of July and their so called CSO picnic. That's it! In fact they use to clean trash along north Peoria street and no longer do that. At least this year and last year they didn't.
2:38 PM
A few years ago when Jamie Mertel and Bob Ankiewicz were on the Peru city council and they were pushed on the NO WOMEN rule because it was an organization (CSO) closely affiliated with the city, they said at that point women would be allowed. Any woman out there brave enough to take them up on it?
@2:58 Yes the CSO cleans North Peoria Street. There is a sign that states it on NP Street right off Plank Road. They hang Christmas decorations, flags, and take care of the deceased veterans. Last year they had an event, along with the car show, for families instead of the mulligan stew picnic. They are doing the same this year. Change comes slowly. They do their part to make Peru better. Can other things be done - yes of course. Don't knock that group just because they don't do as much as you think they should. Rodney Perez organized a group to plant, clean and beautify Peru, along with so many other things, and the people voted him out. 2:58 put your money where your mouth is and organize some kind of effort to make Peru better, or keep your mouth shut.
the club is not listed as a non-profit with the IRS. So no public information is available.
The CSO is a diverse group of Anglo-Saxon membership with German, Italian, Polish and Irish. Many are Catholic and Protestant. Most of them are god-fearing Christians that believe in both Peru and the United States of America. They allow women with one requirement--they can pour their own beer. The same requirement is with all members. One time a certain individual requested that a new trainee got him a cold one, the members quickly told the individual that this could be termed as harassment and the club's charter would be revoked if trainees had initiations.
The Mulligan stew recipe is one of the most trusted secrets in Peru. In the rules of complete transparency a few ambitious Peru wannabees requested that the Attorney General and FBI be provided with the secret Mulligan stew recipe. The club member with the recipe was tortured and thrown out of office. He never gave up the recipe and won't make the magic soup again until the 200th Peru celebration.
The catacombs of the Peru City Hall was the former turnhall. Those that hold meetings at City Hall will go down to the catacombs to get the ancient advice and special powers that this place holds to those who believe in the CSO organization.
I too would like to know what they do for Peru. Someone said they buy flags. Fact: the city gives them $600 every year for flags. Someone said they do the xmas decorations. Fact: our decorations are very outdated and are put up each year by city employees. They provide a band, buses, and porta potties on the 4th of July. Fact: the city pays for the fire works, the bouncies, the radio coverage which draws the people to water street who buy the CSo"s beer which makes a profit for them.
I accidently deleted a very interesting post about our environment, urban sprawl, farming practices so if you come back, please repost as it was great information to share with us.
From what I can tell - just looking in from the cheep seats, the fundamental issue is not finding a location that is suitable to launch and view the pyrotechnics. Rather, the problem is finding a location that is suitable to launch and view the pyrotechnics that ALSO draws business to some local drinking establishments. After all, EVERYTHING Peru does revolves primarily around increasing sales tax revenue. The secondary theme throughout the Illinois Valley is that any successful community event must include the ability to get intoxicated.
So, the dynamics of this event are complicated. We need an area that will allow a LOCAL business to generate revenue. At the same time, the people need to be able to get stoned if they desire, and of course, the Porto-Potty Concession must be appeased. Perhaps that will satisfy the LOCAL business revenue generation - Sell tickets to the Porto-Potties :)
Concerning the airport. First, I do not desire the airport to be used to launch for view the fireworks show. I fundamentally disagree with using that facility for anything other than air transportation. That being said, the word being spread around that it is illegal to have a fireworks display NEAR and airport is false. Waivers can be granted for anything given a sufficient notice. The concern is aircraft operating below 1,000 feet. All the city needs to do is request the event well enough in advance so that a notice to airman can be issued or perhaps even close the airport for a couple of hours.
Now, that opens up many possibilities. Perhaps launch the fireworks from the Peru Cemetery toward the West and set up viewing areas at Veteran's Park and along the western end of Shooting Park Road. Maybe direct the fire over the "triangle" area and having viewing at Veteran's Park and North Peoria Street as well as Plank Road. Get permission to use the old KMart parking lot as a launch area, direct the fire to the west and have viewing areas in the Mall parking lot.
I can tell that none associated with the city government has really put much thought into this.
Maybe it is time to ask for help from the citizens. Start planning now for next year. Put together a first class event - not just an excuse to get drunk on Water Street.
8:51 Many cities would view the sales tax as a benefit and not a problem. Fireworks needs parking in a area that can view the event. I don't think the majority of people that go to the fireworks purchase beverages on site, the greater majority bring their own or are lit up prior to coming to the event. People may be sitting around or standing to view the fireworks will need to have a restroom nearby. The comment about the porto potties is easy. You need them for any event. I don't believe that the general public must have Peru fireworks, and with the rising river it make sense to cancel. Most of the fireworks junkies will get the fix by going to other venues. The only disappointment will be the many that have had traditional July 3rd parties in the backyard. I have a solution-----have the party and sit around and complain about the lack of fireworks, then come up with several alternative sites and discuss the pros and cons of each site. Your conclusion will be is Fireworks are not the most important event. Its public safety.
another issue with having them down by the river is that you can't see them anywhere else in Peru.
What about Howard Fellows Stadium?
how about that Sportsman's cub by 351. Launch them over the strip mine.
St. Bede is in Peru. Have it there. The CSO used to have picnics there also.
How about the old land fill as a launch spot. It is high and dry right now. It can be viewed on both sides of the river.
I agree they should merge with LaSalle. Grow up people and get along.
The point of having them at the current location is to limit the number of people that can see them "for free."
If the rec board wants something to do, look into making the old landfill a public shooting range. Hunters and gun owners pay an excise tax on every purchase. This money is supposed to be used by local governments to support the shooting sports. Illinois rarely uses all of the money available from this fund.
7:38, the city just put in a gun range by St. Bedes, why waste more taxpayer money.
1:20, that range is not open to the public. As far as taxpayer money goes, every gun owner pays an excise tax on the purchase of everything from the gun itself to ammunition and parts. This tax was created by congress many years ago. It is called the Pittman-Robertson Tax and was the only Tax that the public lobbied the congress to impost. The purpose of the Pittman-Robertson Tax was to fund hunter education, protect hunting lands and build public shooting ranges. The monies collected by the Pittman-Robertson Act go to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). That money is distributed equally among the states and the Department of Natural Resources or their counterparts. This is figured on the basis of the number of hunting licenses. Presently this amount is between $18.00 and $19.00 per license; these licenses have to be sold, not given away at no charge or for free.
Many states have taken this to heart and built public shooting ranges. Wisconsin, for one, has over 100 public shooting ranges. Our neighbor, Missouri, has 74 public shooting ranges. Five of these ranges are staffed by NRA Certified Instructors and Range Safety Officers. The other 69 are unstaffed but open to the public during the day, at no charge. Gun owners have been paying into the Pittman-Robertson Fund for 76 years and the State of Illinois has been receiving disbursements for 75 years, yet we still have only one public shooting range – Sparta. In 2012, roughly $450 million was distributed to the various states and programs.
5:34, where at the landfill could they put it, the north side is to close to 251, and it's at maximum elevation allowed by the Army Corp of Engineers, the south side is privately owned and the rest is flooded most of the time.
8:56, i agree, the enlarged ego's and arrogance of our elected and especially our appointed city officilas are ruining what used to be a great town to live in and raise a family.
The younger generation is leaving once they recieve the education that they desire!
That alone should speak volumes!
3:11, I forgot that we sold the south parcel. I'd just open the police range at the water treatment plant to the public. If it becomes popular, expand it.
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