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
Satellite police stations in a town that is less than 10 square miles. Give me a break! I think these people are smoking some of what they will be growing in Oglesby soon!
"The biggest little town of 10,000" LMAO! I don't know which is worse, the city government trying to spend every dime they can take from the regional population - or the cheerleader newspaper.
Less than 10 square miles folks - let that be the battle cry of common sense.
Stop assisting lockouts. Make them either walk home and get the spare key or call a locksmith. The more you help stupidity the more stupid they will get. And all the false alarms going off are ridiculous. Tell the businesses to hire their own night watchers to reset the alarms. Big brother has gone way too far.
The article says some day maybe totally based on the economy. Relax folks this may not happen ever but if it does that would be good that the economy was that good that we had to do this.It is killing the few of you losers and Peru haters on all the positives that are happening. Relax!
9:17. One thing I have learned over the last 6 years is that the NT is used by local governments as a tool to condition the voters. The reporter did not wake up one morning and think to himself: "Self, I wonder how many police calls are in the retail district of Peru vice the residential areas on the south end." The editor of the NT did not deicide to authorize the reporter to research this because there is some hard news that needs to be exposed. No - The City of Peru went to the NT and said - "Hey, NT. Did you know that most of our police responses are on the north end of town where all the stores are. We hardly ever have to deal with issues in the residential areas. Oh, and we think it might be a good idea to open a satellite station up north or maybe just move the whole thing up to the north side." This is called conditioning. They are getting people used to the idea that the police need to be up there and that is where all the problems are. Within six months there will be a study or a task force or other such nonsense to find out how much a new building will cost. Remember, they are having secret meetings... sorry closed session meetings... about a new Public Works complex next to the power plant. Next comes the funding part. They will try to impose a Public Safety Sales Tax to pay for the requirement of a new state of the art public safety complex. Meanwhile, the NT will be on the side lines leading the cheers. "Oh what a wonderful job they are doing spending our money on something that is not really required, except that Barnaby Jones said it was and by gosh, that's how it has to be done."
No 9:17 AM, You relax and stop and think for once. What the hell does "totally based on the economy" mean? Plus, how will it be determined Peru's economy needs a new station and more cops and firemen? C'mon 9:17, how can you be so gullible to believe that spending many millions of tax dollars to build a public safety building (without any justification) and hiring a number of new employees to staff it as such a "positive" happening? Why is that a positive thing? Is it a positive because a city official says it's a positive? I cannot understand why so many Peru citizens are so passive and accepting when their city officials announce they have discovered another way to spend more tax money and increase the city payroll and pension obligation. All of this while the city of Peru population remains at about 10,000 and commercial and industrial expansion is "NOT" happening at an extraordinary pace by any measure. Why 9:17 AM, do you and other Peru "sheeple" not feel the fingers of all those Peru insiders picking your pockets? Why?
Nice! Let's let every petty thief know that our residential areas don't need police presence. If I was a burglar, I'd be thinking it's time to go rob some houses.
No worries, I'm sure we'll be able to pay for the new complex in cash, no borrowing needed. Just write the check, it's in the bank!
MENDOTA — Mendota Police are on the lookout for the people who pulled a woman out of her car. Authorities say the incident happened in the 1300-block of 14th Avenue Monday afternoon just after 1:30. Police say the 18-year old was forced out of her car and beaten, while another person took cash from the car. The suspects left the scene in a white-colored Ford Explorer with a black trim, tinted windows and silver rims. Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call the Mendota Police Department or Mendota Crime Stoppers. Authorities are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
The number for Mendota Crime Stoppers is 815-538-7777.
Never think there is a lack of crime in our city........just because the news isn't presented with the police reports doesn't mean it hasn't happened. As far as tickets and DUI's go.......that's a joke.....the officers have chosen not to enforce the laws......why piss people off when they'll pay you, on averge, over $75,000 a year plus full benefits to drive around and wait for something bad to happen. One Officer used to write over a hundred DUIs a year and now he writes a couple. Peru has become reactive instead of proactive over the last 8 years. The chief is a good man but is no longer the chief but a figurehead as he handles multiple other tasks in the city for what, $115,000 plus per year plus top benefits? If it goes bad I hope it's not my loved ones that suffer the consequences. The rest of you are on your own. Remember the police are only minutes away when seconds count.
230pm bashing the police department is horrible. Grow up. You are so jealous of the successes it stinks. I have friends on the department which is the best around by far.
Our police officers don't make alll those decisions, most are department policy and they do not create those either. I am going to go out on a limb and say they are not behind ALL policy 100% but they do their job as directed.
Just as any good employee in any job has to do to keep their job.
3:10 and 3:25, thought those guys took an oath to enforce the laws. In my opinion, that isn’t being done. Very good at traffic control, after an accident, or on first aid calls, but as far as enforcing the laws of this state, I don’t think so. Why don’t we scrap the stop signs and speed signs as they mean nothing in this town. Hell, we can get a new Splash Pad or maybe a good start on a pool. Auction off the radar speed meter, as it is always maxed out and is not even monitored. If they aren’t going to do their jobs, why do we need so many.
I am the same poster who said the economic rah rah article was really probably BS and not relevant. Of course, I was attacked for saying I was reaching for meaningless negative Peru issues.
But I read this article, and I have to say it seems like a positive analysis. A positive article that likely does show a good trend. I think the economic conditions may be as responsible for the robberies as location (near I 80). And the deterrence of concealed carry is pretty much statistical BS. It has not been in place that long, and homeowners have been well armed around here for a LONG time.
But overall, I have to say the numbers DO seem impressive. If they are lobbying for a station up there, I would think that a combination Emergency Response/ Police Station located a little more centrally is NOT a bad idea. Whether you back Harl or not, a northern industrial/retail presence and southern industrial presence IS real, and bigger than most cities our size due to the location in the valley. When bad things happen at densely populated areas and large industrial parks, time is VERY important.
Get the Police Chief out of the rest of government, fight nepotism, fight using the airport as a playground, demand a strategic plan and more openness... but don't knee jerk a better deployment of law and safety as bad until you give it a hard look.
With a so-called greater police presence in the north end of Peru, motorists continue to ignore the "picket fence traffic" control by Dairy Queen. This is particularly true at 6-8 AM when the motels are emptying. Everything from cars to wide-load semis make a direct dash to the highway. I witness it every day and have never seen a motorist stopped. Of course it doesn't happen when the police park next to the intersection.
I saw an invoice for $140.00 for detailing of an expedition for peru fire department - jeff king to ticks elite detailing on shooting park road. WHAT UP WITH THIS? Where is this business? WHY DON'T FULL TIME FIREMAN DETAIL VEHICLE LIKE THEY DO FIRE TRUCK ON THE CLOCK. WHO IS Rick???? Please post this invoice as a title for discussion on this blogsite. Who is padding whose pockets. Unbelievable.
5:50, most residents of Peru are in bed at 10:00 PM, weekdays and weekends. We have an older population. In fact, the entire Illinois Valley is older. The only thing keeping the "North End" retail district open is the Social Security Administration.
Had to laugh at the buzz on facebook about the Peru council approving payment for "detailing" the Fire Chief's gas-guzzler. The Fire Chief wants to play thye big-shot role by throwing a bone to some shady character running a detail business out of his garage and then pass the $140 cost on to Peru taxpayers. So the invoice slides through the Finance Committee where it is approved without a mention. The knuckle-heads on that committee probably didn't even notice it. So a concerned citizen notices it and wonders why the Fire Chief, or the summer help, or the full-time guys on duty can't "detail" the Chief's ridiculously large and stupid looking tank of a vehicle. The curious citizen sends an inquiring e-mail to every elected official in Peru and guess what? Not one of them has the decency to respond to her questions. What a shocker that is, right? Cowards! Each and every one of them. Cowards! Even if you don't know the answer you have to have enough sense of duty to respond to an e-mail right? Not in Peru folks.
Had to laugh at the buzz on facebook about the Peru council approving payment for "detailing" the Fire Chief's gas-guzzler. The Fire Chief wants to play thye big-shot role by throwing a bone to some shady character running a detail business out of his garage and then pass the $140 cost on to Peru taxpayers. So the invoice slides through the Finance Committee where it is approved without a mention. The knuckle-heads on that committee probably didn't even notice it. So a concerned citizen notices it and wonders why the Fire Chief, or the summer help, or the full-time guys on duty can't "detail" the Chief's ridiculously large and stupid looking tank of a vehicle. The curious citizen sends an inquiring e-mail to every elected official in Peru and guess what? Not one of them has the decency to respond to her questions. What a shocker that is, right? Cowards! Each and every one of them. Cowards! Even if you don't know the answer you have to have enough sense of duty to respond to an e-mail right? Not in Peru folks.
I see the tiny Village of Utica is updating their Comprehensive Plan. The Tiny Village sees value in long term planning and that many of the initiatives in their current plan where already fast tracked and they need to update it. The itty bitty town has hired a professional firm from outside "The Valley" to help. This company specializes in Economic Development and Community Involvement. The minuscule town on the river will be interviewing citizens to get input on the long term goals of the community.
I wonder what the "Biggest Little Town of 10,0000" is going to do regarding long term planning? I mean, besides living day to day without a published plan and paying phony auto detail shops to wash city vehicles, lobby for a multi-million dollar safety complex, multi-million dollar public works complex, and fire works of course. All in the safety of the Executive Session away from those annoying tax payers. Yea Peru!
Just to satisfy the curious, I did foia the invoice, end of story and did not post to FB and did not email the eelected. Never in a million years did I expect any of the "noise" about it. A few other people noticed the disbursement and from there, it had a life of its own. Nothing was intended and to all the mean spirited bloggers who believe I am responsible for writing all the comments that appear, I don't, most are coming from fellow residents in the Illinois Valley. When you are working for the Peru taxpayers, it is required that all disbursements are made available for the public and this only shows that they are not thoroughly vetted before put out to the public or they count on no one asking questions.
We need Barnaby Jones to look into this detail shop. I looked up the address - it is indeed in a residential area off Shooting Park Road. Is that area zoned for a business? Plus, the "invoice" - looks like it was downloaded on-line - states Wash, Wax, and Vacuum - not a full detail - which frankly would not be required on a government vehicle. The invoice amount was $140!!!!! Drive through the car wash and put some quarters in the vacuum machine! The entire thing can be done for less than $20 including the employee's time! I guess that's how things roll in Peru though... "Biggest Little Town of 10,000"
July 8, 7:30 PM What is the comparison of DUI arrests to each and all other arrests? Peru, Illinois has a constant monthly and holiday radio and newspaper notification that it will be on the watch and alert for DUI's but upon publishing the results of the DUI specific surveillance their is only sometimes 1 and a maximum of 2 DUI's and these may be drug related and not alcohol related and there are many more violations of other laws than intoxication. The state whom you also pay taxes, does contribute additional funds for police departments to conduct DUI supervision which often pays for additional police to be payed overtime. This additional cost should not exist as most police departments are fully manned. As for the decrease of arrests in Peru there is tremendous decrease in traffic in Peru and truthfully most traffic is north of Shooting Park Road while the majority of mileage of police vehicles is south of Shooting Park Road. There has been mention of a particular police officer who wrote over 100 DUI tickets/year and was among the top DUI ticket writers in the state. At that time the previous chief would not allow overtime in the police department and this junior officer was making more money than the senior officers because he was going to court to draw overtime to prosecute all tickets he was writing and his cases were so inefficient that Judges were throwing them out of court and also telling him to be more efficient because they did not have time enough to play with his weak accusations. But he still was paid his overtime and today people still avoid Peru to go out to eat because they would rather have a cocktail in other surrounding cities where they can relax and drive home. A police department should be evaluated by its efficiency rather than by the number of tickets it has written. The PPD does not have officers who have chosen to not enforce the law nor do they have leadership that avoids enforcement. What they have is a philosophy that they must adjust to the times and change with the thoughts of society and where law enforcement fits in. A tough goal but one which they and Chief Bernabei strive to accomplish. A number of years ago the PPD had a program in which a citizen could accompany a police officer in a police car for a evening, a opportunity that Mayor Harl joined in, maybe it would be a program worthy of resurrection.
I'm sure whoever the guy is actually did the work. He should not be raked over the coals. This shows that there is a process problem within the city organization. Questions that come up in my head and should come up in the head of any business man.
1. what is the qualification process for a new vendor? 2. is a purchase order required to engage the services of an approved vendor or do employees obligate funds on their own? 3. what budget account does this expenditure draw from?
I'm sure a City Manager that is not influenced by the political situation would have caught this. Who knows what the new City Administrator that is obligated to follow the orders of the political class will do.
You know, every case of fraud does not have to involve millions of dollars like the situation in Dixon from a few years back. There are plenty of people in Peru that have been buttering the bread of family and friends very thinly. A part time job here, some pool equipment there, an unnecessary purchase from time to time, it all adds up. But, aside from the monetary damage, it builds distrust. I for one have stopped believing EVERYTHING that ANY official from the City of Peru says. As a long term resident, they have lost my trust and I automatically assume every proposal made is some sort of scam. Sorry, but it is the truth. We live in an age where we CANNOT afford to trust our government, even the governments that are closest to us.
I think younger people in general are much smarter about drinking and driving than they were 10 or 20 years ago. So much information is out there about the hazards of driving impaired, the kids are smart enough to not want to get busted or worse kill somebody. Now there are DD and taxi's specifically for people who go out to have fun and have a few too many. Even Rodney Perez has given rides to people who needed it because of being impaired. I'm glad the DUI's are down. It makes me feel safer when I'm driving.
Anon 9:39AM When exactly did you stop believing everything that any official from Peru says? How far back are you going? I have always understood that Mayor Joe Lemmler was a very honest man and don't know about Nibby K. but after Nibby things have surely always been on the questionable nature of the beast. You have to admit that before Mayor Harl the city was deep in debt without any improvements to show for it and lived in a age of a lack of financial checks and balances. The city treasurer position was reduced to being accomplished out of a cigar box and a rubber stamped signature.
11:00 - I quit believing them at about the same time I stated paying attention to them. They all did it - going all the way back. Around here, government is viewed as a way to get money.
DUI's are down because the program worked. Most people don't drink and drive anymore. Have you noticed the increase in middle aged men riding bikes in Peru? How about all the people that are walking?
Also - Peru is an old folks home. Not many Hipsters out and about anymore.
Another example in the NT today on how our Local Officials butter the bread - This time IVCC.
“Why they would stay with XXXXXXX, didn’t get a second opinion from someone who specializes in real estate law, why you would stay with your local attorney? No one educated with good judgment would do that."
This one cost the taxpayers almost a million dollars. It sounds like $680 large was funneled to the local mouthpiece by our local officials. All for naught, because the case was not valid and the college dropped it. We lost on both because the other end was paid for by King Corn.
The whole car detailing thing is ridiculous. A ranking police officer did the detailing at his house . The bill is paid by the clerks office where his wife works . There is a full-time kid at the fire station all day all summer long that washed and waxes the trucks because the full time drivers are busy watching TV. The police department has the cop cars detailed at a shop in spring valley by the supermarket because of the ex-spring valley cop who is now in Peru knows that guy and gets favors on the side for bringing Peru tax dollars to his business. Peru tax payers dush out thousands of dollars monthly so the brass can drive around in shiny waxed vehicles. And noone in city hall notices this outrageous and ridiculous spending because noone wants to Rock the boat . And in the meantime while the corn is tall , plans are being finalized for a huge new city barn next to the electrical plant off plank rd where the house was tore down . city property is slowly being parked out there and before you know it , the corn will be down and a shiny new shell of a building will be standing there mocking all the half wit voters of Peru who won't get out and vote to change our town .
The Rat Man is setting up shop on Shooting Park Road again. He is clearly in the Public Right-of-way on City Property. Is Barnaby Jones going to run him off, or is this sanctioned by the Administration?
If the vehicle can fit through the car wash, that is what should be used. Paying to have a cop cars and SUV's "detailed" is pure unadulterated waste !
That is why I do not believe a single thing ANY local government official tells me. They are all just buttering the bread of their friends and family. Taking MY MONEY and giving it to THEIR RELATIONS! I don't care if it has been going on for years and I don't care if its only a little bit of money. IT IS THEAFT! NO DIFFENET THAN DIXON!!!!!!!!!
Regarding the 10:20 AM comment, I have been hearing about much of this for years and evidently it is accepted by our mayor, city council and now the ASM and DSM and never questioned. Just as no one on the Finance Committee questioned the payment of the $ 140 payment. This amount of money is a drop in the bucket of the kind of money Peru spends but it simply points to the fact that NO ONE is watching. We are hiring someone in the City Clerks office so the same person who takes care of bill payments does not work the books. (Fears of the Dixon problem)
The bills are paid before the Finance Committee approves them. So the only thing the Finance Committee can do is question why certain bills were paid. Do they question any bills? Who gives authority to pay the bills before the Finance Committee approves them? Seems backwards to me.
Lois 8:27. Then here is what we do. Everyone start sending random invoices to the clerks office. Maybe for picking up a dead bird in the street. Cutting grass between the street and sidewalk. Picking up trash, etc. you get the point. Just start sending invoices to the clerk's office asking for payment. It is not against any law to ask them to pay you. You can download an impressive looking invoice, print it out requesting $100 or so. Then the clerk will have to start sorting them out and trying to figure out which ones are legitimate and which ones are not. And who knows, maybe you will get the hundred dollars and you can then get your own car detailed.
You people are forgetting one of the purposes of local government. That is to prop up local cronies with tax dollars. Always been that way and always will be. The only thing that changes are which cronies get the propping up.
Wasn't a past blog topic on a auto wash which was located at the electrical department with a apparatus which would eliminate water and salt markings. Why aren't ALL city vehicles cleaned here by the drivers? Sometimes history and tradition create long term inefficient business decisions which are not recognized until someone outside of the group recognizes them. This seems to be a easy fix.
Such ridiculous comments about a car cleaning service. Please get a life. If you want your city vehicles dirty, go to the city meeting and state that request. If you don't want the grass cut, go to the city meeting and state your request. If you don't want your street cleaned, go to the meeting and request that. Yes, take the advice of 9:02 and send false invoices, and go to jail! Please understand that these people who blog about the fire department have no real positive agenda. They are lost in space with the new trained effective fire fighters. They want the day's of no show training and paid sign in without going to the fire. They want a position without the work.
That's what this is about. They feed friends the information and feed off of the conspiracy. Like little girls in Junior High.
"You may know society is doomed when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing; when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors; when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you; [and] when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice." - Ayn Rand, "Atlas Shrugged", 1957
10:58, I pay five dollars to drive my SUV through a car wash and vacuum it out for another two dollars and it looks pretty damn good. How can you justify $140 to "detail" a city SUV, which is supposed to be a working vehicle, not a car show vehicle. If that is the requirement for city vehicles, I think they are misguided. No friend, it is pure corruption.
As far as sending the invoices go, it is no different than the phony baloney invoice that Mr. Car Detailer sent. He provided a service that the government did not officially request and he sent a bill. So if I go out in the street and pick up cigarette buts, I should be allowed to send an invoice for whatever I want - it is up to the city to pay it if they believe it is valid. A professionally run organization would require a purchase order to be approved. That way, when the invoice showed up they would know is it valid. Apparently, in Peru, any one can tell any business to just send a bill if it is "below the radar."
I really want to trust government officials. But every day I find another reason not to.
I don't think the anger of the bloggers is directed toward the actual expenses of the cleaning/detailing. I think the anger is a result of the friendly alliances of those providing the services with no checks/balances put into place. It's always so easy to spend taxpayer money. Let's start using Peru businesses please.
3:12, you can't trust anyone involved in City of Peru government anymore. Every single one of them are nothing but a liars. Period. End of story. Time to send them all packing.
The only way to change it is get off your a$$ and vote ! Which never happens so suck it up and pay your taxes so they can have more to waste ! Vote people and change this . plain and simple
55 comments:
Satellite police stations in a town that is less than 10 square miles. Give me a break! I think these people are smoking some of what they will be growing in Oglesby soon!
"The biggest little town of 10,000" LMAO! I don't know which is worse, the city government trying to spend every dime they can take from the regional population - or the cheerleader newspaper.
Less than 10 square miles folks - let that be the battle cry of common sense.
Stop assisting lockouts. Make them either walk home and get the spare key or call a locksmith. The more you help stupidity the more stupid they will get. And all the false alarms going off are ridiculous. Tell the businesses to hire their own night watchers to reset the alarms. Big brother has gone way too far.
The article says some day maybe totally based on the economy. Relax folks this may not happen ever but if it does that would be good that the economy was that good that we had to do this.It is killing the few of you losers and Peru haters on all the positives that are happening. Relax!
9:17. One thing I have learned over the last 6 years is that the NT is used by local governments as a tool to condition the voters. The reporter did not wake up one morning and think to himself: "Self, I wonder how many police calls are in the retail district of Peru vice the residential areas on the south end." The editor of the NT did not deicide to authorize the reporter to research this because there is some hard news that needs to be exposed. No - The City of Peru went to the NT and said - "Hey, NT. Did you know that most of our police responses are on the north end of town where all the stores are. We hardly ever have to deal with issues in the residential areas. Oh, and we think it might be a good idea to open a satellite station up north or maybe just move the whole thing up to the north side."
This is called conditioning. They are getting people used to the idea that the police need to be up there and that is where all the problems are. Within six months there will be a study or a task force or other such nonsense to find out how much a new building will cost. Remember, they are having secret meetings... sorry closed session meetings... about a new Public Works complex next to the power plant.
Next comes the funding part. They will try to impose a Public Safety Sales Tax to pay for the requirement of a new state of the art public safety complex.
Meanwhile, the NT will be on the side lines leading the cheers. "Oh what a wonderful job they are doing spending our money on something that is not really required, except that Barnaby Jones said it was and by gosh, that's how it has to be done."
No 9:17 AM, You relax and stop and think for once. What the hell does "totally based on the economy" mean? Plus, how will it be determined Peru's economy needs a new station and more cops and firemen? C'mon 9:17, how can you be so gullible to believe that spending many millions of tax dollars to build a public safety building (without any justification) and hiring a number of new employees to staff it as such a "positive" happening? Why is that a positive thing? Is it a positive because a city official says it's a positive? I cannot understand why so many Peru citizens are so passive and accepting when their city officials announce they have discovered another way to spend more tax money and increase the city payroll and pension obligation. All of this while the city of Peru population remains at about 10,000 and commercial and industrial expansion is "NOT" happening at an extraordinary pace by any measure. Why 9:17 AM, do you and other Peru "sheeple" not feel the fingers of all those Peru insiders picking your pockets? Why?
Nice! Let's let every petty thief know that our residential areas don't need police presence. If I was a burglar, I'd be thinking it's time to go rob some houses.
No worries, I'm sure we'll be able to pay for the new complex in cash, no borrowing needed. Just write the check, it's in the bank!
Woman Pulled from Car, Beaten in Mendota
MENDOTA — Mendota Police are on the lookout for the people who pulled a woman out of her car. Authorities say the incident happened in the 1300-block of 14th Avenue Monday afternoon just after 1:30. Police say the 18-year old was forced out of her car and beaten, while another person took cash from the car. The suspects left the scene in a white-colored Ford Explorer with a black trim, tinted windows and silver rims. Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call the Mendota Police Department or Mendota Crime Stoppers. Authorities are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
The number for Mendota Crime Stoppers is 815-538-7777.
lois you and your loyal followers are the problem with Peru.
Never think there is a lack of crime in our city........just because the news isn't presented with the police reports doesn't mean it hasn't happened. As far as tickets and DUI's go.......that's a joke.....the officers have chosen not to enforce the laws......why piss people off when they'll pay you, on averge, over $75,000 a year plus full benefits to drive around and wait for something bad to happen. One Officer used to write over a hundred DUIs a year and now he writes a couple. Peru has become reactive instead of proactive over the last 8 years. The chief is a good man but is no longer the chief but a figurehead as he handles multiple other tasks in the city for what, $115,000 plus per year plus top benefits? If it goes bad I hope it's not my loved ones that suffer the consequences. The rest of you are on your own. Remember the police are only minutes away when seconds count.
230pm bashing the police department is horrible. Grow up. You are so jealous of the successes it stinks. I have friends on the department which is the best around by far.
2:30 PM
Our police officers don't make alll those decisions, most are department policy and they do not create those either. I am going to go out on a limb and say they are not behind ALL policy 100% but they do their job as directed.
Just as any good employee in any job has to do to keep their job.
3:10 and 3:25, thought those guys took an oath to enforce the laws. In my opinion, that isn’t being done. Very good at traffic control, after an accident, or on first aid calls, but as far as enforcing the laws of this state, I don’t think so. Why don’t we scrap the stop signs and speed signs as they mean nothing in this town. Hell, we can get a new Splash Pad or maybe a good start on a pool. Auction off the radar speed meter, as it is always maxed out and is not even monitored. If they aren’t going to do their jobs, why do we need so many.
I am the same poster who said the economic rah rah article was really probably BS and not relevant. Of course, I was attacked for saying I was reaching for meaningless negative Peru issues.
But I read this article, and I have to say it seems like a positive analysis. A positive article that likely does show a good trend. I think the economic conditions may be as responsible for the robberies as location (near I 80). And the deterrence of concealed carry is pretty much statistical BS. It has not been in place that long, and homeowners have been well armed around here for a LONG time.
But overall, I have to say the numbers DO seem impressive. If they are lobbying for a station up there, I would think that a combination Emergency Response/ Police Station located a little more centrally is NOT a bad idea. Whether you back Harl or not, a northern industrial/retail presence and southern industrial presence IS real, and bigger than most cities our size due to the location in the valley. When bad things happen at densely populated areas and large industrial parks, time is VERY important.
Get the Police Chief out of the rest of government, fight nepotism, fight using the airport as a playground, demand a strategic plan and more openness... but don't knee jerk a better deployment of law and safety as bad until you give it a hard look.
July 8. 2:30 PM you way off on the DUI comment. All you have to do is take a ride around town after 10 PM and you will discover the streets are empty.
With a so-called greater police presence in the north end of Peru, motorists continue to ignore the "picket fence traffic" control by Dairy Queen. This is particularly true at 6-8 AM when the motels are emptying. Everything from cars to wide-load semis make a direct dash to the highway. I witness it every day and have never seen a motorist stopped. Of course it doesn't happen when the police park
next to the intersection.
Lois. You hit it right on the nail. Oath or job.
I saw an invoice for $140.00 for detailing of an expedition for peru fire department - jeff king to ticks elite detailing on shooting park road. WHAT UP WITH THIS? Where is this business? WHY DON'T FULL TIME FIREMAN DETAIL VEHICLE LIKE THEY DO FIRE TRUCK ON THE CLOCK. WHO IS Rick???? Please post this invoice as a title for discussion on this blogsite. Who is padding whose pockets. Unbelievable.
5:50, most residents of Peru are in bed at 10:00 PM, weekdays and weekends. We have an older population. In fact, the entire Illinois Valley is older. The only thing keeping the "North End" retail district open is the Social Security Administration.
Had to laugh at the buzz on facebook about the Peru council approving payment for "detailing" the Fire Chief's gas-guzzler. The Fire Chief wants to play thye big-shot role by throwing a bone to some shady character running a detail business out of his garage and then pass the $140 cost on to Peru taxpayers. So the invoice slides through the Finance Committee where it is approved without a mention. The knuckle-heads on that committee probably didn't even notice it. So a concerned citizen notices it and wonders why the Fire Chief, or the summer help, or the full-time guys on duty can't "detail" the Chief's ridiculously large and stupid looking tank of a vehicle. The curious citizen sends an inquiring e-mail to every elected official in Peru and guess what? Not one of them has the decency to respond to her questions.
What a shocker that is, right? Cowards! Each and every one of them. Cowards! Even if you don't know the answer you have to have enough sense of duty to respond to an e-mail right? Not in Peru folks.
Had to laugh at the buzz on facebook about the Peru council approving payment for "detailing" the Fire Chief's gas-guzzler. The Fire Chief wants to play thye big-shot role by throwing a bone to some shady character running a detail business out of his garage and then pass the $140 cost on to Peru taxpayers. So the invoice slides through the Finance Committee where it is approved without a mention. The knuckle-heads on that committee probably didn't even notice it. So a concerned citizen notices it and wonders why the Fire Chief, or the summer help, or the full-time guys on duty can't "detail" the Chief's ridiculously large and stupid looking tank of a vehicle. The curious citizen sends an inquiring e-mail to every elected official in Peru and guess what? Not one of them has the decency to respond to her questions.
What a shocker that is, right? Cowards! Each and every one of them. Cowards! Even if you don't know the answer you have to have enough sense of duty to respond to an e-mail right? Not in Peru folks.
I see the tiny Village of Utica is updating their Comprehensive Plan. The Tiny Village sees value in long term planning and that many of the initiatives in their current plan where already fast tracked and they need to update it. The itty bitty town has hired a professional firm from outside "The Valley" to help. This company specializes in Economic Development and Community Involvement. The minuscule town on the river will be interviewing citizens to get input on the long term goals of the community.
I wonder what the "Biggest Little Town of 10,0000" is going to do regarding long term planning? I mean, besides living day to day without a published plan and paying phony auto detail shops to wash city vehicles, lobby for a multi-million dollar safety complex, multi-million dollar public works complex, and fire works of course. All in the safety of the Executive Session away from those annoying tax payers. Yea Peru!
Just to satisfy the curious, I did foia the invoice, end of story and did not post to FB and did not email the eelected. Never in a million years did I expect any of the "noise" about it. A few other people noticed the disbursement and from there, it had a life of its own. Nothing was intended and to all the mean spirited bloggers who believe I am responsible for writing all the comments that appear, I don't, most are coming from fellow residents in the Illinois Valley. When you are working for the Peru taxpayers, it is required that all disbursements are made available for the public and this only shows that they are not thoroughly vetted before put out to the public or they count on no one asking questions.
We need Barnaby Jones to look into this detail shop. I looked up the address - it is indeed in a residential area off Shooting Park Road. Is that area zoned for a business? Plus, the "invoice" - looks like it was downloaded on-line - states Wash, Wax, and Vacuum - not a full detail - which frankly would not be required on a government vehicle. The invoice amount was $140!!!!! Drive through the car wash and put some quarters in the vacuum machine! The entire thing can be done for less than $20 including the employee's time! I guess that's how things roll in Peru though... "Biggest Little Town of 10,000"
July 8, 7:30 PM
What is the comparison of DUI arrests to each and all other arrests? Peru, Illinois has a constant monthly and holiday radio and newspaper notification that it will be on the watch and alert for DUI's but upon publishing the results of the DUI specific surveillance their is only sometimes 1 and a maximum of 2 DUI's and these may be drug related and not alcohol related and there are many more violations of other laws than intoxication.
The state whom you also pay taxes, does contribute additional funds for police departments to conduct DUI supervision which often pays for additional police to be payed overtime. This additional cost should not exist as most police departments are fully manned. As for the decrease of arrests in Peru there is tremendous decrease in traffic in Peru and truthfully most traffic is north of Shooting Park Road while the majority of mileage of police vehicles is south of Shooting Park Road.
There has been mention of a particular police officer who wrote over 100 DUI tickets/year and was among the top DUI ticket writers in the state. At that time the previous chief would not allow overtime in the police department and this junior officer was making more money than the senior officers because he was going to court to draw overtime to prosecute all tickets he was writing and his cases were so inefficient that Judges were throwing them out of court and also telling him to be more efficient because they did not have time enough to play with his weak accusations. But he still was paid his overtime and today people still avoid Peru to go out to eat because they would rather have a cocktail in other surrounding cities where they can relax and drive home. A police department should be evaluated by its efficiency rather than by the number of tickets it has written.
The PPD does not have officers who have chosen to not enforce the law nor do they have leadership that avoids enforcement. What they have is a philosophy that they must adjust to the times and change with the thoughts of society and where law enforcement fits in. A tough goal but one which they and Chief Bernabei strive to accomplish. A number of years ago the PPD had a program in which a citizen could accompany a police officer in a police car for a evening, a opportunity that Mayor Harl joined in, maybe it would be a program worthy of resurrection.
I'm sure whoever the guy is actually did the work. He should not be raked over the coals. This shows that there is a process problem within the city organization. Questions that come up in my head and should come up in the head of any business man.
1. what is the qualification process for a new vendor?
2. is a purchase order required to engage the services of an approved vendor or do employees obligate funds on their own?
3. what budget account does this expenditure draw from?
I'm sure a City Manager that is not influenced by the political situation would have caught this. Who knows what the new City Administrator that is obligated to follow the orders of the political class will do.
You know, every case of fraud does not have to involve millions of dollars like the situation in Dixon from a few years back. There are plenty of people in Peru that have been buttering the bread of family and friends very thinly. A part time job here, some pool equipment there, an unnecessary purchase from time to time, it all adds up. But, aside from the monetary damage, it builds distrust. I for one have stopped believing EVERYTHING that ANY official from the City of Peru says. As a long term resident, they have lost my trust and I automatically assume every proposal made is some sort of scam. Sorry, but it is the truth. We live in an age where we CANNOT afford to trust our government, even the governments that are closest to us.
I think younger people in general are much smarter about drinking and driving than they were 10 or 20 years ago. So much information is out there about the hazards of driving impaired, the kids are smart enough to not want to get busted or worse kill somebody. Now there are DD and taxi's specifically for people who go out to have fun and have a few too many. Even Rodney Perez has given rides to people who needed it because of being impaired. I'm glad the DUI's are down. It makes me feel safer when I'm driving.
Anon 9:39AM When exactly did you stop believing everything that any official from Peru says? How far back are you going? I have always understood that Mayor Joe Lemmler was a very honest man and don't know about Nibby K. but after Nibby things have surely always been on the questionable nature of the beast. You have to admit that before Mayor Harl the city was deep in debt without any improvements to show for it and lived in a age of a lack of financial checks and balances. The city treasurer position was reduced to being accomplished out of a cigar box and a rubber stamped signature.
10:09 Just because DUI's are down, does not mean they aren't out there. It only means that law enforcement has not written as many tickets.
11:00 - I quit believing them at about the same time I stated paying attention to them. They all did it - going all the way back. Around here, government is viewed as a way to get money.
The agenda for Monday's task force committee meeting is on the city website. On it is the following item:
"Motion to form a subcommittee to craft a written statement of recommendation to present to the city council".
Will their recommendation be in favor of a city administrator or not in favor of a city administrator?
DUI's are down because the program worked. Most people don't drink and drive anymore.
Have you noticed the increase in middle aged men riding bikes in Peru? How about all the people that are walking?
Also - Peru is an old folks home. Not many Hipsters out and about anymore.
Another example in the NT today on how our Local Officials butter the bread - This time IVCC.
“Why they would stay with XXXXXXX, didn’t get a second opinion from someone who specializes in real estate law, why you would stay with your local attorney? No one educated with good judgment would do that."
This one cost the taxpayers almost a million dollars. It sounds like $680 large was funneled to the local mouthpiece by our local officials. All for naught, because the case was not valid and the college dropped it. We lost on both because the other end was paid for by King Corn.
Peru needs Tractor Pulls at the Airport. What happened to the Peru Concerts? Does anyone know if they are going to happen?
Black Sabbath will be playing "Down by the River" later this summer. ha ha ha. There will be fireworks and a CSO beer tent too.
The whole car detailing thing is ridiculous. A ranking police officer did the detailing at his house . The bill is paid by the clerks office where his wife works . There is a full-time kid at the fire station all day all summer long that washed and waxes the trucks because the full time drivers are busy watching TV. The police department has the cop cars detailed at a shop in spring valley by the supermarket because of the ex-spring valley cop who is now in Peru knows that guy and gets favors on the side for bringing Peru tax dollars to his business. Peru tax payers dush out thousands of dollars monthly so the brass can drive around in shiny waxed vehicles. And noone in city hall notices this outrageous and ridiculous spending because noone wants to Rock the boat . And in the meantime while the corn is tall , plans are being finalized for a huge new city barn next to the electrical plant off plank rd where the house was tore down . city property is slowly being parked out there and before you know it , the corn will be down and a shiny new shell of a building will be standing there mocking all the half wit voters of Peru who won't get out and vote to change our town .
The Rat Man is setting up shop on Shooting Park Road again. He is clearly in the Public Right-of-way on City Property. Is Barnaby Jones going to run him off, or is this sanctioned by the Administration?
If the vehicle can fit through the car wash, that is what should be used. Paying to have a cop cars and SUV's "detailed" is pure unadulterated waste !
That is why I do not believe a single thing ANY local government official tells me. They are all just buttering the bread of their friends and family. Taking MY MONEY and giving it to THEIR RELATIONS! I don't care if it has been going on for years and I don't care if its only a little bit of money. IT IS THEAFT! NO DIFFENET THAN DIXON!!!!!!!!!
Regarding the 10:20 AM comment, I have been hearing about much of this for years and evidently it is accepted by our mayor, city council and now the ASM and DSM and never questioned. Just as no one on the Finance Committee questioned the payment of the $ 140 payment. This amount of money is a drop in the bucket of the kind of money Peru spends but it simply points to the fact that NO ONE is watching. We are hiring someone in the City Clerks office so the same person who takes care of bill payments does not work the books. (Fears of the Dixon problem)
I think we are looking in the wrong department.
The bills are paid before the Finance Committee approves them. So the only thing the Finance Committee can do is question why certain bills were paid. Do they question any bills? Who gives authority to pay the bills before the Finance Committee approves them? Seems backwards to me.
Lois 8:27. Then here is what we do. Everyone start sending random invoices to the clerks office. Maybe for picking up a dead bird in the street. Cutting grass between the street and sidewalk. Picking up trash, etc. you get the point. Just start sending invoices to the clerk's office asking for payment. It is not against any law to ask them to pay you. You can download an impressive looking invoice, print it out requesting $100 or so. Then the clerk will have to start sorting them out and trying to figure out which ones are legitimate and which ones are not. And who knows, maybe you will get the hundred dollars and you can then get your own car detailed.
You people are forgetting one of the purposes of local government. That is to prop up local cronies with tax dollars. Always been that way and always will be. The only thing that changes are which cronies get the propping up.
Wasn't a past blog topic on a auto wash which was located at the electrical department with a apparatus which would eliminate water and salt markings. Why aren't ALL city vehicles cleaned here by the drivers?
Sometimes history and tradition create long term inefficient business decisions which are not recognized until someone outside of the group recognizes them.
This seems to be a easy fix.
9:56, the answer to your question is in the 9:24 post.
But seriously, the people of Peru are paying a huge tax. It is called the Apathy Tax.
Such ridiculous comments about a car cleaning service. Please get a life. If you want your city vehicles dirty, go to the city meeting and state that request. If you don't want the grass cut, go to the city meeting and state your request. If you don't want your street cleaned, go to the meeting and request that. Yes, take the advice of 9:02 and send false invoices, and go to jail! Please understand that these people who blog about the fire department have no real positive agenda. They are lost in space with the new trained effective fire fighters. They want the day's of no show training and paid sign in without going to the fire. They want a position without the work.
That's what this is about. They feed friends the information and feed off of the conspiracy. Like little girls in Junior High.
"You may know society is doomed when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing; when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors; when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you; [and] when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice." - Ayn Rand, "Atlas Shrugged", 1957
10:58, I pay five dollars to drive my SUV through a car wash and vacuum it out for another two dollars and it looks pretty damn good. How can you justify $140 to "detail" a city SUV, which is supposed to be a working vehicle, not a car show vehicle. If that is the requirement for city vehicles, I think they are misguided. No friend, it is pure corruption.
As far as sending the invoices go, it is no different than the phony baloney invoice that Mr. Car Detailer sent. He provided a service that the government did not officially request and he sent a bill. So if I go out in the street and pick up cigarette buts, I should be allowed to send an invoice for whatever I want - it is up to the city to pay it if they believe it is valid. A professionally run organization would require a purchase order to be approved. That way, when the invoice showed up they would know is it valid. Apparently, in Peru, any one can tell any business to just send a bill if it is "below the radar."
I really want to trust government officials. But every day I find another reason not to.
I don't think the anger of the bloggers is directed toward the actual expenses of the cleaning/detailing. I think the anger is a result of the friendly alliances of those providing the services with no checks/balances put into place. It's always so easy to spend taxpayer money. Let's start using Peru businesses please.
3:12, you can't trust anyone involved in City of Peru government anymore. Every single one of them are nothing but a liars. Period. End of story. Time to send them all packing.
The only way to change it is get off your a$$ and vote ! Which never happens so suck it up and pay your taxes so they can have more to waste ! Vote people and change this . plain and simple
I don't think this is any different than that stupid organ at LP high school. How much of my money went to Flimflam the Organ Man?
9:57
i vote and vote and it doesn't make a difference - the greed mongers that be are appointed not elected!!!!!!
1:09, public humiliation works at times. It is much easier to expose the wrongs of the city hired help than it has been in the past.
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