Princeton finds its new city manager - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
Great news for Princeton, a local area native to be the new City Manager. I am sure many will be watching how this develops. Peru Town Forum wishes her the best in her new job.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Friday, August 28, 2015
Illinois Puts Many Cities Into a Diffiult Position
IDES says the largest gains came in government and leisure/hospitality, with gains of 175 and 125, respectively, while manufacturing jobs declined by 175, as did professional and business services. *Read the article in the New Tribune*
So fewer manufacturing jobs in the Illinois Valley and an increase in the "corn dog" businesses, what does this mean for the city that is putting many of our taxpayer dollars into salaries of individuals that are supposed to be bringing business to Peru. Do they mean more retail?
Is this more money spent on something that won't materialize into more new well paying jobs?
Should the city be putting more money into the regional effort which Peru is contemplating but has not joined.
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/new-economic-development-group-seeks-investors/article_8fc666ef-3cb8-5eb5-93ba-2b8c965534fa.html
All cities are in a difficult position as the state of Illinois has become one of the least desirable states for a manufacturing business to locate. For this reason many are moving across our borders to the west, north, south and east.
The long awaited banners are now up and are they good advertising or a waste of money? Notice the Peru logo is at the top but they are supposed to be advertising Route 6 by that independent Association and businesses located on that historic highway.
So fewer manufacturing jobs in the Illinois Valley and an increase in the "corn dog" businesses, what does this mean for the city that is putting many of our taxpayer dollars into salaries of individuals that are supposed to be bringing business to Peru. Do they mean more retail?
Is this more money spent on something that won't materialize into more new well paying jobs?
Should the city be putting more money into the regional effort which Peru is contemplating but has not joined.
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/new-economic-development-group-seeks-investors/article_8fc666ef-3cb8-5eb5-93ba-2b8c965534fa.html
All cities are in a difficult position as the state of Illinois has become one of the least desirable states for a manufacturing business to locate. For this reason many are moving across our borders to the west, north, south and east.
The long awaited banners are now up and are they good advertising or a waste of money? Notice the Peru logo is at the top but they are supposed to be advertising Route 6 by that independent Association and businesses located on that historic highway.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Public Comment in Peru Is Now On Facebook
Social media is not only a means of communication on the national scene, it is now down to the local level and lately it has been all about Peru. How important is this? For many this is how they get the news locally and worldwide and this is not an exaggeration. Listen to TV what commentators are saying "tweet me @ such and such" or go to my FB page. The message gets out there much faster than newsprint and so many popular commentators and local organizations, cities and personalities are now active on these venues.
Now back to Peru. Last week it was the controversy about the parade in the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival. R. Perez was taking the Operation Promise damaged vehicle on a float to promote the safety aspect of the Peru Fire Department and their support of OP. Initially he was told he could use a pickup from the fire department, no problem he is a volunteer fireman. Wait Mayor Harl stated he wanted to use that truck to pull the new Peru float, but wait the mayor is not a member of the PFD and technically he should not have been allowed to use the truck which might have been actually driven by a non fire dept member, but actually an elected alderman. Social media covered this extensively on the local level.
People thought well the parade is done and both the Peru float and the OP float were in the parade and lets continue on with business. Within the last few days, R. Perez received a letter from the PFD Chief Jeff King that the Volunteer position of Public Information Officer for the Peru Fire Department has been eliminated. Do I or anyone else out their believe that King decided on his own to do this? Hell no, this has someone elses fingerprints all over it and he was just the front man. Anyone that knows the chief also knows that. This aspect has been covered more thoroughly on Facebook than any newspaper could do and instantly and everyone within hundreds of miles from here, current and former residents are offering their opinion.
My point in making this post is this. Doesn't anyone who is in a position of authority have any idea of what this is doing to the City of Peru? Actions like this just give those who dislike the city and the people who have been elected to serve and also those who have been appointed by them look really bad, like autocrats serving their own purposes and not the residents of this city. Peru aldermen and other officials like to blame this blog for the bad opinions many have but it is way beyond this blog currently, the city through their actions have done it on their own. It is time someone who knows how to handle the city takes the reins and btw who is in charge of Public Relations and who makes current frequent and honest press releases to explain to the taxpayers what and why impromptu decisions had to be made and make it honest.
This was not a planned blog post but something that needs to be said and I am sure I will take heat for this also.
#peruillinois
#perumayor
#operationpromise
#sweetcornfestival
#perufiredepartment
#publicinformation
#volunteerposition
Now back to Peru. Last week it was the controversy about the parade in the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival. R. Perez was taking the Operation Promise damaged vehicle on a float to promote the safety aspect of the Peru Fire Department and their support of OP. Initially he was told he could use a pickup from the fire department, no problem he is a volunteer fireman. Wait Mayor Harl stated he wanted to use that truck to pull the new Peru float, but wait the mayor is not a member of the PFD and technically he should not have been allowed to use the truck which might have been actually driven by a non fire dept member, but actually an elected alderman. Social media covered this extensively on the local level.
People thought well the parade is done and both the Peru float and the OP float were in the parade and lets continue on with business. Within the last few days, R. Perez received a letter from the PFD Chief Jeff King that the Volunteer position of Public Information Officer for the Peru Fire Department has been eliminated. Do I or anyone else out their believe that King decided on his own to do this? Hell no, this has someone elses fingerprints all over it and he was just the front man. Anyone that knows the chief also knows that. This aspect has been covered more thoroughly on Facebook than any newspaper could do and instantly and everyone within hundreds of miles from here, current and former residents are offering their opinion.
My point in making this post is this. Doesn't anyone who is in a position of authority have any idea of what this is doing to the City of Peru? Actions like this just give those who dislike the city and the people who have been elected to serve and also those who have been appointed by them look really bad, like autocrats serving their own purposes and not the residents of this city. Peru aldermen and other officials like to blame this blog for the bad opinions many have but it is way beyond this blog currently, the city through their actions have done it on their own. It is time someone who knows how to handle the city takes the reins and btw who is in charge of Public Relations and who makes current frequent and honest press releases to explain to the taxpayers what and why impromptu decisions had to be made and make it honest.
This was not a planned blog post but something that needs to be said and I am sure I will take heat for this also.
#peruillinois
#perumayor
#operationpromise
#sweetcornfestival
#perufiredepartment
#publicinformation
#volunteerposition
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015
What Is Operation Promise and Why It Came Into Existence?
Developed in 2009 by Rodney Perez, a former Peru alderman
This is a non for profit group comprised of colunteers with a mission to open eyes and to save lives by:
Bringing attention to the consequences of irresponsible choices
Promoting accountability for all choices we make and actions we take and providing alternatives to counteract the peer pressures teens and families face.
This program was initially part of the Peru Liberty Fire Dept and that is a long article by itself. Perez as you may have read is the Education firefighter of the Peru Fire Department. So many changes have taken place in the department due to changes put forth by the city under the direction of Mayor Scott Harl and due to personality issues within the city, that caused Operation Promise to separate from the fire department and because a NFP, although still supported the Peru Fire Chief.
This is a non for profit group comprised of colunteers with a mission to open eyes and to save lives by:
Bringing attention to the consequences of irresponsible choices
Promoting accountability for all choices we make and actions we take and providing alternatives to counteract the peer pressures teens and families face.
This program was initially part of the Peru Liberty Fire Dept and that is a long article by itself. Perez as you may have read is the Education firefighter of the Peru Fire Department. So many changes have taken place in the department due to changes put forth by the city under the direction of Mayor Scott Harl and due to personality issues within the city, that caused Operation Promise to separate from the fire department and because a NFP, although still supported the Peru Fire Chief.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Peru C.S.O. Picnic - By it support
Peru C.S.O. Picnic - By it support
This is the advertisement on 815 Life and it differs in detail from the Rodders one. Let this settle the issue about city being involved as you can see it is not from what i read on this ad.
This is the advertisement on 815 Life and it differs in detail from the Rodders one. Let this settle the issue about city being involved as you can see it is not from what i read on this ad.
Friday, August 14, 2015
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Elected officials sometimes take pains to conceal aspects of their illnesses
Elected officials sometimes take pains to conceal aspects
of their illnesses
"Craig Holman, an ethics expert at Public Citizen, a watchdog group in Washington, said he believes there was no need for Kirk to use a fake name. He said that once a person becomes a public official, much about their lives becomes of public interest, including their health."
of their illnesses
"Craig Holman, an ethics expert at Public Citizen, a watchdog group in Washington, said he believes there was no need for Kirk to use a fake name. He said that once a person becomes a public official, much about their lives becomes of public interest, including their health."
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
2011 income tax hike drove wealthier Illinoisans to other states
2011 income tax hike drove wealthier Illinoisans to other states
The silent exodus of money from the state. I had asked a retiring department head the city of Peru why he was moving out of state after he took his retirement. He had a simple one word answer. TAXES.
Thousands of unknowns to Peru are leaving and the remaining have to pay the bills which are getting bigger and bigger. Peru city taxes are low but they are not the only components of your bill. There is a bill before our legislature to freeze property taxes for 2015-16 but not likely to pass due to other attachments.
The silent exodus of money from the state. I had asked a retiring department head the city of Peru why he was moving out of state after he took his retirement. He had a simple one word answer. TAXES.
Thousands of unknowns to Peru are leaving and the remaining have to pay the bills which are getting bigger and bigger. Peru city taxes are low but they are not the only components of your bill. There is a bill before our legislature to freeze property taxes for 2015-16 but not likely to pass due to other attachments.
Wednesday, August 05, 2015
Special Report: Multitude of local authorities soak Illinois homeowners in taxes
Special Report: Multitude of local authorities soak Illinois homeowners in taxes
One of the articles I came upon after a trip to the County Courthouse to pay taxes, amd wjere I asked questions with no answers. I will return to my quest for answers soon.
I only wanted to know why people living in different parts of the city pay different amounts of taxes depending upon if other tax producing businesses were in their district of the city. That is I what I was told. so people so home owners in the south of Peru don't pay more in value of their homes but their tax rate is higher and taxes are going up little by little. This makes no sense.
One of the articles I came upon after a trip to the County Courthouse to pay taxes, amd wjere I asked questions with no answers. I will return to my quest for answers soon.
I only wanted to know why people living in different parts of the city pay different amounts of taxes depending upon if other tax producing businesses were in their district of the city. That is I what I was told. so people so home owners in the south of Peru don't pay more in value of their homes but their tax rate is higher and taxes are going up little by little. This makes no sense.
Who said cops can't be fun? National Night Out proves it - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
Who said cops can't be fun? National Night Out proves it - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
I agree wholeheartedly and kudos to Spring Valley PD for realizing what this is for the community.
I agree wholeheartedly and kudos to Spring Valley PD for realizing what this is for the community.
Tuesday, August 04, 2015
Monday, August 03, 2015
Our View: Let's get behind multicounty regional planning commission
Our View: Let's get behind multicounty regional planning commission
Cities to our north and northwest realize that they need a loud and unified voice to attract business to their area. They state that cities cannot do this all by themselves that they need to work as one. This is done in contrast to the Lone Wolf contracts and deals the city of Peru is attempting to use. Which one will work? Time will tell as will the determination and work of a unified organization.
Cities to our north and northwest realize that they need a loud and unified voice to attract business to their area. They state that cities cannot do this all by themselves that they need to work as one. This is done in contrast to the Lone Wolf contracts and deals the city of Peru is attempting to use. Which one will work? Time will tell as will the determination and work of a unified organization.
Local Event Sponsors
Some of the comments this morning have been been so illogical. Think about the history of recent Peru events, say the last 50 years. What organization has been in back of most of them. Has it been the Community Service Organization (CSO)?
And for how many years have all of the aldermen been members of the CSO? How many are currently members?
Who puts up the Christmas decorations and who hosts the bands and beer tent for the Fourth of July?
This all male organization has been in bed with our City Hall and its inhabitants for as long as I can remember.
Remember the Peru Businessmen's Association? And the Peru Downtown Redevelopment Organization which must have been under the control of the Peru Mayor because he disbanded it in order to form a committee over which he has control.
The Volunteer Beautification Committee fell apart and the reason was NO support by the city government.
In order to have an event put on by an organization it is necessary to have the support and approval of the City in which it is to take place. The Recreation Board has not lived up to its original intent and the July 4 Fireworks is a perfect example. The location was not available and they could not find another place to locate it, so you might as well say it is toast because our location of Water Street is located right adjacent to the Illinois River and it has a habit of flooding many times in late spring or early summer which often includes July 4. No back up , no fireworks.
Now give me a few more reasons why Peru has no events. I hope the naysayers here realize it takes a cooperative city.
The city had no problem helping out at the airport for the concerts and they jumped in feet first even having a coordinator between the city and the sponsor. This city encourages what it wants to and finds ways to end those they do not.
And for how many years have all of the aldermen been members of the CSO? How many are currently members?
Who puts up the Christmas decorations and who hosts the bands and beer tent for the Fourth of July?
This all male organization has been in bed with our City Hall and its inhabitants for as long as I can remember.
Remember the Peru Businessmen's Association? And the Peru Downtown Redevelopment Organization which must have been under the control of the Peru Mayor because he disbanded it in order to form a committee over which he has control.
The Volunteer Beautification Committee fell apart and the reason was NO support by the city government.
In order to have an event put on by an organization it is necessary to have the support and approval of the City in which it is to take place. The Recreation Board has not lived up to its original intent and the July 4 Fireworks is a perfect example. The location was not available and they could not find another place to locate it, so you might as well say it is toast because our location of Water Street is located right adjacent to the Illinois River and it has a habit of flooding many times in late spring or early summer which often includes July 4. No back up , no fireworks.
Now give me a few more reasons why Peru has no events. I hope the naysayers here realize it takes a cooperative city.
The city had no problem helping out at the airport for the concerts and they jumped in feet first even having a coordinator between the city and the sponsor. This city encourages what it wants to and finds ways to end those they do not.
Sunday, August 02, 2015
Will you see Elvis at Vegas-themed Wenona Days? - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
Will you see Elvis at Vegas-themed Wenona Days? - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
Wow look at the full schedule in Wenona this week. Just a short drive if you are looking for some summer fun.
Wow look at the full schedule in Wenona this week. Just a short drive if you are looking for some summer fun.
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