We've got a good thing going' in La Salle - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
"Is there a regional resurgence?
If we have a bunch of people come in and people start staying in the hotels, where are the hotels? They’re in Peru. So Peru benefits. We want coordination. We should be feeding off of each other. If Peru does good things, that’s only going to benefit us. If we do good things it’s only going to benefit Peru, Oglesby, Spring Valley. We really need to promote ourselves, this whole area as a community. If you’re going to get people coming out of Naperville you can’t have just the Uptown and expect they’re going to come here. What benefits one should benefit the rest."
Now we need the inner circle of Peru's elected to believe the same as so many of us do and a good number are still stuck in the Peru is best way. (Peru Town Forum comment)
18 comments:
That is fine from the point of view of generating tax revenue for the government to spend. But what about income for the "locals" to spend?
Tourism generates revenue for the government - but not much for employees. We need to balance this with incentives to attract manufacturing - everything from pork chops to car parts can be produced in the Illinois Valley if we promote ourselves as being "Industrial Friendly." We need to lower the property tax rate for industrial zones. Lower the industrial rate for electricity in Peru. Lower the industrial rate for water / and waste water in Peru. If it becomes law, we need to enact local right to work zones.
This doesn't mix well with the "eco tourism" vision that some people have in LaSalle County. But, "eco tourism" does not employ large numbers of people. Mining, transportation, and manufacturing does.
That is an excellent article showing what can be done to revitalize a downtown area with the right leadership. Peru's mayor and council need to open their eyes and see how it's done. Strategic planning was mentioned in the article. When former Alderman Perez tried to get the Peru council to get a strategic plan for 5 and 10 years down the road, the mayor and other councilmen said "no thanks". What a difference a good mayor can make for a lackluster downtown. Peru needs to see that we are a community of small towns and we can work together. Also mentioned in the article were trees and perennial flowers to beautify the area. Funny there was no mention of flags to make downtown look good (especially ones that are hard to read).
After reading the article about the Peru Hotel-Motel tax, it angers me that Peru has so much money in the Hotel-Motel tax account that can be used anyway the city wants, and the city can't even put in a splash pad for the kids in the summer. People are saying there is nothing to do in Peru, no events, no festivals and Peru is sitting on a cash cow and can't even do anything for its residents.
Very intersting to see Peru's "leaders" exposed as the selfish self-centered elitists they all are. They all get check marks on their report card for "Does not play well with others". Arrogance and ignorance are not the attitudes I want in my elected officials.
What in the world was arrogant about this article? It seemed pretty straightforward. The hotel tax is a huge benefit to our city. If there was an article about LaSalle or Ottawa's hotel tax you would be singing their praises and condemning Peru for being awful.
Keep crying anonymously on the blog.
They increased the hotel motel tax revenue two ways. They increased the tax rate charged to visitors. Second, they greatly increased the number of rooms available by funding a new hotel using TIF money. That's right folks, the developer of the newest hotel is taking tax money away from the school district which it was built in.
The article in the paper stated the hotel funds could not be explained by the very small increase in rate. It also sounds like the city used some of that money to tear down an old hotel. And they might use it to tear down another one. And they might use it to redo venture drive. If that's true the city is putting the hotel money back into the areas where the hotels are. That sounds fair to me.
I suppose another option would be for the city to spend it on corn dogs and canal boats.
6:35
Hotel tax has remained the same. The increase is due to the amount of hotel use. The TIF was set up to get rid of the old closed hotels. Dimmick school district will benefit from the newly created business located in the TIF area. If you look at this from a outside perspective the Peru taxpayer has invested in Dimmick School, one of the strongest in the State.
10:09 While I think corn dogs and canal boats should not be an option for the aforementioned tax dollar I do believe that a splash pad for our children is a very positive option for the hotel/motel tax. If the city paid outright for a splash pad I believe (if I understood things correctly) that it would be cheaper for them than having to match the proposed cost of the grant that would require the city to provide things that we really don't need.
10:09 While I think corn dogs and canal boats should not be an option for the aforementioned tax dollar I do believe that a splash pad for our children is a very positive option for the hotel/motel tax. If the city paid outright for a splash pad I believe (if I understood things correctly) that it would be cheaper for them than having to match the proposed cost of the grant that would require the city to provide things that we really don't need.
Funny. The I&M Canal is the source of the original rivalry between LaSalle and Peru. The terminus of the canal is actually in Peru. But all the goods where unloaded and shipped through LaSalle. But we got our payback when we shut their downtown down by creating a mall. Payback is a...
I agree with the notion published elsewhere in this blog regarding fireworks. Events like that are so provincial and unbecoming of a sophisticated town. They should definitely not be considered in an area like Baker Lake. That part of town contains very high end real estate and needs to be, should I say, protected somewhat. We can't have a beer brawl with explosives next to a $500K house for Pete's sake. Now maybe - if the event was changed slightly - it could happen. First, there needs to be a charge - say $50 for a family, $30 for a couple, and $20 for an individual. Beer and wine may be sold but not brought in. To keep it under control, a high price must be charged. Say $8.00 a beer and $12.00 for a glass of wine. A strict dress code must be enforced. While shorts would be OK - they must be kaki style Bermuda - not cut off jeans. No T-Shirt. I think little rules like that would keep the riff raff out and make for an event befitting Peru.
If we want a more "common" event, just give some money to the folks in LaSalle or Oglesby.
9:57 Are you serious? Just because your home is more expensive than some does not give you any more rights than the average citizen in Peru. I also find your comment about a "common" event condescending, degrading, and pompous. You and I are no better than our neighbors in La Salle or Oglesby. Maybe they are actually better than us because they don't "brag". Your money doesn't give you the right to look down your nose at others or give you special privileges. I am disappointed that this attitude is coming from Peru.
OMG 10:33 AM, You swallowed that bait HOOK, LINE & SINKER!
10:33. The neighborhood is upper class. We don't want a bunch hillbillies full of beer peeing on our front yard. If you want this event - by all means go ahead and have it. But that park is not the place. I've already talked to my insurance company and they have suggested a large rider if the event takes place in that park. However, this is being reported to the corporate office in Bloomington. The rider many not be approved since they may consider informing the city that they will not cover any damage caused by the event and that the city guarantee $2 million in coverage for each house surrounding the park.
9:57 if you apply those rules you won't have anybody at the event. Very few that attend the fireworks show have nice kaki shorts. And to eliminate t-shirts with derogatory messages would eliminate many more. And no beer brought in would eliminate another 80%. And if you have a $8.00 beer special you may have a riot. The typical fireworks attendee comes down to water street with a big dog, a stroller, pregnant with two kids in a wagon dressed in cut off bib overalls and a snake tattoo around the arms with a pack of smokes in the front pocket. I do enjoy your comment about admission rates. If you charged any fee, nobody will pay. Betty Sue and the family will take up residence in the closest yard and enjoy the show. If the show is near Baker Lake you can be assured that every street North and South will have no parking signs. The closest parking area will be in LaSalle.
The airport? Is it worth the regulations and coming up with the revenue to pay for the show? According to the reports the FAA requires the city to pay for the rental of the airport--thousands?
Back to Water Street, Betty Sue and the kids, Big Fido, halter tops, cutoff shorts and plenty of cold Busch lights. Who knows they may set a record for the most porta-potties rented for a 20 minute event. And another year of the Silver Bullet Band! I sure hope the Pub offers the special table for $200 and all you can drink.
The point of having the rules is to price it out of reach for most of the hillbillies in the Illinois Valley. I would add two more rules. Everyone entering the park would be subject to a search and sniff from a drug dog. No loitering outside the park in the residential areas.
11:41 give me a break. You can't be serious. That park is for everybody, not just the upper crust who can afford to live up there.
1:18, that park was made for that neighborhood. No outsiders allowed! Next thing you know, they will be playing Pickelballl or having Dog Pulls.
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