Peru to build aesthetically pleasing public works building? - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
Location??? Aesthetically pleasing "in Peru" (lol)?? Really it is not funny but as a life long resident of this city and know this city quite well, I can't help but laugh because it is this type of thought that has left our downtown looking like it does as well as neglected aspects of some of our city parks, lack of reacreation facilities and on and on. I pray for some real leaders to emerge into this community to work for all of us not only the selected few.
121 comments:
OMG, what a bunch of phonies these aldermen are. Their comments in the newspaper and the comments of city enginneer Carls are obviously scripted and rehearsed. What's the rush, rush rush? They are playing the people of Peru for absolute fools (again). Where the hell did this idea come from? This is the first I have heard of this new building. What? Where? When? How? Who? And most importantly, How Much? God these people are such damn phonies! Just riduculous. on Our view: Police step out in front of heroin scourge
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So predictable to see Peru's phony elected officials sneaking around while planning to spend a massive amount of taxpayer dollars on a Taj Majol of a public works building. This boondoggle is unnecessary and they are hiding every aspect as they sneak through the process behind the scenes. There has been no public involvement and no opportunity provided for the taxpayers to review any of the plans. It has all been done in Closed session meetings to avoid public scrutiny of the wasteful spending. They show a total disregard and lack of respect for the people of Peru. They should all be voted out of office for running these secret scams against the people they are supposed to serve. on Our view:
Anonymous
at 2:05 PM
2:29, this has been talked about starting in Harls first term, the urgency now is there is a potential buyer for the old building.
3:16, even though there has been talk for a while about a new PW building, these discussions should take place in public, not behind closed doors. The taxpayers have a right to know what our elected officials are planning. These closed session meetings are tiring.
3:16
Who cares if this has been talked about in Harl's first term? Talk is cheap and as long as it was only talked about it cost nothing. Who cares if there is a potential buyer for the old building if it has never been put for sale and there is no need of a new building?
Is this sale similar to the building that the city sold for less than 1/3rd of what they had invested in it and they also financed the sale?
What is the urgency, or is this just another fairy tale like everyone was told about gourmet hamburgers on Water Street? Maybe the city officials forgot about the 6 month rider that was part of selling the building for $16,000. Now how many years ago was that?
This was covered by someone. Taj Mahal on the Michalini property up north. Old building sold to V who has a buyer on the line but they don't know it's even available till he owns it. Kinda like the old days again. The Peru Development Trust, la Salle Development Trust, trust, trust.......local mayors, alderman, real estate families, attorneys. They bought property on the cheap knowing someone wanted to move a business into a certain city. They'd buy low, sell high. All with insider information provided by the chamber. Now Peru has V so it's easier. Someone laughed when they said this building would be millions.......still laughing?
Most communities have these projects in something called a "plan." These "plans" are made in advance to prevent knee jerk reactions which cause cost overruns. But no - Peru does not provide a "plan" for people to review because Peru encourages wasteful spending. Now we have Aldermen choosing a brick pattern and window treatments BEFORE publishing a budget or even telling people where the "Area 51" will be located.
Something stinks to high heaven.
Get a Clue Peru.
Just to clarify, I think the laughing was at $25 million. Of course it is over a million. No surprise on the cost when you consider square footage for a building like this. I do agree it should be more transparent.
Having public involvement with EVERY aspect of the City would mean that NOTHING would be accomplished. This is why there are aldermen, a Mayor, PSM, ASM, department heads, personnel, budgets, financial experts & engineers Understandably, the City's portion of YOUR "property tax' dollars of $200K need to be accounted for...however, property taxes do no even register on the scale of a $52M annual budget. Get a CLUE.
7:08 GET A CLUE, letting the public know what is going on in our town with our tax dollars is all most people are asking for. Most people don't want to be involved in the decisions, but we do want to be informed. That is something this council continually refuses to do.
Is this building another "super majority" and has there ever been a public vote by the council? I do not recall advertising for bids in the paper. What should a storage building for vechiles cost without the unnecessary bells and whistles? Would a Butler Buiding serve the purpose and if it is to house police cars how much of it will be paid for by drug money? As for "V" is his private business getting a cut out of this? What good is it to hire a engineer and a assistant engineer to reduce Chamlins costs and than add "V"'s firm onto the payroll?
A inquiry ballot was sent out to judge the interest in building a swimming pool with the electric bill but there hasn't been any city interest in doing the same for this building. May I state the reason for voting in a alderman, he is to represent his constituents by voting for what they want not what he wants.
It has been written in the blog many times about the limited capabilities certain alderman have this is a easy solution, lower the number of alderman from 8 to 6 add the salaries of the 2 that have been eliminated into the salary of the remaing 6 which would raise their salary to $6700/year now raise each aldermans salary by $1300 to $8,000/year and you would be amazed at the number of capable people who would run, I am sure everyone has heard the comment "You get what you pay for".
This is not a storage shed. The building is going to be part of a complex. A Headquarters for the City Public Works. It is going to have a brick façade to make it look like the municipal building. It will have offices and everything else an a headquarters building has. Why did they not put this in the budget. Why have all the planning meetings been conducted in secret?
While it may be necessary - Why the Ef don't they tell us they are doing this?
Not the right place to blog this, but tomorrow is Halloween again. Did they figure out how to keep the freeloaders from LaSalle and Oglesby from bringing their kids to Peru to get the good candy?
What else are they planning behind closed doors? I heard that they are going to get Bobby V. a car and city credit card. The Peru auto dealer that donates to "the war chest" has some super deals.
I'm almost certain that most people would agree that a new public works building is justified. The problem is that Peru has absolutely no long term planning. There is no roadmap for a citizen to look at see what is going on. Outside of the immediate region, almost every responsible local government in the country uses long term planning as a tool to formulate budgets and even staffing requirements. Not around here. Every government entity - County, Township, City, School, Library, - every damn one of them - is operated within a crony good old boy network. The goals of this network may not be sinister. But, they are also not well thought out or even necessary. Once thing is for certain, openness is rare in the Illinois Valley. Everyone in government has a secret little plan. From getting the next higher paying government job, to sending business to a friend that waxes cars. Taken individually, each little bit of corruption is benign. But when you look at it from a higher altitude - you see it for what it is. We have a class of people in the Illinois Valley that are nothing more than parasites on the public treasury.
Concerning this building. It is worth mentioning again that the our Aldermen are in the phase of picking out furniture and looking at paint chips. When I hear that they want to build what is a work depot with storage for construction equipment - and make it out of brick and mimic the municipal building downtown - it makes me sick to my stomach. They have no published budget. They have a blank check. All they need is a concrete slab and a prefabricated Morton Building. We don't need architects, construction mangers, construction companies, etc. Call "The General" (General Steel Buildings) and it will be done in a month. It would take longer for the concrete slab to dry than to have the building erected. But no. Our Council wants to spend millions on a building to last the ages. They will use the finest marble and bricks made of gold. Then they will park a dump truck in it.
The printed comments of Peru's officials are a blatant insult to each and every intelligent citizen of Peru. I don't like being "played" by anybody, but it is especially insulting to being manipulated by a bunch of dim-witted elected officials who put more effort into keeping secrets from the people than providing honest representation. This public works building project is a scam and a boondoggle. This project will be over-engineered, over-designed, over-sized, over-the top, and over-budget in every aspect in order to butter the bread of connected companies, friends, and supporters. It already has the stink of the usual insiders all over it with Vickrey working some phony property sale of the old building and Michelini sucking even more Peru tax dollars by selling off tillable land for a huge premium. This phony council is now authorizing Eric Carls to begin "negotiating" an agreement with connected contractor Vissering to provide management of this massive project. If Carls can "negotiate terms" of a management agreement, why the hell can't he as the city engineer manage the damn project himself "in-house". Then we have to read the stupid comments from the phony aldermen like Waldork setting it up with "we should get the ball rolling on this". These crooks are becoming more and more arrogant with these secret deals and more and more bold with their scams to spread the wealth at the cost of honest taxpayers. Every honest citizen in Peru is being played as a fool by Harl and the aldermen in the way they have rolled out this scam. Will anybody stand up to them?
11:11 pm Your staying up much too late to think clearly. Your looking to run for office and that's great. We need quality in office. Your slogan of paying you more money to run is just what the residents want to hear from a self centered money hungry representative. Would you give us better representation with a $5000 increase from the current wages? Run for the money is not what public service is about.
Get a Clue Peru. Nothing you say will change the mind of our Ruling Class.
All Hail King Harl the Round Belly!
Long Live the Nights of the Obtuse Table!
Lady Becky of Get Along
Sir Tony the Arrogant
Sir Tommy the Flopper
Sir Mickey the Flipper
The Brothers Dave of Dumb and Dumber
Sir Sappy of Cronyville
Sir Jimmy the Silent
And lets not forget the Wizard Bobby that holds them all under his enchantment.
7:25 am
Settle down. We know nothing about this project yet. There is no mention of Michelenni selling property and nothing about any sweetheart in-house property deal from Vickery. The only thing that has been in the news in that the city will be hiring a construction manager for the project. If Peru is using a construction manager the role is to oversee the construction. There is no doubt that the current structure has seen better days 50 years ago. Before we begin the conspiracy let them give us the facts.
9:02 AM, Too late. It is well known Peru has at least three aldermen whose primary motivation for maintaining office is the money. Yes, it's sad, but it's true. They are in it for the paycheck and all you have to do is observe them and their mlack of effort or interest in the job it's obvious they bring nothing to the job. Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil. Put them side by side and they look just like the cartoon monkeys.
11:11, an alderman is elected to represent the majority of his constituents, not just a fringe group that complains about everything in this city good or bad.
If they are motivated by six to 10 "k" a year - boy do we have some cheep ones.
Anyway. The new building should be nothing more than a steel prefab. Very easy, doesn't need a "construction manager." It could be finished in a month and a half. The fact that they are interviewing "construction managers" tells me this is more than a workshop and parking garage for the public works department.
I'll just sit back and laugh. But our Rulers are going to be spending tens of millions and the people of Peru will remain clueless.
Somebody is upset enough to create this incredible dribble of controversy, conspiracy and money fables. We call our residents clueless and name call our representatives. What has upset anyone to go to such insults to everyone in Peru? Was it that you were not elected or re-elected to the small town office? Has anybody said that this facility is costing ten of millions of dollars? Has anybody said that they city is buying property for this facility? Has anybody said that the city is picking up furniture and making this a clubhouse? Has anybody said that there will be a tax increase to build this facility? The answer is no to each and every question. The only known fact is from the short newspaper article taken from a committee meeting. Yes, the same newspaper that those same rumor mongers call insider news!
Before I call anybody names I will wait for the city elected to vote on the matter.
11:53, in that short article they where quoted as saying we gotta move like we are moving or other such nonsense. Then they started making quotes about be "aesthetically pleasing" whatever the hell that means. What is none is the Aldermen are talking about the style of bricks on the façade and they are hiring a third party manager to oversee the project.
It has been noted and I will say it again. They need a workshop and parking garage. Something like that is available from a number of companies including Morton Buildings and General Steel. You pick and choose your options from a catalog, place your order, and they come in and put it up in a very short period of time. They make buildings from very small to something the size of the DD Warehouse or even larger.
Now - Since Peru forces the citizenry to "read between the lines"..... They are hiring a third party construction manager and taking about the style of brickwork and have not published a budget or plan. Reading between the lines - since I am force to because our government operates in the dark and on the edge of the law - this project is not a simple public works shop and garage. They don't want a building that is functional and reasonable. They want to spread money around like big shots. As far as I'm concerned every single member of the Peru City Council need to be voted out of office.
AMEN 12:35!!!
AMEN AMEN 12:35! The citizens of Peru are clueless because that's exactly how the council wants us to remain. That way they can continue to spread the butter and spend, spend, spend. Does any one of the aldermen have the backbone to say hey wait a minute, this building doesn't need to look like city hall, it's a freaking storage building! Build it the most cost effective way! Go out for bids and comparison shop. Do the aldermen just go out and buy whatever they need without checking prices? I doubt it, but when they are spending tax dollars, hey who needs to pinch pennies. They showed they don't care about wasting tax dollars by staying Saturday night in Chicago when the conference was over at 2:00 Saturday afternoon. VOTE THEM ALL OUT!
12:35, you try that every election , not working to well for you is it? Seems the majority of citizens are happy with the government.
12:35 Valium! It's the secret to staying calm. I never heard anything about picking out bricks or budgets for the building. I understand that the project was discussed and recommendations were made about the use of a construction manager at a committee meeting. Those discussions should take place at many committee meetings, its against the law for elected officials to meet and discuss city business anywhere else. I would think that any well run group would discuss many possibilities at committee levels. I would believe that after those committee level discussions, proposals are then addressed at the complete meeting.
If you are against any vote to be taken at any meeting you should call it out and put your name behind your voice. Please verify all of your details before the public hanging begins at the town square.
Well it didn't take long for all the haters to come crawling out of the wood work. I have read the posts and the one thing that resonates through all of them is everyone thinks there are back room deals being done by the Mayor and the City Council.
I for one will tell you that I don't go to the city meetings and when I read something like this in the paper, i may call my alderman and ask what going on and find out what I can.
12:35 Can you explain what you mean by a workshop and Morton building?
Are you saying that they should order the building from a catalog?
Can you tell me where and who does all the work on the trucks plows and other equipment?
I think they would need more that a tin building correct.
We will see. There is an idea the keeps popping up in Springfield that, if implemented, would destroy the "Peru Way."
That idea is to change the way the municipal portion of the sales tax revenue. They are not talking about the extra home rule taxes that Harl and the School pushed through, but the larger part of the actual state sales tax.
Anyway - there are some that believe this money should be distributed differently. It is currently distributed based on the location of the sale. So if something is purchased in Peru, Peru gets the municipal portion of the sales tax. What they want to do is distribute it based on population. So, all of the municipal sales tax from all over the state would be put in one big pot and that pot would be distributed to each municipality based on their population. The Chicago Democrats think this is a more fair system.
With that in mind - knowing that the State of Illinois is flat busted broke and there is absolutely no guarantee they will distribute ANY money they collect in taxes, I'm thinking that Peru really needs to economize on any new construction and start saving their pennies.
this is 2:37
I must make a correction not all the posts are about back room deals and under the table pay offs. Just tired of all the haters
THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR, DON'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW TRULY WHATS' GOING ON. IF IT WERE ON THE UP AND UP, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DECIDED ON IN CLOSED SESSION. YOU WILL NEVER FIND ANYTHING OUT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO.
Yes, you can get a Morton Building or General Steel Building that is large enough to park every vehicle the city owns in, have all the appropriate shops necessary for Public Works to store their tools and work, and also house the necessary office space.
Yes, I am suggesting that they can pretty much order a structure like this without employing the services of a construction management company.
Yes, I am suggesting that based on what was printed in the Paper, Peru is considering a much more expensive building that has at least one side made of brick.
Yes, I am suggesting that they should decide on a budge before they "start moving like they are moving."
Yes, I am suggesting that the disposition of the existing structure on Peoria Street is a large portion of this project. I am suggesting that it would be criminal for the city to sell that building to anyone. It is beyond rehabilitation. The city needs to demolish that building and then sell the lot for new construction. No "burger joint" deals - destroy that rat trap.
Haters........have anyone ever called anybody to get the accurate facts? If you have, please quote who and what before jumping to conclusions about corruption.
"Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation." Atifete Jahjaga
Yes - I was told by the city that they cannot discuss the details of any pending business deals.
2:41 "Harl and the school" did not "push through" a sales tax. That happened with the current superintendent Cross and Mayor Baker and it was through a referendum that we actually got to vote on. So just clarifying that this was done before Harl and the voters had a say.
This also bring s up a good point. Cross and the school board had public meetings and asked for public input for Parkside and the sales tax. I remember there was a survey. We got to vote. Now there is a novel concept.
when the city imposed the 3 minute time limit on public comment, he personally said to me, "I don't have to allow it". Meaning he was doing us a favor. Always looking for ways to not hear from his constituents.
The minutes from the last "committee of a whole meeting" are now being posted on the city website. The meeting began at 5:00 and was scheduled to end at 7:30 (start of regular council meeting). At 5:10 a closed session began and ended at 7:19. Do the math and figure out how much time that leaves for citizens to participate! Now the minutes for Monday Nov. 2nd are being posted and guess what the first thing on the agenda is once again. Yep, another closed session. For those of you who don't realize how tight lipped this council is maybe this will give you some indication as to how they manage to avoid public interaction. Are you also aware that every 6 months the minutes are to be reviewed and released when the matters under discussion have been resolved. Apparently nothing is being resolved in Peru because none of the minutes from these closed sessions are being made available to the general public.
According to the agenda for Monday's meeting the old public works building will go to DG Partners of Missouri and they will operate a Dollar General store. So it won't be Bob V owning the building.
Hopefully that old building will be demolished and a new one built in its place. Why would Dollar General want to locate there? Why not downtown?
Who did DG buy the building from 7:39? Was it the city of Peru or was it R. Vickrey?
7:39 Who did DG buy the property from? City of Peru or Mr. Vickrey?
4:40 PM, October 30, 2015 - the comment was referring to two sales taxes. The School Sales Tax was as you wrote. However, the vote was advisory and the council still had to pass the ordinance. The other sales tax was pushed through by Harl. That is the "infrastructure" tax.
It would be a crime to allow anyone to operate any kind of business in that building. What will happen to the Dollar General in LaSalle?
The city government has a responsibility to the people who would be potential customers of a Peru Dollar General in the existing old H.J. Tobler Building. Common sense is a warning of all the contaminants which have been used and are still imbedded in this building and are surely in the ground surrounding the city garage.
Years ago people were not aware of the harmful effects of transmission fluids, oil, gas and several other associated products.
The city representation have a obligation to ask all existing government agencies to throughly inspect the garage which was never built for a store which sells food and clothing before it disposes it and this includes all of the areas surrounding it in which exhaust and prouct contaiments were disposed of, this includes property to the North and to the South were vehicles were stored. To increase the area of cancer causing carthegens and a expensive government clean up only enforces ones responsibility to act if his government doesn't. After all it is only a short trip to LaSalle or Depue to report it to someone already involved in a clean up.
Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Big Lots new downtown Resale are pretty much the same type of stores. Dollar General already has stores in Oglesby, LaSalle, Spring Valley,probably Mendota, all fairly close to Peru so I don't get the desire to build in Peru. It certainly is not the type of grocery store I would shop in but that is me. Is this what Peru needs?
Peru does need another grocery with good produce and meat so many of us would not have to shop out of town. Recently I was out of the area and shopped in a small grocery where everything I checked the price of was less than Peru.
12:30 P.M.
A number of years ago someone gave a presentation to the city council regarding cleanup sites (Brownfields). At that time the City garage was mentioned as a possibility in the future. Has that time come?
Is the "burning ban", lifted ?
12:20 PM, October 31, 2015. Funny - for many years that building was a cookie factory.
We don't need any government B.S. decontamination. Just bulldoze the place over the weekend and haul off the debris across the river. Fill in the hole with dirt from the tomatoes guy. Don't ask, Don't tell, just do. If we do as you suggest, it will cost a million dollars. And for what? So what if the ground has some break fluid or oil in it. Just don't roll around in it or eat it and you will be OK.
Did anyone ask The HyVee if another store would be allowed. Oglesby learned the hard way that competition is not approved of in The Illinois Valley.
Don't bother going to the Committee as a whole meeting on Monday. It starts with closed session, so if you do go, you'll just be sitting in empty council chambers all alone.
I find it hard to believe that the city has gone courting a Dollar General. This does not fit with Peru's upscale "Napervillion" aspirations. The last thing our City Council wants is more bargain hunters driving around town. The location would put these shoppers smack dab in the middle of a residential area. The police will now have to patrol in that area as well as up near the Walmart - this will reduce their ability to respond to crime.
It makes sense - one last dab of butter from Harl to show The state Democrats that he knows how to push spending through without really involving the tax payers.
Lou's lagrotto has announced another concert season
Heard suicide girls are coming to town maybe they can fund the building
DG on Peoria St.? Maybe the city works want to move because the street is going to torn up next year.
And the guy who posted 'is the burning ban on yet?' after torrential rains should get an Oscar.
Well we have a new sewer vacuum truck this year but we have a worn out leaf sucker that the city can't get parts for. Maybe King can pick up my leaves with his pickup truck!
@2:59PM
Just as you said years ago it was a cookie factory, and years ago were the laws as strict as they are now and were inspections performed and are all inspections going to be updated to today's standards? Incidentally, has any additional environmental dangers taken place since the city has taken over the building, like the dump truck which was used to haul mercury and other decontamination out of the old power plant during its demolition being worked on in the building.
Burning is not allowed in Peru until 48 hours after a rain.
Be advised that this "grandiouse" "Public Works" buiding the Knuckleheads are proposing is also going to include a new Cop Shop with all the bells and whistles as well as a huge Public Works complex. The Cop Shop part of the scam is being kept extra secret becuase the phony city council fears a public backlash against the huge pricetag that will certainly exceed $20,000,000. The crooks are going to sit on that little tidbit of info until the "ball is rolling" too fast for the people to stop it. Rush, rush, rush. Spend, spend, spend. I am convinced that the nit-wit elected and appointed officials behind this scam really think this massive building gives them a "rise" as an "extension" of themselves, if you get my drift. They all have a need to "over-compensate" for their personal "shortcomings" and a BIG BUILDING will demonstrate how BIG they perceive themselves to be. Very sad and embarrassing to have such people running this city for their own "personal gratification". We could save millions if we just put a VIAGRA dispenser in the council chamber for them. Just one "little blue pill" before each Closed Session and all our elected and appointed officials can play the role of Bigshot for an "extended meeting" lasting up to four hours. For "Closed Sessions" lasting more than four hours Peru officials should see their doctors immediately. LOL. What a bunch of losers.
"Concerts for a Cause is still being planned for 2015. Keep checking this page to get the latest updates on the event. You won't want to miss out!"
That is the notice that has been on the web page since spring. I think it has been well established that the government will not be involved in this "for profit" concerts any more. So what will the venue be?
where have you PAC folks been? The city has had a 5 year strategic plan for infrastructure that was put in place last year and yet tonight are approving a 10 year financial strategic plan. This has been talked about at numerous committee meetings and council meetings over last 6 months to a year. The city is running as a professional business and it is killing you that our elected officials and professional staff are not consulting you. If you want to make the decisions either get a job as as professional with the city or run for office. And if you run you need to win. Or come to a meeting and voice your nameless comments rather than remain hidden with your agenda.
There is no "strategic plan". The council defeated that initiative. They continue to operate month to month and year to year.
If this building was in an official plan - show me the line in the budget that says how much they intend to spend and what revenue source will be used to pay for it.
You won't find it. They decide these things in closed session and then look for a reason to fast track it.
Amen 8:32
7:28, there you go again throwing out figures that aren't substantiated, let me guess you got that figure from Johns Place.
I'm sure Harl will ask Hylla or Miller, how are we going to pay for this new building? With a check, Boss. We have the money sitting in an account just waiting for this new building. Why didn't DG find a place on 4th Street to open their business, why in a neighborhood? Those people who live next to that area would probably be happy the old building will be gone, but I bet they won't be too happy having all the extra traffic a DG will bring.
When is the Pride for Peru parade?
856 why not look in the budget when it is presented and ratified. You have no clue about business and budget.
I think that is a Peru Pride parade. It happens every other Monday night when the mayor and council walk into city hall.
10:30 - I did, no new buildings are listed.
just went through it again. Nothing in the budget about a new building. there is a line item of $730K to demolish the Howard Johnson's. Nothing at all about demolishing the Peoria Street property or building a new one.
Also - your choice of the term "ratified" shows that you are the ignorant one. The Council is not the United States Senate and the budget is not an international treaty.
It won't be long now before the announcement is made. Then we have to figure out which Dave will be the figure head. Since it will need to be somebody that "The Boss" can control, my money is on "W". And he has the votes lines up already.
The budget when presented and ratifies should have been in April when the new fiscal year begins.
10:30 AM, we are half way thru the budget's fiscal year. The budget was approved long ago. No there was no line item for a new building. Just like there is no long term planning. If there was long term planning and budgeting, the PW building, a new police station and a new swimming pool could be part of that long term plan. As it is now, it's all done in closed session and by the seats of their pants.
yes. it was the fiscal 2016 budget - fiscal 2016 started in April 2015. And the council does not ratify anything. They approve the budget or disapprove the budget. The budget is something that is made through negotiation between the finance committee, the Mayor, and the Treasurer. It is not an agreement negotiated by the executive branch with an external entity.
I see we have another Flimflam group trying to bamboozle the local lawmakers. This time on the Rat Trap that they call the Kaskaskia in LaSalle.
As for LaSalle and what they are doing very few
from Peru care as LaSalle and Peru have never co-operated with each other for any length of time and LaSalle has spent the rest of this time screwing Peru. Most recently annexing property from Peru east of Marquette Road and north of Wenzel Road was another of LaSalles expressions of love to Peru.
Instead of using legal terms and not understanding them or taking the time correcting one another just say what you mean and mean what you say.
As for short term and long term planning, budgets and sticking to them, and obtaining transparency do you know of any city which is following this path (do you know any other town of 10,000 with a retired bank president and a CPA creating accounting programs and financial planning)? Peru lost a tremendous amount of decision making time on ridiculous subjects such as where the fireworks were located or who is to cut the grass,or that millions should be invested in a outdated idea of a unnecessary swimming pool. A council should be allowed to donate its time to city business, finances and development.
fireworks, etc. are diversionary topics to keep the denizens occupied while the bread is buttered.
Well, its official. Another $1 real estate deal. What happens when DG decides to sit on the property and not develop it or demolish the buildings?
I just love it when the yokel locals get "creative."
What are these Pride for Peru signs about and why do we need a parade simply for Peru? This is no more than having a parade to have a parade.
I have been told that Pride for Peru represents people who prefer to have their companion to be one of the same gender rather than the opposite. If this is true I wouldn't put their sign in my yard.
Wouldn't it be better to put up a sign representing the Bible! Utica has never found a parade it doesn't like and appears to like people who are strange. Hint Hint.
Are these signs diversionary tactics to keep the denizens occupied while a $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 building is erected in North Peru for a garage to replace a perfectly good one with final intentions of having a state of the art police headquarters built at many millions more.
Will a time clock be included in the budget for a new garage for the City of Peru and if it is will it be used?
Fireworks, festivals and swimming pools are what makes a town a community. Peru is doing well generating sales tax and road improvements, but there is no sense of community. If Peru residents want anything fun to do, they have to go to other towns to find it.
I bet we could raise enough money for a new pool by charging a Home Rule pool tax on water.
A simple solution to Illinois' budget problem is to tax all retirement income that is subject to federal income tax. Just like almost every other state does.
Right now - Social Security, Military Retirement, IMRF, Teacher's Retirement, Railroad Retirement, all pensions and retirement annuities, 401K and IRA distributions... all of them are free of Illinois Income Tax.
These are INCOME and need to be taxed the same as working peoples income.
It is estimated that Illinois is leaving TWO BILLIOIN DOLLARS or more on the table. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAXED NOW!!
That is brilliant insight 6:10. What an original comment. Hilarious. Do you write that yourself? You single handedly make up about one of every four comments on the blog with the same tired drivel. Congratulations on your great contributions to the discourse.
The final nails from city hall are going into Peru's coffin. The sale of the PW property is being sold for a dollar with a possible site cleanup cost of $$$$$$ paid by the Peru taxpayers and then building another Taj Mahal in a cornfield.
8:03, how old are you? What is "up" with your recent fascination with the bedroom preferences of the residents of this city?
8:34 AM, November 03, 2015 - It is as it should be. Let the other towns waste their time, efforts, and money on entertaining the citizens. Peru is about Business and Industry! In fact, I'd say that the parks are a waste of land and they should be developed into commercial or residential properties. The parks are only used a few weeks out of the year anyway. We waste countless thousands of dollars just cutting the grass. Better the where made into subdivision or senior housing villas.
OMG Do any of you even ask your Alderman or go to the meetings. Dollar General has committed to build a store at the old PW works building.
The new building has been in the budget for over a year. and it is NOT going to cost 25 Million dollars, I also found out that we have a 10 YEAR PLAN. It seems that all the core group of haters care about is trying to find something to BITCH about. I for one am glad the building is coming down.
I'm wondering who "DG" uses to construct their stores. Many large retail companies contract with one developer - trucking in their workers, equipment, and materials. Will the "Rat" be present at the worksite when the demolish the existing toxic waste dump and build the new store?
8:34 since when is it governments responsibility to make fun in your own backyard? I guess the city should raise your kids, provide you with a good job and make sure your happy all the time. I would much rather have my elected to provide us with the necessary things like low taxes, safe neighborhoods, good schools, and balanced budgets. There is way too much nonsense about fireworks, concerts, pride parades, etc.
An ordinance was passed at last night's meeting with regards to an intergovernmental agreement between the city of Peru, La Salle county, and Dimmick school. Was this agreement with regards to the north Peru TIF negotiations that have been going on for years? If so, what agreement was made. No details or discussion was provided.
Have any of you went by the current public works building? If you have, this place is a disaster and should have been replaced 30 years ago. I don't know how anyone can say that the city should not have a new site. Peru elected have worked out a good opportunity by building a new site and having a new store on the current site. Peru residents are not paying for the demolition and according to the reports no debt or loans on the new public works building. And the city workforce will have a safe and modern facility to work out of.
You have to have a real imagination to be critical of this development.
I'd rather have a White Castle. Why can't Peru lobby for a White Castle?
Show me this fantasy 10 Year Plan. I see no document on the city web page.
Show me the line item in the budge for a new building. It does not exist.
We do need a new building. But it needs to be part of the official discussion. Not in closed session. Peru operates like Soviet Russia!
The Aldermen simply respond with "I'm not at liberty to discuss business deals that the city is involved in." What a load of crap.
10:58
Get off your lazy butt and go down to city Hall and pick one up I did.
Ask the city clerk or the finance officer.
10:25 AM, November 03, 2015. I Just read the ordinance from the meeting packet. It is about the stupidest ordinance I've ever had the pleasure of reading. It simply states that the Mayor is authorized to enter in to an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Peru, Dimmick School, and LaSalle County. There was no indication of the what the agreement is - just that he is allowed to do anything he wants - apparently.
I do know that the County and the Dimmick School has had an open lawsuit against Peru for many years. Maybe this is resolution to that. Hopefully, the TIF Suckers will be required to forfeit the money from the Illegal TIF created by Peru.
12:01 - it is buried in the meeting packet. Just read it word for word. There are no new building projects in the fantasy ten year plan. Vague references to a new fire truck, updates to the hydro plant, new transformers, new projects for street and water.
No new buildings in the 10 Year Revenue Plan. They are banking on sales tax to increase annually by 1%. I hope Bobby V. has got some more prospects.
No buildings in the budget plan.
I called City Hall - they said they cant discuss contracts until they are signed and filed.
Call your alderman and ask or go to city hall and request. That's what I do and always get the answers. Don't hide behind your keyboard. Don't complain, ask the question and then if don't get any answers you can then write conspiracy.
1:08 - I just looked at the calendar it said 2015. Also - when you get something via word of mouth, it is just that - word of mouth. They need to put these things in writing so you can hold the to it.
A potential site for the new city garage would be the vacant area where that craft shop just happened to burn down a few Christmases ago right after Hobby Lobby appeared on the scene.
Building off Plank Rd. would be a disaster if there was a blockage on Plank.
2:06 - there is much more bread to butter than they are letting on. The "Governmental Complex" AKA "Area 51" will be located on land adjacent to the Electric Department. This building will be morphing to include a new Police Station and Fire Station plus a road to connect it to the industrial / retail area to the east.
This has been hinted at for a number of years. The other possible location is the "armory" (which is actually an office building, never had and never will have any guns there). Our "lobbyist" made vague references to trying to get our Senators to kick the Army out and give the building to Peru. I believed hat suggestion was promptly ignored by the Army.
You need to be able to connect widely separated dots when talking about Peru. Mostly because they speak in vague references like mafia bosses. But you can put it all together if you have a memory.
2:40 Stop smoking the wacky weed. you are nuts all this was done above board and in the open.
Sorry 2:54 but you are sadly mistaken. This stuff was not done above board and in the open. Quit the opposite (unless you're an insider who is able to sit in on all the close sessions our government holds on a regular basis).
"above board and in the open" - a phrase that should never be used in conjunction with the City of Peru Illinois.
We all know who is making money on this - the Three Amigos. "JCM"
I agree that some of this could be more transparent, but please stop with the same BS about all of these people are getting rich of of these things. Stop with the initials. If it is a public person and you feel that way, then put their damn name on there. Your an anonymous whiner behind a computer anyway.
Right or wrong in how they are doing it, the city building should have been replaced eons ago. I'm glad to see these types of things getting done.
2:06, are you really that stupid to make a statement like that the Electric dept. has been up there for years.
6:19, why do you have such an issue with Hate? You really need to channel your hatred in some other way.
Funny - there was all kinds of talk early this year about buying the old Coca-Cola building to use as a Public Works building. I think that building is actually smaller than the Peoria Street building. What would have happened if Boss Harl purchased it? Would we be trying to sell that one to?
This is what happens when you don't plan. They have been scrambling, looking for something to spend money on all year. Now they have finally found it. Will the new building suite our needs for the next 30 years?
6:19, the city PW department has many vehicles. I don't think 2:06 is wrong. Between the city PW vehicles and electric dept vehicles, if something blocked Plank Road for any length of time, there would be a problem.
8:09. Don't worry. They will build another road. Actually two. One will extend Wenzel Road to Plank Road. That will run right through the middle of the new Super Complex. The other road will be slightly to the north of the Super Complex near the Tomato Guy' property. This will require the City to annex more land. Three will also be a huge drainage project associate with it which will butter a bunch of bread at Chamlin's and the local Dirt Movers. Remember - you read it hear first. This will require a number of closed session meetings - but it will pop up again when everyone is distracted by some other nonsense like fireworks or beer tents.
The story hit the newspaper and most of the comments above have been proved to be wrong.
What we know.
a new Dollar tree store will replace the out-dated public works building.
City will build a new site for the public works.
Demolition will be handled by Dollar General
City has hired a construction manager for the new building
Peru will be able to get rid of the old building without cost
Peru will have a new facility without a tax backed bond
These facts have been verified by the newspaper. No $20,000,000 structure, nobody getting rich on a land deal, no new tax. And no Viagra dispensers needed.
Demolition will be handled by Dollar General - this has not been confirmed. They did not publish the contract.
Peru will be able to get rid of the old building without cost - this has not been confirmed. They did not publish the contract.
Peru will have a new facility without a tax backed bond - this has not been confirmed. They have not published the source of the revenue to pay for the building and they have not published the budget for the building.
City has hired a construction manager for the new building - this has been confirmed - but not explained. If it is a simple metal building with garage bays and some office space, it is not necessary. Simply let the lowest bid construction company build it. This is the point that makes people believe that the building is much more. Why have this expense and why talk all that baloney about making it look like city hall (which was written in the paper)???
10:54 AM, did the newspaper also state that the Dollar General deal is not a for sure thing yet? All that could fall apart, then Peru is left with an empty building that I'm sure has asbestos and other environmental contaminants to deal with. It could turn into another power plant debacle.
11:18 All was confirmed in the newspaper article. The article was published by the newspaper. That was the plan discussed in the paper article, maybe call the writer to confirm or a city official. There are many factors that can happen during the process, the newspaper also covered that possibility.
Maybe there will be a economic disaster, Dollar General will sell out to Woolworths, or whatever. The point is that Peru looks to have a plan in place for this minor development. I wouldn't hold out for that Macy store on this piece of property.
by all means. I don't think anyone is complaining about getting a new store. The complaint is "Why wont our local government officials answer all the obvious questions? The questions that don't really need to be asked... demolition, cost of the new building, etc."
The question why wouldn't our local government officials clarify all the obvious questions, the questions that should be answered without having to be asked is obvious. Our government officials don't consider it any of your business.
Our local government yokels don't volunteer any information and they consider it a hostile act if you ask them anything.
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