BUILDING & GROUNDSASM Bernabei reported the grass cutting bid has an annual renewal clause stating the contract canbe renewed with no price increase for 2016, if both the Cityand vendor agree. He stated there were 1,300 less hours for summer personnel with the same or more work completed. In response to a question from Alderman Mueller, ASM Bernabei stated the vendor would like to renew the contract with no price increase. Dave Pellegrini, owner ofD&MLandscaping, addressed the committee stating that D&M was the lowest of the 7 initial bidders. He said he compiled aspreadsheet together for comparison, noting the second lowest bidder was $23,000.00 higher on an annual basis and the highest bidder was $119,000.00 higher. He stated that the City’s business is very important to D&M and accounts for 20% of their gross revenue. He saidthey address any requests from the City ASM and PSM immediately and arenot aware of any complaints. He said he understands due diligence to the citizens. He stated he will offer a zero percent increase for 2016 and a city option for renewal for 2017 and 2018 at zero percent increase. Chairman Waldorf stated that he has seen the work and does not have any questions. Alderman Lukosus said he is unaware of any complaints. Chairman Waldorf made a motion to add the item to the October 5, 2015 City Council Agenda. Alderman Mueller seconded the motion; motion carried.ASM Bernabei commented the mums in the city planters look great. Alderman Mueller said the planters were weeded, cleaned up and replanted in one day by Peru Greenhouse. ASM Bernabei stated the plan is to add 20 more planters.
IS THIS ANOTHER NO BID CONTRACT and for years into the future?
88 comments:
I would think this is ok, what is wrong with this statement?????
the owner of D&M He said he understands due diligence to the citizens. He stated he will offer a zero percent increase for 2016 and a city option for renewal for 2017 and 2018 at zero percent increase.
Why didn't this go to the city council for a vote?
Who spent the most money at the recent convention?
Isn't it our policy that anything over $20,000 should go out for bid? Didn't I read an article in the paper not too long ago that said something about the grass bid in Peru coming in low? These minutes are telling me that they used the bids received at least 1 year ago (and maybe more) and that D&M was the only business represented at this meeting. So what if maybe a year or two ago the next best bid was $22,000 higher, maybe this year it would be the lowest. Why would the paper make us believe we accepted bids for next years contract when obviously we did not. Did any aldermen question this process or vote against it?
Buttering the bread.
I have an idea. Why not use prisoners from the LaSalle County Jail and people that have been sentenced to "community service" do this work? It looks to me like we are ignoring a never ending supply of free labor.
You are missing the point people. Like 12:24 pointed out, there are ways to get this task accomplished at low or no cost. It should be investigated.
For instance - we have all kinds of drug money that has been confiscated. Hire some security guards with it and have them watch inmates cut the grass.
12:24, AFSCME would go through the roof. I'm kinda surprised that they are not complaining about having this contracted out. They have an official position paper on it that the feed to the politicians along with their bribes... I mean "campaign donations."
With Boss Harl in the top running for the big move to Springfield, your idea won't even be discussed in whispers.
Did they violate law by not going out for a bid?
According to the post the ADM stated 1300 were cut from the summer helpers. At less than $9/hour that's a savings of $11,700 on summer help. However, how much did we pay D&M to do the job that the summer help used to do? I believe in was somewhere around $36,000. Where's the savings?
3:12 - not really. but they did show their cards. Once you get connected with this council - you are in for life.
@3:12 Yes they violated the law by not going out for a bid if the council has not voted they have no way of enforcing the use of "SUPER MAJORITY' which was used in the TEST 5th Rider agreement.
But whether legal or illegal it doesn't really matter as those who break the ordinances they create with habitual routine keep getting re-elected. by now it is evident the majority of voters are to blame as much as the representatives they have been electing.
Anon 1:34 PM And who cares if AFSCME goes through the roof? The city has the responsibility to create policy and schedule work as desired and the union has the right to grieve. The strongest managers directly confront unions today and tell them if it is not a clause in the contract the union loses because they have nothing to grieve.
Why don't they cut the grass at the library ?
4:20, your right, Bernabie can manipulate the numbers and the council.
Speaking of numbers.... It looks like Boss Harl had a productive summer. He chalked up over $12K in "donations" for his campaign. Some of the usual suspected kicked in larger than normal this time around. Anthony C. Raccuglia & Associates PC - $1,000. Chellino Crane Inc (A Crane Company in Joliet) - $1,050. Some contractors for the City kicked in their required "tithing." Chamlin gave $400. Timmy McAnarney gave $300. Fulmer's gave $250. A strange one is Elder Power Services from Lena IL, $500. Lina is west of Rockford. Why would they "donate" to the Mayor of Peru, IL? They don't have a web page and the address is residential. Hmmmmm.... The Boss got his usual gifts from unions, including the Teachers, $500 - The Electricians, $500. The Laborers, $500. The Operating Engineers, $500.
this is second year out cutting and the savings for both years together have been over 60 thousand dollars. Start getting the facts. almost 30 saved this year and well over that last year. payroll is way down. the facts are the fact but it is killing a few that the city is going so well.
5:03 Look at the minutes and then comment on the law. The city did vote on the contract and did all within legal means. The vote was 6-1 and that represents a majority.
There are no numbers to manipulate. If you do the math and use common sense unless you eliminate enough workers to cover the added expense of hiring out the job there is no savings.
AFSCME will go through the roof because they want everyone to work for the government and join their union. I don't think we have AFSCME in Peru - the point is that the unions hate it when you use prion labor or even volunteers.
7:29 Here are the facts. We cut the payroll by $11,700 but spent $36,000 (plus additional jobs charged over and above the bid amount) for D&M to cut the grass. Where are the savings you speak of?
The minutes of the meeting reflect that the ASM responded to a question asked by alderman Mueller. Wonder what the question was because it is not listed.
8:53 Who voted no. Perez is no longer on the city council?
These programs and contracts have absolutely nothing to do with reducing costs. They have everything to do with "Buttering the Bread." Now with Barnaby Jones the de facto "Generalissimo" of Peru, there will be much more. He knows how to work the system, so don't try any of that FOIA or OMA shenanigans; he has all those bases covered. I can't wait until spring when they break ground on "Area 51." That's the name I'm giving to the new secret $25MM "Public Safety Complex." I call it "Area 51" because nobody will publically acknowledge Peru's plan to build this combined fire and police station located "up north." Yes, that butter will be spread thick - starting with "J" and "Fresh Tomatoes Guy." Bobby V and Timmy also have some plans to dip into the community chest with "J" and "PoPo". My bet is the city will be funding a new "convention center." Maybe they can have the IML conference there so the travel claims can be kept to a reasonable "grand" per Alderperson.
12:27 if what you say is correct, I hope they reconsider paving the back of the fire station and police parking lot. That would just be a waste of money.
Potthoff was the lone nay vote on the grass cutting bid. He thinks it should be bid because we might see a cost savings. But he didn't use that logic on the TEST contract.
Speaking of the IML conference, Lois can you post the expenses paid by the taxpayers so our council/leaders could party it up (I mean learn something new) in Chicago? I think the amounts spent and by whom and for what would be interesting for everybody to see.
The paving of the parking lot is another bread buttering job. It can't be stopped. Besides - Barnaby Jones intendeds to make the fire department 100% full time with two stations. Need to run "Not The King" out first and hire one of his public safety buddies from "The Burbs". Ah.... Milk and Apples hit the spot.
Alderman Payton spent 1300.00 check Rodney's facebook page
Anonymous 1:12 Pm politely inquires if Lois could post expenses, amounts spent by whom and for what at the IML conference?
Anon 3:04 PM reply's that Alderman Payton spent $1300 check Rodney's facebook page.
Exactly how many attended the IML Convention is questionable but it is assuredly more than Alderman Payton. Some have choose to utilize this blog and facebook as a tool of tunnel vision to even the unjustified score with Tom Payton to the extent of personal stalking answering general questions of a number of groups actions with only one individuals performance. To continue with such methods will limit any future potential of those who have continuing thoughts of a political position.
Full disclosure and transparency are much stronger assets for justice than the shadowing of a American citizen living within his constitutional rights.
Rodney seems to be spending a lot of time nit picking everything Tom Payton does. It's caused me to lose respect for Rodney. I'm starting to think the voters made the right call. All the sour grapes are childish. He needs to move on! Just my opinion Lois!
It is obvious that Boss Harl does not work for the people.
Rodney never spent any city money at conferences or trips out of state like Wisconsin with his wife. That was all untrue. He may have gone to those places but he never ever submitted a claim for reimbursement, He donated all of it to the city. right?
Bobby V. charged the city $1,700 for his trip to the IML. Milk and apples, bread and butter.
9:15, check last years IML disbursement s , Rodney was there, see what he turned in.
Face it people. The only thing Harl and the City Council of Peru want to do is make money for Bobby V and "J". Barnaby Jones is a schill. The council is ineffective. We are living in the most corrupt city south of Chicago.
Why did we not go out for bid again this year for the grass cutting contract? Why did we use last year's bidding? Yet the newspaper article lead us to believe we rebid this contract this year and the next closest bid was $22,000 higher? The heading in the paper read "Grass cutting bid comes in low for Peru". That's not true. There was no next bid because it appears that D&M was the only business invited to the public services meeting to make a presentation. The other businesses who submitted a bid for 2014 apparently were not invited to readdress their bids. It also appears that D&M has a possible opportunity to be awarded or handed the bid for the next 3 years if they so choose.
The News Tribune is a branch of local government. They will never say anything that is not cleared by The Boss or Barnaby Jones.
9:15, your right, and don't forget Rodney was the only Alderman to get paid for working the airport concerts!!!
The point of the matter is, 10:34, that we were led to believe there was a bidding process held this year when in reality there was no such thing. And that our governing body allowed this to happen and didn't stand up for the citizens they represent and our tax dollar that they are supposed to spend wisely.
12:47 PM
And where did you get your information? All aldermen were treated equally.
All alderman donated their time butRod chose to put in for pay through fd. Verified with bartly. Verify if you must but fact is fact
If true than he was paid as a volunteer fireman and not as an alderman. He was the only volunteer fireman on the council at the time. It is apparent he was serving not as an alderman. Think this one through. Numerous volunteer firemen were paid by the city for their time spent at the concert.
He had a choice volunteer like every other one of city officials or put in for pay
Last years grass cutting funny bids were not apples to apples. I was told that the specs were modified after paperwork went out and the company with the true lowest bid was not allowed to rebid to the same specs as somebodys spring valley friends. Now, if we took the parcels that pelligree actually mows and bid just that work out, the real story would surely change and we wouldnt be saving quite as much now would we big b?
2:53 PM
Why the sour grapes, that was at least a year ago. Now I hope you will complain about all the current officials who spent way more money at this years IML mtg in Chicago then Perez ever did. He never even came close to all those horrendous charges charged this year by those same aldermen who were so generous and donated a couple of hours to the concerts.
Didn't the Pizza Lady pay the Police, Fire, and Ambulance workers at the "Concerts for a Profit" events? I mean, I thought that was the deal... ha ha ha ha ha .
Bread and Butter, Milk and Apples.
the point is rod did same thing which is fine but now he and some others find fault with it once he was voted out rod charged less than some and more than some he also charged city for few days in Wisconsin get over the loss and stop being so negative
5:34 Don't be fooled. We are not saving money by hiring out the grass cutting. In order to save money you have to decrease your payroll by the bid amount and then some (i.e. the summer payroll would have to be cut by the current amount we are paying D&M to even break even). According to the article we have only cut the summer payroll by roughly $11,700 (and that's on the high end). I guarantee D&M's contract is for was more than that.
Not being privy to the contract of the Concert for a Cause Contract I cannot specialize or truthfully generalize only ask referral questions.
Some of the questions are: Was the unpaid volunteer time by the aldermen who volunteered for directing traffic in the parking lot what the city received funds from?
When Alderman Perez was paid as a fireman, which he was and still is, why is anyone finding fault with this?
Wouldn't you expect a employee of the city who was assigned a duty associated with a non city function to be paid?
How were the alderman compensated and was the compensation donated back to the city?
Why is there a problem with what a alderman does with his personal time as long as it is legal, moral and ethical and when performing as a alderman it is legal, moral, and ethical and is making the his/her best decision for the city which he is capable of.
As a private citizen I follow city decisions and vote by them.
Are there any details on the XMAS lights at the airport event? Specifically, how is it being paid for and who is going to make a profit?
who, what and how much?
10:09 From what I've heard the city put in the electrical outlets and power along with some light poles along Ed Urban drive for the xmas displays. I'm not sure if it was fiber optics but I have heard that the electric department provided the necessary electrical connections. Don't know how many man hours were spent on that project. As far as details I think they're still pretty sketchy and vague.
Getting close now. The legislature is back in session tomorrow. The Beer Seller will get his new million dollar gig soon. The Boss will move on up. Who will be Barnaby Jones' new boss? OR.. will Maryin' Scotty continue to pull all the strings at the butter factory?
city can't store trucks down there on Market St now and heard they had a new place to keep them, anybody happen to know where this is goin on.
11:02, the new place is "Area 51" - up north.
The rec board needs to come up with new ideas and stop stealing from LaSalle!
10:27, your going to be disappointed, Skoog is getting the nod.
According to the article in the news trib the new storage unit will be a barn owned by Steve Michelini at a cost up to $900/month.
10:27, if that was true, they might as well appoint a Republican. The barkeep can't win an election at that level. The only reason he beat Bobby V. was because everyone was gunning for Booby V. and his over the top campaigning for an inconsequential elected position.
Why would anyone want Skoog as a State Representative? After the next election it is going to be a Republican anyway. I just hope Harl gets appointed so he will resign as Mayor - never to be re-elected when he looses to the Republican in the State Rep. election.
12:42 - that is hush hush, part of the Area 51 project. The man you mentioned is the Fresh Tomatoes guy - the one that prevented BoJo from selling his wares in Peru. Anyway, Area 51 will be his neighbor, probably on land he currently owns. He also gets a sweet deal on his pumpkin patch. Barnaby Jones will probably try to use the $900 per month rent as justification for his $25MM project. I wonder what "J" has to say about this.
I see no reference to this in the NT. Was it only in the print edition? Also remember folks... the strange deal the city had with the nail maker. "Renting" the storage building with the nail maker donating the rent money back. I don't think that ever actually happened. Then their is the recent issue of the nail maker asking for a relief on their sewer bill because they watered their grass. I guess it pays to have a certain name in Peru.
Bread and Butter....
So does the beer salesman get to vote for himself?
2:24 yes, it was in Wed. Oct. 14th paper under the heading "10-4:GPS getting truckers lost" right above the picture of the bb gun club kids.
2:24, isn't it clever how the NT hides news under a meaningless headline. Sort of like the story about some visitors getting busted at "the rock" for pulling a person on a skateboard behind their van. If you read the article you would find out that they all had drugs and one had a weapon he was not supposed to. But the headline "Wardens stop van pulling man on skateboard." I guess we don't want to tarnish the "Starved Rock Country" branding effort with stories about armed criminals having fun at our parks.
4:33 P.M.
Makes me wonder who is making such silly decisions about actual news, trying to hide things behide phony headlines. Back to journalism 101 and report actual news with real headlines.
funny. How much to all those people from Chicago spend when they visit Starved Rock. If anything, I think they might be buying some bread and balony, and from what I hear some beer.
To many people at the Rock. I'll not go there until they start enforcing the law.
Really is there a reason to define a persons ability by a reference to ones occupation in a negative manner rather than to his success in his chosen occupation. A individual has to start somewhere which creates his past, most times this past is what was the best available to him at the time and his presence and future are determined by what he has and is doing with his past.
Perhaps we have reached the time to consider how fortune we are to have a government sysyem that allows us representation in which a Representative from a near by city of 5,000 rubs shoulders and looks eye to eye with those who represent many more. Also how many other country's afford one from a village of a few thousand or a retired tradesman and a truck driver the opportunity to serve as a representative of his peers.
8:18, you are missing the point. We are trying to get Boss Harl promoted out of the local area. When he gets appointed to the legislature, he will need to resign his office. He will only have a few months and then start a serious campaign to retain the seat he is being appointed to. That will give the entire region the chance to vote him out. At the same time, the chances of him winning an election for Mayor again would be slim to none.
Good news, Good news, Good news. I just heard on the Radio that the Airport is OUT - Oh, You, Tee, OUT for the Peru Fireworks event! Hopefully they will cancel it permanently or go in with LaSalle to have a quality event at a comfortable location.
I'm scratching my head wondering where Peru will come up with $25 million to build a new complex across from the airport??? We can't afford a splash pad, but we've got $25 million sitting around for a place to store vehicles?
4:34 Don't you think that anyone intelligent enough to be elected Mayor isn't going to be intelligent enough to think ahead to all the possibilities he could encounter?
If any group shows a lack of foresight it is yours. Not that you have uncovered anything to anyone for the fun of it why don't you sent your playbook to city hall for approval. For your own sake I hope you don't play poker.
8:41. They will use a very common funding method that Peru always falls back on. Since we need to "keep our taxes low" we will use tried and true methods.
We have a sales tax to fund our school. (Home Rule Sales Tax)
We have a sales tax to fund our roads and pipes. (Home Rule Sales Tax).
We will have a sales tax to fund our new public service complex (Home Rule Sales Tax for Public Safety).
Don't worry folks - Area 51 will be paid for by the citizens of LaSalle, Oglesby, Spring Valley, Utica, and everyone else that shops in Peru.
you don't have to think to hard 8:41. The Boss is a member of the Illinois Socialist Party. He will take the money from you and me and everyone else.
If we already don't have enough room to store all the vehicles we have why do we keep buying new ones? When the mayor lst took office he supposedly cut payroll and personal to the bare bones. Now we're writing "check" for everything and spending, spending, spending. Why aren't we putting in a simple splash pad to replace the pool that was removed? Obviously the city has the money so let's use some of it to provide entertainment for our children? The friends of the peru pool are working diligently toward their goal. Give them a little gift of appreciation for their hard work - fund a splash pad.
I heard The Boss is going or is already down in Springfield to watch the vote. It won't be long now folks. "W" will be watching the store for The Boss and pulling strings when necessary.
I can't imagine that a few of those tightwads would put Peru in debt for a 25 million dollar structure.
12:24, to late, they already did. They just forgot to tell us.
What tightwads 12:24? Dave Potthoff used to be the voice of reason but his voice has changed as of late. No one else on our council speaks up or questions anything during council meetings. Attend a council meeting. You will learn nothing because nothing is discussed there. The only thing that happens is that reports are approved and placed on file. All discussions must be held in either closed sessions or committee meetings and you're not invited to closed sessions and committee meetings are held at unreasonable times when most people cannot attend.
12:18, you don't have a clue of what your talking about, just nonsense talk, Harl isn't getting the nod, I guarantee you. Also "W" us not even a the short list to ever take over as mayor.
12:18, the Boss is at home right now, making things up again?
2:10, you discovered how the Illinois Democrat Party operates, keep the people in the dark. The only reason they wrote the Open Meetings Act was to provide a blueprint on how to avoid an open meeting. All decisions are made in SECRET. Big Dave has been aced out by the Boss Harl Coalition.
yes he is 2:28, waiting by the phone for his call from the Evil Leprechaun - AKA, Michael Boru, King of Illinois.
The sooner this is over the better so the same idiot who makes up half of the comments on the blog can shut up about the "Boss" and "W" and "J" and all of the other stuff he/she is clueless about.
There will always be a "Boss". That is how things are around here. "W" is just an amusement. "J" - well, that is more of a "They" since he has retired and his kids run the shop. But, "J" will always be the true money behind what happens in Peru. The original "TIF Sucker" so to speak. As long as "J" gets what the want, the "Boss" can do as he pleases. If the Boss crosses "J" - no telling what can happen.
The landscaping in the front of city hall looks terrible. It's city hall. It should look nice.
I'd like to know why there are no planters in front of city hall. Isn't that supposed to be to beautify route 6 and isn't it a city thing? I don't think there is even one planter on the entire block that city hall sits on.
landscaping contracts ended in October. They will pick up again in spring. Remember, nothing is done in Peru unless it involves dollar signs.
Even thru the summer, city hall looked plain and unkept. City Hall should be welcoming and beautiful. It is far from it.
1:32, what you may think is beautiful might be offensive to others. I suffer from allergies and have a sever reaction if stung by a bee. I hate flowers! I think "planters" should be banned from all public places. Maybe, just maybe, hang some plastic ones from a stick or something. But the bees would still hover around. And don't get me going on those annoying little birds that have started showing up around here. My neighbor actually feeds them. If they were hanging around my deck I'd swat them with a wiffel ball bat.
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