Streator parade Saturday sure to light up holiday season - The Times: Local
All I can say is WOW, tremendous community spirit in Streator, hope some of you might have the opportunity to be a part of this and let us who cannot be there know about the activities and Chrustnas spirit.
38 comments:
Well, I drove around Peru's shopping district yesterday morning and noticed that traffic was light and flowing smoothly. Parking lots where nowhere near capacity. It appears that "Black Friday" was a flop in Peru. I did some reading on-line, a recent Gallop Pole indicated that 30% of people that said they would buy gifts this season expressed a preference for making their purchases on-line.
Is Peru's Golden Goose laying fewer eggs? If so, how will Peru sustain the exponential spending under Scott Harl and his rubber stamp council?
9:14 AM, You make a legitimate observation. You are correct about the consumer trend towards on-line shopping. Not only holiday shopping but shopping for every day needs as well including groceries, sundries, prescriptions, furniture, appliances, etc, etc, etc, etc.
Peru's phony mayor and his phony rubber-stamp council are living large at present which is obvious by the arrogance and disdain they regularly display towards the honest citizens of Peru. Since Peru's mode of operation is to avoid planning for all future considerations, they will fail to plan for the inevitable loss of their sales tax revenue, aka Golden Gioose Eggs. Do not attempt to inform the Knuckleheads of the future I speak as they will shout you down as they chuckle to each other and dismiss you as a troublemaker. While the trend to on-line shopping will not impact Peru for a decadeor so, it WILL happen and the citizens of Peru would be wise to start electing people with something of a CLUE about how to curtail the rampant spending habits of the current group of nit-wits and develop a plan to survive the inevitable change in consumer behavior and maybe put a few bucks aside instead of spending it as fast as it comes in. However, I would not count on the Peru electorate to get that clue anytime soom. They have proven that they will also react to an impending crisis in the same manner that Peru's leadership will. That being, after the fact and too little, too late.
I drove past the Peru Airport access road and noticed dozens of newly planted trees. Who planted these silly trees and who paid for it? I don't remember anything in the paper about money being appropriated for such a frivolous expense.
11:01 Did you also happen to notice the new lamp posts that were added to accommodate the light show that will be put up there?
Actually the new lamp posts at the airport may make it hard to see the Christmas displays. LaSalle has an excellent display at their Rotary Park and it's pitch black out there.
I did not notice the lamp posts. But isn't that kind of a silly place to put a light show? I mean, we have LaSalle Rotary Park and Westclolx, and that guy in LaSalle. How many more goofy lights do we need to look at?
12:04
Thank you Kreskin for any observation. Peru should rely on that good ole real-estate tax, increase it by several million to accommodate for the loss in sales tax. At 500,000, Peru should levy another 5 million to that. Peru homes would pay over 5x the current tax rate. Let's hope those knuckelheads at city hall don't catch on to your logic. Spending? New streets and new sewer lines look to be the excess spending in Peru? I guess they could also get rid of the city employees, that would save some money? No police department, another savings? You won't need any vehicles without employees! Not sue about what excess spending is about? Maybe, you could enlighten Peru?
A few bucks aside? The Newstribune reported that Peru has a ordinance that protects and creates a reserve fund. They also passed a strategic financial plan for the next ten years, reported by the News-Tribune. They have a CPA, treasurer, and some very bright elected that have a great deal of experience and knowledge with finances.
Before you scream wolf and want to replace all in the City of Peru, check your tax rates, your water and sewer rates, your garbage fees, your electric rates, your police force, your services and then complain about those Knuckleheads.
what planet are you living on 12:00?
Anyway. I think the point is that Peru will cease to exist if all Peru cares about is retail. We need actual employers here. Otherwise, this city will become a ghost town.
Mining, transportation, manufacturing, material and food processing. Instead - the ONLY thing our city fathers care about is cheep underwear and the sales tax it generates.
Peru and Ottawa are the only cities in this county that have the ware withal to incentivize development in these areas. What do they do? Peru gives rebates to retail and Ottawa plants trees. Meanwhile, our County is trying to brand us as "Starved Rock Country" so at least there will be plenty of corn dogs to eat and candles to see by at night.
We need a new Economic Development plan. One that involves industry.
1:43
Corn dog,
Please look at the Peru picture. This city employees most of the manufacturing in LaSalle County. Add up all those manufacturing plants up north and the Maze companies and guess what you got? A strong manufacturing area. The rail, barge and trucking industry is at all time high in the entire area. We have major trucking transportation right here in Peru.
Ok, you now admit that the City has a bunch of retail. Now, go back to your complaint file and review the manufacturing sector. Yes, there are many jobs in manufacturing in the area. Most of them are currently hiring hard working folks.
Cheap underware and retail sales tax is important. Please let us all know what is your ideal job? We would like to help you get employed. And by the way the area has plenty of educational opportunities for both transportation, education, manufacturing jobs. We have a local hospitals that employ hundreds, a community college, high school and more. Since Westclox left the area our local community has survived on being diversified. That is the key to long range planning.
9:14
The actual numbers are 4% more are on-line shopping than last year.
94% still shop store to store. They estimate that will increase about 2% a year. Major big dollar shopping for cars, appliances are still done and will be done store to store. Groceries that make up most of your shopping year round will still not be done on-line in the near future. I don't think I'll ever buy my skinny jeans or underwear on-line. On what is the shipping for that 12 pack?
2:45 - please list your source.
2:35 - yes, we have a relatively "large" number of manufacturers in Peru and even in Ottawa. But, as you must know, it requires fewer and fewer people to do this type of work. We need to continuously add more manufacturing. Then we need to figure out what to do with the unskilled labor force (manufacturing can no longer be regarded as unskilled). Most of the medical will be leaving the area to centralize in places like Peoria, Rockford, and Chicago. To turn this around, we could provide tax incentives to demolish old buildings downtown and have them replaced by modern office buildings. All I'm asking for is that the economic development concentrate on turning this area into a place that will employ people. Not a vacation resort or shopping excursion.
Every other word out of the Peru City Council concerns retail sales tax, with the short lived exception of the entertainment tax they wanted.
No skilled jobs --> labor force departs --> retail collapses --> city collapses.
Anon12:00 PM I believe you may be onto something in your thoughts of getting rid of the Peru Police. This would save tons of money and the recent argument used to rehire TEST could not be used as the Chief of the Police Department hires his force from out of town.
The police department could be replaced by a independent firm with the LaSAlle County Sheriff's Department and Illinois State Police helping them out. The salaries of the Peru Police are the highest by far of all police departments of towns 10,000 and under led by Bernie's $125,000/year. Yes that's correct $125,000/year.
7:10, all joking aside, we could easily go to a county based police and fire protection system. LaSalle County, although one of the largest land wise, has a small population and relatively low population density. We could easily take all the money paid by the various cities in the county and pool it into one public safety organization headed up by the ELECTED Sherriff. I don not see this having any impact on the staffing at municipal "stations." What it would do though, is release local "stations" from the administrative burden. It would also allow for a more professional force throughout the county. Part time police and volunteer firefighters, both with minimum qualifications, would be replaced by full timers with strict training and proven qualifications.
Something to think about. Our current "small town fiefdoms" are failing. Consolidation of municipal services, public safety, and education need to be seriously considered.
6:38, what are you talking about, our police and fire dept's failing, what planet are you on?
I did not say our police and fire departments are failing. I said our small town fiefdoms are failing. We cannot afford the management required to have 3 fire departments, 3 police forces, and 3 ambulances in a 50 square mile area (LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby). All under the overall leadership of a local guy whose only real qualification is getting votes. We have duplicate management all over this county that can be combined.
Consolidation! Consolidation! Consolidation!
All surrounding towns had best consider a county headquarters from which necessary manpower is dispatched and Peru should be the 1st. Tonight's newspaper gives the reason why from one of their aldermans quotes. That quote being focused on the increasing pension costs. Considering the pension costs and the gaining popularity of online shopping and in time Peru will not have enough finances to function at its present costs. Consider what loans Peru has outstanding, mandatory costs of pensions, its lack of ability to save, and high number of lawsuits existing in courts of law, extreme number of high cost employees such as Human Resources Manager and assistants to each title, number of vehicles and maintenance plus waste of gas. Peru polices' main function is social work and unimportant road functions which they themselves are handling poorly. Consider that major problems are mostly handled after the act of robberies etc.
The Sheriff's Department backed by the State would not need the present number of cars the PPD presently has. All Task Force Teams such as for drugs could be handled by the county Sheriff and States Attorney,
10:37
Planet - Earth
Country - USA
State - Illinois
City - Peru 61354
10:37 - Welcome
We don't need a "drug task force." The only thing those private police forces do is make a feeble attempt to interrupt the supply chain on route 80 - taking all the cash they can get.
The way to stop the drug problem in the Illinois Valley is to continuously arrest the users. Everyone knows who they are. Stop them when they don't use their turn signal and give them a ticket. Stop them for speeding. Give them a ticket. Find any excuse to arrest them for anything. Eventually they will either go away, go to jail, or figure out they are being targeted and quit using the illegal drugs. Then... when they get tossed in the county jail for 30 days - work them hard. Cutting grass, making big rocks into small rocks, raking leaves, moving big piles of salt from one side a lot to the other with a shovel. Make them work hard labor for 16 hours a day. Feed them a baloney sandwich and a paper cup of Kool-Aid. Send them to bed and start over the next day - for all 30 days.
When you get rid of the buyers, the dealers will go away. But, local dealers are probably using their own supply, so harass them just as much as the users. One pin prick at a time is how you take care of this "problem".
Many cities sell the citizen on the fact that they have money to pay its debts after being audited by including the worth of their parks, city buildings, recreational property such as swimming pools, skateboard parks and fleet of city vehicles. Most times the value is bumped up evidenced by the exact selling price of $600,000 for the city building on 4th street. Presently Peru has enough on its plate that it does not need to consider a new garage, police station.
What is Peru's present debt on the hydro plant and what has its return on investment been in the last 3 years. If Peru's major income is $5 million of retail sales tax how many times can you spend that same amount? Online shopping is continuously growing and it is very convenient and cheap. If you are depending on job numbers walk into Penny's, Sear's and many other retail stores to observe the decrease of employees.
8:32, you don't have a clue of what you are talking about. Break it down and give me a cost analysis comparing the savings you claim we will get. You have all the answers without any facts, another armchair know it all.
8:32, you don't have a clue of what you are talking about. Break it down and give me a cost analysis comparing the savings you claim we will get. You have all the answers without any facts, another armchair know it all.
8:56. I would expect our elected officials to do that and provide the numbers to the public. In fact - they should be justifying each and every employee they have by the numbers and providing the information to the people. I'm tired of the "that's the way we have been doing it all the time."
Maybe the best answer is to have one STATE Run police force for all municipalities under 50.000. And one STATE Run fire protection force for the same cities.
Bravo 11:15! We need to start assuming that our elected officials are lying unless they can prove it otherwise - in writing with facts and figures. All to often, they expect us to "take their word for it." I'm tired of getting that look when I ask one to prove it. I once had an Alderman say it was to complicated for me to understand and it would take to long to explain it.
8:56 AM As a person involved with the numbers you break it down and give me a cost analysis comparing the savings of the present operations to my proposal. Please apply existing manpower rather than a reduction and keep auto mileage and everything else the same as presently is including your salary.
There are no soft,cushy armchairs in my home anymore because I can't afford both them and your government waste. Even on the blog you perform waste duplicating the same comment twice.
Has Peru ever had a wreck involving 2 police cars with one another?
5:35 - No, THEY need to provide the numbers to ME. Until THEY DO, THEY are lying.
5:37 - I don't think so, but an over Zulus officer ran a red light in while in code red and hit a civilian car and killed his police dog.
5:37 PM No one can remember the last time Peru was the scene of a 2 car accident involving drinking but for some reason the PPD has ramped up for this for years. More harm has come from popular drugs than someone having a few beers for how many years but yet the PPD continues to donate their time to the few beers. Next the PPD will be ramping up to catch "Big Foot".
"Big Foot" would be a worthy subject as it would encompass a city wide search from the airport to Water Street and Baker Lake to Grieves Subdivision not solely concentrated areas.
Anon 11:04 AM On weekends myself and friends go out together taking turns being a designated driver. Years ago we stayed close to home which is downtown Peru. Always had a good time time especially in one establishment which we felt protected in, also it was very clean, and the bartenders were friendly with a professional attitude, drinks were good and everyone made a point of getting along. All in all it was a great fun bar and if someone came in that was a problem they were told to leave by the employees.
Although our favored bar never changed downtown Peru did, as it became a continuous line of police cars crossing paths for the entire night within a very concentrated area. When going outside to enjoy a cigarette this condition of police awareness became very evident and people wondered if there was something wrong. As you can imagine we now go out less and when we do we no longer stay in Peru. For a brief period we went to other bars in Peru and never saw a squad car all night long which is very unfair to our favorite location. I as my other friends do not want to be pulled over by bright shinning lights
on 4th street and made a spectacle of for not using a turn signal or having a light burned out over my license plate and than uselessly tested for a DUI. Peru is known to be the worst town to drive through and its police have the worst reputation in all of the near and distant areas.
11:07 - this is what happens when laws are passed by emotional people in the name of "safety." We should never give up any of our liberties in exchange for "safety." The DUI laws have given local police departments a steady stream of revenue. Good intentioned law makers have levied stiff fines "for the children." They have also made laws that circumvent our civil rights supposedly guaranteed under the 4th and 5th Amendments to the constitution. These amendments prohibit searches without a specific warrant and self incrimination.
Local police forces will do what their supervisors tell them to do. And the name of the game in this day and age is for the police to generate revenue. Huge fines associated with DUI and the automatic confiscation of property and money associated with marijuana make these the crimes of choice for law enforcement to concentrate on.
5:42, the person you should complain about starts at the top, Bernie, he needs the money for more squad cars.
Yes, 5:42 AM At one time it was the lawbreakers alone whom were of concern, today the lawmakers and those who are in charge of enforcing them who are of like concern. When a law is created that grants law enforcement to collect the profits made from a arrest, as the drug laws do, the public has been made a target as evidenced by local city police patrolling Interstate 80. Why should local city citizens pay twice for patrolling Interstate 80 - a city police force and a state police force? Last Saturday night there was a state police car parked on a Peru side street south of a local business. Is this making any sense? This is a business of having one of the longest reputations of following the law in the entire State of Illinois. This is another waste of money by the government. Being that Peru vomits money but saves none as its retail sales will diminish with the future age group being entirely of the thought computers are the main buying practice it some day will wish it had a savings program in effect for past years instead of voting it down, recent newspaper articles show they are presently starting to cry for outdated methods of obtaining money.
I haven't been to a bar in the LaSalle Peru are in five or six years. Why bother? The company is not the best and even if you don't drink, you will be stopped on the way home.
One of these days I'm going to do what a friend of mine did in High School. He saw a police card driving through downtown Peru and decided to follow him around. He kept following him for hours and the cop got really PO'd. The cop tried to arrest him, but the LT at the station said no laws where broken.
Almost all the bars in LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby, Spring Valley charge $1.50 for draft beer.
there is a tax on every drink sold in a bar. we should force the bars to raise the price so more tax is collected. we can also lower the number of car wrecks if people don't drink as much beer. if you go up to Chicago, it costs $7.00 to $10.00 for a beer. that is how it should be here.
4:47 And you will put them out of business. Do you have a solution for small business. D- for you.
4:47 PM Most of the car wrecks in Peru are the fault of a non drinking driver who is not paying attention to driving such as talking on the telephone. This has been a state law for more than a year and admittingly not enforced by the Peru Police Force (proof of which was when Burnabee was quoted on the front page of the newspaper).
This assures a possible lawsuit for a accident if someone in Peru is talking on their cell phone.
2:23, The City should run a bar then. That way they get all the money.
10:39, what you meant to say is that most of the wrecks in Peru are caused by Baby Boomers that don't know how to drive and cant figure out how to use turn signals, lights, breaks, and accelerator. I really, really, really hope that they put a "round about" in Peru somewhere. I'll get a box of popcorn and watch the fun!
The city does run a bar on every 4th of July on city property east of the Red Door. Most people under 21 can tell you how to pass a beer out to their buddies. Also other organizations of direct city representation have days they run a bar, one of which is the same city department which writes DUI's. Don't you know that when a local politician has a golf outing or a supper for a fund raiser he also has a collection from the bar.See if you know your stuff there are time you can get stink o and never be arrested, it all depends on who has is selling on certain days.
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