Save Money Paint Flowers (just a thought)

The city seems to have run out of ideas for making Peru something to see.  The banners don't do it and the flower baskets evidently were too much upkeep.  Of course don't take this seriously but it is a dreary day.  If a private business owner would undertake something like this, it would be amazing, especially on Rte 6. Kind of like the mural painting done in Walldog communities.

Illinois property taxes highest in the US, double national average

Illinois property taxes highest in the US, double national average

Maybe most of us could be more money into repairs and maintenance of the property we own, if the property taxes in this state were more responsible. Get the same old people out of office, they don't own that position.

Ottawa: Watch for fee on bill for consolidating dispatch centers - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

Ottawa: Watch for fee on bill for consolidating dispatch centers - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

Illinois House votes down property-tax freeze

linois House votes down property-tax freeze



here's the roll call http://illin.is/1T1F4RF

Illinois House passes local-government consolidation bill

Illinois House passes local-government consolidation bill

Will the county be willing to disband the useless Peru Twp.? But first lets get this bill thru the Ill. Senate.

Census estimates show people leaving DeKalb County

Census estimates show people leaving DeKalb County

Interesting information about one of our neighboring counties. I would like to see what about La Salle County.

State Rep. Jack Franks bill closing police, fire double-dipping loophole clears Illinois House

State Rep. Jack Franks bill closing police, fire double-dipping loophole clears Illinois House


Information Just in Case......................

Still beautiful, 70 years later (VIDEO) - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

Still beautiful, 70 years later (VIDEO) - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

A beautiful day for a well attended event.

The State of Illinois Today

Public Services Minutes Posted

Interesting Public Service Minutes now available.

We have recently hired another new assistant in the engineering department.

If you remember for about 3 years we have been discussing another restroom in Baker Lake near the soccer field.  In fact Sean Mikos was working on it.  Now it has been noted that we don't have the funding for it. Ditto on new playground equipment.

Evidently our money will be spent on the Adventure Drive readjustment.

Read the minutes for further information.

Illinois will soon overtake New Jersey as the state with the highest property taxes

Illinois will soon overtake New Jersey as the state with the highest property taxes

…And Now the U.S. Ranks Dead Last in Problem-Solving Tech-Skills

…And Now the U.S. Ranks Dead Last in Problem-Solving Tech-Skills

Another study telling us the U.S. is not keeping up with the rest of the world with skills. Is this the problem that people who have lost jobs have not learned the necessary new skills to be retrained in a new position.  And if they are retrained, will there be jobs available in the city in which they currently live? Will we no longer have one job for a lifetime and what does this say about the jobs that will be available in small to medium size cities?.

How will this affect the management of small cities, when jobs keep changing. Will the job of Mayor someday be obsolete or is it already?

Walmart’s Customers Too Broke To Shop

Walmart’s Customers Too Broke To Shop

I am positive that most of our bloggers do shop at Walmart but not necessarily in Peru which relies very heavily on retail sales tax.  Most of the retail outlets do have an online presence and this article stresses the importance of their online end of their business. Amazon is the giant of online business for the average person who does shop online, true? Walmart at one time offered free shipping to the store but not sure if that is still a policy as the last time we ordered something there was a shipping cost.

Recently we had family here visting from Colorado and they were amazed that we had 4 stores open 24 hours a day. In their location Walmart stores are now closing at midnight. In Peru, there is Walmart, Hyvee, Walgreens and CVS all open 24 hours a day. Is this a needed service ?  All are private corporations and can make their own decision and maybe due to their location on major Illinois highways, it is profitable for them to be open 24 hours a day.

Are our elected officials in serious discussions about the possibility of one day local retail sales tax may not always be the Cash Cow that it is now? Considering some of the frivilous expenditures they engage in, it does not seem to be so. I understand that Illinois would like to increase their gas tax by .30 per gallon and if that bill should pass, is it time for Peru officials to stop the department heads  from having the use of their city vehicles unless they pay for the gas used while not being on city business and perhaps a portion of the upkeep. Is it time to start thinking about the residents and not abusing the tax dollars collected by the city?

My pot pourri collection of things to think about.

Frac sand mines announce layoffs of 134 people in Wisconsin

Frac sand mines announce layoffs of 134 people in Wisconsin

Wonder if it will affect the construction of the Northern White Sands facility north of Sapp Brothers on the Ladd to Peru Rd. I believe the city has invested a large amount of money and it would be a sorry situation to have that all fall apart.

Sunday Afternoon in the Illinois Valley and Blowing Sand/Soil?

Ok was it sand blowing through the lower half of Peru or dust from the farmers fields being plowed. FB comments began shortly before supper when people driving through town were seeing what initially looked like smoke.

Not smoke but possibly sand blowing from somewhere around or near to Water St. in Peru. Northern White Sands is not functioning as of yet and the only thing I recall was a sand storage facility being built on Water Street east of Pine St.  Did you see anything?