This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.” Samuel Adams
Steve Michelini - member of Peru rec board and Peru city contractor - connection. Nick Biogini - Peru fireman, policeman, Peru radio repair man - connection Doug Biederstedt - member of Peru planning and zoning board, Peru assessor - connection Ryan Ratkiewicz - former Peru city employee - connection Chuck Studer - Peru airport manager - connection Randy Ferrari - friend of all of the above and more city employess - connection
The mayor is looking into the possibility of dissolved the township. Do you see any connection with those on this list who will be running for a township position? CONNECTION !!!
Wow, with all this help with conspiracy's this blog has to offer, maybe we can find bigfoot, or finally figure out who shot JFK. What most people see are a group of people willing to spend their time working for the community and not sitting behind a computer complaining about every decision that is or is not made in this city. Keep up the good work, you make me laugh every day. I thank you for that.
11:25 Brilliant deduction worthy of Sherlock Holmes!! Well I was gonna run but.... I know one of these people.....CONNECTION I live in Peru.................CONNECTION I often drive through Peru.....CONNECTION I once passed by the Mayor and he said Hi...CONNECTION I know several people who work in Peru......CONNECTION
What I don't understand is why would people who are on the city payroll or connected to the city in some manner want to be on the township payroll if the mayor is considering dissolving it? Yes, I agree that this people are willing to participate in government and I applaud them but, if they too think the township should be dissolved, why run for a position on it?
I would say in just about any town a given person running is "connected" to someone. Politics and business are both all about connections. It's not a bad thing, or it shouldn't be. People running for office should be applauded for doing so, as few people want to open themselves (and their families) up to idiots who can only say nasty things as what used to happen here on a regular basis. You could not pay me enough to do one of these jobs, and if someone knows someone who knows someone, who cares?
Possibly there are not enough votes with the current township board needed to vote to dissolve the Peru Township, so they are running to get elected to dissolve the township. Then possibly get rewarded with another position later?
Pay attention people. The connected group as pointed by 11:25 are nothing more than pawns put forward by Harl and Bernabei in an attempt to establish a majority on the township board who will vote to dissolve the township so Harl can take control of the township Tax Levy. The takeover will be much easier for the city with a township board controlled by the city. The takeover of the township levy is nothing more than a MONEY-GRAB to prop up the mismanaged and terribly underfunded Police Pension Fund. It's as simple as that.
Thank you 7:16 AM. Once again it looks like another SCAM being perpetrated by the city is clearly exposed on this blog. No wonder the status quo crowd associated with the city despise this blog. Thanks Lois.
So 7:16 you are in favor of keeping the township? Stop crying about connections. To be completely fair the mayor has taken the lead on this, something I don't think he usually does that well. Did you expect him to appoint a bunch of people he doesn't know? As other's have said there is no conspiracy here. It could have been any combination of a couple hundred people and they would somehow be connected.
I would add this also. For the first time in ages (ever?) the city of Peru is levying NO TAX for anything outside of its pension obligations. For those like you who always make it sound like the city is a money grabbing bunch of tax raisers, unfortunately 100 percent of the evidence is to the contrary. The city's goal has been to lower the tax, not raise it and we as citizens are the beneficiaries of that.
Now please tell me I am a cheerleader and in someone's pocket and connected. In other words, continue to kill the blog with lunacy and fear that has zero basis in fact.
7:37 PM, OK you're a "cheerleader and in Harl's pocket". Now listen up. The point of the township takeover is a "money-grab" by the city because they need cash to fund the police pension fund and they don't have the balls to raise the tax levy enough to properly fund the cops retirement fund. They are cowards who are afraid to risk not being re-elected to their phony positions if they raise taxes for all those cops to retire on. Instead they raise taxes as much as they can (4.9%) without having to hold a public hearing to explain why. But 4.9% is not near enough to fund the faltering Peru police pension fund. Stop making excuses for mismanagement and dereliction of duty by Peru's phony mayor and aldermen. Tell us how you are connected and then tell us why Peru's Police and Fire Pensions are not being neglected by city officials. Tell us what you know 7:37 PM!
Is there a 3 man race 9:26p.m.? The radio has announced that the only candidates for Peru mayor are Harl and Perez. Has Giordano dropped out? I also wonder if everyone understands that there is technically not a 3 way race for alderman in ward 1. Tony Ferrari automatically gets another full term because he is the only candidate running for the 4 year term. Mr. Lily and Mr. Ballard are running for the 2 year term so only one of them will win. WLPO announced it this morning as a 3 way race but in reality it isn't.
737 can you explain why the police pension is only funded at 40%. I estimate it's about 6 million in the red. How much tax increase will it take and how long will it be before it's totally funded. What's the plan? Sounds to me the Big Democratic mayor of Peru and the Alderman got its taxpayers in the same mess as Madigan did. And Please fact check me! FOIA the city!
Some very interesting comments that make for science fiction novels. Nobody in their right mind would support a tax entity that does nothing but pad the salaries for those elected. I almost fell out of my chair reading the newspaper and one of those elected officials---Ed Mitchell--wanted to budget enough dollars to fight the dissolution of the township, despite that the taxpayers voted to proceed to dissolve. I guess that would be like Clinton using taxpayer dollars to fight the election of her opponent. I would suggest that Eddie put up his private dollars to fight the voting process. Note---the voter recount was done with private funding!
I thank those who are brave enough to stand up to the township and say no more! Don't waste our time with these crazy comments. A city taking over another taxing body to raise the taxes is laughable. It can't be done in anybody's imagination. Maybe Peru will take over Ottawa and get their taxes. Think about how crazy thise is.
10:50 AM, You remind me of the phony surrogates both presidential candidates sent out during the election trying to use that third-rail of politics by spinning false tails. Why don't you answer the questions at hand about why the city wants to take over the Township tax levy? Could it be the city needs a new revenue source to fund that woefully underfunded Police Pension Plan? Is it as simple as that? Don't avoid the questions at hand! You're as phony as Harl and his henchmen. Maybe you are one of those spineless henchmen. Answer the questions.
10:50 are you nuts! Top 5 city Salaries are more than the township budget. The Chiefs personal secretary makes over 60k. A secretary making over 60k is crazy. Fact check it!
Same old argument. Most likely the people on here defending the township are those township officials who see the gravy train coming to an end. there is nothing the township does that cannot be done by another unit of government. listen to the voters and get rid of it.
So again, the city dropped the tax levy (but supposedly only because they are phony politicians) and yet they want to take over the township because they want to increase taxes? The same couple of blowhards are on here all of the time when nothing you say comes to fruition. I don't give two hoots about politics, but I like when they lower my taxes.
All I see is the mayor doing what he said he was going to do if the voters said to move forward with the township dissolution WHICH THEY DID. Funny how there was all of this criticism on here about the township and now it is happening so that is wrong too.
11:10 get off your ass and RUN for office! You have ALL of the answers. The city's pension issue did not happen overnight and they are working to correct it over a period of time which is COMMON SENSE. No need to push the panic button and raise taxes X amount of dollars.
Also, I have news for you. The township levy does not shift over to the city. It goes away. So for the handful of people who actually pay the township tax, it will drop and we will continue to have nearly the lowest tax rate in the Illinois Valley.
Or are you going to try to tell us again that LaSalle has lower taxes? Oh please, please do. Last time we battled I called you out with facts and you always just go away and then come back later with more name calling.
10:50 What article did you read and how could you interpret it so poorly? At this time nobody (including the city council and mayor)can be assured that dissolving the township would save the citizens money. Also, if you read Mr. Radke's comment carefully he states that all those in Peru township might same money not all of those who live in Peru.
I live in the city of Peru. Why do I have to pay for those roads in the township? Those people who live in the subdivision by south bluff should pay for their own roads.
Another possibility. If there is no Peru Township, can/will the city of Peru force annex the land not already in the city? A land grab. There are a lot of prime properties in Peru Township that are not in the city of Peru limits. Interesting...
I agree, let's talk about all those important jobs at the Township.
Township Supervisor- Sit at the office and drink coffee. Hope that no poor people show up looking for money. If poor people do come in, find a way to deny them help. After all we have to be careful with those tax dollars. Pay - $40,000 a year plus pension for life.
Township Secretary- Sit at the office and make coffee for the Supervisor. If those pesky poor people show up, find the file with the forms. Hand out the forms. Pay- $20,000 per year, pension for life, medical.
Township Clerk- Show up to one meeting a month for about 30 minutes. Take notes. Pay - $25,000 a year plus pension for life. This elected office holder should actually be charged with theft.
Township "Highway" Commissioner- Make ready the roadways for all that bustling township traffic. After all those 6 miles aren't going to take care of themselves. Drive around in truck. Buy gas. Buy a new truck before we have to spend money washing this one. Pay- $40,000 a year plus pension for life.
No one in there right mind would defend this crap. Bernie Maddoff couldn't put together a better scam!
Townships are a statewide issue and if you are upset about this, this should be handled if possible at the statewide level.
LaSalle County
Adams Allen Brookfield Bruce Dayton Deer Park Dimmick Eagle Earl Eden Fall River Farm Ridge Freedom Grand Rapids Groveland Hope LaSalle Manlius Mendota Meriden Miller Mission Northville Ophir Osage Ottawa Otter Creek Peru Richland Rutland Serena South Ottawa Troy Grove Utica Vermillion Wallace Waltham
These are the townships in La Salle County alone and each county in Illinois has a number of townships. Ottawa appears to have 2 Ottawa and South Ottawa. Streator does not appear to have any, at least none with the name of Streator but there is a Vermillions Twp. Why has no other governing body within a city attempted to take over the township in which they are located? La Salle County needs to be involved in any discussion of dissolution of the township since it ultimately would involve their approval to take over roads which are in Peru Twp.Also involved are lots of salaries that are paid by the taxpayers of that twp.
I agree with 9:03. Has the county been asked to send a representative to these meetings or has the county been approached and asked if they would be willing to take care of those roads by south bluff? Also, since all members of the township board took a pay cut where does that excess money go?
After reading the N/T article the County isn't ready to take on any Township duties. Mayor Harl and his team must feel like morons. It would have been a better strategy for the Mayor to Make City Of Peru Government better for its taxpayers. Harl and the Alderman have not told its taxpayers that the city owes over 13 million to the police and fire pension fund. It's so funny you haven't read a single article in the N/T on the pension shortfall. Is the N/T newsgroup that behind on doing an investigation or just holding back on telling the people the truth?
Have you 9:08 even took the time to read the audit for this year. The city has been putting close to a million dollars a year, and is making strides to fully fund the pensions. The short fall started back in the Baker days..Take some time to be educated about what you talk about..
Why would anyone feel like morons? I think Harl and the city are doing the right thing. They are holding meetings and trying to get it done. Things like this do not happen easily or overnight. Judge it when it is done. I am glad they are trying to make this happen. Certainly no one else is going to do it.
The pension issue in the city is not a secret and no one is trying to hide it. They have a plan to pay it over a period of time which is the right way to do it. It's not a crisis and you will struggle to find a municipality anywhere that has a fully funded pension fund like this. I am sure there are some but this is the only real downside to the city's finances and they should not and should not try to fix this one in the short term.
9:08 Please remember that the Township has one duty. It's to pad the pockets of those elected to the Township. Every article I read discusses the wasted tax dollars. I don't buy the County and the protected political machine saying WE can't do anymore! And the sole reason that it was a issue is because of the political connection of those politicians protecting everybody's political kingdom. Rauner has it right and those in Peru willing to stick out their necks to eliminate the waste of this taxing body are right on. I would expect those that have been getting the taxpayer grease to continue to protect the kingdom of waste! Your time is up. Your lucky the local press won't write about tax payer waste. Some of those who oppose Townships are looking for criminal charges for those who collect more than they give.
1:22 please tell us how the local newspaper has not given adequate coverage to the issue of the township. I actually think that has been covered pretty well. If you are unhappy then run for office or vote for your favorite candidate. They are working on the township issue.
35 comments:
Steve Michelini - member of Peru rec board and Peru city contractor - connection.
Nick Biogini - Peru fireman, policeman, Peru radio repair man - connection
Doug Biederstedt - member of Peru planning and zoning board, Peru assessor - connection
Ryan Ratkiewicz - former Peru city employee - connection
Chuck Studer - Peru airport manager - connection
Randy Ferrari - friend of all of the above and more city employess - connection
The mayor is looking into the possibility of dissolved the township. Do you see any connection with those on this list who will be running for a township position? CONNECTION !!!
Wow, Wow and Wow!!!
Wow, with all this help with conspiracy's this blog has to offer, maybe we can find bigfoot, or finally figure out who shot JFK.
What most people see are a group of people willing to spend their time working for the community and not sitting behind a computer complaining about every decision that is or is not made in this city. Keep up the good work, you make me laugh every day.
I thank you for that.
11:25 Brilliant deduction worthy of Sherlock Holmes!!
Well I was gonna run but....
I know one of these people.....CONNECTION
I live in Peru.................CONNECTION
I often drive through Peru.....CONNECTION
I once passed by the Mayor and he said Hi...CONNECTION
I know several people who work in Peru......CONNECTION
Y not post my nelson comment.
This blog is so right wing it makes me sick
What I don't understand is why would people who are on the city payroll or connected to the city in some manner want to be on the township payroll if the mayor is considering dissolving it? Yes, I agree that this people are willing to participate in government and I applaud them but, if they too think the township should be dissolved, why run for a position on it?
I would say in just about any town a given person running is "connected" to someone. Politics and business are both all about connections. It's not a bad thing, or it shouldn't be. People running for office should be applauded for doing so, as few people want to open themselves (and their families) up to idiots who can only say nasty things as what used to happen here on a regular basis. You could not pay me enough to do one of these jobs, and if someone knows someone who knows someone, who cares?
Possibly there are not enough votes with the current township board needed to vote to dissolve the Peru Township, so they are running to get elected to dissolve the township. Then possibly get rewarded with another position later?
Pay attention people. The connected group as pointed by 11:25 are nothing more than pawns put forward by Harl and Bernabei in an attempt to establish a majority on the township board who will vote to dissolve the township so Harl can take control of the township Tax Levy. The takeover will be much easier for the city with a township board controlled by the city. The takeover of the township levy is nothing more than a MONEY-GRAB to prop up the mismanaged and terribly underfunded Police Pension Fund. It's as simple as that.
Thank you 7:16 AM. Once again it looks like another SCAM being perpetrated by the city is clearly exposed on this blog. No wonder the status quo crowd associated with the city despise this blog.
Thanks Lois.
My point exactly 7:16. That's what I was trying to point out in my 11:25 post.
So 7:16 you are in favor of keeping the township? Stop crying about connections. To be completely fair the mayor has taken the lead on this, something I don't think he usually does that well. Did you expect him to appoint a bunch of people he doesn't know? As other's have said there is no conspiracy here. It could have been any combination of a couple hundred people and they would somehow be connected.
I would add this also. For the first time in ages (ever?) the city of Peru is levying NO TAX for anything outside of its pension obligations. For those like you who always make it sound like the city is a money grabbing bunch of tax raisers, unfortunately 100 percent of the evidence is to the contrary. The city's goal has been to lower the tax, not raise it and we as citizens are the beneficiaries of that.
Now please tell me I am a cheerleader and in someone's pocket and connected. In other words, continue to kill the blog with lunacy and fear that has zero basis in fact.
Now that Chico has thrown his hat in for mayor Harl will come out on top with a three man race.
7:37 PM, OK you're a "cheerleader and in Harl's pocket". Now listen up. The point of the township takeover is a "money-grab" by the city because they need cash to fund the police pension fund and they don't have the balls to raise the tax levy enough to properly fund the cops retirement fund. They are cowards who are afraid to risk not being re-elected to their phony positions if they raise taxes for all those cops to retire on. Instead they raise taxes as much as they can (4.9%) without having to hold a public hearing to explain why. But 4.9% is not near enough to fund the faltering Peru police pension fund. Stop making excuses for mismanagement and dereliction of duty by Peru's phony mayor and aldermen. Tell us how you are connected and then tell us why Peru's Police and Fire Pensions are not being neglected by city officials. Tell us what you know 7:37 PM!
Is there a 3 man race 9:26p.m.? The radio has announced that the only candidates for Peru mayor are Harl and Perez. Has Giordano dropped out? I also wonder if everyone understands that there is technically not a 3 way race for alderman in ward 1. Tony Ferrari automatically gets another full term because he is the only candidate running for the 4 year term. Mr. Lily and Mr. Ballard are running for the 2 year term so only one of them will win. WLPO announced it this morning as a 3 way race but in reality it isn't.
737 can you explain why the police pension is only funded at 40%. I estimate it's about 6 million in the red. How much tax increase will it take and how long will it be before it's totally funded. What's the plan? Sounds to me the Big Democratic mayor of Peru and the Alderman got its taxpayers in the same mess as Madigan did. And Please fact check me! FOIA the city!
Some very interesting comments that make for science fiction novels. Nobody in their right mind would support a tax entity that does nothing but pad the salaries for those elected.
I almost fell out of my chair reading the newspaper and one of those elected officials---Ed Mitchell--wanted to budget enough dollars to fight the dissolution of the township, despite that the taxpayers voted to proceed to dissolve. I guess that would be like Clinton using taxpayer dollars to fight the election of her opponent. I would suggest that Eddie put up his private dollars to fight the voting process. Note---the voter recount was done with private funding!
I thank those who are brave enough to stand up to the township and say no more! Don't waste our time with these crazy comments. A city taking over another taxing body to raise the taxes is laughable. It can't be done in anybody's imagination. Maybe Peru will take over Ottawa and get their taxes. Think about how crazy thise is.
10:50 AM, You remind me of the phony surrogates both presidential candidates sent out during the election trying to use that third-rail of politics by spinning false tails. Why don't you answer the questions at hand about why the city wants to take over the Township tax levy? Could it be the city needs a new revenue source to fund that woefully underfunded Police Pension Plan? Is it as simple as that? Don't avoid the questions at hand! You're as phony as Harl and his henchmen. Maybe you are one of those spineless henchmen.
Answer the questions.
10:50 are you nuts! Top 5 city Salaries are more than the township budget. The Chiefs personal secretary makes over 60k. A secretary making over 60k is crazy. Fact check it!
Same old argument. Most likely the people on here defending the township are those township officials who see the gravy train coming to an end. there is nothing the township does that cannot be done by another unit of government. listen to the voters and get rid of it.
So again, the city dropped the tax levy (but supposedly only because they are phony politicians) and yet they want to take over the township because they want to increase taxes? The same couple of blowhards are on here all of the time when nothing you say comes to fruition. I don't give two hoots about politics, but I like when they lower my taxes.
All I see is the mayor doing what he said he was going to do if the voters said to move forward with the township dissolution WHICH THEY DID. Funny how there was all of this criticism on here about the township and now it is happening so that is wrong too.
11:10 get off your ass and RUN for office! You have ALL of the answers. The city's pension issue did not happen overnight and they are working to correct it over a period of time which is COMMON SENSE. No need to push the panic button and raise taxes X amount of dollars.
Also, I have news for you. The township levy does not shift over to the city. It goes away. So for the handful of people who actually pay the township tax, it will drop and we will continue to have nearly the lowest tax rate in the Illinois Valley.
Or are you going to try to tell us again that LaSalle has lower taxes? Oh please, please do. Last time we battled I called you out with facts and you always just go away and then come back later with more name calling.
I like facts. You like name calling. Bring it.
10:50 What article did you read and how could you interpret it so poorly? At this time nobody (including the city council and mayor)can be assured that dissolving the township would save the citizens money. Also, if you read Mr. Radke's comment carefully he states that all those in Peru township might same money not all of those who live in Peru.
I live in the city of Peru. Why do I have to pay for those roads in the township? Those people who live in the subdivision by south bluff should pay for their own roads.
Another possibility. If there is no Peru Township, can/will the city of Peru force annex the land not already in the city? A land grab. There are a lot of prime properties in Peru Township that are not in the city of Peru limits. Interesting...
2:22-
I agree, let's talk about all those important jobs at the Township.
Township Supervisor- Sit at the office and drink coffee. Hope that no poor people show up looking for money. If poor people do come in, find a way to deny them help. After all we have to be careful with those tax dollars. Pay - $40,000 a year plus pension for life.
Township Secretary- Sit at the office and make coffee for the Supervisor. If those pesky poor people show up, find the file with the forms. Hand out the forms. Pay- $20,000 per year, pension for life, medical.
Township Clerk- Show up to one meeting a month for about 30 minutes. Take notes. Pay - $25,000 a year plus pension for life. This elected office holder should actually be charged with theft.
Township "Highway" Commissioner- Make ready the roadways for all that bustling township traffic. After all those 6 miles aren't going to take care of themselves. Drive around in truck. Buy gas. Buy a new truck before we have to spend money washing this one. Pay- $40,000 a year plus pension for life.
No one in there right mind would defend this crap. Bernie Maddoff couldn't put together a better scam!
6:49 PM
Townships are a statewide issue and if you are upset about this, this should be handled if possible at the statewide level.
LaSalle County
Adams
Allen
Brookfield
Bruce
Dayton
Deer Park
Dimmick
Eagle
Earl
Eden
Fall River
Farm Ridge
Freedom
Grand Rapids
Groveland
Hope
LaSalle
Manlius
Mendota
Meriden
Miller
Mission
Northville
Ophir
Osage
Ottawa
Otter Creek
Peru
Richland
Rutland
Serena
South Ottawa
Troy Grove
Utica
Vermillion
Wallace
Waltham
These are the townships in La Salle County alone and each county in Illinois has a number of townships. Ottawa appears to have 2 Ottawa and South Ottawa. Streator does not appear to have any, at least none with the name of Streator but there is a Vermillions Twp. Why has no other governing body within a city attempted to take over the township in which they are located? La Salle County needs to be involved in any discussion of dissolution of the township since it ultimately would involve their approval to take over roads which are in Peru Twp.Also involved are lots of salaries that are paid by the taxpayers of that twp.
To 4:42 PM, You must not like the FACT that Peru RAISED its TAX Levy 4.9%. They did not LOWER the Tax Levy they RAISED it.
You obviously don't like FACTS that disagree with your phony narrative.
I agree with 9:03. Has the county been asked to send a representative to these meetings or has the county been approached and asked if they would be willing to take care of those roads by south bluff? Also, since all members of the township board took a pay cut where does that excess money go?
Fart
After reading the N/T article the County isn't ready to take on any Township duties. Mayor Harl and his team must feel like morons. It would have been a better strategy for the Mayor to Make City Of Peru Government better for its taxpayers. Harl and the Alderman have not told its taxpayers that the city owes over 13 million to the police and fire pension fund. It's so funny you haven't read a single article in the N/T on the pension shortfall. Is the N/T newsgroup that behind on doing an investigation or just holding back on telling the people the truth?
Have you 9:08 even took the time to read the audit for this year. The city has been putting close to a million dollars a year, and is making strides to fully fund the pensions. The short fall started back in the Baker days..Take some time to be educated about what you talk about..
Have to love small town politics.
Why would anyone feel like morons? I think Harl and the city are doing the right thing. They are holding meetings and trying to get it done. Things like this do not happen easily or overnight. Judge it when it is done. I am glad they are trying to make this happen. Certainly no one else is going to do it.
The pension issue in the city is not a secret and no one is trying to hide it. They have a plan to pay it over a period of time which is the right way to do it. It's not a crisis and you will struggle to find a municipality anywhere that has a fully funded pension fund like this. I am sure there are some but this is the only real downside to the city's finances and they should not and should not try to fix this one in the short term.
9:08 Please remember that the Township has one duty. It's to pad the pockets of those elected to the Township. Every article I read discusses the wasted tax dollars. I don't buy the County and the protected political machine saying WE can't do anymore! And the sole reason that it was a issue is because of the political connection of those politicians protecting everybody's political kingdom. Rauner has it right and those in Peru willing to stick out their necks to eliminate the waste of this taxing body are right on. I would expect those that have been getting the taxpayer grease to continue to protect the kingdom of waste! Your time is up. Your lucky the local press won't write about tax payer waste. Some of those who oppose Townships are looking for criminal charges for those who collect more than they give.
1:22 please tell us how the local newspaper has not given adequate coverage to the issue of the township. I actually think that has been covered pretty well. If you are unhappy then run for office or vote for your favorite candidate. They are working on the township issue.
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