A new police station could be in Peru's future
What happened to the new Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch Center at IVCC? I thought that La Salle and Peru would be dispatched out of that center?
Now we know for sure that Mayor Harl found the money tree .
An updated version is now online speaking to the cost, the Mayor said they have the funding. Location would remain in downtown Peru and no specifics given.
28 comments:
I'm having a difficult time understanding why there is money available for certain projects but not for others. Could someone please explain to me why we can only support a part-time code enforcement officer but we can plan and look into building multi million dollar complexes? During the mayoral debate our current mayor stated that we couldn't afford a full-time code officer because he didn't have a money tree. Did he find it since now, it's been hinted that we seemingly can afford to build a brand new police station? Please do not misinterpret this comment. I am not stating that we may or may not need a new station. I'm just curious as to where the money is coming from. Did the TREE finally bear it's fruit?
A call center has absolutely nothing to do with a police station. It is long overdue in need of replacement as our police force has outgrown the existing location.
I am sure the geeks at city hall will explain the cost and the money involved very soon. There is no doubt that a police station is needed.
I have been very comfortable with the financial part of the city and the leadership involved. I would highly doubt that anything will be done until the finances are covered. Looking at the makeup of the city finance people, you have a few ultra conservatives.
Harl is a liar ! Proven fact !
I see in tonights news trib that they are hiring a full-time building and zoning inspector. We made our fire chief full time with full benefits, a pension, and $130,000 a year because he was going to be a code enforcement officer plus these positions . The person they are looking for needs degrees. How come our fire chief did this for so many years with no training or degree in this position? Is he going to take a pay cut? Will he be a full-time chief now ? Or will he still only work 7-1:30 like city hall admits to . According to FOIA request Peru only averages one fire call a day. That alot of money for 5 minutes of paperwork a day. We hired someone to do code enforcement , did he take a pay cut ? Even though he's only part time that's still is more than the 2 minutes a day the fire chief spent doing code enforcement jobs before. Once again I think we all got scammed by our mayor who just wanted to get his campaign supporter a full-time job. Next we'll be seeing an ad for public works and electrical superintendents so our fire chief can cut himself down to 2 hours a day of work with no pay cut.
We can't afford a full time code enforcement officer because the mayor doesn't have a money tree yet, we can hire a full time building and zoning inspector? What gives? I too am curious as to whether or not Mr. King's salary will be reduced as some of his duties will be eliminated.
If we had a full time working mayor we might be able to eliminate some salaries. His salary should have been reduceed when we hired a city administrator, reduced by about half. Instead we are paying the City Administrator a sizeable salary and the Mayor still retained his same salary as if he were doing some of the work. And by the way our City Lobbyist is also due for another years hire either this month or next. Last year there was talk of only giving him one more year. Any bets on whether Mac Anarney will be rehired at another $24,000 per year.
10:55
The full-time Mayor position Only makes a difference if you have a qualified candidate. Those who ran against Harl last time had very little ability to offer anything that would make a difference either full or part-time. I doubt that Peru will be able to have a full-time Mayor that would have the capable administration resume to provide quality. You would need financial expertise, supervisory skills, and much more to do the job. The current Peru staff collectively has all of that covered. Why complain? As for salary of the Mayor, you must be kidding. The wages are low, you would never get a real serious qualified person to quit the job and be your full-time Mayor.
11:53 PM
A few years ago when a city similar in size to Peru was contemplating hiring a legitimate experienced City Manager, I had a conversation with someone there, the mayor's salary was $500.00 per month because they had hired a City Administrator. Why should the city continue to pay the same salary when he has turned over much of his original duties to another employee.
We don't need a full time mayor , or a full time fire chief . Neither of them do anything to justify their position. During the election all king did was put out campaign signs for his boss. All they're doing is putting us farther into debt by getting paid to do nothing. Not to mention the lawsuits they're bringing onto the city shoulders .
How much is owed on the hydro dam and adequate vesting on the police pension? Where does the take over of Peru township stand? Does Peru government still employ the one fill all money and power form of government or has it finally grown up?
1:20 PM
The hydro is not paid for and not sure it pays for itself. Considering repairs being done yearly, it does not make a profit. Police pensions are unfunded, exact figures I don't have at hand but according to information put out around election time, they are figuring on having the money to catch up in about 20 years. The treasurer has the exact figures. Keep in mind I do not have the exact figures in front of me.
20 years! This is Peru. Forget the police station. Take the drug money and apply it to the PPD pension and all other unpaid fireman and police debts. Lack of room.... why does the C,PPD need 2 offices. One in city hall and one in the PPD? As Jack Dempsey said you can run but you can't hide. For a town that has taken all costs down to the bone there are 2 salaries with a lot of fat on the hoof still. Remember the C,PPD and the C,PFD have proven not to be full time jobs and should not be filled as such.
1:42.....Why don't you get the figures? And why don't you ask Peru's elected how they are going pay for pensions? Call those informed elected officials to discuss. Go to the city meetings and ask them.
I highly doubt that the hydro has not or is not profitable. Don't you remember a few elections ago when Harl and Baker ran for office? That was debated. Guess what we got a new mayor, new council members and the hydro is running! It must be profitable or those penny pinching misers would have locked it up.
the township is in shambles no hours and no service for g. a. clients and elderly persons. but we still have bernabei running up costs for everything - hmmm i think we got rid of the wrong thing!
2:17 you need some sleep. First it was the trucks and how many trucks do we need? Now, your fixated about office space. Your at the 3rd grade level of government economics. At least your using spellcheck.
I think the job of Police Chief, Fire Chief and public works would require full-time work. It looks like Peru has 3 full-time jobs for the price of 2.
I would think that the drug funds have a purpose and can't be used for anything. I don't know what other debts they have beside the pension funds? Pension debts are a problem in all government operations. Teacher, State workers and all other local units. I bet that if you have a job and a pension, you may be troubled. If your are employed and hope to have social security, you may want to start saving for your own future. If you had a pension prior to 2009 your will notice that you lost funds in the markets that just recently are recovering.
Now get some sleep and look at issues like infrastructure improvements, tax rates, public safety, and educational opportunities. Those are real issues. Office space and trucks are for the sandbox. Its not about how many trucks or how much space you have in the sandbox.
12:06 PM Hydro has never been profitable.
3:20 PM I am absolutely amazed that most other cities and probably al cities in La Salle County and Bureau County are able to function without continually building new buildings for their government, their trucks and their Safety departments. We really need to talk with them and their well kept secrets.
The township is in shambles ? Well look at the guy just elected. Bernie's buddy from the valley. Also a police officer, and also a fireman. And also his company does contract work on radios and lighting for vehicles. A little too much kissing butt and too many cookie jars with his hands in them. Plus this is the guy that got fired from spring valley fire for being too cocky and not taking orders. No wonder the township is in shambles. Bernie and his boys are running it .
The real problem with the township is not and was not the new guys. It was the greed of those in prior office and your reference to Mr. Bernabie is False and not accurate. He does not serve on the Township Board. The law does not limit police or fire officers from being elected officials. Would you rather have the past crew of political hacks running the township and cashing the big paychecks?
Times will change and most of us understand that many taxing bodies that duplicate resources will be extinct. I give credit Peru and the few that took the unpopular stand that this body of government is not needed. RIP
3:20PM
First and foremost I intend to briefly answer your comments in a gentlemanly manner that you may use as a role model for future references. The reason I commented at 2:17AM is that I am employed as a afternoon worker and do not arrive home until 1:30AM. I am single parent of 2 grade school children. I have made it a continuous effort to find a position with better hours to raise a family and not to have to suffer a huge salary reduction. Peru has a overabundance of sales clerk jobs paying $8.00 to $10.50 per hour without much chance of a future. I am sure a person with your economic background and common sense has no difficulty in understanding the problems I face daily to provide my children and myself basic needs as well as a seldom allowed "picker upper'. I have applied to the City Hall of Peru for a job only to be asked who sent me, who am I related to or who do I know that has a administrative job with the city. Those who have gone through the interview process state that the job advertised was already filled and the ad was only to fulfill procedure. You say NO and I say YES because this is exactly taking place now. A employee presently occupying a part time position will become the next full time police officer even though the adv. is being continued to be published. I also was informed that Peru has individuals that occupy 2, 3, 4, positions with additional pay increases for each individual position but have no specific knowledge or education to qualify them and are not performing job descriptions. Those who take interest in Peru government are under the opinion that never before has there been so much outsourcing because certain appointments of Mayor Harl cannot accomplish what they are receiving $130K to $150K for.
Many of the subjects which you have expressed and your viewpoints are quite the opposite of mine such what drug money can be used for and underinvested pensions. But I respect your opinions and your fortitude to express them.
I do study what you refer to as real issues and I include office space as for trucks the city departments are in sore need of updating and replacing many of their junkers which are in use. If interested in seeing the finest fleet of police cars for a town of approximately 9,800 go to the police station and than drive around town to see those cars in use finally observe the huge number of cars parked in front of officers homes. These cars are all fully loaded and have the best of technology which isn't cheap.
As for you I appreciate your sharing of sand box knowledge but I have no desire to occupy my time with such and will happily bestow upon you and you alone the honored title of "Thy Mr. Sandman"!
What time is your shift over, 3:20PM seems a bit early. Maybe you are submitting comments on city time.
Why is Peru paying the most and getting the worst? Every thing has gone downhill after the retirement of the previous Peru Police Chief. Since than Peru has become employment heaven for Spring Valley. Peru has become known as city with huge favoritisms. It is not what you know but who you know in Peru this is only trumped by blood relatives. By the way what why does Peru hire a Spring Valley landscaper?
3:36
I would think the 1st answer to any of your questions is.......are you qualified? What are your credentials for the jobs posted?
I don't know what you are taking about with outsourcing? The city has a full-time engineer and other areas in which have saved money. Do you think that having more city employees instead of outsourcing is the way to save money?
I have never worked for the city and I don't think the city has a obligation to find employment for you or anyone else. You feel the opposite, that's ok. Many believe government owes them.
The loaded police cars? I haven't been in a car but you need to have computer technology, cameras and more to fight crime. It's not like the Denali that has warm seats and entertainment!
I don't know what you expect but have a feeling that you may be one of the many new who expect the same things as your parents or grandparents without working for it.
3:36 A whole post of hearsay! Whatever position you are in, is not the result of anything to do with the City of Peru. The choices you have made are yours and yours only. If you are qualified for being a police officer and have taken the test you would have been placed on a list of hires. Your name is placed according to your scores you have received. According to the law the list is the hire list for 2 years. Nobody can be hired without the name being qualified on the list. You have viewpoints and I prefer to go with current laws and regulations. That is the difference. Certain funds are limited to certain areas, we all understand that concept. You can't transfer road funds to pensions and you can't transfer drug funds to fund pensions? Why not? Well, laws attempt to keep tax funds for the specific purpose. Common sense.
I don't have any advice for your personal situation but I would work on creating more skills to have a chance at those big jobs. You sound like you are envious of police jobs. You probably need a B.S in law enforcement, scored high on testing and the courage, ability to handle the job stress. That's today's world. There are many new graduates out there so good luck.
11:50 you totally missed the point (by the way are you part of the last and possibly the worst board ever)? I am well aware of what bernabei is screwing up now!
11:50 In the last election neither party nominated Bernabei for any township office. This is a indicator Bernie is a non electable. Outward hints to SV to take him back were laughed at. Will Peru have to pay back any of the money obtained by the past States Attorneys concept of justice?
11:50 Do you know why Bernabie is presently not on the township board?
Bernabei was not nominated by either party to run for a office.
Also the PPD is so poorly funded, $8,000,000 behind, that the city attempt to take over the township and the $450,000 of yearly funds
thankfully leaked out.
His personality qualifies him to be non-electable. Peru appears to be stuck with him for a long, long time. All negotiations with SV to take him back have been answered with laughter
This is why people are fleeing. You all sound like a bunch of inbred hicks
9:59, All of us? Where does this leave you?
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