Past Peru pool committee member: 'Isn't it about time credit should be given to the committee?'
There has been quite a FB discussion about this news article and yes people use their names.. So many people care about what is taking place in Peru but as usual are shut out of decisions even when it is for them and this park and splashpad are only one of them. Evidently another way for the city to show Volunteers, we will use you only when it benefits us and we get the credit.
Some has been posted on the Peru Town Forum FB page.
19 comments:
Why does our mayor and city council refuse to address issues that are concerns of the very citizens they are supposed to represent? Do they not have the answers as to why they are behaving as rudely as they are?
Do they not understand the amount of time and energy these FFPP put in to bring something for our children to Peru? Why not answer citizens legitimate questions with respect and dignity? Why the arrogance? Does our mayor and city council think they are better than everyone else. This article in tonite's paper is disturbing and should by considered, in my opinion, a slap in the face to the FRIENDS FOR PERU POOL!! Job well done ladies. Hold you heads high because those of us who count know how this project got underway. BY YOUR EFFORTS AND HARD WORK.
Just heard on WLPO that the city clerk sent an email to both the radio and newspaper. The email included a letter that the mayor supposedly sent to the ladies thanking them for their efforts. No matter what, why couldn't one member of our council speak up at the meeting and publicly mention this letter and thank them again for their efforts? We have seen them be negative and discourteous. Do they think they are too good to respond to the general public in a positive manner? If they want citizens to respect them, they need to respect the very citizens they represent. Is it an easy job? No! But it does demand common sense and an open mind and the ability to handle various situations with tact.
Hold off the drama! If my reading history is correct, the group had the initial idea to save the pool. Many of the members came and went for various reasons. Money came in from concerts and individual donations for the pool. According to the reports the pool idea was dropped and in came the splash pad, in which a few of those on the committee quit again in protest of the splash pad. The City of Peru along with a few remaining committee members worked to get a grant from the State. The grant was approved and awarded to the City of Peru, a grant from a government must go toward the government entity not a group of citizens. According to the reports the grant along with a library donation( NOT SURE HOW THE LIBRARY CAN MAKE A LEGAL DONATION TO A SPLASH PAD), was going to build a splash pad. The grant was eliminated and again a few of the committee members quit, maybe the same ones that quit before. Page 2, the City and the political work of Mayor Harl got the State to re-issue the grant along with a sizable donation from Peru native JA Happ, a number of other have donated according to the report. During that time the old school was demolished and turned over to the city. The City announced that the new splash pad was being built at the old school site and with the concept of a park with a baseball theme. Currently construction is underway.
According to the article it appears that a few feel that they have been slighted in the construction phase of the pad? I and others are not sure what input at this point they want on the project. The plans look to be drawn up, the construction moving slowly, and if a few of those outspoken have quit the committee a few different times what gives? I don't believe they have a patent pending a splash pads.And if you were opposed to the plan moving from a pool to a splash pad why such distain?
3:56
I do congratulate the FFPP for all there hard work. I was able to read a bit of what was posted and the two women who read the letter are not even active members working with the FFPP. So I'm confused as what they are seeking, a public thank you, a plaque? I was always taught a gift or volunteering is done with no expectations of being recognized.
Some are also upset over the baseball theme...for a splash pad being built across from three baseball fields...one of which currently hosting a very large tournament. Makes sense.
I think one person was a former member of the pool committee and another is a former member of the committee and resides in LaSalle. The local news must be looking for some sensational story that sounds like a vendetta against the Peru Mayor. In reading the article it was apparent that the two were being critical to the Peru Mayor and did indeed want their names in lights. Not sure what they did and not sure what Peru Mayor did to get such a reaction.
Upon looking at the agenda online it was not scheduled to discuss and the comments must have been made under public input. That may be the reason the Mayor didn't have a response at the meeting.
The is a very good project for the community and deserves to be a positive happening in the area. Why such selfishness from the few and the press? Was the purpose of the actions by these two and news to deter donors and create controversy? I think so.
I this a big story? Sorry we are stretching for conspiracy.
Just a few thoughts. Many of us worked for Mayor Harl for 2 campaigns, first he lost and the second he won. With the help of a very thoughtful campaign manager who pulled everything together. Harl won. Admittedly in the beginning Harl did not get along with the City Council basically because he was not Mayor Baker. The council chambers were full of many people who really did expect good things to happen.
Not exactly sure when the changes happened but one thing sticks in my mind. Under the Baker administration and for some time into the Harl administration there was a large committee structure enabling all aldermen to show some leadership and then report back to the Mayor and Council. My dates on the next are not defining but believe it was into his second term when the Mayor decided there were way too many Committee meetings so he reduced it from from 4 or 5 to 2 and suddenly there were way too many aldermen on each committee mtg but it was the Mayor who benefitted by always being present for each. The aldermen were no longer learning leadership roles, they just became a yes vote for whatever the Mayor wanted. IMO, he was always there to watch over them.
Can't be definite because there are no longer committee mtgs before 2014 online. Definite changes.
So suddenly from small groups discussing things about specific city function to possibly as many as 10 to 12 or more in a small room, definitely not inviting to any residents. Sometimes a resident would come to discuss an issue in a comfortable environment, kind of what you might expect in small town government. Now everything is tightly controlled. Let me say, if things have changed I'm not aware because very few residents attend either of the 2 mtgs. Finance....and/or Public Service.
Perhaps all mtgs are now held in the Council Chambers which is a good possibility.
So the reason they weren't consulted on the new design is because they quit the committee. And they complained about receiving no recognition but they got a letter of recognition from the Mayor when they quit. Is this a joke?
Normally if laurels have to be sought for those seeking them are not deserving of such. In researching the pool committee (poolies) evidence shows that a swimming pool in the footprint of Veterans Pool was their only objective and they distained the thoughts of a splash pad. It was another group of solely Peru taxpayers who introduced the idea of and preferred to have a splash pad in Peru.
Now you are wishing for the days of Don Baker's committees? I think most of their meetings were held at the deli. Thanks for the laugh.
5:34 PM
You said it, I didn't.
I noticed in the paper that Mayor Harl did send both distraught former members of the pool committee letters of thanks! It's time that these publicity seeking individuals stop the nonsense.
9:51
Exactly! He probably did not respond at that meeting because it only would have caused arguments. I am sure if you look back to all of the donations made at meetings, thanks were given.
The reason Peru does not have a swimming pool is that the people who have wants in Peru are not willing to participate in long term battles and all the politicians are aware of this. Peru is full of great starters and lousy finishers who are nowhere around at the end.
Peru is a town full of people waiting for the next guy to do it. If it had a active citizenship there would not be a tower in Washington Park limiting the potential of the park.
Peru has become a spoiled baby in regards to a sales tax which was initially started from income of the Peru Mall resulting in low property taxes. Yes this is the same empty mall, which now is known for outdated facilities and overcharged leases. From all appearances the day has arrived for local leadership and the economic director to prove their worth. Hopefully being handicapped by a self made late start is not going to cause a lousy finish.
Now please lets see how many people will invite me to move out of town rather than staying and making a effort to improve Peru
Well said. The general saying that "people get the government they deserve" might fit the status of the city right now.
Our city seems to be so oblivious to so much here in Peru. They have made some good hires internally but there is still too much money going out for what they call "economic development". They try to not talk about the Peru Mall and its eventual demise or else a total change in its purpose. The huge salaries at city hall could have hired a dam good City Administrator with the education and experience to perform that job without the hindrance of also being responsible for another job.
Tell me why we are still paying for a city lobbyist in Springfield?
According to the disbursements on the city site, we are still paying the Lobbyist his monthly fee (2.000 per month) but no record of a rehire in the city council minutes.
Of course Peru is still paying for the city lobbyist from Springfield. There are at least 2 more months of golf to enjoy in Illinois for both him and the Mayor.
What can a city lobbyist do for Peru? Doesn't anyone have a fear in hiring a unknown product that by nature of his goal he cannot divulge what he is accomplishing, what he is presently working on and what are in his thoughts for the future of Peru plus how does a person determine a best fit for a specific location when he only makes contact with a few who, themselves (Mayor Harl and E.D. 101 Bob, should already be working on these goals? Where could a itemized expense account for this lobbyist be acquired?
When the number of city council meetings were eliminated it presently appears that a number of responsibilities were eliminated of those already in place, new positions were created to accomplish the responsibilities of past elected and appointed officials who did not and do not have the expertise to do the work themselves. Watch, Watch, Watch for the soon to be hint that the present city hall is not big enough. Including the bottom floor what amount of sq. footage does this building possess?
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