My notes from the Peru City Council Meeting 10/30

First time in a long time I decided to attend a Peru city council meeting. The usual residents present and a few people who were there because their requests were being considered by the city.

They did not discuss the closed session minutes.  Ald. Potthoff said it all was about employee negotiations and no vote was taken on opening them to the public or not.

I think the City Administrator may have responded to one question. Director of Public Works said nothing. Eric Carls our City Engineer spoke about projects and everything pertaining to the Public Works of the City and it reminded me that at one time the city had hired a qualified engineer, in fact they insisted that we hire an engineer and he handled the entire Public Works Dept. for the short time he was here.  Why is Eric Carls not handling our Public Works Dept as he certainly understands all aspects of the work involved.

Definitely a different atmosphere at this meeting, a definite lack of cohesiveness is the only way I can say it felt. New bldg inspector was not present.  This was the first time I ever heard anyone on the council or even the mayor talk about bringing investment into somewhere in the Illinois Valley, it did not matter if it was in Peru or any other town.

Retail sales tax is down but motel tax is up so it seems to balance it out. Maybe this is the reason.

COLUMN: A mandate for openness

COLUMN: A mandate for openness

Published Agenda for the Peru Public Works on Oct. 25, 2017

This is the agenda from the Peru web site for the meeting to be held last Monday.  As you can see there is nothing special to be discussed.  This is transparency Peru Style.           

This is actually what was discussed as written in the News Tribune of La Salle.  As you can see there was a great deal to be discussed that related to the residents of the city.  They consistently do this with no honest agenda being put forward by any of the City of Peru Committees. Transparency Peru Style.

Actual Meeting of Peru Public Works

Peru to Hire a Community Service Officer

Yes Peru We Do Still Have a Lobbyist in Springfield

I believe this would have been the third year the Mayor would have brought to the City Council a request to continue to retain a Lobbyist for Peru at the cost of $24,000 per year. To be truthful I never thought it necessary but continue to follow the work done by obtaining the quarterly reports sent to the city by the Lobbyist. If you are interested in past comments just put the word  MrAnarney into the search bar on this blog and you will get those posts and reports from past years.

Last year there was some hesitation on the part of several of the Aldermen but they agreed to see what happens in the next year spanning July 2016 to July 2017. This year I began watching City Council minutes to see when a discussion about this hire would appear and it did not but a friend told me that is was strange that the amount of $2000 a month was appearing on the disbursements to the Lobbyist but no contract was found or any discussion about the issue was found or heard.

This was my foia to find out why we were paying an individual each month but we did not renew the contract.  Now how many people would look to the budget under Administrative Expenses for the Mayor to find the answer.  Evidently the Mayor did not wish to bring up the hire up at a City Council meeting. And we should all be asking Why. I believe I know Why but you are free to make up your own mind.

A Look Back at The City Council and Gambling Two Years Ago

05959a232293.htmlhttp://www.newstrib.com/news/local_news/peru-committee-folds-on-gambling-restrictions/article_83e64974-95ba-56fb-9197-05959a232293.html



Interesting to look back and see who thought what 2 years ago and then read the new outlook in todays News Trihune.

Harl says Peru employees are bogged down by Freedom of Information Act Requests

Harl says Peru employees are bogged down by Freedom of Information Act Requests


I have to admit I filed one today, not on a whim, but because the city has failed to provide the information I have been waiting to see in the minutes of one of their council meetings and it has never appeared.

The Mayor should be pleased that so many people are interested in Peru City Government.

Mayor Harl Would Like You to Pay for a Trip to China

Public comment criticizes City of Peru

Public comment criticizes City of Peru

So only the Financial Officer of 2 years is commenting.  What aldermen who have held their seats for 15 years or more?


Relative to the first post is this link that I wanted to publish.  It is dated but that is immaterial as I doubt it was changed.

https://www.iml.org/file.cfm?key=1288

Contentious City Council Meeting This Evening

 " What we've got here is failure to communicate" 

The quote is from a well known movie of the past years and seems appropriate.

If you have been recently following this blog, you will recall my concern for lack of communication between the city and its residents.

I understand the settlement of the recent lawsuit   between Peru and a resident of the city in which the city was ordered to pay a sizeable sum of money for not repairing home damage caused by the cities sewer issues.  At that time our City Atty told the home owner to sue the City, when they did not agree to pay for the repairs.  Well she did and I understand won many times the requested $12,000.

That lady attended the meeting this evening and expressed her feelings.

Additionally there are currently issues with the City Credit card being used improperly. I will not detail this issue because this is one that our Peru news reporter should cover in detail.