“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

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Peru and the New Plans for a Much Desired NEW Police Station


Is our police chief putting the cart before the horse? Or is he just not putting important information in the public venue?

When the meeting between Mayors Harl, Grove, Finley and Marini took place last week, it was the first most people knew about the desire of Police Chief/City Administrator Bernabei to consolidate the Police Departments of Spring Valley ( his former home turf), Peru, La Salle and Oglesby under one roof. And within a week the request to the City Council of Peru to approve a $70,000 design for the police building happened.  Well Almost!

City Engineer Eric Carls was set to get the wheels rolling on this at the meeting but after some discussion by the council and the residents attending the mtg, it was approved but that was all and I understand before the design is developed, the city will need the approval of all the committees of the cities involved . Lots of questions about needing a public referendum in each city for citizens to approve.

Peru Police Chief is promoting this possibility but between the 4 towns we currently have 4 Police Chiefs so what happens if approval happens since no one is going to lose their jobs, what about all the excess police chiefs, will they all retire? Or maybe none of them! Would we need a Police Chief that is not currently serving any of the cities?

This is not something that should happen quickly and it should be thoroughly researched and with the public involved at all levels. The motivation is said to be monetary savings in HUGE AMOUNTS. But the figure given was over a 60 year time frame. At that time frame, logically none of the current employees in any of the police departments will be working in that capacity and it sounds like a play on numbers to get approval. Would this require approval on the state level?

Your questions are?

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess that a group of naysayers would complain if the City would send a $10,000 check to their home. It wouldn't be enough!

Keep up the good work Peru!

Anonymous said...

I guess there will always be a group of "lemmings" who will always follow Peru's elitist big-shots over any cliff no matter how high. This issue proves how quickly some people will line up in lock-step with any proposal regardless of the lack of information or research surrounding an issue. 11:06 am is living proof why taxpayer dollars go down the toilet unless people demand answers. The figure being tossed around of $250,000,000 is chum for people like 11:06 to gobble up without any consideration of the consequences. I guess this is how some of Peru's yes-men were elected.

Anonymous said...

11:30

And your annoyed that there is a potential savings by combining city resources? Is this another conspiracy? It looks like a good idea at this point. Are you opposed to the idea? And why? The consequences of all good ideas is that we will always have the small percentage that don't like any change and they prefer to live in the past. Those prefer higher taxes, less development, and a general defeatist mentality. Thankfully those are few and far between.

Were all looking forward to the next conspiracy and personal attacks on those who work with the city. Looking at the social media comments on various facebook accounts it looks like a few crazies are determined to end anything positive in our area.

Anonymous said...

How can anyone, at this stage of the game, express in dollar amounts how much this concept will save the adjoining cities? Haven't we been told that right now it's just in the beginning stages? Have building costs, salaries, location costs, sight costs, etc, etc. even been mentioned? How can anyone sit back and establish a cost savings for a project that supposedly is still only a remote possibility, or is it further along than we're led to believe? To establish a cost savings cannot be established without a great deal of investigation and paper work.

Anonymous said...

I see Rodney went after Vickery expense reports. He was mum about the Boss! It's easy to go after a 75 year old. I wonder if the boss would have got out of his chair and put a good old fashion takedown on Rod.
Is this more of the same crying wolf from Rodney or does it need more investigation.

Peru Town Forum said...

12:28 PM

I am going to assume that you are one of the Peruvians that does not like to have an intelligent conversation with your fellow citizens. Why all the negativity and lack of information. Please join us for a conversation, if you have anything to comment on. It is time for people like you to just quit reading the blog because you contribute nothing but negativity. That is without a doubt something Peru does not need anymore of. If there is one thing that some of those in Peru have a bad time with, it is communication. Maybe that should be another new hiree, a Communications Director.

Anonymous said...

Lois,

the new police station will have to have many open meetings that will involve all the communities. This concept has never been attempted in a multi county setting so the legalities could stop it before it moves any further. There are so many people who would rather complain and spread false information instead of going to a meeting picking up a phone to get the correct information.

2:37
I did some checking with the Finance officer and the total invoices turned in are greater than what Mr. Vickery was reimbursed. I have to say that the way the expense reports were filled out could lead you to believe that there was a problem, however there is not. Rodney again just wants his name in the paper and wants to feel important.

Anonymous said...

According to an article in the Ottawa Times an expert is questioning the legality of the closed sessions that Peru, LaSalle, Oglesby, and Spring Valley councils apparently held to discuss the uniting of police forces. Makes for interesting read, raises red flags, and makes one wonder why the Times is keeping us more informed on matters than our local paper does.

Anonymous said...

In response to 10:37am, the local reporters who cover the local council meetings, are the experts. They understand that a City Council can go into executive session to discuss matters of personnel, acquisition of real estate, along with other reasons. For those who have been following the info on the 4 Cities taking steps into investigating the potential sharing of a police facility, (as I have been) it is obvious that personnel and real estate would be involved. Making executive session legal.

Peru Town Forum said...

12:56 PM


"the local reporters who cover the local council meetings, are the experts. They understand that a City Council can go into executive session to discuss matters of personnel, acquisition of real estate, along with other reasons"

This is so funny and I am appalled that anyone would believe that local reporters are the experts. I regret to tell you that they are far down the list of people with knowledge of how government works. Mayor tells the reporter what he is going to do and you think the reporter has the information to give him the information on whether that is right or wrong.
His job is only to repeat what he has been told by the Mayor and let the readers agree or not agree with the statement. If I were asked who the experts at meetings, it would be the atty, city clerk and that is it.

Anonymous said...

2: 37 PM

Age is not a qualifier of good or bad sense, moral or immoral decisions, legal or illegal and age is certainly not a reason why anyone whose behavior is suspect to be ignored. Our E.D. has a history as all people do.

Anonymous said...

It is pretty funny when the trolls hauling water for the city of Peru attempt to explain and defend the city's penchant for conducting frequent Closed Session Meetings. So now Peru is hatching up yet another grand consolidation scheme which is already infecting the unsuspecting surrounding communities with Peru's bad habits and a bad case of Closed Session Influenza. Stop and ask yourself people, WHO is it that has dreamed up this scam and WHO will benefit from it in terms of power, prestige, and personal advancement? Therein lies the true motivations behind this grandiose scheme. Snap out of it Peru, or you will pay a huge price to feed the egos of the elitists behind this scam.

Anonymous said...

Someone told me that at the last council meeting, in front of a full house, one alderman made 2 trips to the back room to bring in bottles of water for the full council. Now remember, your tax dollar pays for this water and I'm sure there were people in the council room who would also have loved a bottle. That sounds tacky to me! My opinion!

Anonymous said...

Why should Alderman be able to drink water at the meetings? Why can't they sit thru 3 hours of meetings without water? I hope nobody used the restroom, that's our tax money going down the drain.

9:52 Please give us more! Where any of them with Stormy Daniels? Did any of them call any audience members sh--tholes? Did any of them propose closing the borders to outside legal Peru citizens? Did any of them vote to close down Peru government?

Bring your cooler to the next meeting or if you need a drink ask any of them to share that elusive water.

Anonymous said...

3 hours of meetings? Are you serious? I don't think anybody said they couldn't drink water. I believe they were just pointing out that it did kind of look inappropriate to do that in front of a packed house. Couldn't they each have carried their own drink? Did any of them call audience members sh--tholes? Not out loud but I'm sure some of them do feel that some audience members are sh--holes! Can't ask them to share that elusive water during a meeting unless you fill out a card. Is it really necessary to be so sarcastic when someone just expresses their opinion?

Anonymous said...

NOTICE: It looks as though a committee and it's members has been formed with regards to the new combined police force. It also looks as though a meeting was originally scheduled for Wed. but has apparently been cancelled according to Peru's city website. The agenda for the meeting was very detailed and informative. There was even a line item for public comment however, the meeting was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Don't know how many interested parties could attend at that time. For more info see Peru's city website for committee members and agenda. The meeting apparently will be called LPOS Shared Police Services committee.

Anonymous said...

The police meeting was to be Tues. instead Wed. as I stated in a previous article.

Anonymous said...

When will the meeting be held -exact day and time? Will anyone from China on this committee and what will their air ticket cost?

Anonymous said...

ATTENTION; Now the newly formed LPOS Shared Police Services Committee has been rescheduled for Feb. 6th at 10:00. See city website for agenda.

Anonymous said...

So considering there isnt a blog for the recent lawsuit against the City of Peru I was wondering what everyones thoughts were on this topic?