Tuesday Dec. 21 Lotto for Ballot Placement

Tomorrow at 9 AM, there will be a lotto to determine placement on the April 5 ballot. This is for the election for aldermen in all 4 wards.

PVAS Peru Volunteer Ambulance Persists

Ald. Mikyska acknowledged that we do not know what will happen to the ambulance service when LaSalle goes on their own March 1. As it stands now with the income from LaSalle, he said the profit was 17,000. perupages.blogspot.com comes up with different figures.

I chose to ask several questions during the public comment part of the City Council meeting. I directed my questions to Ald. Mikyska and after informing him that I had read the bylaws of the service, I asked who wrote them. The City Atty. took over the question saying it is possible that he had written them. Those of you who have read the bylaws are having a hard time believing that as am I.

Question 2. Is the $4000 per mo. from Peru to PVAS, a donation, a subsidy or a contractual obligation? No definite answer was given.

On Monday evening an ordinance will be passed providing the continued funding for another year unless someone objects and I can't see that happening.

Should the aldermen be looking at a different structure? Most definitely and unless they do, we may find ourselves asking LaSalle if they will also serve Peru? Irony, yes, but it is possible.

OUR VIEW: Working hard for a better Streator - My Web Times

OUR VIEW: Working hard for a better Streator - My Web Times> ANOTHER STORY AND ANOTHER PARC GRANT REQUEST

Peru Election Process Moving Along

Monday was the day for aldermanic petitions to be turned in to the Peru City Clerk. Actually they allow one more week for those who did not get their petition turned in yesterday. As it stands today the April 5 election ballot will look like this:

Ward 1
Incumbent Jamey Mertel (8yrs) will be opposed by Mike Radtke

Ward 2
No incumbent - Jack O'Beirne retires after 24 years
Those running for this seat: are Rodney Perez, Bob Borostowski, Jim Hurst

Ward 3: Incumbent Dave Waldorf (4 years) opposed by Mary Landsiedel
and Joe Witczak

Ward 4: Incumbent Dave Potthoff (20 years) will be opposed by Steve Weberski

Christmas Decorations in Peru

Friends have told me that they think the Christmas decorations in Peru are "pretty pathetic". Tonight we happened to drive through the down town and yes I didn't see much that looked very nice.,

I know that the Peru CSO puts up the decorations with the assist of the city electric trucks but my question is who is responsible for buying them. How old are the current ones and how often should they be replaced. If the CSO does pay for the purchase of Christmas decorations, I have a suggestion for them. Instead of blowing up so much money with fireworks on July 4, save some of the money and purchase new lights for Route 6 business districts.

July fireworks are gone in the blink of an eye but the Christmas decorations are up for at least 6 weeks. Many homes in Peru look fantastic with their brilliant light displays but downtown is another story. We drove west on 7th street and the homes toward the west end look super nice. I know there is not a lot of spare money but surely we can do better than this years Christmas display.

If you know of a particular street in Peru that looks very Christmasy, please share with us.

News Tribune - News - NCI - Dimmick school superintendent weighs in on Peru TIF talks

News Tribune - News - NCI - Dimmick school superintendent weighs in on Peru TIF talks

Peru and What About the New Commercial TIF

PERU CHRISTMAS Parade Years Past

I think maybe this was the 1940's and the pictures were taken on Fourth Street between Calhoun and Pike Street.

I Don't Understand PVAS

At tonight's city council meeting the Mayor brought up PVAS and that we needed to look into and get a financial report on the ambulance service since it has been at least 6 years since it was done.

Now we all have to understand the very strange manner in which the ambulance service is run since the Board of Directors have total control and if needed they can appoint a new member of the Board without any need to get approval of anyone else. That will happen when one of them retires from office. At present the Board consists of the "old guard" of Ankiewicz, Mikyska and O'Bierne and since O'Bierne will be leaving the city council in April when a new alderman will be elected from his ward, they will need to select a friend of theirs in his place. This new member does not need to bring anything to the Board other than to be an elected official, no other qualifications needed and of course to be in agreement with those already there.

OK so now the Mayor is asking for a financial report and I could almost see the hairs on Ald. Ankiewicz's head stand up or perhaps it was on his chin. How dare the Mayor ask for that information even though the city gives the ambulance service 4000 per month with no questions asked. This very strange setup was established during the tenure of former Mayor Baker and in MHO, was done to keep a strangle hold on information to the public. Instead of looking for a number of well qualified people in the financial and medical community, it became a buddy system where no information other than the monthly number of calls from Peru LaSalle Peru Twp and Dimmick was made public.

If anything needs a breath of fresh air, it is PVAS.

Private Party or Public Gathering, Does It Need to Be Posted

10:59 AM Where ever you are getting your information, they are lying to you. The party was NOT paid for by the city, the city did not sponsor a Christmas Party this year for their employees.

My sources tell me that the PW Dept. paid for their own Christmas Party which they have every right to do. They also have a right to gather in a place of their choosing without a public expose'

Has being employed by the city now put the workers into a position that even when not working they must only meet behind locked doors? The Christmas Season is often celebrated with "good cheer" when people get together and should this have been any different. Last year we complained that the city did not need to spend large sums of money to entertain their well paid employees, so it looks like this year they took the citizens disapproval into consideration and did not sponsor the annual Christmas Party but that did not and should not prevent employees from paying for their own party.

On the flip side, there have been complaints about city workers not working as well as they should or as hard as they should and if you have a complaint please lodge it with the proper authorities, The Mayor of Peru. Please keep in mind they he may not know or see what you do, so let him know. But remember to disassociate the Christmas Party with the other unrelated work ethics problems. These are not new problems but ones that have existed for many years and old habits die hard.

In this situation (the public works Christmas Party) personal dislike by a few individuals has led to hatred and an attempt to disparage the Mayor in any way possible and particularly his membership in Union 150. I would like think that most people in Peru think for themselves and will not be influenced by hearsay and gossip.

Cities will Celebrate with Santa Tomorrow

Just as a reminder tomorrow Peru will have a Christmas Parade through town, starting at HB Cabinet (old Coke plant) and will go to the Fire Station. Starting time is 1:30PM If you can't make that, you might check the News Trib. for the schedule of events La Salle is planning including a parade with a walking Santa Claus and also some indoor activities.

Why are the Peru Police and Firemen pensions underfunded?

City Treasurer Gary Hylla provided the city council with another "wake-up call" at last nights meeting. Hylla informed the council of the poor financial condition of the Peru Police and Peru Firemen pensions. Fortunately the Firemens pension fund appears in better shape than the Police fund, but both remain underfunded according to figures provided by the Illinois Department of Insurance, which is the agency assigned to oversee government retirement funds in the state. Experts in the field agree that a fund can be considered properly funded when its assets are at least 80% of its obligations. At present the Peru Firemen pension is funded at 75.53% and the Peru Police pension is funded at just 45.63%. I had just read an in-depth story in last Sunday's Chicago Tribune about this issue titled "Suburbs face their own pension mess". Check it out at in the Tribune Watchdog section at http://www.chicagotribune.com/. The Tribune story points out that numerous suburban city leaders' failures and mis-steps have collectively helped create another staggering layer of crisis beyond the better-known problems that have the state in a stranglehold. And last night Treasurer Hylla confirmed that Peru's elected officials have failed in their resposibility to properly levy taxes and transfer those dollars to the pension funds, therefore pushing more and more debt to the future. Essentially, kicking the can down the road. Nor have they worked to lessen the burden on the funds by adjusting plan benefits, employee contributions, or by simply not hiring new employees. Sadly, the practice of pushing debt forward by elected officials is all to familiar in the city of Peru and this is just one more example of that. Last night Alderman Dave Potthoff described the requirement to contribute to these funds as an "Unfunded Mandate" from the state of Illinois. It is in fact an "Unfunded Obligation" from Peru's elected officials. One person interviewed for the Tribune story put it best by saying, "When you have politicians with this discretionary authority, where they don't have to pay, that's a real problem. They gave themselves a huge tax break during the best economic times we had." City officials in Peru have been shorting these funds and others for too long. All the while claiming the most prosperity and lowest taxes around. That's easy enough. Don't fund your Library and don't fund your employee pensions. Not exactly a sound long-term financial strategy. Now the hens have come home to roost and there are even more bills past due than we thought.

princeton-academy-application.pdf (application/pdf Object)

princeton-academy-application.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Interesting idea I found while browsing on the computer. It looks like it is meant to encourage the small business owner. Maybe a good idea.

Have a nice Thanksgiving!

I suggest we all take a little break. Let's loosen up a bit and enjoy an extended weekend with family and friends. The issues of today will still be there on Monday. So, be safe and thankful for the things we all sometimes take for granted.

Less Bang for Your Buck at Peru Council Meetings

It appears the past 2 City Council meetings were operating at a loss. The facts are at last nights meeting and the previous one, 7 aldermen were present along with the Mayor, City Clerk, Treasurer, Test, and Chamlin Eng., Police Chief and Fire Chief. All except the Aldermen are salaried and bring no extra cost to the city but each aldermen receives $95.00 per meeting. And Test and Chamlin would not be charging to be at the meetings anyway, at least I hope not. The meeting on Nov. 17 was 15 minutes long and I figured it cost us $46.34 per min. and then last night, they met for 30 minutes at a cost of $23.17 per minute. In addition consider the lights and heat. Isn't it time to cut the meetings down to 2 a month like almost every community in the state and maybe nationwide.

If they w0uld do this, it would save the city at least $1520 a month or 18, 240 per year if my math is correct. Take that saved money and put it in the "pool fund", show the people you are ready to sincerely make an effort to save money and at the same time work toward really saving some money to help reduce our debt and building up savings for the pool that they believe we need.

The Powers Behind PVAS Peru Ambulance

For several years now there has been controversy about the structure of Peru Volunteer Ambulance Service. Their past history is not so shiny and bright and has caused many residents to wonder about the way it in which the leadership has conducted the ambulance service. I can only hope that some light will finally be shed on the way the entire system operates, starting at the very top. I welcome all comments and particularly from these who have knowledge of what actually goes on with the powers that be. Roberson may be the director but who does he answer to?

News Tribune - News - NCI - Scenic byway proponents seek Princeton input

News Tribune - News - NCI - Scenic byway proponents seek Princeton inp Interesting article about the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway following smaller communities from Ottawa to Havana and this means Peru is also included although not mentioned in this article. Since we are along the Illinois River, do you see any potential in further development of Water Street and connecting with LaSalle and the I & M Canal? Do we have anyone looking into this possible source of tourism into Peru and if so what?

A Personal Note - Watch For the Deer!!

Coming home last night from Iowa City, we encountered a deer that stepped right in front of our moving car and he stopped us in our tracks and rendered our truck undriveable Evidently there are so many deer out that way that people in Davenport were killing them in town bows and arrows according to the tow truck driver. Do be careful at this time of year as an accident can happen so fast.

An "Agenda" vs. "Obstructionism and Gridlock"

I had to laugh at some of the "Hater" comments on the News Trib blog regarding the pool issue and the upcoming aldermanic election. The comments referring to the individuals who will challenge the incumbent aldermen as "Troops" or "Soldiers" of Mayor Harl, and the lame attempt at "fear-mongering" by claiming the existence of this grand conspiracy to promote some sort of sinister "agenda" by these challengers. The commentor went on to describe the "Gloom and Doom" scenario that awaits the unsuspecting voters in Peru if these challengers are successful next April. We are then informed that those of us who dare to challenge these incumbent aldermen intend to be nothing more than puppets and rubber stamps for Mayor Harl. That is certainly a frightening and un-American picture of the democratic process in Peru. What is particularly interesting about this claim, which comes from an obvious supporter of the previous administration is the absolute hypocracy coming from someone who then goes on to praise Don Baker as though the "Rubber Stamp" method was not standard operating procedure during the Baker era. I know better, and so do many other citizens in Peru. That is exactly why there needs to be turnover on the city council. These sitting aldermen have had more than enough time to put forth their own initiatives to improve Peru. But instead they have for years chosen to bask quietly in the long dark shadow of Don Baker's success. Never asking the questions that should have been asked. Never demanding an honest accounting of city finances. Never so much as even inquiring how Don and Judy were actually managing city funds. We now know the razor thin margin that city finances had been operating at for a long, long time. I hold them all responsible for that. The current operating strategy from these aldermen is obvious. Obstruct any initiative and maintain gridlock regardless of the negative effects on the city. This is unacceptable behavior. I will not attempt to speak for any other candidate, but I am more than happy to address the accusation that I will be a rubber stamp for any mayor. Not a chance! My thoughts and positions on issues are now and always will be my own and will be based on the good of the city as a whole. Period. My years of observing the actions and behavior of Peru's elected officials continue to this day to provide me with the basis of what is wrong with local government in Peru. I already know what doesn't work and I am anxious for an opportunity to provide ideas for a different approach. Do I have an agenda? You bet I do.

The Council tonight voted to authorize the city of Peru to add $5.00 to each utility bill for each meter whether it is residential or business. The Mayor said it would be much fairer to add a percentage instead of an amount but the council was not interested at this time. The vote was 7 to 0 with Ald. Mikyska absent. The residents in attendance offered diverse viewpoints with the majority in opposition to the increase.

The grant request will be sent in without the signature of Mayor Harl. It is uncertain as to whom will be the authorized signature on the form. Ald. Ankiewicz and Wren both said they would sign it but my question is who determines who has the authority to sign the grant request. Does a legal paper need to be signed to give them the authority? I asked the City Attorney and he replied that he knew nothing about it. Ald. Waldorf had said last week that it was his understanding from IDNR that the paper would not bear much weight without the signature of the Mayor.

The News Trib will certainly have more in depth coverage of citizen comments.

Fiscally responsible our City Council is not. Keep in mind it was last spring when the council refused to accept the offer made to purchase the gen sets because former Mayor Baker said they were worth more and so we spent more money on rechecking them and received less from the same company who initally offered more. Then we just spent 15,000 to Williams Aquatics to determine the pool was out of code and not worth repairing and then we spent $3000 to Chamlin for one meeting of the Bike Path Committee and a couple of possible paths mapped out. Another 3000 to NCIC to write up the requestfor the pool grant and $6000 to Chamlin to apply for the Tiger 2 grant for our roads which we did not get. Now another 5 to 7 thousand to Williams for further plans for the IDNR. Do the math. It must be easy to spend the taxpayers bucks.

For the Early Risers

Tomorrow morning Mayor Scott Harl will be on WLPO at 5:30 A.M for an interview with John Spencer regarding the swimming pool problem in Peru. I do believe it will be rebroadcast but have not been able to verify it with the radio station as of now.

$5.00 Municipal Pool Fee on Utility Bill on the Horizon

It is now official as per being on the agenda for Monday nights meeting.
"Motion to implement a temporary (duration to fund the project) $5.00 municipal pool fee on all utility bills subject to approval and acceptance of a PARC grant.

Also a Motion to donate $500 to the Illinois Valley Fine Arts Trust.

I attended last weeks finance meeting and don't recall either of those topics being approved to come before the council on Monday evening. Isn't that the purpose of having finance meetings to approve items that the full council needs to vote upon.

I think the Peru residents need to find out their legal standing regarding whether or not they are obligated to pay the extra money. Can we declare it is a hardship and maybe the Peru Twp. can pay our portion? As is stands today, I have no inention of paying the unnecessary fee.

Will someone please inform us what the Illinois Valley Fine Arts Trust is and why we are donating that large sum of money to them?

My family and most families I know have to live within a budget. Why doesn't the city of Peru? City debt is basically the same as earlier posted but yet the city continues to ignore that and when money is wanted, what do they do but add another fee onto the overburdoned taxpayer.

You Had To See This To Believe It

Attending the city council meeting tonight was like a visit to Disneyland.

All went smoothly initially, routine business was discussed and the council unanimously overruled the veto of the Mayor regarding the Parc grant application. They were assured by the city atty and city clerk that they did not need to provide proof that the city had funding to meet the requirements set forth by the DNR on their application grant in spite of the fact that the application clearly states the opposite.

Perhaps a class in Reading 101 and Finance is in order for all. Particularly for members of the council who also sit on the Finance Committee as Ald. Mertel, Ankiewicz and Mikyska. It seems to me that those 3 aldermen should be very aware of the finances of the city, right? Wrong, Ald. Mertel thinks we have enough money to be able to honestly apply for the grant and says so in response to a citizen question.

The same question is given to the Treasurer to verify what Ald. Mertel has just said about ample funds being available. His answer was a simple negative shaking of his head. One very classic moment that had to impress upon all, the seriousness of the finances of the city and Alderman Mertal is not aware of it.

Ald. Ankiewicz thinks we will have "dead babies" if we do not have a pool built. Do you think he knows they give swimming lessons at the YMCA here in Peru?

These are all educated men on the city council and yet they continue to be irrational in their voting decisions. What gives? If they cannot govern in a manner that is best for all the residents, perhaps it is time to not run again as they give no honor or respect to the office they are holding. They are making a mockery of our city for all to see.

For all those at Mike's tonight, it is time to stop and get real and rational. We who are the unwanted watchers know all of this is not even about the pool.

Thank You for attending

Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us on Saturday at Centennial Park. We had a nice turnout and enjoyed some great food and fellowship with friends and family. There is so much we can accomplish when we plan and work together. Special thanks to the candidates who stopped by the Fire Ring for a chat.