Peru Town Forum - And Other Illinois Valley Cities

Monday, October 10, 2011

Let's Talk Fireworks Again

On Saturday, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Jazz'n the Street event on First Street in La Salle for several hours. I had gone in years past but never had stayed for the fireworks but this year we did. We were sitting at a table very near to the wine and beer tasting tent located at First and Gooding St and the fireworks were shot off from Canal Street about a short block away. So for about 30 minutes some of the best fireworks I have ever seen were going off over the buildings and sometimes directly over our heads. No ash, no debris. After all the complaints and worry about Baker Lake Park, here we were literally beneath the shower of fireworks and nothing was raining down on us. Was it the company doing the fireworks? Was it the manner in which it was done? There has to be an answer. I don't even pretend to understand why it went off without a hitch on First Street in La Salle and Peru has not even attempted to use Baker and people were crying "The sky is going to fall"

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Historic City Park Needs Fall Cleaning « AM1220 WLPO News

Washington Park in Ottawa

Jazz’n the Street this Saturday in La Salle « AM1220 WLPO News

If you enjoy music in pleasant surroundings followed by fireworks, this is for you.

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Lions Donate $5000 for Trees in Peru

At tonights city council meeting, the Peru Lions Club donated $5000 for trees in city parks as part of a nationwide Lions campaign to plant more trees. At this time Ald. Ankiewicz of the committee of public buildings and parks had no comment as where they might be planted.

Also Gary Grabowski was appointed to the Planning Commission with the approval of the full council. This is a vacancy created by the resignation of Howard Flahaut who spent many years on this commission and a letter was read from the family with the announcement.

I understood previously that all openings to any committee or commission would be announced publicly and that letters of interest would then be accepted and the Mayor would then make his choice. I did ask the Mayor tonight where he made the public announcement and he only answered by saying he had a list and he chose from that list. How that list was accumulated and maintained was not explained to my satisfaction or to the satisfaction of several others in attendance.

News Tribune - News - Columns - Column: No aid for this veteran

A must read for every American

“Localization is the Economics of Happiness” :: Interview with Helena Norberg-Hodge

Anyone else think there just might be a grain of truth in this article?

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Three-day festival proposed for downtown La Salle « AM1220 WLPO News

Monday, October 03, 2011

Oglesby Pleased With Festivals « AM1220 WLPO News

AND THEY MADE MONEY FOR THE CITY

Whats Going on in Peru Signs Are Being Removed Willy Nilly?

It seems that all of a sudden the city has decided to randomly enforce an old ordinance regarding signs that can be temporarily posted such as garage sales, ice cream socials, charity events and remove them without notifying the interested parties that they are in violation. Our building inspector appears to have decided they he will decide what signs stay up and which ones come down. Should he have consulted with the council or perhaps put a warning in the local paper that starting on Day ? forward NO signs would be allowed unless he decided they were OK? I thought the new Code Officer was to be under the department of SPW, Gary Bleck and all of a sudden he is enforcing the rules designated by Frank Taylor. Will someone in Peru please make sense of this situation?

Are We Now Allowing Cars to Park on the Grass of Baker Lake?

Anonymous said...: This weekend a function was held at Baker Lake. Once again cars were allowed to pull into the Park and park on the grass. I don't recall this permission being neither asked for nor granted at a council meeting. Today, a path or roadway appears to have developed where the cars exited the Park. There were 2 rows of cars parked all the way to the nursing home. Could an ordinary citizen park their car on the grass while visiting the Park? This situation seems to be happening more and more in all our parks. This was never allowed before.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Thursday, September 29, 2011

If you are having a problem sending posts

Beginning yesterday some people were unable to post and have their comment publish on the blog , if you are one of them, please email to mypointofviewlc@gmail.com so I can determine is this is a widespread problem or not. Thanks.

News Tribune - News - Local - Oglesby ready for this weekend's Harvest Fest

Closer to home is this FAMILY FUN event in Oglesby

IVAR's Pet Fest - myiv.biz - Business Portal to Illinois Valley

Sunday October 2

Fall Fun: Inaugural Streator festival runs this weekend - MyWebTimes.com

Sounds like a lot of FAMILY FUN this weekend in Streator

News Tribune - News - Local - Building a more pleasant downtown La Salle

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Pool Survey Headed Out To Ottawans « AM1220 WLPO News

Eakas Corporation expanding Peru plant « AM1220 WLPO News

News Tribune - News - Local - Eakas gets boost to expand plant in Peru

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Tax hike not enough to pull Illinois out of debt - MyWebTimes.com

Monday, September 26, 2011

In Somerville, Massachusetts, a Census Asks, Are You Happy? - NYTimes.com

Do people leave a town because of unhappiness? If Peru is in crisis, is it because they are unhappy and why?

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Two Housing Markets and Two Directions

Very interesting article and who can afford to buy and the dire situation of many home owners. If you don't get the N.T. or just missed this, take a minute and read. Is our economy that bad and how will it be affecting our town. I did overhear a comment the other night that only one building permit was given this year in Peru

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Western End of Water Street

The large open area where a few cars are seen on the edge is the empty lot formerly National Sheet Metal which was taken down because of extreme contamination of the area on which it sat and this is where the "beer garden and band" are situated and beyond that is an active RR line.

Profile of Water Street

Since many of the readers of the blog have no idea of what Water Street looks like but read all the discussions, almost passion about the area I drove there today camera in hand and this is what it looks like on an average day. Most of the usual traffic is industrial as cement mixers and city trucks. At the western end are several areas where the road is dropping and small cave ins have been occurring in recent years.

Who really holds the "High Ground" in this debate?

If you look closely at the debate surrounding venues for Fourth of July festivities and Fun Fairs for families, either with or without a Fireworks display, it's not terribly difficult to determine the intentions of the key players involved. Take a step back and ask yourself a couple of simple questions that can help you determine which of our elected officials truly have the best "overall" interest of the city of Peru in mind. Look at the cast of characters involved and make a point to understand exactly what transpired at the city council meeting last night. Ask yourself why a particular alderman/alderwoman chose to vote the way they did. Be sure that you are very clear about the issue that was on the agenda and how it all played out last night. The question on the agenda last night was a simple one, Approve or disapprove a family oriented event at Baker Lake park complete with low level aerial displays. The aerial display at Baker Lake would be funded with a portion of the budeted amount for the Water Street display. I believe I have a good understanding of what Rodney Perez and Sherry Mayszak were hoping to accomplish. I am also aware of the monumental organizing effort that would have been in store for them and the scores of volunteers it would have taken to make the proposed event a success. Most of all, I'm aware of the reason Perez, Mayszak, Lukosus and a number of Peru citizens supported this proposal. Simply put, it was all about providing a venue for families and children. That's all. So what influenced those on the other side of the issue? You have to cut through the posturing from a few select CSO members and all the mis-information about "Prohibition" coming back to Peru. What then is the primary motiviation of those people, elected officials and otherwise, who spoke out and acted out against the Baker Lake venue? Self-interest....Self interest as opposed to supporting the interests and well being of others. We all have self-interests. We're all entitled and it's nothing to feel guilty about. All I ask is that we all take a close look at all the details of who wants what and then ask ourselves, "Why is it they want it that way"? There is moral and ethical "High Ground" in the real debate of encouraging a family friendly venue complete with fireworks in Peru. Last night a "minority" of of Peru elected officials held the high ground.

In this blog, we are dedicated to serving the community of Peru by providing the most accurate insight and information available regarding the actions and decisions of our elected officials, city employees, contractors and consultants. We will research, document and present reports and opinions on all aspects of city business. If and when necessary, we will agitate for answers and accountability from our city leaders. We will not be limited to a discussion of the present and future of Peru. We realize if we fail to review and understand the actions which have brought us to this point, we are destined to repeat them. We will provide a forum for community engagement, debate and discussion.