Comments Being Moved to FB

All future comments to any PTF blog can be written on the Peru Town Forum Blog Facebook page. I will continue to post here but due to the animosity being shown by specific individuals under the guise of ANON it was necessary to make changes.  Certain people have chosen this venue as a way to get back at any information posted that they do not want to see the light of the day. The only difference will be names will be shown on FB.
Most of us don't like to shadow box with people and those that are being derogatory don't have the courage to put their names on the page and others fear retribution by the power brokers in town. Sad to see but the situation requires changes.
Thanks for all that posted in a positive and honest way. And to those with ill intent who wish to destroy any honest discussions for whatever your fears may be  can talk among yourselves.

I would like to add that I recently had a conversation with someone who was looking to buy a home in Peru because our schools are so good also said that I hear your politics are not so good. That is correct our politics are not so good here in Peru.

Just Asking. Will You Be Keeping the New Oversize Garbage Cans in Peru?

We have  our brand new shiny plastic garbage totes and find them to be too big, way too big. Storage is a problem as is the cumbersome issue and all this for not more than one bag, sometimes small and sometimes enough to fill the old metal can we have used for years. So we are calling for an exchange.

Perhaps we should have been surveyed or been obliged to call for the size most convenient for each family or individual. Your thoughts on this.

Peru City Council

http://www.newstrib.com/free/peru-attorney-says-she-plans-to-take-city-to-court/article_ca1aa686-58ab-11e8-8d20-2f65d96a8f8f.htmlhttp://www.newstrib.com/free/peru-attorney-says-she-plans-to-take-city-to-court/article_ca1aa686-58ab-11e8-8d20-2f65d96a8f8f.html

What Streets in Peru are Being Resurfaced??

I just watched a short video put out by the City of Peru showing all the repairs being done and most looked to be in the St John's subdivision. Is your street on the repair list?

Looks like most of the East End of Peru which has some very bad streets and a couple are major thoroughfares are being ignored. Several people have commented that one of the streets being resurfaced is the one that Alderman Payton lives on and a few more in the Marquette Manor II subdivision.

In times past Aldermen were allowed to suggest repairs to a certain number of streets in their ward but evidently that is old news and they no longer are doing that.

Do you live on a street that is being ignored or on a street being repaired?

Pontiac Illinois is Opening a Sports Theme Splashpad at What Cost

http://www.pontiacdailyleader.com/article/20150618/NEWS/150619561

This is a Whole Lot of Property - Becoming Peru City Property

http://www.newstrib.com/free/peru-council-approves-purchase-of-acres-at-site-of-the/article_cde3eb90-4cdc-11e8-9a02-0be97ebf3b99.htmlat is a Whole Lot of Property

Summer Is Coming Time To Think Outdoor Time, Community Events

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paint-on-state-2018-tickets-45625047746?aff=efbneb Illinois Summer Fun

This looks like so much fun for people of all ages and an event to know your neighbors in your city. Every year people complain that our city does little in the way of providing events for all ages.  Here is an idea.

Bergners Will Be Liquidated and The Mall Will Be????

http://www.newstrib.com/free/peru-bergner-s-among-stores-expected-to-be-liquidated/article_52020f98-43ef-11e8-984b-03521fe5ea9b.html

City of Peru Accused of Illegal Closed Meetings by Illinois AG

          http://www.newstrib.com/free/illinois-attorney-general-s-office-asks-peru-to-release-parts/article_4670392e-43dc-11e8-8880-0f197c92dc90.htmlIllegal Closed Session Meetings

No Swimming Pool and Lots of Flowers and a Splashpad

And to Think the City Could not Fund a Swimming Pool

Tragedy in Peru Highlights Technology Available .....Should Peru Invest in This?

https://www.quora.com/Is-it-true-that-the-police-fire-ambulance-can-change-traffic-lights-on-the-fly-Can-they-push-a-button-that-immediately-turns-the-red-light-greenTragedy in Peru Highlights Technology Available .....Should Peru Invest in This?




To be honest this is something I never ever thought about until this accident between an ambulance and another vehicle this past week. While talking to family, I was told that for many years Ottawa has had this type of technology and used it to get the ambulance through the main arterials of the city. And then someone told me that yes it is still in place and works.(OTTAWA)

Peru has several intersections with a great deal of traffic: Rte 6 and the intersection with Peoria and Shooting Park Rd, intersecting with Rte 251. Granted we have gone many many years safely but drivers of today seem to be involved in many more accidents and they are more distracted by various devices they are using.

Thoughts on this

3/27/18 Police Committee Meets Again, Sounds Like it is Moving Along

3/27/18 Police Committee Meets Again, Sounds Like it is Moving Along



http://www.newstrib.com/free/cop-committee-ok-s-architects-law-firm-updated/article_a28b9a08-3227-11e8-b19c-d7ccab60bbf7.html

Ice Hockey May Soon Arrive Across the Street From You on Plain and.or 12th St.

Ice Hockey May Soon Arrive Across the Street From You on Plain and.or 12th St.


Have the aldermen consulted neighboring residents? Thoughts on location of proposed rink.  I was under the illusion that this would be a neighborhood skating rink for our cities residents. Evidently many of us were misled.


I happened to find myself in a conversation with a "Hockey Mom" today. She talked about most of the hockey teams prefering to use the indoor ice rinks in some of the larger cities.  Evidently the ice rink at Echo Bluff has "coolers" to maintain the ice during periods of warmer weather in the winter. This link has some answers.


http://www.customicerinks.com/plan-FAQ.html

May 23, 2015 Looking Back at the Change in Peru Government and Now

http://www.newstrib.com/news/local_news/peru-may-revamp-unusual-administrative-structure/article_132de426-e7cc-5527-987c-a31a7f7f412f.html



An interesting look back at how Peru has evolved into the current structure of the city.  Read  the comments made by current Administrative Employees' How many positions will one person be allowed to have?  It appears that the newly developed proposition of a combined Police Dept., might have an affect on the structure of the Peru Administration.

If the new design of police service in the Illinois Valley actually takes place, will it change the structure of Peru government? When the 2015 changes were made, maybe there should have been a required evaluation of how well it is working or not and it should have been designed to have public input as well as employee input, within a specific time frame such as 3 or 5 years.

Take a few minutes to read the news from 2015 and share your thoughts.

Peru and Oglesby OK Expenditures to Further the Combined Police Station

http://www.newstrib.com/free/peru-oks-police-committee-spending/article_8b53795a-2156-11e8-9bdc-e3bc08daf541.html


Supposedly this is a payment toward Legal Expeditures of the venture being floated of a combined police force for the entire Illinois Valley of La Salle, Peru, Oglesby and Spring Valley. At this point it seems that people posting to the blog have more questions than answers about the possibility of building a combined force with the prevailing opinion that the building will be located in Peru.

Will the legal team be looking into all local ordinances to see if all cities have the same rules created? On something this serious, I believe a Public Referendum needs to be held within each of the cities because if you don't have the people backing your venture, you will have problems with an area that is already losing population.

Illinois Valley Chiefs Continue on Their Mission -- Maybe

Illinois Valley Chiefs Continue on Their Mission ---Maybe 

http://www.newstrib.com/free/police-shared-services-committee-recommends-some-spending/article_f29ee1c6-1c9c-11e8-9f8d-b79fd4c5fa99.html



Please read the previous posting as there were 6 new comments that relate to this post, that came in before I made a new post bout the committee.

Update for Your Information - Snow Being Plowed with City Vehicles on Private Property

http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/02/peru-il-police-chief-cites-nonexistant-state-law-oks-illegal-use-of-public-vehicle/

Combining Police Departments Tried Elsewhere - Will the IV Be Successful?

http://www.newstrib.com/free/local-effort-to-combine-police-services-has-been-tried-elsewhere/article_f6c81f1http://www.newstrib.com/free/local-effort-to-combine-police-services-has-been-tried-elsewhere/article_f6c81f16-0df0-11e8-9f7b-1724c7c3dabd.html6-0df0-11e8-9f7b-1724c7c3dabd.html




One thing not mentioned that I thought of after viewing the picture associated with this article that has not been mentioned. The Peru Police Chief is also the City Administrator. Does this put a different light on this picture or not? I'm not sure but certainly it adds another dimension to it. In the other cities the Police Chief  is not the Mayor or City Administrator.

New Police Station Innovation Venture by La Salle Peru Oglesby and Spring Valley

http://www.newstrib.com/free/cop-co-op-group-has-first-meeting/article_e6884c28-0c26-11e8-87e9-

bb3729320e5f.html

So far Peru has been the driving force behind this new venture headed by Peru Police Chief Bernabei. 

Appears to be many questions and I don't understand if it does not involve shared police forces what is the purpose of constructing a bldg. to be used as the headquarters for all the police departments?

Anyone have the answer? From this news article it sounds like the question was asked but I did not see an answer. Thanks to Art Giese and Julie Ajster for being present to represent not only themselves but the general public and hopefully will encourage others to also attend and ask questions.

Lawsuit Against the City of Peru Discrimination by City and Peru Fire Dept.

http://www.newstrib.com/free/perez-sues-city-mayor-fire-chief-for-discrimination/article_ec96f7b8-0848-11e8-a0a1-4f3614da5cff.html

This undoubtedly will become a nasty topic with defenders on both sides. Be aware that your comment may not be posted or may be deleted if automatically posted. In other words I want no personal or racial discrimination comments as I am well aware that that problem exists within our City.

If you have facts that can be verified it will be accepted.

Ottawa Mayor Finishing Last Term of Office Ending 2019

http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/eschbach-completing-final-term-as-ottawa-mayor/article_85cc8331-8668-51db-8bad-155fcaafeb0b.html


Found this is to be good read for those interested in reading about Municipal Success from the view of a current Mayor. Admire his philosophy about how to manage a successful city or a successful anything.  It's all about having a plan.

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?

Starved Country in China

http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/starved-rock-country-on-the-map-in-china/article_b7b1e535-933a-51b3-ba9f-1fbdebb48a13.html

Four police departments look to cooperate

Four police departments look to cooperate

A few years ago the Regional Dispatch evolved and is in place at the Peru Police Station, supposedly because the initial proposal was to place a new bldg  to be constructed on the grounds of Illinois Valley Community College but then the state ran short of funding and everything was put on hold and dispatch continues in Peru.

Is that plan gone? What happened behind the scenes ? Is this part of the original regional center in Oglesby? Where are the details? I watched the WLPO video on FB and it was interesting to watch the demeanor of all the Mayors but really got no more details than the paper version. Facial expressions as always are interesting.

Peru Mayor Harl and Economic Director Off to Vegas in May Searching for More Retail

Peru Mayor and Economic Director Off to Las Vegas

This year our Volunteer Economic Director, Robert Vickery is taking Peru Mayor Scott Harl along as a companion on his yearly trip to Las Vegas. They claim success on previous trips when Vickery traveled with D. Biederstedt.

I noted the emoji's at the bottom of the article and the angry red one seemed to be the winner.  I don't believe anyone currently sitting on a council or in any other of the many new positions created by the Mayor in the last several years are in touch with the residents of this city. None of the businesses mentioned as previous wins are anything the residents would choose to bring into the city. We don't know about Chipotle because they are not constructed yet. Hilton Hotel is also only on paper and this hotel is only one of others being built nationwide and locally one is going up in Streator also. The website for that information is an interesting read  about the many many hotels either in the planning or construction phase.

Just mention the same complaints the residents have given this past few months.
1.  Poor scheduling of the Peru Ice Skating Rink installation for the winter. Might as well forget it for this year.
2.  Downtown Peru had no Christmas spirit and/or color and inability to install the proposed decorations in other Peru locations.
3.  Spending tax dollars poorly while our population is moving downward.

These are my personal opinions as a long time resident of this city.  Yours may be different entirely and feel free to comment and share yours.