Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Current 38th Street intersection plan 'pathetic' NT
August 30, 2012
8/29/2012 8:48:00 AM
Open Forum: Current 38th Street intersection plan 'pathetic'
How much longer does the city need to study the intersection of 38th Street and Venture Drive? The current solution is pathetic.
Now there are huge signs placed at First Federal trying to deter people from turning around on the property and not to u-turn. That is very unattractive and uninviting to patrons! Did anyone else notice the small green sign north of Target across from the entrance to Jalapenos? It points west and reads to U.S. 251. Why would the city make it difficult to shop this area? What do you plan to do on Black Friday? Is the city planning on keeping officers out there all day? That would be a wise use of payroll. Has the city looked into closing the road between the two banks and creating an entrance off 251 resembling the one by Olive Garden and Kohl’s? That would prompt people to use the south (36th Street) and west entrance/exits at the mall. Please don’t tell the citizens there isn’t money to drastically change this corner in some way. Peru has had 10-plus years to assess the situation, develop a plan, and allocate funds. Stop throwing good money after bad at these half-baked attempts to fix it. If the current idea was Chamlin and Associates best work, get a new firm! Denise Scolari, Peru
Lotus Beds Near Starved Rock
this is a newspaper clipping from 1932 and speaks of rare Lotus Beds near Ottawa and Starved Rock, does anyone know of these and are they still in the area.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Concerts for a Cause Considered Economic Development
The Kid Rock concert is over and I hope that you the tax payers of Peru enjoyed it because you paid for it and will not be reimbursed. We got $9,000 which is the agreed upon per ticket rebate to the city @!.00 per ticket, the police department employees were also paid by Ms Noonan and you get to pay for the rest of the expenses.
Expenses in the amount of a little over $20,000 were billed to you, the taxpaying residents of Peru. It is being put into the category of a tourism expense and whatever money is generated by the hotel/motel tax and general sales tax is your payback. How they can determine whether the person who bought lunch at McDonalds and slept at the Holiday Inn went to listen to Kid Rock, I don't know.
More specifics will be posted as I put them together. What do you think of how the city is investing your tax dollars?
Not to belittle the fact that money was generated for a private La Salle school, but why am I paying for this?
Friday, August 24, 2012
Perhaps a Bright Spot in Our Downtown
I am hopeful that this purchase by an out of state real estate developer is a bright beginning for our forlorn business district in Peru. As he does his repairs and perhaps some upgrades, I hope we can keep the Design and Review Committee as far away as possible, so they don't mess up another business. Likewise with the Peru Downtown Redevelopment. Since neither committee has proved to me at least that they are able to do anything positive for downtown.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Why Are the Second Ward Aldermen Alone in This Endeavor
Do you reside in Peru and have concerns, or a suggestion for our city?
2nd Ward Aldermen Rodney Perez and Sherry Mayszak will be at Peru City Hall to listen and answer any questions you have.
When: Sunday, August 26th.
Time: 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm
Where: Peru City Hall 1901 4th street.
Hope to see you there:-)
Post Council Meeting Thoughts
Fairly large attendance, that is for a Peru Council Meeting. Public Comment.....NONE. But the mayor plans to proceed with his plan to have an ordinance put in place to put rules in place because most major cities have one. This will stifle any in Peru unless it s a project with an agenda to promote
Aldermen Perez wants a vote scheduled for video taping the council and hiring and buying what is needed through Connecting Point. The mayor thinks we need to talk some more. I am not sure it has the votes to pass.
IML convention coming up in Chicago in October. It is supposed to be a learning experience for the aldermen and they bring their new found news back to Peru. They should be required to share that news with the city who paid for their jaunt to the big city. Last year we patiently waited for a summary of what they learned, and while they plan for this years new experience, we have not heard even one word from one alderman that attended last year about what was talked about at the conferences they attended.
Alderman Perez brought up the additional traffic surveys he had done with volunteers on 38th and Venture Drive and noted the continued same results of U Turns, Hobby Lobby turn arounds and in the bank lot also plus continued downturn in business sales. I heard about a semi truck who had difficulty navigating the intersection to go north. No comment from the mayor or council, except that Mayor Harl asked Super Bleck if the additional signs directing 251 traffic were in. Super Bleck said no that it takes longer to make special signs.
No further discussion on the intersection and the old power plant problem did not even surface.
Cable or Internet? Peru aldermen consider the best way share city council footage
Posted by wlpo on August 22, 2012
Cable and Internet are services you probably have in your home, but some people have chosen other providers for TV and some people don’t want anything to do with the Internet.
Peru City Officials are trying to figure out which is more popular- cable or Internet. They ask because Alderman Rodney Perez has been researching what it would take to record, broadcast or share the city council meetings.
Recording and posting meetings on the city’s website would cost an extra $91 a year for web hosting plus an estimated $2,400 to by a camera and software. That’s according to a quote from Connecting Point Computers.
Broadcasting the meetings on a public access channel provided through Comcast would be free but the city would probably have to spend at least $25,000 for cameras and equipment. That’s according to a quote by Comcast.
While the aldermen and mayor consider the price they’re also wondering which would reach more people- cable or Internet. The conversation will likely continue when they meet next Monday night.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Government of Peru Please Read and Become Aware
Ok if you are a part of the city government, please read. This is the question that I asked at a council meeting when I questioned why the public did not get a chance to review an ordinance before it becomes law and the answer to me was "because we don't have to". Princeton is seeing the light and the state of Iowa had the law already in place for transparency.
| 8/21/2012 5:47:00 AM Princeton commissioner proposes two readings of ordinances | ||
PRINCETON - Based on his belief that many local residents distrust their city council, Princeton Commissioner Joel Quiram suggested the council take a step to create more opennes.
Quiram said he's heard many residents' concerns about past decisions made by the council "There is without question an element of frustration shared by many that's guided by mistrust," Quiram said. "We need a system that addresses and works to resolve the frustration. We need to gain the trust. We can do this by ensuring that residents have the opportunity to be heard prior to any vote finalizing an ordinance." To accomplish this, Quiram proposed requiring two readings of each ordinance at separate council meetings prior to finalization. The council would still vote after the first reading, he said, then the ordinance and the results of the vote would be posted in City Hall and the city's website and published in the newspaper so residents would have a chance to voice their opinion before the next council meeting two weeks later, at which time the ordinance would be read a second time and a final vote would be taken. At that point, commissioners could take residents' feedback into account and possibly change their votes or revise the ordinance, he said. On rare occasions, an ordinance might have to be read twice in the same meeting, such as for an emergency ordinance to purchase equipment that is needed immediately, Quiram said. A procedure could be established to set aside the rules to make both readings during the same session. City manager Jeff Clawson used to work in Aledo, Ill. where they've followed this process for decades. "I didn't see much input from the public for any of that, but it's the process that was in place, so everyone knew they always had that opportunity," Clawson said. Clawson also told the council that the state of Iowa requires three readings of every city ordinance. |
Police search for man accused of holding up Eureka Savings Bank in Peru
Posted by wlpo on August 21, 2012
The search is on for a man thought to have held up the Eureka Savings Bank near the Peru Mall. The hold up alarm sounded at about 3:14pm Tuesday. A man described as black wearing a pair of shorts implied he had a weapon but didn’t show one.
Minutes later police had stopped what they think was get away car near Fourth and Hennepin Streets in La Salle. A white man was driving and reportedly told police he dropped off the man near the Daniel’s Motel on St. Vincent’s Avenue.
The man police think held up the bank was last seen near the La Salle Veteran’s Home and possible went into the Grant Street housing. An envelope, syringes and T-shirt are among the items police think he as dropped. You’ll hear more as it’s made available.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Are You Free at 4:30 PM Township Meeting
The Peru Township Board will meet today at 4:30 PM. Rumor has it that salaries will be on the schedule with an increase possible. If you are interested and if you are free, please go. I cannot go today but looking forward to a comment from anyone that can go.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)