City of Peru Job Description for Public Utilities Director

Peru police and fire chiefs get extra pay for extra duties - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

Peru police and fire chiefs get extra pay for extra duties - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

MIsuse of Committee of a Whole Mieetings

The committees of a whole were not designed specifically to be used as a forum to go into closed session but more or less meant to be an informal meeting of the council. Numerous cities use them but in a more open and productive manner than Peru is currently doing. At times on a special occasion  a closed session in a committee of the whole can be needed but certainly not like Peru is using them.

I have done online research of other localities and many cities use them productively. If the government knows that a closed session is needed to discuss a topic with all of the aldermen, than schedule one either before or after the regular city council.  What is being done at present is nothing more than a slap in the face to the residents and certainly discourages them from attending any of the meetings for that night. Many cities have a statement on their web site giving the mission of a closed meeting session, we do not.  I decided to check the minutes of the many committee meetings of a whole that Peru has held since they were formed early this year.  Online there are minutes for 2 meetings, that is all, altho we all know that there have been many more.

Interested parties might like to check the agenda for Monday's meeting.  It looks like the co supers of Public Works will now be getting additional compensation.  I recently asked about the number of people who had applied to be Director of Public Utilities for Peru and I was told, only 4 and of those there was 1 phone interview and it sounded like they were not interested in that person for the position.  You know now that the city will not be hiring the position of Director of Public Works also know as the Director of Public Utilities and thus the additional compensation for the Police Chief and Fire Chief.. Is the bookkeeper a replacement for Heidi? Also the hire of a Financial Officer will be announced and I predict he will be local and well known to the council and mayor.  On this I would be happy to hear, you are wrong.


#DirectorofPublicWorks
#committeeofthewhole
#committees
#Publicworks
#financial officer
#citycouncil

True or False Office Max Call Center is "maybe" Leaving Peru

I did some research and in an article in Illinois Review dated April 21, 2014, I found this information.

"As we begin the planning for transition of work, there is a meeting being held in Ottawa next week to discuss the necessary resources to ensure a smooth transition of work,” Jen Pyszka, Office Max’s general manager in Peru, Illinois wrote.

"As we plan to transition work to our Strategic Partners for Order Entry, Direct, and Reliable, there is a need for experienced legacy OfficeMax advocates to travel to Chennai, India or Manila or Cebu Philippines to support training and floor support throughout the transition.

Pyszka said she had been asked to get volunteers to commit to no less than “ so-week to three-week increments” from June through September.

After its merger, Office Max plans to keep stores open in the United States, but plans to close Office Depot store duplicates.

Employees are being told that the new company’s technology department is relocating to Texas, but the Office Max officials have confirmed those plans yet.

Billing and AP services will be sent overseas, a move that makes one Office Max employee that received the overseas training invite to be nervous."

Note that training overseas was done from June through September and that would coincide with my information that they will be closing in October. Perhaps someone will clarify this information and tell me this is wrong and the call center here will remain open.

Teachers begin exodus from unions in Michigan, Is This a Beginning

Teachers begin exodus from unions in Michigan

Streator school will receive nothing from benefit - The Times: Local

Streator school will receive nothing from benefit - The Times: Local

The jobs done by the volunteers look like they were hired help who worked for free. Now that we know what volunteers really do for the "charity" event, Peru should without a doubt end this "nonsense" and perhaps along with Ms Noonan give a public  apology because without the aid of our city this could not have taken place. since it required our Police, our Fire Dept, and our Public Works Dept. And yes even the aldermen parking cars at below minimum wage at our Municipal Airport.

We the residents of Peru are not proud of what you "our city government" have done once again. That is my Public Comment, what is yours?

It Seems The Things Don't Change They Remain the Same in Peru

The FBI investigation indicated that the payroll overpayment action by Mayor Harl was wrong and he should not have done it, they will not press criminal charges.  To this action the Mayor responded at the Council Meeting that he and his attorney are considering filing charges of slander and defamation of character....no names mentioned. Evidently he repeated this twice.

The council is now considering rewriting the public comment ordinance and Alderman Waldorf reminds us that "no questions allowed".

I understand that the council meetings are beginning to look more and more like a circus and perhaps they are doing this for the few remaining hardy souls who dare to enter their chambers in hopes of discouraging them also.

I was not in attendance.

I will add more as I acquire more information.

Letters to the editor: Concerts for a Cause comes up short and school gets nothing? - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

Letters to the editor: Concerts for a Cause comes up short and school gets nothing? - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

Letter to Streator Schools....

BBQ rib cookoff kicks off blues festival in La Salle - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

BBQ rib cookoff kicks off blues festival in La Salle - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL


Tonight will be the Jazz on First and it is  one casual but classy event held in the IL Valley, may not be in Peru but it is enjoyed by many Peruvians, I have seen them there.

Finance Committee Turned Down Request For Ad in LP Yearbook

Can someone please tell me what an ad in the yearbook consists of? In my mind it must be something like City of Peru Congratulates LP students for a great year. Do our aldermen have any clue as to how many parents, grandparents, relatives and businesses look thru the yearbook.?  In fact yearbooks become collectable items through the years. The only question the committee chair asked is "Have we donated to this before?".  If the answer is NO, the request is tossed.

I want to tell the aldermen that the people pictured in that book also spend money and lots of it because many live in Peru and the rest live in communities that shop and spend money in Peru.

I believe the ad is something all local cities should spend the money on because the school is educating our children.  If you know what cities buy an ad, we on the blog would be interested in hearing about it.

Ald. Perez asked about a donation to the LP band and NO was the answer. It was also said by someone that they thought LaSalle did donate.

But then they turned around and made a $500 donation to Illinois Valley Super Bowl for the 17th Annual Illinois Valley Professional Bowlers Tournament September 6th through 7 because they spend money in our city.

As I left the City Hall, lots of young people were bringing in boxes of candy to the Community Room as they get ready to work and sell candy for the Band.  The kids take the time to do this regardless of the weather and the time away from their fun stuff. Rather Ironic isn't it.

If you would like to encourage the aldermen to turn their decision around and yes donate some money for an ad in the yearbook and look like a city that supports your schools.

Think about what just happened a few weeks ago when the city eagerly spent dollars to support a private business venture at the airport and the aldermen and clerk willingly donated their time to park cars and not enough money was generated to even give the "requested charity" any dollars.
How much money did we spend on Central States? Was it all because you thought the travelers were spending dollars in your city? Maybe they did and maybe they didn't.

Present at this mtg was Ald. Potthoff, Ferrari, Radtke, Sapienza, Mueller, Lukosus, Perez, Mayor Harl, Dave Bartley, Doug Bernabei, Eric Carls (engineer).and Bob Vickery. The committee then went into closed session after the meeting.

Ordinance 5096 Seeking Director of Public Utilities and Establishing ASM and PSM

Dated May 5, 2014.

ASM = Administrative Services Manager
PSM= Public Services Manager

It now appears that those 2 positions have become the more important than the Mayor and City Council unless things change and they become more involved in the what is taking place in Peru. This has nothing to do with right or wrong but it is just the way this ordinance is written.

Everyday There is Something that Needs Fixing in the City

I am sure half of the city is buzzing about the recent firing of an employee at city hall and the way that it happened. And just as much as that the positions that developed out of thin way while we were supposedly searching for a Superintendent of Public Works and it looks like they are going to remain. Qualified people are out there and are looking for jobs and why can't we find them?

Another something to think about. On August 16 the city assisted Ms Noonan to have a hard rock concert at the airport and we utilized public works, police and fire in this effort. I guess the effort was so we could help support a charity of her choosing which this year was Streator Centennial Elementary Public School. Now if you remember last year the Peru Little League supplied numerous volunteers so they could be the recipient of some "charity" and the concert fell short and they got proceeds from one night of pizza sales.
Now you would think it would not happen again, right? But it did and the last concert for the Streator school, produced no money for the school even though once again the same support from the school and the city was present. I privately received info that the school got no money and I was able verify that this indeed has occurred, in spite of a huge volunteer effort.

It is time for this to stop and for the city never to again assist this private enterprise from using the airport for any type of concert.  Enough is enough.

Decision Time Coming in Peru

I was told today, that petitions can now be circulated for the aldermens seats, one in each ward. Those up for re election will be Potthoff, Waldorf, Perez and Mueller.

Also need someone to step up and handle the petition for the possiblilty of hiring a City Manger.  The red alert is now on for the city of Peru from what I am seeing and hearing and know about the happenings in City Hall.

Many of us are more than willing to go out with the petitions but everything needs a leader and city hall is certainly showing us what happens when there is no responsible leadership.

Planning Commission Minutes Proposed Marijuana Growing Facilities

New minutes have been posted on the city web site with the proposals of the 4 companies interested in developing  medical marijuana growing facilities in Peru. The minutes are from the companies that went before  the Peru Planning Commission by the date of the hearing which was 8/20/14.

If you are interested in the proposals, location and ownership of them, you will find the minutes quite interesting.

Letters to the editor: Is Peru acting fairly toward all pot company applicants? - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

Letters to the editor: Is Peru acting fairly toward all pot company applicants? - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

As I have watched the number of companies interested in establishing the "pot" growing facility here in Peru, I thought about other cities around us and several with a larger population and some close to ours, and wondered why it was only Peru that was putting names of companies out to the public.

I do not know whether other cities were perhaps handling requests in a different manner and considering them privately with city officials only in the know and then deciding which one they would endorse after looking through all their qualifications.

I would like to know but at this time do not. I posted a news article a few days ago and it included all the districts applying, some in detail and some barely mentioned.

Personally I don't believe Peru should endorse a particular one but let the state do that since the city has now been put in an uncomfortable position. I also do not think at this point that there is anyone in the city qualified to make an endorsement and that includes the mayor and council.

Local governments can now consolidate if they so choose « Watchdog.org

Local governments can now consolidate if they so choose « Watchdog.org

Does this mean we can start to eliminate Peru Twp.?

Will the Lobbyist Sign the Same Contract With Same Wording

Now that the lobbyist has been approved, shouldn't the aldermen vote again to approve the contract and add some provisions about responsibility with regard to coming back to the city with specifics being researched and getting approval or do we simply hand it all over to the mayor to do with it what he wishes.

This is the previous contract:

Do the aldermen need to add the responsibilities of the Lobbyist in regard to bringing information back to the elected officials so it can be included in the aldermen's packet each month?

This  should not be for a paycheck at an agreed upon price, we should be getting something in return for the money and that means information in an agreed upon time frame perhaps at Finance Committee Meetings.

This should be standard procedure for all of the companies or organizations that provide paid services to the city regarding economic development.

Recently 2 members of IVAC came to the Finance Committee with a short presentation about their present strategies.

The other company, MCS, Development Delivered has set up an economic development web site which is a part of the City of Peru web site which they maintain and update. It can be located under the Economic Development heading.

Peru renews contract with lobbyist « Classics Hits 103.9 WLPO

Peru renews contract with lobbyist « Classics Hits 103.9 WLPO

Vote to Retain the Lobbyist in Peru

The vote was 4 and 4. Potthoff, Ferrari, Perez and Mueller voted no. Harl broke the tie. 

Thank you Alderman Potthoff, Alderman Ferrari, Alderman Perez and Alderman Mueller for showing good judgement with your vote.

And to those who voted yes to retain the lobbyist, Alderman Lukosus, Alderman Radtke, Alderman Waldorf and Alderman Sapienza, we hope the voters will gradually show you the door out of city hall and bring in some thinking representatives.

I knew with the above 4 still in office that there was no way this would be defeated and I was hoping that Mayor Harl would have to break the tie vote. Now we know that the mayor really is a politician and that his political ties are more important than being a good mayor for the residents of Peru.

Again my thanks  to the Aldermen who voted for Peru by voting against the Lobbyist.

Illinois cannabis lobbyist information

Illinois cannabis lobbyist information


Some big players and lots and lots of money.

Demographics of Peru Are Being Noticed

Our Economic Director, Bob Vickery, once again at Finance brought up the businesses interested in coming into Peru and it appears there are 4 or 5 corporations interested in building more senior housing within the city.  Homes a bit larger than the Stough Group homes and to be built in the northern part of the city. They are looking to build on approximately 5 acre plots, to the north.

Many of us realize that they probably see the right market for their products in senior housing in La Salle Peru. Seniors also desire to have nearby groceries and medical facilities and possibly drug stores that include other amenities.  So we will need to wait and see what is built if any housing does become a reality.

And on the other end of the spectrum is the question of how much money should be put into "decorating" Route 6 businesses.  Mayor Harl prefers banners instead of flower baskets and I am sure that is what we will see along the route. Vickery  is working with businesses to develop a facade improvement program and at the current time, Peru will put in $25,000 toward a 50/50 city/business payment for whatever is decided upon. I would like to see the Peru side of the Route 6 Tourist Assn. began to put their minutes on the Peru city web site, since we will be adding dollars to the program and actually does involve city property.

And on the A-Unified lawsuit, I am told that the N.T. had an article last night which states the city now has the title to the property at a cost of $250,000 approximately plus court costs. But the company has no money and what are the court costs?

Peru Can Definitely Afford One (a Lobbyist) Said Mayor Harl

Finance Committee Mtg August 20 with members Dave Potthoff, Tony Ferrari present and members Mike Radke and Rodney Perez absent.

Mayor Harl is also now considered a member and he was present with Ald. Lukosus by his side and Ald. Sapienza also present. Strangely Treasurer Hylla was not at the Finance Mtg. Definitely something going on there.

They quickly got to the rehiring of Timothy McAnarney as Lobbyist for Peru for another year and as quoted in the heading the Mayor said that any city that can afford a lobbyist has one and Peru can definitely afford one. Ald. Ferrari said the aldermen had never seen any information until he got the foia'd  information but only after the information which I foia'd first was put on the blog. So that means the mayor did not feel that anything the Lobbyist was doing during the last year was important enough to share with his aldermen. But I will clarify that by saying I do believe that he shared any and everything with Ald. Lukosus but none of the others.

But today at the meeting he said the Lobbyist was doing so much for the city and not all that he had done was written on those reports and sometime the lobbyist is talking to people in the Legislature and elsewhere but does not know if anything gets done or not.

He picked out a couple of things he thought was important from the foia'd papers.

November 5, 2013 Talked to Ameren re: Unytite and the proposed move to LaSalle.
November 27, 2013 Per request of Bob Vickery he called ATT&T to look into poor reception in downtown Peru..
Lukosus said Peru could have had a grant for a bike path and that would have been because of him. ???? Also that he is of great help with the airport.

The Mayor also said something about not knowing what was in the original contract to hire and  I suggest he read contracts before he attaches his name to them.

This vote will go to the Council Meeting Monday and I believe with the help of Ald. Lukosus, Sapienza, Radtke and probably Waldorf and with Ferrari being the question mark, it will pass even if the mayor has to end up breaking the tie. And those of us who disagree with this, must remember that there is an election next spring in each ward and it  will determine if  Potthoff, Waldorf, Perez and Mueller are returned to office. Possibly there may be a referendum to put on the ballot changing Peru's government to a City Manager-Council format.

Lobbyist Contract and Remaining Information

These are the remaining pages of the foia. We as taxpayers already pay the salary of Rep. Mautino (D) from Spring Valley and representing the 76th District of which Peru is part of and additionally Senator Sue Rezin (R) of Morris maintains an office in Peru. Add onto that the $14,000 we pay yearly to IVAC. Peru has a Economic Director.

My question is what did we get for the $24,000 we paid to the Lobbyist? This topic will be presented at the Finance Committee @4PM and they will talk (I hope) about whether he supplies services that Peru cannot survive and move ahead without.

On a personal note, I have always been an Independent voter and have never voted any party line and I am finding this hire to be a very Democratic associated individual. We don't vote a political party when we elect a mayor or aldermen but I realize while they don't run on a party ticket they have a right to personal party associations but I don't want them imbedded in a small city government. Get help from all and don't get too cozy and you will get a bit more from all of the them.

Peru Seems to be Interested in Expanding PPD to Plank Rd

Oh and also I wonder if they are interested in renewing the Lobbyist contract for another year. Since no one seemed to remember that his contract signed on August 1, 2013 was no longer valid since this is now August 18.

The first partial letter is a recommendation to the Peru City Council Aldermen. The full page letter shows why the mayor wanted this appt. As his first task, he seems to be interested in the Peru Armory.
The last page on this post is the last 2 months of the Lobbyists work for the city. Draw your own conclusions on this.

HeavyMtl 2013 - Godsmack - Mosh Pit

Lou's LaGrottp states no mosh pits allowed but comments seem to indicate they can't stop them. On her FB page she also has a list of items not allowed at the concert.