Open Forum Editor
News Tribune
426 Second St.
Peru, IL 61354 March 7, 2009
With the Peru city elections right around the corner it seems an appropriate time to open up some debate in this public forum. I was asked not long ago what issues, as a long time citizen of Peru, are most important to me. I cannot speak for all, but there a number of like minded people I am sure. I hope this can serve as a positive place to start the debate.
The larger issues are the issues that matter to me most. They would be: 1. Open, honest, transparent governance without no bid contracts; 2. Development of logistic and manufacturing businesses, not just retail; 3. Fiscally responsible use of the city revenues to ensure we stay economically sound. We seem to fall especially short in the area of open, transparent governance. I don’t live in a north side neighborhood where the flooding has occurred so I am not as concerned about the situation there; however, I do wonder if the problems would have occurred if fiscal responsibility and open, transparent government had been priorities two decades ago. Maybe our own city engineer is warranted. It works elsewhere.
The less global issues that matter to me most are: 1. Maintenance of city streets - seems to have fallen off the last few years; 2. The hypocrisy of continuing to turn a blind eye to the illegal gambling that goes on in the downtown business districts; and, 3. A plan to develop the West side of Peru from the Igloo Westward.
I had an interesting conversation with a former mayor of one of the local towns not long ago. He said that candidates turn a blind eye to the gambling because they will lose the “tavern crowd” at the polls. Once elected they ignore the issue because they want to stay in office. My point is if a law is on the books enforce it, or change it. I am certain that few of the candidates in any of the LPOS municipalities will address this. I think the reluctance to enforce the law or to turn a blind eye to it speaks volumes about a person’s moral center, their personal code of ethics. This speaks to honest governance.
If the streets and curb program was put out to bid, we might not have the type of deterioration we experience every winter. Maybe selecting a major city thoroughfare to be paved with cement instead of blacktop would help our local communities with jobs and make the repairs less necessary.
Regarding the west side development: St. Margaret's is going to build a new hospital at the NW corner of U.S. 6 & Meridian Rd. From that intersection eastward is prime for development of health related businesses and eating establishments to cater to those businesses. Spring Valley will certainly go westward from the intersection. Peru can offer cheaper utilities and taxes. I do not want to see a TIF used there because of the effect it has on the Peru schools – much to the financial delight of many developers. Let that happen on the North Side where it is needed.
I know one of the Peru mayoral candidates to have leadership and management experience, to have a long history of fighting for responsible spending, to be honest in his business and professional life, to not be afraid to stand for what he sees as the morally responsible thing to do, and to work to transform the city government of Peru to be one that is open, honest, and transparent in all its business. That candidate is Dave Potthoff, and I support him for mayor of the city of Peru.
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