Peru seeking legal opinion on city council issue

There are four wards and two aldermen in each ward in Peru.  The ward boundaries will change next spring with the next municipal elections.  The new boundaries will put Ward One Alderman Mike Radtke out of his ward two years before his term ends.  Mayor Scott Harl and the city’s attorney Doug Schweirckert aren’t sure of the proper way to handle that.

Radtke would become an alderman at-large but would they need to appoint another alderman to represent that word, creating a ninth alderman?  That’s what’s unclear.

They’ve received informal recommendations from a couple of law firms and the Illinois State Board of Elections.  Now they’re asking the Illinois Attorney General’s office for their opinion.  Harl says it’s free.

Schweirckert says the number of aldermen has a lot of ramifications and they need the clarification.

Fireworks still causing riff on Peru City Council

The first post-fireworks discussion for the Peru City Council wasn’t nearly as enjoyable as last Tuesday’s display.

While there weren’t any big problems on the night of the fireworks Alderman Rodney Perez thinks now is the time to change the way the city hires a pyrotechnics company for 2013.  Perez told the city council Wednesday night that their ordinance doesn’t allow for the rec committee to go out for bids.  And he says the committee bungled the bidding process by not keeping records of the contracts.

Perez says he’s complained to the Illinois State Attorney General’s office because he wasn’t given information after filing a Freedom of Information Act Request.  Perez says he wanted the information so he could audit this year’s fireworks display.

Other city council members were upset that Perez thought he should audit it and that he complained to the state over their rec committee.

Alderman Mike Radtke suggested that rather than getting rid of the rec committee they tell them the appropriate way for bidding and keeping records.

Area departments called to Spring Valley garage fire

The black smoke you saw in Spring Valley was garage fire in the 300 block ofEast Cleveland. Fire chief Todd Bogatitus said the homeowner was injured and sent St. Margaret’s Hospital.  Bogatitus said his department was notified at 4:45.  They arrived to find the garage and addition on fire and electrical lines on the ground. Spring Valleyfiremen along with Depue and Ladd were at the scene for ninety minutes.  The fire was so intense enough to damage the siding on two nearby houses.

TRIDENT search leads to minor drug arrest

Normally when the local drug team searches a house somebody ends up facing serious charges.  But Travis Ford of Streator was given a ticket because police say they found a small amount of marijuana while searching his home Wednesday.

The search was part of an investigation into drugs in the Streator area.  Ford was given a notice to appear.

State Help Available To Pay Air Conditioning Bills

Get help paying your air conditioning bill while it’s available.

Starting today, the Tri-County Opportunities Council is offering up to 150 dollars to people considered to be at risk during the heat.  The money to help pay bills is available until July 27^th or whenever money runs out.

To be eligible for the cooling assistance, there must be someone 60 and over in your house, 5 years old or younger, someone getting Social Security disability benefits or someone with a doctor-certified medical condition aggravated by extreme heat.

The Tri-County Opportunities Council office serving the listening area is in Rock Falls.

La Salle County Fair Starts Tonight

Fair season is kicking into high gear.

The annual La Salle County 4-H Fair begins tonight in south Ottawa with a kick-off event and Big Hat Rodeo.  On Thursday livestock judging starts with the first night of a track and tractor pull.  Friday night’s main attraction is another track and tractor pull with a demolition derby Saturday night.

The fair wraps up Sunday afternoon with a Parade of Excellence.