Committee being formed to consider a city administrator in Peru

Does Peru need another employee to track the city’s money? The mayor and a couple of aldermen think it would be worth the city’s money to hire a city administrator.

Mayor Scott Harl brought up the idea Monday night. He says a town with a $50 million budget could benefit from an administrator. He thinks an administrator would manage the city’s finances or economic development. Aldermen Rodney Perez and Dave Potthoff think a city administrator would be well worth the city’s money.

The other council members will need more swaying. Alderman Tony Ferrari says for the cost of an administrator they could hire two other workers. Alderman Dave Waldorf says they could use the money to replace sewer lines or to cut property taxes. Harl estimated an admin’s salary and benefits would cost up to $175,000 annually.

Harl is working on putting together a committee of seven community members to consider if the position is needed.

Investigation continues into Streator shooting

A shooting victim in Streator is expected to survive a gunshot wound to his leg.  La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne says the man from Champaign was last listed in stable condition. He was shot once Sunday morning and loss a lot of blood.

Towne says the shooting happened after a party in a different part of town.  A nearby car was hit by nine bullets.

Towne says no one has been arrested for the actually shooting and they’re looking for multiple people. Three women were arrested for allegedly obstructing police.

The investigation continues with the state’s attorney’s office, Streator Police and Illinois State Police.

Bus service begins to bring Streator students to IVCC

It’s gotten easier for people in Streator to take courses at Illinois Valley Community College.

A bus route going from St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator to IVCC’s Oglesby campus begun running Monday. IVCC President Jerry Corcoran says they want to make it easier for people in Streator to get their GED and offering a ride to campus is a way to do that.

The bus is an NCAT bus, the same service that provides rides in other parts of La Salle County. A one-way ride is four dollars. You can also buy 10 rides for $30. Passes are on sale in Streator and on campus.

Learn more about service by listening to an interview that’s available at the Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO news page.

A family fun day comes under investigation

An afternoon spent sledding in a park is being called a campaign event by some people in Peru. Alderman Rodney Perez organized a family fun day Saturday in McKinley Park. It was free and open to everyone. But Mayor Scott Harl says there is concern that city money was being used to support a candidate or a campaign because Perez used the park’s concession stand.

Harl brought it up at the city council meeting Monday night and soon other aldermen were in support of asking Police Chief Doug Bernabei to investigate if a law was broken.

Perez is running for re-election in April. He says he was given permission by Bernabei to use the concession stand and all of the aldermen were invited. He also says that other than the decals on his and another candidate’s cars, there were no campaign signs and campaign donations were not accepted.

Perez says it is shameful that they would try to use it against him.