LaSalle Insider

I am struck by the response of  those who assume that grant money is “free” money.  May I take a moment to point out that all money coming from government is “our money” .  We have either paid it in the form of taxes or agreed to pay off loans from government borrowing or lastly saw our dollar decrease in value due to more government printing of currency. This brings me to the front page  story in the News Tribune from Wednesday October 20th titled”Canal group gets $535,000 grant via federal ag” Does anyone think these funds will ever get paid back to the...

I was among those of you who were shocked when you read the Wednesday story in the local paper regarding LaSalle pumping treated water into the canal.  THIS WAS THE MAYOR ACTING ON HIS OWN ONCE AGAIN!  The Council never approved any formal action to use city treated water to fill the canal.  My first thought was what part of stupid doesn’t the Mayor understand? I called the City attorney and was informed he knew nothing about this. I called several aldermen who also were in the dark regarding this action. Our Superintendent of Public Works disclosed to me that no one on the water department...

So we initially hire an economic director from Peru and give him a trial basis to see if he is a good match for our needs.  He’s from Peru and has a business in Peru but its a trial so no need to move right….Fast forward and the City of laSalle decides take him off of the trial period and hire him for three years. Isn’t it time to move?  How can you promote a city to live in and work in and bring your business to if its not good enough for the man promoting it? Last I checked Don and his wife lived at 3006  St James Drive, PERU! His business is in Peru and before he says its...

At the last council meeting from Monday August 9th I mentioned on the floor that our Mayor has continued unabated in spending tax dollars on useless ads in the local paper.  The Trib did not include this in their coverage of the meeting….bet you can guess why.  All they have to do lately is call Jeff in his office and tell him they need him to buy another ad to fill a page dedicated to who know s what!  Lets look at what you the taxpayer have supported with your money recently… a safety reminder that school is starting/a salute to summer youth ball teams/a go lp cavaliers advertisment/a...

I’m sure by now most if not all of you know we voted not to renew with IVAC this year.  That no vote (which I supported) saves us $13,225.00 this fiscal year. I believe it was the right thing to do but let me tell you my reasons. First let me say that not renewing is no reflection on the ambassadors and volunteer help  of  IVAC. These individuals do a great deal of good and donate much time to the cause.  Many are business owners themselves and are appreciated for what they bring to their respective communities. The no vote from my perspective is due to the fact that our Mayor insisted...

At our last council meeting I discovered in the bills a purchase from Connecting Point computer Centers for almost $3,000.00.   The bill was for three laptop computers and cases as well as some other computer ware. When asked about the purchase the Mayor responded that Don (our economic director) got a great deal and he decided to buy them without any council discussion.  The Mayor along with our Superintendent of Public works and our Economic Director were treated to new laptops. Please understand that the Mayor as well as our Public works director already had computers.  These were upgrades...

Here we are on the eve of the Fourth  of July and it would do all of us well to pause and reflect just how far we have come as a Nation.   We truly stand as the last great super power and I for one think the world is a better place because of that fact.   I know the current regime in Washington D.C. does not agree with me but than their is very little if anything I agree with them on.  The world needs a country which stands for freedom and the pursuit of each individuals happiness without fear of government controlling every action one takes.  Those who disagree are the same that believe...

Well here we are just hours away from the opening of “Celebrate LaSalle” and I continue to see many of our city staff working to get everything ready for this evening. You probably have seen the ad in the paper on wednesday outlining the events and times for the weekend so I won’t reprint that info here.  After all we taxpayers have already spent $3,ooo to get the word out in print and radio.. I did notice that the city of Spring Valley is also having a weekend celebration from the 4th till the 6th in the downtown area.  I know this because I saw the ad in the paper… but...

As many of you know ASCAP  requested we send them a license fee of $305.00 for public use of recorded music.  Although I tried to convince our city of what a scam this was 7 out of 8 aldermen voted to pay them.  The check was sent.  Since then I did some research around other cities in Illinois and I cannot find one that has paid this fee when requested.  I contacted Peru, Oglesby,Spring Valley and none have remitted any money to ASCAP.  I even called DeKalb, a much larger city , and was informed by their City Clerk that their stance is that it’s unenforceable. In tough economic times...

Every Mayor wants to have something to point to  from his administration that signifies what he accomplished during his term(s). In recent history I think Mayor Brady can say he took a city that was literally “in the red” and turned it around in his term.  Mayor Murphy extended our eastern boundary to Rt 178 and ran water out to a new business started under his terms called JC Whitney.  Mayor Washkowiak picked up the ball and added additional territory east and north, refurbished the library, and did a lot to make the Rotary Park a soon to be reality as well as laid the groundwork...

I find some of the comments I hear by the uninformed so amusing.  I voted against the request by ASCAP  to send them $305.00 so we can play music from a radio in city hall.  That’s right…if you put the local music station on your PA system in your business you should send ASCAP a license fee.  Never mind that the radio station already pays a license fee you must do so as well. Alderman Ptak says that in his store several years ago in the mall ASCAP reps forced them to pay a fee because it was piped in his store.  Do you think that’s acceptable?  If we turn the local music...

First let me say that it  has been a few weeks since I have posted any new story and much has happened since that time.  Let me use this opportunity as an update . At the last council meeting of  May 3rd one issue presented was the donation of funds to the Better Fishing Association.  I was the only alderman to vote no to the recommendation of the finance committee to donate $250.00. It’s not that I am against the activities that they oversee its that donating any funds  to outside agencies has been denied for well over a year due to the tough economy and shortage of revenue to the city....

My favorite movie of all time is “Its a Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. There’s a line in the movie when George Bailey confronts Uncle Billie about the missing deposit for the savings and loan and says ” Well one of us is going to jail…and its not going to be me!” We haven’t reached that point yet here in LaSalle  but I am getting very nervous about our financial situation…let me  explain… During our last council meeting on April 19th we made some line item adjustments  to the appropriation ordinance prior to the end of...

Well Monday marks almost two weeks since I brought up the mess on  Grant Street and about six weeks since I first mentioned it on the council floor.  I was assured at our last meeting on April 6th that the city would  get on that issue the following day.  Our Police Chief pointed out how they had caught some individuals who bear responsibility for some of the damaged windows and entering the building illegally.  I only wish the Mayor would work as fast. Well I should cut him some slack after all he is busy planning the new” LaSalle fest”…..stay tune to hear what our end of...

As most of you know the council in our last meeting agreed to extend our economic director position for three more years.  Only Alderman Green and myself voted against the extension.  My reasons were lack of money and no real results after one year in the position.  When I asked for some criteria that we could use to measure the success or failure of the position I was met with…”he’s a nice guy”  and “he has answered all my questions when asked” I guess for some that’s enough…I mean after all its a government position and we all have come to expect...