June 08, 2025
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Power on, power off: Peru cracks down on delinquent utilities

Council praises Peru PD for swift action in abduction

By Tom Collins
Peru City Hall in Peru, Illinois

(Shaw Local News Network)

How is Peru getting people to pay their delinquent utility bills? By intermittently switching off their power.

Monday, Peru City Clerk Dave Bartley said the city has implemented its program of scheduled power interruptions — 30 minutes on, then 30 minutes off — and it’s having the desired effect: The volume of delinquencies is shrinking.

“Some people are willing to live with it, but for most it’s pretty inconvenient,” Bartley said, adding later, “We’re getting there and we’re making a lot of progress.”

Separately, the City of Peru completed an inventory of its boiler and machinery and the insurance premiums jumped by half.

Alderman Tom Payton told the council city workers completed an 18-month inventory of every piece of machinery the city owns. Payton said they’d estimated a total value of $59 million but the true value was $119 million. Insurance premiums rose accordingly, from $78,000 to $119,000 a year, good for a 52% jump.

“But the good thing is we’re now covered,” Payton said. The council then approved a quote from the Cincinnati Insurance Co. (via Dimond Brothers Insurance) for $119,343.

Also, the council applauded members of Ax Church for the work volunteers did during Hope Week (June 6-12). Members completed improvements at Washington Park, Sunset Park and McKinley Park as well as to the grounds of Peru Public Library.

“In Peru alone, we did 300 hours of community service,” said Cameron Graper, lead pastor of the Ax Church.

“It was incredible,” Mayor Ken Kolowski said. “Following you guys around that week was a lot of fun.”

Ax Church lead pastor Cameron Graper (at the podium), flanked by Hope Week team leaders, tells the Peru City Council on Monday how Hope Week volunteers donated 300 hours to the city. In appreciation, the council donated $1,000 for the church to buy paint striping equipment for future projects. (Tom Collins - tcollins@shawmedia.com)

The council then voted unanimously to donate $1,000 to Ax Church for the purchase of parking lot striping equipment, which volunteers had previously rented.

Finally, the council praised the Peru Police Department for its swift action following last Monday’s abduction of a young woman who was recovered safely the following day. The investigation is ongoing.

“I want to thank you for the great job everyone did with the abduction,” Payton told Police Chief Doug Bernabei. “I’m so proud of them. I’m so glad that the girl is safe.”

“You’ve got a heck of a bunch of people there and you guys are doing a fantastic job,” Alderman Mike Sapienza said.

In other matters, the council:

  • Donated $500 to the Aden Lamps Foundation
  • Approved a quote from Ladzinski Cement Finishing Co. ($11,940) for improvements on Plum Street.
  • Awarded pavement marking maintenance to AC Pavement Striping Co. for $14,315.56.