Plainfield Economic Partnership AKA PEP

I was all finished discussing Plainfield Economic Partnership and was ready to move on to some other unsuspecting organization until WALTER (all caps) and Nasty_Paxxy started making defensive statements in the “campaign contributions” thread about PEP without providing any concrete proof to back them up. First of all, based on the “official” village minutes that are posted, Plainfield has been working with Diageo long before PEP even came into existence. Secondly, as far as Von Maur goes, only when it is finally here and there is documented proof that PEP is 100% responsible for bringing it to Plainfield should PEP take credit for it.

I have researched the minutes of the Plan Commission, Committee of the Whole and Village Board and see that since its inception in 2005, PEP has done little more that ask for funding, ask for its director to be covered by village health insurance (PEP did say they'd pay the premiums), and make promises to provide information at a later date, none of which they have followed through on. In fact, there were numerous requests for reports from PEP, yet none followed. The village is in good company as apparently PEP didn't file the proper reports with the State either.

So it appears that from the Village’s standpoint, when an organization does so little and takes so much the best way to punish it is to approve more funding for it and hire its director to run the whole village.

Watchdog is correct. We need reform and we need it now! The village has a secret plan to funnel money to funnel money to little green from mars and beyond. The little green men will in turn host a fundrasier at my home in Walker's Grove and give the money to african-american-transexual-pr ostitutes who will be abducted by aliens and forced into diet programs hosted by Jimmy Porch Cat. Richard Simmons will then host their daily work outs while they dream about being a real individual. When they are actually in the matrix- powering the evil center core.

watchdog wrote:

I was all finished discussing Plainfield Economic Partnership and was ready to move on to some other unsuspecting organization until WALTER (all caps) and Nasty_Paxxy started making defensive statements in the “campaign contributions” thread about PEP without providing any concrete proof to back them up. First of all, based on the “official” village minutes that are posted, Plainfield has been working with Diageo long before PEP even came into existence. Secondly, as far as Von Maur goes, only when it is finally here and there is documented proof that PEP is 100% responsible for bringing it to Plainfield should PEP take credit for it.
I have researched the minutes of the Plan Commission, Committee of the Whole and Village Board and see that since its inception in 2005, PEP has done little more that ask for funding, ask for its director to be covered by village health insurance (PEP did say they'd pay the premiums), and make promises to provide information at a later date, none of which they have followed through on. In fact, there were numerous requests for reports from PEP, yet none followed. The village is in good company as apparently PEP didn't file the proper reports with the State either.
So it appears that from the Village’s standpoint, when an organization does so little and takes so much the best way to punish it is to approve more funding for it and hire its director to run the whole village.

suggest u also look into AIG financing of PEP as well as certain people In your village with political aspirations !!!

Might be some revelations made !!!! Do you speak Italian >??

Good job watchdog looking at the facts, so many just make broad unsubstantiated statements. There is so much emotion and misperception on this where in the end PEP must show tangible benefits.

Gee I wonder if some one posting these allegations COULD be a former employee of a PEP partner ? Wasn't there a woman fired some time ago from a Plainfield Business for UN-Ethical behavior ??

Plainfield_Forum wrote:

Gee I wonder if some one posting these allegations COULD be a former employee of a PEP partner ? Wasn't there a woman fired some time ago from a Plainfield Business for UN-Ethical behavior ??

This sounds interesting. You must have the inside scoop as I haven't heard anything about this. Tell us more, what's the story?

I see on the agenda that PEP is on for Monday for their $75,000 installment from the Village even though they have no director (are not even activily looking for a director unless they are still paying the Village Administrator) and the state said they are involuntarily dissolved. May be the Board will get some justification from PEP.

Harry wrote:

I see on the agenda that PEP is on for Monday for their $75,000 installment from the Village even though they have no director (are not even activily looking for a director unless they are still paying the Village Administrator) and the state said they are involuntarily dissolved. May be the Board will get some justification from PEP.

I heard they were interviewing..........

several local WTRC members.......Rotkis ?

The Plainfield Partyship is off and sailing. I'd bet what you hear tonight is more political rhetoric and a sales job but nothing concrete. The mayor and Lamb sit on the PEP Board so they will lead the propaganda. You'll hear all the wonderful things that MAY come to Plainfield by PEP. Kind of like the check is in the mail. May be their previous contribution to the Wheatland Republican party was not enough or may be the trustees and mayor are funneling funds to PEP for their upcoming campaigns.

What is to be expected? They hired a guy with no municipal experience, over people with decades as municipal managers, to be in charge of a budget of 60 million and 170 employees dealing with everything from road improvements to police protection. Plus he gets to keep working for PEP. It makes no sense unless you look at the one key thing he does have, a connection with developers with deep pockets. The elected officials are doing OK for themselves just not the Village.

Honestly wrote:

What is to be expected? They hired a guy with no municipal experience, over people with decades as municipal managers, to be in charge of a budget of 60 million and 170 employees dealing with everything from road improvements to police protection. Plus he gets to keep working for PEP. It makes no sense unless you look at the one key thing he does have, a connection with developers with deep pockets. The elected officials are doing OK for themselves just not the Village.

You should take your EVIDENCE to the State's Atty. Then again, you could stop casting about.

Herald News November 20, 2008

By JANET LUNDQUIST
PLAINFIELD -- "The Plainfield Economic Partnership, a group funded by government and private businesses, makes it a practice to stay out of politics.

So why did the group give the Wheatland Township Republican Organization $600?

An anonymous author raised that question in a recent e-mail to village board members, having noted the contribution on the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Web site.

But members of PEP say the contribution was merely the cost of a golf outing, which members of the group participate in regularly to make contacts and woo prospective PEP members and businesses.

Promoting businesses
The group was formed in September 2005 to promote Plainfield's business community, recruit new companies, and retain and expand the businesses set up in town.
Joe Judd, PEP's chairman and regional president of First Midwest Bank, said when he was asked whether the organization made a contribution to the Wheatland Republicans, his immediate answer was no.

"But then I thought, we did play golf," he said. "It seemed harmless at the time."

The cost of the August 2007 event was $600 for golf and dinner for four. Judd said he and then-PEP executive director Alex Harris, who now works as Plainfield's village administrator, took two prospective PEP members to the golf outing.

"It was in the course of ordinary business," Judd said. "If someone said, will you donate, make a contribution to any political organization, the answer would be no."

While the group is partially funded by the village, it receives about 60 percent of its funding from private businesses, Judd said.

"More than half of PEP's funds are private, so I don't know that there's a problem," said village Trustee Bill Lamb, who sits on the PEP board of directors. "It was certainly not an overt political act."

Village contributions
The village has contributed $75,000 annually to the not-for-profit group. This year the board of trustees said they wanted more information about what the group has been working on before releasing PEP's funding.
"I have been a strong (supporter) of PEP, but we have asked each of these groups to make a presentation," said village Trustee Jim Racich, referring all of the nonprofit groups the village supports financially. "I think it's only fair that we defer this particular funding until someone from that group, PEP, can step forward and give an adequate description of what has been done."

One reason the PEP board does not broadcast much of its activity is that it's mostly behind-the-scenes negotiations.

"Our contention has been, none of these people would want me to be at the podium talking about (potential business deals)," Judd said.

Judd added that the organization plans to make a presentation to the board in December."

Julie wrote:

The Plainfield Partyship is off and sailing. I'd bet what you hear tonight is more political rhetoric and a sales job but nothing concrete. The mayor and Lamb sit on the PEP Board so they will lead the propaganda. You'll hear all the wonderful things that MAY come to Plainfield by PEP. Kind of like the check is in the mail. May be their previous contribution to the Wheatland Republican party was not enough or may be the trustees and mayor are funneling funds to PEP for their upcoming campaigns.

Julie- I mean Paul----- Quit picking on WTRO. Just because they will not back you for mayor- you come on topix and try to accuse them of funneling $ from PEP to Waldorf. If you would get your head out your A$$- you might notice they have their own township elections to worry about and really do not care about you or Waldorf. Next thing you know I bet you will tell us your phone is bugged and the FBI is following you. I have seen and tracked you at a public computer using this site for your unsubstantiated/paranoid Plainfield theories.

Your small farm town is gone- just deal with it. It will never be what it was. You cannot have it back. Move somewhere else. You claim to be a Republican- then accuse WTRO of illegally being involved in an embezzelment scam with Waldorf. You are nuts. Go away and take your crazy ideas with you.

Sincerely,

Your campaign manager.

Paul Gey wrote:

<quoted text>
Julie- I mean Paul----- Quit picking on WTRO. Just because they will not back you for mayor- you come on topix and try to accuse them of funneling $ from PEP to Waldorf. If you would get your head out your A$$- you might notice they have their own township elections to worry about and really do not care about you or Waldorf. Next thing you know I bet you will tell us your phone is bugged and the FBI is following you. I have seen and tracked you at a public computer using this site for your unsubstantiated/paranoid Plainfield theories.
Your small farm town is gone- just deal with it. It will never be what it was. You cannot have it back. Move somewhere else. You claim to be a Republican- then accuse WTRO of illegally being involved in an embezzelment scam with Waldorf. You are nuts. Go away and take your crazy ideas with you.
Sincerely,
Your campaign manager.

I don't know if you are trying to misdirect the issue or if you really think I'm Paul. If your assumption is I'm Paul you are mistaken and have wasted much time in your abuse. I'm not Paul, a relative or answer to Paul in any way. I do not raise him in my previous comment so for you to jump to such a huge assumption and your nasty comments really reflects you have some deep problems. You do seem extremely defensive about Waldorf, WTRO, and exchange of funds which only adds to suspicions.

Well "Julie", if you consider 30 second as "much time"- you are an idiot.

WTRO is a reputable organization. I am more defensive about WTRO than Waldorf.

You have no life- just Topix- go get a job!

Julie wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't know if you are trying to misdirect the issue or if you really think I'm Paul. If your assumption is I'm Paul you are mistaken and have wasted much time in your abuse. I'm not Paul, a relative or answer to Paul in any way. I do not raise him in my previous comment so for you to jump to such a huge assumption and your nasty comments really reflects you have some deep problems. You do seem extremely defensive about Waldorf, WTRO, and exchange of funds which only adds to suspicions.

i am the walrus koo ko ka joo.......

Observer wrote:

<quoted text>
You should take your EVIDENCE to the State's Atty. Then again, you could stop casting about.

hey the bulls hired vinnie del negro with no prior coaching exp.!!

I see PEP is doing its typical job and we may get another gas city as an entrance to the Village. Of course it can only be proposed by a member of PEP. I wonder what type of inducements the Village had to cough up for this one.

Return to Sanity wrote:

I see PEP is doing its typical job and we may get another gas city as an entrance to the Village. Of course it can only be proposed by a member of PEP. I wonder what type of inducements the Village had to cough up for this one.

Yesh, we really do not need any gas stations onthe West side of town. There are only thousands of people who have to go to Mobil, Meijer, down 30 toward rt 55, shorewood, or 135th street to get fuel. You are an absolute genius! Why don't you apply for a village planner position at the village? You are an idiot- go move to a podunk town. Plainfield is growing. Deal with it or leave.

Weary is my kinda guy!!!! He can dicern that fine line between genius and idiot. According to Ozone I'm a moron. Is that closer to genius or idiot?