The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board reversed a longtime policy at its Monday, December 12, 2011 meeting.  The town will no longer repair or replace mailboxes damaged by town snow plows. Last winter the town paid out more than $2,500. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said, “We’re the only town replacing mailboxes. No one else is doing it.” Farrell said that very few mailboxes comply with Postal Service box height and post regulations making it almost impossible to not damage a few boxes. Counselor Brandy McDonald said he called six town clerks and they said their towns were not reimbursing residents for mailbox damage. Supervisor Peter Glushko said, “It’s just gotten to the point where it’s too expensive. We just can’t do it anymore.”  Glushko also noted that some elaborate mailboxes could cost the town hundreds of dollars to replace.

The sewage handling system at South Acres Trailer Park should be improved in the near future thanks to a $600,000 Community Development Block Grant secured by the Town of Peru.  The grant is part of the recently announced New York State Strategic Plan that awarded over $103 million for North Country economic development projects.  The Town of Peru applied for the grant on behalf of the private owner Tam Phung. The work to be done should enable the Phung to bring the system up to standard and to expand the park if the demand exists.  Approximately seventy families currently reside at South Acres.

Town Clerk Kathy Flynn told the counselor that 150 children have signed up for the town’s ski club program, a big increase from last year. She also said that the town’s dog licensing initiative has been successful. Early this year Dog Control Officer Kelly Allen surveyed the number of dogs in the town and informed people of the requirement to license dogs.  As a result the number of registered dogs has increased from 134 in 2009 to 336 at this time.  The licensing charge is $7.50 for a neutered or spayed dog and $15.00 for a non-neutered or non-spayed animal with slightly reduced fees for senior citizens (65+).  Click here to see the Town of Peru Dog Control Law. 

In other actions/news:

• Repairs to the Highway Department garage roof will be held off until spring in order to avoid problems associated with winter construction projects.
• The town is applying for a $1 million, five-year, no-interest loan under the Hurricane Emergency Loan Program.  The money will enable the town to pay contractors who performed Hurricane Irene-related road repairs. The loan will be repaid from expected FEMA reimbursement.  FEMA is also expected to reimburse the town in the amount of $144,000 for road repairs following our springtime flooding.
• Supervisor Glushko is finalizing the issuance of a $2.9+ million bond to finance the town’s water quality improvements. Work is expected to begin early in 2012. Glushko noted that project planning has been a team effort between the town’s engineer and the Clinton County Health Department.
• Water Superintendent Greg Timmons reported proposed expenses of $229,775 for repairs and upgrades to the town’s water tower.  Repairs and upgrades include new handrails, grating, exterior and interior coating and installation of a chlorine mixing system. Timmons hopes work can begin about April 1^st.  Town Attorney Don Biggs will determine if competitive bids are required for this project. The town engineer expressed the belief that bids may not be required. Pittsburg Tank and Tower (PTT) manufactured and installed the tank in 1976 and  performed tank maintenance. Counselor Susan Polhemus asked if a maintenance agreement with PTT had been considered. Greg Timmons said he has always believed that a maintenance agreement would be a good idea and had presented this option to the board several years ago. The cost would be about $12,000 annually and could be included in the Water Department budget.
• Supervisor Glushko informed counselors that the town’s former insurance carrier will be paying a claim in the amount of $25,000 related to flood damage to property owned by Bonnie and Stanley Tomkiewicz at 771 Bear Swamp Rd. The flooding occurred on August 8, 2008. The claimant believed that the flooding resulted from improper ditching work performed by the Town of Peru.