The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

The Wednesday, May 28, 2013 Town Board meeting started off on a good note with town resident Jim Earle praising Town Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell for his department’s fast reaction to Earle’s report of a 2.5 foot  x 3 foot wide, 3 foot deep, sink hole on a Fuller Rd. just south of the Sullivan Road intersection. Earle said, “Mike and his men had it fixed within an hour. It could have resulted in a fatal accident.” Unfortunately town engineers estimate that replacing two culverts below the sink hole may cost as much as $250,000. A repair, which may not not solve the problem, was estimated to cost approximately $50,000.

Farrell told the Board that two 10 foot diameter culverts were installed following the 1996 flood and were damaged and repaired at the time of the 1998 flood. He said he had talked to town engineers about several solutions. Farrell is worried that portions of the culverts which are out of sight may have been washed out. Farrell said, “We’ve got to do something. We’re going to be playing Russian roulette because we don’t know what’s gone.”

Supervisor Peter Glushko and other counselors expressed the view that the road must be safe for vehicular traffic and that a long-term fix would be the best option. Glushko said, “It’s going to take borrowing to do. We might have to stretch a loan out over 30 or 35 years.” He told Farrell to get the project planning started and that the town would look for any available grant monies.  “No Truck” signs have been erected on both sides of the culverts. Engineers said they felt travel at this time was safe for other vehicles.

Peru’s $3.2 million water system improvement project has experienced a second delay. Originally scheduled for completion on or about March 31, 2013, it appears that the project will not be complete until at least September 1^st.  The first delay resulted from a late delivery of filtration media. A control valve design issue caused the second delay. Water Superintendent Greg Timmons said that as of this date, the delay has not resulted in additional costs. He does not know what the end result will be.

In other actions:

• Counselor Kregg Bruno reported that he now favors moving town court hours to 2 PM on Tuesdays. He said that Judge John Lawliss and Judge James Kirby both told him that a change in the Town of Plattsburgh’s court hours resulted in attorneys not being available for clients appearing in the Peru court.
• Town Clerk Kathy Flynn asked the board to consider bringing back Alden Stevens to organize town records at a cost not to exceed $1,000. Stevens organized the records 2011; however, they were moved about during the course of the state comptroller’s audit and follow-up account reconciliation efforts.  The board appeared to favor hiring Stevens and will vote when a specific resolution is presented.
• A grant administration workshop was scheduled for Wednesday, June 5^th at 6:30 pm. A $500,000 USDA Emergency Community Water Assistance grant was recently awarded to the town. These monies will be applied to the $3.2 million water system improvement project and should reduce the water district’s bonds outstanding.
• The board learned that a sign at Heyworth/Mason Park (Corrected June 3, 2013 – not Little Ausable Park as originally stated) was thrown into the Little Ausable River. Greg Timmons thinks that it can be salvaged. Supervisor Glushko said a sign will have to be developed which states all the park’s rules. He said, “The park is becoming sign city.” Counselor Brandy McDonald remarked, “We don’t have much for the kids who don’t play sports.”  Vandalism is a constant problem at the very popular community park.
• Supervisor Glushko reported that he recently attended a three day town accounting school in Fishkill, NY.
• Kathy Flynn reported that the Youth Commission’s annual tournament will be held on Saturday, June 1^st beginning at 9 am.
• Counselor James Douglass asked to excused from attending this meeting.