The Peru Gazette

By  John T. Ryan

Important decisions having to do with water quality improvement project costs, natural gas availability and speed limits highlighted the Monday, June 10, 2013 Town Board meeting.  Counselors approved two resolutions that could add from $25, 000 to $50,000 to the cost of the water quality improvement project. Bringing natural gas to more town residents will be more difficult than the board had been led to believe and Lyons Road residents were present to request lowering the speed limit on that highway.

Following a recommendation by the town’s project engineer, the counselors authorized the expenditure of not more that $15,000 to pay a “Resident Project Representative” to monitor the last phase of the $3.2 million water quality improvement project. The delayed filtration media has arrived and the redesigned control values are scheduled to arrive at the contractor J. Hogan Refrigeration and Mechanical on June 13^th. AES Northeast engineer Todd Hodgson said the project representative would ensure that the project would be completed in conformance with specifications.

Hodgson also recommended a change order estimated to cost in excess of $20,000. The change will allow the filters to be separately cleaned (backwashed) thereby maintaining filtration media efficiency. The town may be required to solicit bids for the change order. Town Attorney Donald Biggs will research the legal requirements. Advertising for bids would delay the project by a few days. The board will schedule a Special Meeting if necessary.

In response to a question from this reporter, Counselor Brandy McDonald stated any Peru resident desiring natural gas service must call the NYSEG’s 800 number (800-572-1111) and request an application. McDonald said a letter NYSEG sent to Peru residents a few weeks ago was “misleading.”  At the April 22, 2013 board meeting McDonald stated that a NYSEG representative told him that if 10% of residents responding to the letter indicated an interest in installing natural gas service, there would be a good chance that service would be extended to many parts of the community.

Lyons Road residents Cindy Arnold and Lee Meyer asked the board for a lower speed limit on the Lyons Road. Arnold said, “There is no posted speed limit, making the limit 55 miles per hour. There’s a daycare and disabled people along the road. There have been several accidents and close calls. We need help with speeders from the South Junction Road to the Rock Road.”  As they have done with similar requests the board passed a resolution requesting that the NYS Department of Transportation consider lowering the speed limit. Counselor Brandy McDonald stated that a petition signed by Lyons Road residents could help bring a more favorable resolution.  He stated, “The community has more say on speed limits than we do.”

In other actions/news:

Peru Central Physical Education teacher Tracy Posada described the “Adventure Challenge Program” to the board. The program is intended to promote physical fitness, especially among young children. It will be conducted on Saturday, June 29^th at the Laphams Mills Park. There will be obstacles with water, mud, climbing, crawling and jogging. This year’s kindergarten through 6th grade children are encouraged to participate. The cost will be $10 per child up to a maximum of $25 per family. Click here for YouthAdventureChallenge Pre-Registration Form.

The board reappointed Tim Surpitski to a 6-year term as Town of Peru Assessor. Surpitski’s current term of office expires on September 30, 2013.

The Lyon Street School was added to the National Register of Historic places on May 22, 2013. The designation makes it feasible for the town to apply for grants to restore the building. (See earlier story & photo) 

The agricultural overlay to the proposed new zoning law is being amended. Several local dairy farmers and apple growers objected to their land being restricted to agricultural use. If the profitability of the dairy or apple industry changes, they want the ability to use or sell their land for other than agriculture purposes. The proposed law would have restricted the future use of the land to only agricultural purposes.