The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

At a July 20, 2016 Special Meeting, the Peru Town Board took a major step in resolving the Peru Town Court location issue when it unanimously voted to purchase the property formerly occupied by the Peru Central School Federal Credit Union at 22 Davey Drive. The agreed purchase price is $115,000, plus the Town will pay $5,000 to $6,000 in 2016 taxes. The purchase agreement is contingent on the property being appraised at a value at or above $115,000. (The real estate agent listed the property at $155,000 and it is assessed at $188,900). Once the Town of Peru acquires the property it will be removed from the tax rolls.

The Town Board has been discussing Peru Town Court location issues since August of 2014. Changing court hours, moving the court to the Town Hall’s basement level and renting space at Glenwood Plaza have all been considered. Town Justice James Kirby brought the issue to a head in the May 25^th meeting when he told the Board that grants are available to upgrade court security; however, the Town would not be able to apply for a grant until a location decision was made. At the same meeting Town Justice Larry Cabana told the Board, “Defense attorneys consider this the worst courtroom in the county.” Shortly after that meeting the Board toured the Peru Federal Union Building and concluded that it would be an excellent court location.