The Peru Gazette

November 12, 2024, Town Board Meeting Highlights:

Acting on Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell’s recommendation, the board (5-0) accepted a portion of Washington Street, part of Phase II of the Orchard View Development. The town will be responsible for its maintenance. A few months ago, the property changed hands. The board hopes the project will advance, adding much-needed homes to our community. 

Youth Director Kristen Marino said she needs a site manager for the basketball program conducted at Peru Central on eight Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. Following the meeting questions, Mrs. Marino explained more about the program. The town provides the site and equipment (including uniforms), finds volunteer coaches, sends out rule books, and facilitates and runs the sites. Clinton County coordinates and provides schedules, trains, and pays officials. She manages practice time slots and gym access with the school. The program aims to improve Peru’s basketball programs and allow children to be part of a team and exercise regularly during winter months while building needed skills. 

Basketball, Baseball, or Softball are all county programs. Athletes must play for the town they reside in or get a waiver from their town to play elsewhere.

Former Councilman Rick Barber, a Member of the America250 Commemoration Committee, reported that a plan is in place to erect a 20-foot flagpole at the Peru Dock overlooking the Battle of Valcour scene. An effort to salvage the Revolutionary War gunboat, the Spitfire, is also being considered. The Philadelphia, a similar vessel, is on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.  Barber said the Spitfire would hopefully be on display at the former Automobile Museum at the U. S. Oval.

Water-Sewer Parks Superintendent Courtney Tetrault reported that he sent a second lead-pipe survey to water district members. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires towns to identify any lead water pipes. The town reports results to the NYS Health Department. Tetrault has said several times that over the past 19 years, he’s never seen a lead water line in the town other than short connectors not covered by the mandate. 

Highway superintendent Michael Farrell reported that he placed a solar power camera on the southern end of Telegraph Road. He hopes it will resolve issues regarding his department’s not timely plowing of the road and adjoining neighborhoods. Cameras combined with plow truck technology will enable him to identify precisely when his personnel plowed town roads. 

Farrell also reported that the state’s electric truck mandate remains on hold for two years. Electric truck batteries are experiencing many performance issues in cold climates. Farrell also stated that NYSEG needs more electrical production capacity in this region before it can take on more heavy users.