The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan 

• NYSEG to Undertake Major Natural Gas Expansion
• North Bend Street Zombie property to be Partially Cleaned Up 
• Laphams Mills Park Bathroom Expansion On Hold 
• Main Street Improvement Project Bids Re-advertised 
• Shade Structure Being Considered at Dog Park 
• Town Court Overtime Concerns 

Supervisor Brandy McDonald reported that NYSEG plans to install 34,000 feet of natural gas pipelines in Peru beginning on June 25. The streets include: All of Aubrey Lane, Eva Drive, Haynes Terrace, Howard Drive, Locust Drive, McDonald Place and Ratcliffe Drive, 1-13 Birchwood Drive, 327-356 Dashnaw Road, 1-17 Holden Avenue, 356-590 and 618-662 Laphams Mills Road, 2-20 Maiden Lane, 1-18 McIntosh Drive, 3420-3470 State Route 22.  NYSEG will hold a public information meeting sometime in June. 

Highway Department personnel will soon do a partial cleanup at 39 North Bend Street. A stockade fence that partially concealed the neglected property recently fell down; therefore, the Town can take limited action.  Portions of the cleanup will be difficult because the Town cannot legally move the vehicles parked on the property. The possible presence of asbestos and the expense incurred in asbestos abatement also complicates the situation. Since property taxes have not been paid for the past few years, the Town Board anticipates that in 2019 Clinton County will clean-up the property prior to selling it at auction. 

39 North Bend St. Property

During the discussion of the North Bend Street property Counselor Jim Langley pointed out that counties receive all monies derived from tax auctions. Even though taxes are due to towns and/or schools, all the money is garnered by the county. None is returned to either the towns or school districts. 

A few weeks ago Peru Youth Director John Flynn asked the Board to consider installing bathrooms in a second location at Laphams Mills Park. Consulting engineering Peter Gibbs reported that soil percolation tests revealed that bathrooms with running water and a septic system would require a pump station, two 1,500 gallon septic tanks and an above ground leach field. The leach field would be partially above-ground excluding that space from parking or other uses. The estimated the cost exceeds $30,000.  Supervisor Brandy McDonald said the possibility of installing bathrooms between fields #2 and #3 similar to the existing bathrooms is being explored. The existing bathrooms do not have running water and use a holding bladder/tank that is periodically pumped out. 

No contractors submitted a bid for the Main Street improvement project. Contractors said they were not given sufficient time to develop a bid. The Board voted to re-advertise for bids and set the bid opening for June 8, 2018 at 10AM. 

During the public comment portion of the meeting John Collings asked the Board to consider erecting a structure that would provide shade and seating for Heyworth-Mason Dog Park users. Collings said he enjoys using the park, but he has a severe sun sensitivity condition. He priced the materials at approximately $1,100 and suggested that volunteers might be willing to erect the structure. Supervisor McDonald said the Board would look into the issue. 

Supervisor McDonald expressed concern about Peru Town Court overtime costs. A part-time court clerk was hired for 29 hours weekly. The clerk’s hours of work have consistently exceeded that amount. The judges will be consulted on the issue and the Court’s revenues vs. expenses will be analyzed.  The Town retains only a small amount of total court revenues. 

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