The Peru Gazette

By John T Ryan 

At its Monday, December 8, 3035 meeting the Peru Town Board appointed Town Justice Elect Sarah Mitchell to fill the late Town Justice Jim Kirby’s term of office on the condition that she successfully completes a 5-day training course in Albany. The appointment is effective December 12. 

In an action that will be music to many people’s ears, the board authorized its engineer to prepare final bid specifications for the Telegraph Road-Dry Mill Brook culvert project with a bid opening on January 7, 2026. Highway Supervisor Michael Farrell previously stated that he hopes that the project will begin soon after the bid acceptance. 

The board tabled the purchase of a new snowplow truck pending the highway department’s decision on a transmission. All but one of the highway department’s current trucks have an Allison transmission, which department personnel can repair and Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell calls ‘bulletproof.” The Allison transmission would cost an additional $7,000.  The department will purchase a 2027 Western Star 47X chassis truck outfitted with Viking Plow Gear. The low bid was $351,521 utilizing a vocational 12-speed transmission.  Some personnel do not feel comfortable with the 12-speed transmission after driving the plow truck that arrived last week.  The manufacturer could not get an Allison transmission for that truck. (Note – A 2011 Peru Gazette story stated the low bid for an equipped plow truck was $186,400.)

Town Supervisor Craig Randall and Water Sewer Superintendent recently met with engineers to discuss the upcoming Water Treatment Plant Project.  The engineering firm will provide the board with monthly project updates. 

In other actions, the board approved: 

A payment to Luck Brothers Construction recent installation of the Fuller-Road culvert in the amount of $250,817.50. Luck’s price was lower than estimates.  The Peru Gazette is requesting design, engineering and other costs in hopes of computing the total project cost.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Payments – Payment #5 to Danforth Construction of $79,800 and Payment #5 to Murnane Building Contractors of $567.353.54. A money transfer from debt service account H34 was approved to enable the town to make those payments. 

Click here to view the meeting video.