The Peru Gazette

Tractor Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting

The Peru Tractor Parade is scheduled for December 4. It will depart from Irwin’s Maplegrand Farm on Jarvis Road at 6 p.m. More details will follow.

The Town’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will also take place on December 4. Details will be announced.

Telegraph Road Bridge

The board approved a resolution to transfer ownership and maintenance of the recently constructed Telegraph Road Dry Mill Brook culvert/bridge to Clinton County. The resolution cited the specialized personnel, equipment, and financial resources needed to maintain the structure. To qualify for the ownership change, Clinton County required the town to have an on-site inspector throughout construction.  The county will take ownership of structures classified as a bridge. It will not take ownership of culverts or and certain other bridges such as on Wescott Road where Peru’s next major road project will take place. Bid opening is scheduled for December 11. 

Transferring responsibility and ownership to the county would relieve Peru taxpayers of future bridge maintenance expenses. The resolution authorized Randall to work with county officials and engineers to complete the needed agreements and paperwork.

Junkyard License Application

The board delayed action pending a public hearing on a zoning application filed by Michael Wells, owner of Tired Iron Hauling and Repair at 135 Connors Road. Wells seeks to expand his automotive repair and towing service to include a salvage yard. In 2021, Wells purchased a 14-acre parcel from Michael Relation, owner of Rustic Auto Body and Salvage Yard. Earlier this year, Wells purchased an adjacent parcel from the Relation family estate. The salvaged vehicle area would not be expanded. The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, November 25, at 5:45 p.m.

Code Enforcement Officer’s (CEO) October Report 

During October, CEO Duane Bibeau reported issuing 21 building permits, collecting $5,449.63 in fees, issuing 12 Certificates of Compliance/Occupancy, completing 49 permit inspections, and performing 6 annual mobile home park/campground inspections (434 site inspections). CEO October Report

Planning Board Reappointment 

Acting on a letter from Planning Board Chairman Garrett Mastic stating that the board rescinded a resolution passed at its last meeting appointing Mastic as chairman. Instead, it reappointed Mastic to a seven-year term as a planning board member. As has been the practice, the board will address the chair position in early 2027.  

Water District Finances

As it does every year, the board voted to levy unpaid water and sewer bills on delinquent property owners’ 2027 taxes. $57,269.67 remains unpaid, a typical amount. 

Joining an Effort to Lower Electric Costs 

Supervisor Craig Randall asked the board to support a petition to state legislators seeking legislation to lower utility costs for North Country consumers. Unitary America, the volunteer group that distributes food and books and performs trash pickup in the area, has had several towns agree to sign. Garrett Monette, the organization’s founder, asked Randall if Peru would join with our neighboring towns. The town board voted to include Peru in the petition. 

Agenda & Resolutions 110926

Click here to view the Gazette’s meeting video. Note, an air fan impacted the video’s sound.