The Peru Gazette

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Telegraph Rd. south of the Sullivan Rd. intersection

Temporary repairs on Cook Rd.

2019 Patent Rd.

Closed Telegraph Rd. Culvert

Telegraph Rd. culvert sink-hole

By John T Ryan 

Peru –  $5 million+ is a lot of money in a small town; however, that’s the approximate amount Peru incurred or will soon incur for its culvert replacement projects (not including any long-term borrowing costs). Town officials hoped that Peru would qualify for grants under the Bridge NY program; however, it doesn’t appear that will happen. Town Supervisor Brandy McDonald commented, “Like always, we are checking with Assemblyman Billy Jones to see if there is any chance of getting any funding from the State. We’re looking into anything possible for funding.” McDonald said the town would look at long-term borrowing if that effort fails. 

Highway Department Superintendent Michael Farrell recalls former Highway Department Superintendent Elmer Duprey telling him the culvert failures would happen under his watch. Duprey headed the department when the historic 1996 and 1998 floods washed out several culverts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared Peru a disaster area and funded the replacement culverts. Elmer Duprey recalls, “I wanted to use concrete box culverts, not galvanized pipe, but FEMA said ‘no.’ They insisted that we use what had been in place before the flooding. I knew galvanized pipe had changed over the years. It doesn’t hold up like it once did.” 

Environmental stream quality and fish habitat laws and regulations laws have also changed. Today, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) typically mandate that towns use box culverts.* While box culverts are guaranteed to last up to 100 years, they are costly. The town will pay $129,000 for the relatively small box culvert installed on Cook Rd. Culvert replacement projects also have design, engineering, and contracting costs. 

Recent and pending Peru projects: 

• 2019 Patent Rd. $264,000 
• 2022 Telegraph Rd. – Sullivan Road Intersection – Estimated $2 million 
• 2024 (Pending) Telegraph Rd. – Estimated $1,500,000 
• 2024 (Ongoing) Cook Rd. – $340,000
• (Pending) Wescott Rd in Peasleeville, a larger culvert than the pending culvert on Telegraph Rd. 

*Thank you to the NYS DEC for the following information regarding culverts and streams. 

Stream crossing applications are individually reviewed against the standards in the applicable statutes and regulations such as Environmental Conservation Law section 15-0501 Protection of Streams, 6NYCRR Part 608 Use and Protection of Waters, Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification, and the Community Risk and Resiliency Act. DEC’s stream crossing guidelines are outlined here: Stream Crossings – NYSDEC. Characteristics such as stream width and slope at the specific stream/crossing dictate the required structures. 

The statewide General Permit for stream activities also contains information on the types of culvert projects we recommend: General Permit For Stream Activities, GP-0-20-002 – NYSDEC. DEC’s Protection of Waters webpage provides additional information: Protection of Waters Program – NYSDEC.

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            Assemblyman Billy Jones recently announced his 2024 Women of Distinction Awardees. There will be a ceremony on Thursday May 9 at 6pm at the Stafford Theater at Clinton Community College to celebrate these distinguished recipients.

            “Every year I am truly impressed by the hundreds of nominations you all submit, making it difficult to pick the final awardees. There are some amazing women in the North Country, and it is an honor to recognize them at the Women of Distinction ceremony every year.”

This year’s recipients are:

• Carey Goyette — Education Award
• Louise McNally — Community and Civic Affairs Award
• Richelle Gregory — Healthcare Award
• Carol Arnold — Volunteerism Award
• Kelly Gonyo — Business Award
• Jackie Douglass — Humanitarian Award
• Lamiaa Aly-Elshafay — North Country Neighbor Award
• Pauline Stone — Service to Hometown Heroes Award
• Vivian Young Joo — Law Enforcement Award

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Excellent, extremely well-written story 

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Pacific Retail Capital Partners brings fresh perspective to area shopping center

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The festival was established last year following the conclusion of the Plattsburgh Half-Marathon in 2019

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The 82-year-old progressive firebrand from Vermont announced Monday that he is seeking a fourth term this year.

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May 19 at the Strand

The Coastal Suite stands as a significant achievement in the notable career of composer-pianist Alan Blackman. A New Jazz Works commission by Chamber Music America with funding awarded by the Doris Duke Foundation, the full-length, multi-media work was premiered live in Baltimore and New York in 2014 and featured on NPR’s JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater. Performances of The Coastal Suite have met with widespread acclaim by audiences and jazz pundits alike. “There is something here, a beauty, that is captivating,” said renowned jazz artist Joe Locke. “An absolutely gorgeous album, which communicates its waterside vision with stunning resonance,” said Dave Sumner from Bird is the Worm.com.

Alan Blackman has created an evocative concept piece that explores a 24-hour tidal cycle from pre-dawn through the night at a remote ocean beach. Highly programmatic, The Coastal Suite conjures the sound universe of the seashore as the musicians create nautical sounds through extended techniques, expanding the vocabulary of their instruments’ sonic capabilities. Augmenting Blackman’s regular Baltimore-based trio of bassist Max Murray and drummer Frank Russo are Canadian saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Boccato.  

Alan Blackman Jazz performs The Coastal Suite on Sunday, May 19 at 3:00 pm at the historic Strand Theater in Plattsburgh, New York.  Tickets are available online at strandcenter.org/theatre-events  and also at the Strand Arts Center during their regular business hours. For further information, telephone 518-293-7613, e-mail ambrown.hillholl@gmail.com or visit hillandhollowmusic.org Read more »

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL of April 17, 2024 minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing 
6. APPLICATIONS:
   1. 1. 1. Z2024-009 Area Variance;  for placement of car chargers

                                    Tesla Corp

      280.1-9-21.2

      2997 Main St

6. 0. 0. 2. Z2024-091  Area Variance for construction of garage

       Blakely and Rubin Remillard

        279.-3-7

        2 Pinewood Drive

6. 0. 0. 3. Z2024-092 Area Variance for construction of garage

        Karl Costin

        280.-1-37

        2714 State Rt 22

7. AN FURTHER BUSINESS               
8. CEO REPORT
9. ADJOURNMENT

CALL MEETING TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL April 10, 2024 minutes
OPEN FLOOR to public hearing

APPLICATIONS:

P2024-004 Site Plan Approval with SEQRA, Keystone Novelties
280.-1-30.11
729 Bear Swamp Rd

P2024-005 Site Plan Approval with SEQRA
Jake Menard
258.-2-8.2
3999 US Route 9

P2024-006 Site Plan Approval with SEQRA, Peru Community Church
280.1-8-61, 13 Elm St

P2024-007 Site Plan Review-Sign
Peru Memorial Post 309
256.-5-5.5-1
710 Route 22B

P2024-008 2-Lot Minor Subdivision with SEQRA,
Bonner Tree Farm and Nursery
291.-2-1
599 Calkins Rd

6. P2024-009 Merge, Bonner Tree Farm and Nursery 291.-2-1 & 291.-3-2-3
Calkins Rd

7. P2024-010 Merge, Joseph Stemper, 280.-1-61.1 & 280.-1-61.3, 662 Union Rd

ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
CEO REPORT
ADJOURNMENT