The Peru Gazette

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Springtime street sweeping will not be necessary 

By John T. Ryan

Peru – What Supervisor Brandy McMcDonald predicted to be a five-minute December 29 town board meeting ended up being a fifty-minute meeting. Action items included:

• Purchasing fencing to enclose road salt.
• Purchasing a road salt tracking system and cameras.
• Transferring several budget line items.
• Making regular payments.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell is gradually introducing a road salt reduction program to reduce salt use, eliminate the need for sand, protect the environment, and save money over the long term. Springtime street sweeping will also not be necessary. He recommended implementing the program in Peru after seeing the system successful in Lake George and after considerable research.

Town plow trucks will spray a low salt-content brine on roads before a storm’s arrival. GPS-linked truck systems will record and calibrate salt application amounts. “Live Edge” plows installed on each truck are segmented in a series of jointed, spring-loaded sections that move up and down, conforming to a road’s surface, removing snow and ice closer to the surface than traditional plows, and reducing the need for salt.  In addition, video cameras along roads will provide up-to-date information on road surface temperatures and conditions. So instead of driving to distant places like Peasleeville to inspect a road, highway personnel can view road conditions on their cell phones. Farrell mentioned the Peasleeville, Patent, River, and Union Roads as probable camera locations. The board authorized the purchase of monitoring software at an annual cost of $5,040 and six solar-powered cameras at $37,484. Click here for a more detailed explanation of the program. 

It also awarded a bid to C&E Fencing for $10,635 for providing and installing fencing to enclose the town’s salt storage area. Salt’s rising cost led to Mike Farrell’s decision to add more fencing to the salt storage area.

Interim Youth Director Christine Marino reported that 112 children signed up for the Youth Commission’s winter basketball program. They’ll play on eight teams, with the schedule announced on January 20. Three coaches are still needed; therefore, Marino will actively seek coaches over the next several days. The Ski Club will begin traveling to Whiteface in about two weeks.

The board will advertise for a permanent youth director in the next few days. Marino, who has been serving as interim director, said she is interested in the civil service position.

Supervisor Brandy McDonald thanks all residents who generously contributed to his effort to purchase food and toys for local families and children.  He said the program assisted 76 families and 141 children.  Peru’s JCEO Outreach worker April Wait was also a big help. 

In other actions, the board:

• Authorized payment #4 in the amount of $243,104.74 to Luck Brothers related to the Elm Street sewer project.

• Approved line item budget transfers from accounts with excess funds to accounts with inadequate funds for the following items:

$15,991 – General

$143,314.05 – Highway (Michael Farrell said this transfer was related to higher than anticipated heating fuel and truck fuel costs)

$13,021.43 – Sewer

$523.37 – Valcour Sewer

$3,763.95 – Water

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Makes N.Y. first in nation to allow reimbursement for kidney and liver donations

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Crime-related costs may now be covered for ‘revenge porn’ and reckless endangerment

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30 percent land protected by 2030 will promote N.Y.S. biodiversity and resources

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Applications for SUNY and CUNY eligible students open through Feb. 9

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Baked Ziti Casserole
Vegetable
Bread
Dessert

Served 4;30 to 5:30 p.m., take-out only at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru.

All are welcome at our table.

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The snow is still falling. Some parts of the county could see another 8 to 12 inches by 1 p.m. Tuesday. More than 12,000 people still do not have power.

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“Snowmobile activity has commenced along the Adirondack Rail Trail section between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, where construction has been taking place.”

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Funding included in FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill passed by Congress

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  Holiday Match Helps Children All Year Long

December 23, 2022—The Stewart’s Holiday Match Program is a true community effort with Stewart’s Shops doubling every customer gift. Customer donations have reached $884,667 through Thursday, December 22nd. That’s over $1.7M with Stewart’s doubling every gift, and there are three more collection days!

The Stewart’s Holiday Match Program has no administrative fees and donates 100% of donations received to charities in their market areas. Stewart’s Shops matches each donation penny for penny and dollar for dollar and has been doing so for the past 36 years, raising over $34 million for local charities.

While many other fundraising efforts spend 30% or more on overhead expenses, Stewart’s has no administrative fees and covers all the expenses. This means 100% goes to local nonprofits!

Holiday Match funds are collected from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day in each of the 357 shops. Local children’s organizations are encouraged to apply for funding here. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2023. All groups applying must be locally based, benefit children under 18, and be a qualified, charitable 501c3 organization. A listing of all the local organizations that received funds last season is available online.

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