The Peru Gazette

Source: Adirondack lawmakers wary of adding clean air and water to state bill of rights | Adirondack Explorer

Source: DEC launches ice fishing survey on Lake Champlain – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: Biden’s Covid-19 Plan To Include Billions For Vaccine Distribution : Biden Transition Updates : NPR

By John T. Ryan

Meeting highlights:

Water Superintendent Courtney Tetrault said his personnel have tried to get the Sullivan Park ice rink operating; however, the cold-warm weather conditions have hindered ice making. 

Youth Director John Flynn reported that Whiteface is available for the town’s skiing program. Thirty-eight youths signed up for the program that will take place over the next six Sundays. 

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that as many as five of his seven plow trucks and two pickups have been out of action for maintenance issues. He’s also concerned about COVID. Highway personnel in two other towns have tested positive. Farrell would like to see his personnel move up on the vaccination priority list. 

In other action the Board: 

Awarded the Trunk Sewer Main and Pump Station Reconstruction project to Rifenburg Contracting Corp. of Troy. The bid was $3,717,939. Work will commence as soon as weather permits. 

Awarded a $21,560 bid to Geographic Information Services to geo-map water and sewer lines. The locations of the lines will be digitized, making the design and engineering of new lines easier and maintenance of old pipes much more efficient. The highway and water-sewer departments will share the cost. 

Approved applying for an engineering planning grant to evaluate the southern end of the sewage collection system, i.e., the lines south of the Little Ausable River. 

Approved purchasing a wood chipper in the amount of $11,900. 

Scheduled a February 8th, 5 p.m. workshop to discuss water disinfection at the wastewater treatment plant. 

Discussed the Walking Trail extension between Maiden Lane and Sullivan Park. Adele Douglas, who played a major role in planning the existing trail, volunteered to assist with the trail extension. 

Satisfied NYS renewal requirements for the Section 467 senior citizen and Section 459 disabled person property tax exemptions. 

Washington, DC –  Congresswoman Stefanik has announced that public and non-profit colleges and universities in New York’s 21^st Congressional District will receive more than $45,000,000 in funding to support continued education. Congresswoman Stefanik released the following statement on this terrific news:0

“I am proud to announce that public and non-profit colleges and universities in the North Country will receive more than $45 million dollars from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), which I worked tirelessly to help pass in Congress last month. This funding can be put towards financial aid grants to students, student support activities, and a variety of institutional costs, including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, and payroll. Our higher education institutions in the North Country were hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and I worked to deliver this much-needed additional funding that allows them to continue educating and inspiring the next generation of leaders.”

Allocations to institutions are based on the relative shares of Federal Pell Grant recipients, non-Pell Grant recipients, and Federal Pell and non-Pell Grant recipients exclusively enrolled in distance education prior to the coronavirus emergency. The list of awards is below:

Adirondack Community College: $4,876,146

Clarkson University: $3,872,273

Clinton Community College: $1,545,848

Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington BOCES: $128,983

Fulton-Montgomery Community College: $3,014,275

Jefferson Community College: $4,618,540

Jefferson-Lewis BOCES Program of Practical Nursing:$138,888

North Country Community College: $2,219,613

Paul Smith’s College: $1,357,184

Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing: $197,013

SUNY Plattsburgh: $8,423,237

SUNY Potsdam: $7,227,985

SUNY Canton: $4,928,910

St. Lawrence University: $2,660,768

Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES:  $20,845

For more information, please visit the United States Department of Education’s website here.

Source: No credible threats to Albany, Montpelier ahead of Inauguration Day, says FBI special agent; two rioters at US Capitol from Upstate identified | NCPR News

Source: NYS Vaccine sites to open in Potsdam, Plattsburgh, but appointments limited | NCPR News

Source: Bethlehem couple flew to Florida for coronavirus vaccine

Source: The US just suffered its worst day for COVID-19 deaths. But summer could be ‘dramatically better’

Source: NY state: No more Covid-19 vaccination appointments until April – syracuse.com

Approved Minutes of November 9, 2020 Regular Board Meeting 

Approved Minutes – Nov. 16, 2020 Special Town Board Meeting

Approved Minutes – Nov. 23, 2020 Regular Meeting

Public Hearing -12-14-20 Water and Sewer Rates

Click here for Minutes – December 30, 2020 Meeting

The Peru Town Board conducted its Organizational Meeting on Monday, January 11th at 5:30 p.m. Here are the salaries liaisons, meeting dates, contracts, etc. agreed upon.

Click here for the 2021 Information

Click here for December 2020 Town of Peru Department Reports 

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update

Source: Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces $306 billion infrastructure upgrade plan in day 4 of NY State of State address – ABC7 New York

Source: Assemblyman Billy Jones | 2021 Legislative Priorities | MLJ Interview – Mountain Lake PBS

Source: A Lasting Tribute at the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge – Mountain Lake PBS

Source: Vermont sending ‘approximately 100’ National Guard members to Washington