The Peru Gazette

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Adventurer and highly experienced skier Jenn Woltjen shares a few favorite trips to get outside in Adirondack winters 

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Chazy, City and Town of Plattsburgh, Trout Unlimited, and Saranac School District Awarded Grants

Hochul News Release of Jan. 15, 2026 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than $265 million in grants to support projects that will help protect drinking water, improve climate resilience, update aging water infrastructure, reduce contributors to harmful algal blooms, and secure access to clean water. The funding complements the historic environmental investments announced earlier this week in the 2026 State of the State, building upon the record support for New York’s premier grant programs that fund critical water infrastructure, protect drinking water and safeguard communities.

Today’s announcement is supported by funding from multiple grant programs administered by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) and investments from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, Environmental Protection Fund and other sources. The programs help protect New York State communities and water quality, while reinforcing the State’s support for municipalities by making these critical projects more affordable and minimizing the financial burden on local taxpayers. 

More than $209 million was awarded to 131 projects through DEC’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant program.  WQIP grants fund projects that directly improve water quality or habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency or protect a drinking water source. A full list of grant awards can be found here.

A total of $2.9 million is being awarded to 44 projects through DEC’s Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 System Mapping Grant (NPG) to fund projects that help pay for the initial planning of water quality improvement projects such as replacing undersized culvert, green infrastructure, and State permit-required storm sewer mapping in urban areas. NPG projects reduce the amount of polluted stormwater runoff entering lakes, rivers, and streams and improve resiliency against the impacts of climate change. A full list of grant awards can be found here.

Governor Hochul also announced $55 million in new grant funding for 24 climate resiliency projects in 15 communities across New York State. EFC, in coordination with DEC, administers the Resilient Watersheds Grants (RWG) program funded through the Bond Act. RWG projects were selected to reflect the diverse, statewide issues that New Yorkers are facing and include stream and floodplain restoration, removal of dams, culverts and other barriers, culvert replacements and property buyouts. The RWG program builds on the success of DEC’s Resilient NY, which delivers state-of-the-art studies of flood-prone, high-risk watersheds across the State. All awarded projects were recommended actions by Resilient NY studies or a comparable flood study.  A full list of grant awards can be found here.

The Peru Gazette identified the following projects in Clinton County: 

Water Quality Improvement Grants (WQIP)

Town of Chazy, Wastewater Filtration Improvements. The Town of Chazy will install a tertiary filtration system and upgrade control systems to its wastewater treatment plant. The improvements will reduce the discharge of phosphorus, improving water quality in the Lake Champlain watershed.- $1,993,646.00

Trout Unlimited, Inc. Saranac River Reconnection. Trout Unlimited will coordinate with local municipal partners to replace a failing culvert in the Town of Franklin and remove a derelict dam in the Town of Saranac. The project will connect eight stream miles of trout habitat in the Saranac River. Clinton, Franklin Aquatic Connectivity –  $327,584.00

DEC’s Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 System Mapping Grant (NPG)

Town of Plattsburgh Infrastructure Engineering Feasibility Study. The Town of Plattsburgh will develop a green infrastructure feasibility study to explore practices that would divert and infiltrate stormwater runoff on the Plattsburgh Air Force Base property. Drainage from the property is currently discharging to Lake Champlain. Implementation of study recommendations will ultimately reduce nutrient and sediment loading to the lake. Clinton Nonpoint Source, Planning Report – $50,000.00

Environmental Bond Act Projects. Phase 3, Environmental Facilities Corp, Plattsburgh – $5,000,000

Electric School Buses for Saranac School District, NYSERDA – $514,500

Electric School Bus Chargers for Saranac School District, NYSERDA  – $130,000

MacDonough Park Flood Resiliency Improvements, DOS, City of Plattsburgh – $1,181,812

Saranac River Reconnection, DEC –  $327,584

Clinton County to receive $3 Million 

Albany, Hochul News Release of Jan. 15, 2026 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than $38 million in state funding has been awarded to 17 counties and New York City to improve emergency communications for first responders, making New Yorkers safer. The Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant program supports local governments’ efforts to build and repair radio towers that allow them to communicate with other emergency responders during disasters and emergencies. Installing and maintaining these towers ensures that lines of communication continue to be clearly accessible in situations when they are needed the most.

“Saving a life can come down to one call, and our first responders need to have the most reliable emergency communications systems to help their fellow New Yorkers during their most critical moments,” Governor Hochul said. “Investing in emergency response to enhance first responder readiness is a matter of life and death — I remain committed to prioritizing public safety throughout our state.”

The State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services will administer the funding, which is available under the Combined 2024 & 2025 Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant (SICG) Targeted Grant Program. The goal of the SICG-Targeted program is to close gaps in interoperability infrastructure, regional communications deficiencies, improve redundancy and resiliency of existing systems and support the implementation of National Interoperability Channels. All New York State counties and New York City were eligible to apply for SICG-Targeted funding. Recipients can use the awards for emergency communications projects, such as installation of new equipment, enhancing communication channels among public safety radio systems and training and exercise support to promote interregional emergency communications and first responder readiness.

Albany, Comptroller News Release of Jan. 15, 2026 – An independent fiduciary and conflict of interest review of the $291.4 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) recognized the Fund for its exemplary investment oversight, risk management, and ethical governance. Released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, the review concluded the Fund operates with the highest ethical standards, is in full compliance with fiduciary and statutory requirements, and acts for the sole benefit of its more than 1.2 million participants. The review was conducted by Weaver and Tidwell LLP (Weaver).

“During my tenure, the New York State Common Retirement Fund has established itself as one of the nation’s top public pension funds in performance, transparency, ethics, and public accountability. I’m proud of the results-driven, disciplined work my team accomplishes year-in and year-out,” DiNapoli said. “This report confirms that we are meeting and exceeding standards and safeguarding the pension’s assets on behalf of over 1.2 million members, retirees, and beneficiaries. I thank the staff at Weaver for their thoughtful and thorough review.”

This review, required by state regulations, is part of the reforms that DiNapoli fought for when he became State Comptroller to provide the public with a clear, independent assessment of how the Fund is being managed and where improvements could be made.

Weaver’s review found:

• The Fund operates under a strong governance framework with a rigorous system of internal controls, and maintains a high level of operational transparency.
• The Comptroller manages the Fund with the highest ethical, professional, and conflict of interest standards, and acts for the sole benefit of the retirement system’s members and beneficiaries.
• The Fund has a great deal of focus on the fees applied to each individual deal and whether the proposed fees fall within prevailing market norms.
• The Fund demonstrates a strategic asset allocation between public and private markets that closely aligns with its peer group.
• Fund staff are knowledgeable and dedicated and manage the Fund in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

Read more »

Why the New Land Trust is Tom French’s new favorite ski destination

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State legislators found Gov. Hochul’s State of the State lacking in support for North Country communities

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The campus will be closed to all activities.

The Peru Central School District is now closed, due to the inclement weather today, January 15, 2026. The campus will be closed to all activities. 

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Property tax levy growth for New York’s school districts and 10 cities will remain capped at 2% for the fifth year in a row, according to data released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

News Release, Jan. 14, 2026 – The tax cap, which first applied to local governments (excluding New York City) and school districts in 2012, limits annual tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2% with certain exceptions. The law includes provisions that allow school districts and municipalities to override the cap. DiNapoli’s office calculated the inflation factor at 2.63% for those with a June 30, 2027, fiscal year end.

“For the fifth consecutive year, the property tax levy for school districts and 10 cities will be capped at 2%,” DiNapoli said. “School district and municipal officials must continue to find ways to deliver services efficiently as they deal with higher costs and the potential impact of federal actions.”

The 2% allowable levy growth affects the tax cap calculations for 675 school districts and 10 cities with fiscal years starting July 1, 2026, including the “Big Four” cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers, as well as Amsterdam, Auburn, Corning, Long Beach, Watertown, and White Plains.

Note: Allowable levy growth is expressed as a percentage.

List of allowable tax levy growth factors for all local governments
Real Property Tax Cap and Tax Cap Compliance web page

By John T Ryan

Peru, NY –  The art and graphic design show underway through March 7 at the Peru Free Library has an intriguing title – “The Light We Carry.” Abigail Duquette, a Cadyville native, is the artist/designer whose works are on display. Abigail graduated from Saranac Central High School in 2020 and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at SUNY Plattsburgh in 2024.  Many people attended the show’s opening reception on Saturday, January 10.

A show that combines secular and religious-themed art is unusual in today’s secular world, especially for a young person like Abigail. Talking about her “The Light We Carry” theme, she explained, “It expresses my faith, carrying God’s light wherever we go, especially in times of darkness. It’s needed now. I feel called to do it.” 

Abigail said her 10th-grade art teacher, Amy Guglielmo, sparked her interest in art. She said, “Amy is an educator, an artist, and a writer. She truly sparked my interest in art and design.” The two women stayed in contact during Duquette’s college years and have collaborated on the City of Plattsburgh’s outside art. 

While the show at the Peru Library is Abigail’s first solo show, she’s exhibited in several area galleries, at SUNY Plattsburgh, Saratoga, Lake Placid, and Ogdensburg. She also operates a small company, Duquette Designs, where she specializes in graphic design and is a social media manager for local companies. 

Councilman Melvin Irwin to serve as Deputy Town Supervisor 

Pam Barber named to the Personnel Committee 

NBT Bank named as a secondary town depository. TB Bank remains as the primary depository.  

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Note a camera battery failure resulted in the Gazette not recording about the first five minutes of the meeting. 

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Factories reported changes in machinery in the late 1800s, allowing for industrial advancements in the Adirondacks

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Cost relief, child care, energy priorities in annual address

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