The Peru Gazette

Grand Isle, VT – The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) seeks proposals for projects that will support increased organizational capacity and long-term effectiveness of watershed organizations in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain watershed.

Funding requests ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 will be considered. Approximately $300,000 is available to support awarded projects under this Request for Proposals. The LCBP anticipates supporting multiple projects through this funding opportunity.

NEIWPCC/LCBP is announcing the re-issuance of this request for proposals (RFP) to align with the recent Executive Orders and to allow for all potential projects to be proposed that are in direct support of the ongoing efforts to preserve and advance water quality initiatives across the Lake Champlain Basin.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to assist organizations focused on water quality or watershed ecosystem health working in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain basin. Requested funds should be applied to environmental-related activities, workforce development, or professional development support. Please see the LCBP’s annual Organizational Support grant opportunity to apply for funding to support administrative-related organizational capacity needs.

Dr. Eric Howe, NEIWPCC Program Director of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, said, “With their expertise and strong community ties, local organizations in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain basin play a critical role in restoring our shared waters and building a workforce ready to tackle the challenges facing our watershed. We’re grateful to support their growth and ongoing development with this funding opportunity.”

These projects are supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC on behalf of the LCBP by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Proposals are due at 12pm on March 20^th, 2025. Awarded projects will begin work in June 2025. More information, including grant guidelines and applications, is available on the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s website at lcbp.org/grants.

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Home Town Cable video 

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L-R Todd Jorgenson (Jorgenson Pace), Danielle King (TDC), Sarah Brake (DCI)

Plattsburgh, NY—Danielle (Dani) King, President and CEO of TDC, has been announced as a recipient of the 2025 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award, the biennial award recognizing rising stars under 40 in the economic development industry.

The awards program is hosted by Development Counsellors International (DCI), a New York-based integrated marketing firm that works with economic development and travel organizations around the globe, and Jorgenson Pace, Inc, a leading national executive search firm serving organizations in non-profit, economic and community development industries. An independent selection committee of six economic development leaders and site selection consultants evaluated nominations based on demonstrating strong leadership, commitment and innovation every day in the workplace. Read more »

Animal Abuse Investigation in Jefferson County, Long Haul Violations in Sullivan County, and Ice Fishing Violations on Oneida Lake

Animal Abuse Investigation – Jefferson County
On Jan. 30, Environmental Crimes Investigator Jackson responded to a call from a concerned resident who reported finding the carcass of an animal believed to be a coyote near Skinner Road in the town of Ellisburg. Investigator Jackson arrived at the location and determined it was a domestic dog that had been shot from the roadway. The next day, while following up with neighbors in the area, Investigator Jackson observed a small black and white puppy wandering near the area where the deceased dog was found. An investigation led Officers to the owner of both dogs and determined that the subject had been traveling through Jefferson County to either abandon the dogs or leave them with a friend when the larger of the two dogs jumped into his lap, causing him to crash his vehicle into a guard rail. Investigators say the subject then allegedly shot and killed the larger dog out of anger. The subject was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle (misdemeanor), discharging a firearm over a public highway (misdemeanor), abandonment of animals (misdemeanor), and aggravated animal cruelty (felony). He was arraigned in Jefferson County Criminal Appearance Court and is being held in the Jefferson County Jail until a future court date in March. Investigator Jackson managed to rescue the puppy found wandering in the area, and safely transported it to Jefferson County Animal Control office for a check-up and eventual rehoming. 

Long Haul – Sullivan County
On Feb. 3, ECO Heckler and Lieutenant Bello observed a tractor-trailer hauling what appeared to be dirt waste on Route 17 in Bethel. The tractor trailer’s registration number was displayed, which typically indicates a truck is hauling regulated waste, but the registration failed to note a company name or regulated waste haul number as required in New York State.

Officers followed the tractor-trailer from a distance and observed it enter a previously registered solid waste management facility where it dumped its dirt load. While at the facility, ECOs observed a second tractor-trailer tandem truck dumping similar fill material. The officers determined that both trucks carried dirt waste, which was documented as restricted-use fill on their waste tracking documents. DEC’s Division of Materials Management and Office of General Counsel confirmed the Sullivan County facility was not, nor was it ever, permitted to accept restricted-use fill. ECOs ticketed both drivers and the transportation company for both trucks for failing to produce regulated waste registrations, failure to display regulated waste permit numbers on two sides of a trailer, and transporting waste to an unauthorized facility.

Joint Ice Fishing Detail – Oneida Lake
On Feb. 8, ECOs in two DEC regions teamed up to conduct ice fishing compliance checks on Oneida Lake in Oneida and Oswego counties. Region 6 ECOs Starczek and Lakeman joined Region 7 ECOs Grisolini, Burdick, Prentice, Plows, Wing, Kostuk, and Bonilla in checking hundreds of anglers for compliance with New York’s fishing regulations. Officers checked for fishing licenses, catch size and limits, and compliance with New York State recreational vehicle laws.

ECOs issued 32 tickets and four written warnings for fishing without a license, catching undersized walleye, unregistered and uninsured snowmobiles, unregistered All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and failure to wear approved helmets. For more information on ice fishing rules and regulations in New York, as well as important safety information, visit the DEC website.

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Canadian tariff paused again, but North Country impacts continue

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Last year, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) awarded the Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) a two-year, $200,000 grant to reduce food waste throughout Clinton County. At the Monday, February 24, Peru Town Board meeting, CCHD’s public health educator, Cody Douglas, described the county’s goals and asked Peru to consider participating, including locating a food waste drop-off site in Peru.  Supervisor Craig Randall said he’d welcome feedback from Peru residents on how they’d like the town to get involved.  2/25/25 7 p.m. Spelling of the word 
Craig” corrected. 

Mr. Douglas began his presentation with a shocking statistic: In the U.S., 40% or $90 billion of our food is thrown out.

25.02.24 Regular Meeting Approved Minutes added 03/27/25

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By John T Ryan

February 24, 2025, Town Board Meeting Highlights:

Washington Street resident Michelle St. Onge expressed concern about the financial burden to residents related to planned water treatment and wastewater treatment plant upgrades. St. Onge estimated that water-sewer district taxes could increase by 60% or more. She suggested that non-profit, tax-exempt property owners and the school district share the burden, saying all residents will benefit directly or indirectly from the enhancements. She claimed that with increasing assessed values and the prospect of higher water-sewer taxes, some realtors are telling prospective home buyers that it might be better to look at other towns.

Supervisor Craig Randall responded, saying the board would open the wastewater plant bids on Friday, February 28. Then, it would have a much more accurate idea of the tax impact. He commented that the Peru School pays for its water-sewer services and that people in the water-sewer district must incur the cost, not the entire town. Grants and a 30-year no-interest loan will finance the project cost. (Discussion begins at the 2-minute, 25-second mark of the Peru Gazette video.)

Last year, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) awarded the Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) a two-year, $200,000 grant to reduce food waste throughout Clinton County. CCHD’s public health educator, Cody Douglas, described the county’s goals, asking the town to participate in its outreach and education program and consider locating a food waste drop-off site in Peru. (The Gazette will post Mr. Douglas’s presentation.)

Supervisor Randall informed the board about a local government lobbying day in Albany on March 4.  No board member expressed interest in attending.

In other actions, the board:

Approved the Peru Town Market’s request to use Heyworth-Mason Park on June 29, July 27, August 24, September 21, and October 19.

Reviewed C&S Engineering’s Telegraph Rd. Project Update. C&S reported no changes.

Contracted Atlantic Testing Labs for subsurface and geotechnical evaluation for the Wescott Road culvert replacement project for $14,078.

Noted that the Wastewater Treatment Plant Bid opening will be Friday, February 28, at 1 p.m. instead of Wednesday, February 26. Three bidders requested the delay.

Approved a legal services agreement with the Favro Law Firm for a detailed review of the Waste Water Treatment Plant bids at a cost not to exceed $7,500.

Briefly discussed considering a dog tethering law. Supervisor Craig Randall noted that Essex County enacted a tethering law in 2016. Town Attorney Matt Favro cautioned that the law could be difficult to enforce, especially among feuding neighbors, a problem Peru has encountered.  Favro said he’s all for protecting animals and implied that the board must proceed carefully if it decided to craft a tethering law. Supervisor Randall said the board would discuss the issue at one of the scheduled work sessions.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that he is looking for the best price on a new Steam Jenny machine. The department’s old machine is not working, and replacement parts are unavailable. The department uses the machine to melt ice lodged in road culverts which is essential to mitigate flooding and road damage.

3/14/25 Approved Minutes Posted – 25.02.24 Meeting-Minutes

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Assemblyman Billy Jones and other lawmakers met with families as mediation continued Tuesday

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Further updates expected in the coming days

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Creation of national mental health hotline receives bipartisan support

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40-year old Chad Nichols of Vermontville faces several charges

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