The Peru Gazette

1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call 

4. MOTION:  Acceptance of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of August 12, 2024, and the Emergency Meeting of August 19, 2024. 

5. Community Input.

6. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Transfer of Hwy. Storm Drain Reserve Funds to Pay Cook Rd & Telegraph Rd Invoices.

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  File for a Speed Limit Reduction Request on Rockwell Rd.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Declare 2005 Blaw Knox Paver as Surplus and Sell on Auctions International.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Declare 1996 Dynapac Roller as Surplus and Sell on Auctions International.

10. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approve Acceptance of Korn Drive Extension by the Town of Peru.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Call for a Public Hearing on Sept. 9, 2024, at 5:45 PM to Pass a Local Law to Exceed the Tax Cap for the 2025 Budget if needed.

12. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Funding of Water Plant Rebuilt/Replacement Parts.

13. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  2025 Budget Workshop Schedule.

14. DISCUSSION:  Other Business.

15. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

16. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: August 2024 Bills.

17. MOTION:  Adjourn to Executive Session.

18. MOTION:  Return from Executive Session. 

19. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

Peru –  Replacing Peru’s deteriorating culverts and the resulting road closures have been primary topics at Peru Town Board Meetings for several months.  In one of his first actions as Interim Town Supervisor, Craig Randall called an emergency meeting on Monday, August 19, to define the funding source to pay Ed Garrow and Son’s $135,789 bill due in two days. Garrow installed the new Cook Road box culvert. The board approved paying the bill at its August 12 meeting but didn’t define the payment fund. Monday night, the board approved taking a $100,000 temporary loan from the town general fund and $35,789 from the highway department reserve fund account. As of July 31, those accounts had $1,891,187 and $135,000 balances. 

Supervisor Randall told the board, “As we all know, this is not the only road where there’s a culvert issue. I think, ultimately, unless someone has a gift from heaven, there doesn’t seem to be grant funds for these smaller culvert projects. We’re going to get a handle on what the costs are. My guess is that we’ll ultimately have to bond for them. We want to keep the public safe on our roads.” 

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell told the board that he scored three culverts last week. Replacing the Wescott Road culvert is his #1 priority. There’s no alternate route to the road’s four or five homes and unpredictable Salmon River water passes through the culvert. Farrell scored it eight on a 10-point scale (10 being the worst score). The deteriorating Lyons Road culvert carrying Silver Stream scored eight, so it’s his #2 priority. A Brand Hollow Road culvert scored six, #3 on Farrell’s list.

Westcott Road Culvert

Lyons Road Culvert

Replacing the culverts will require designs, engineering, and New York State DEC and US Army Corps permits, meaning construction will not begin this year. Farrell said he would present a resolution to the board requesting authorization to begin engineering studies so that the projects are “shovel-ready” as soon as possible.

Click here for the information 

Click here for the Seven Days story 

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

Clinton County, August 21, 2024. The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) has been notified that a horse in Mooers has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE, Triple E) virus. The animal was unvaccinated. The EEE virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and can infect people, horses and other mammals, some birds, reptiles and amphibians. This very rare but serious virus can cause inflammation of the brain, also known as encephalitis. 

So far this summer, one horse tested positive for EEE in Washington County and three have tested positive in St. Lawrence County. In the United States, an average of 11 human cases of EEE are reported annually. In New York State, there have been eight human disease cases between 2003-2022. These cases occurred in Oswego and Onondaga counties. There have been no human cases reported in NYS in 2024. 

EEE can cause various symptoms, such as fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, drowsiness, or coma. If you are under 15 or over 50, you are more likely to develop a severe form of EEE. The best way to prevent EEE is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. There are no medications to prevent or treat EEE virus infections in humans. 

EEE vaccination is very effective at preventing clinical disease in horses. Vaccination needs to be repeated at minimum on an annual basis; consult with your veterinarian regarding boosters. To reduce exposure to mosquitoes for horses: eliminate any standing water (mosquito habitat) and place fans inside where the horses rest, limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, and use equine approved mosquito repellent. 

Take the following steps to protect yourself: 

• Cover your skin as completely as possible when outside when mosquitoes are present and active. Wear long sleeves, pants and socks. 

• Use insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR3535 and follow label directions. Do not apply repellent directly on children; instead apply it to your own hands and then rub it onto your child. Avoid applying to your face and wash your skin and clothing thoroughly after coming indoors. 

• Make sure there are screens in your home’s windows and doors. Make sure the screens are free of rips, tears and holes. 

• Eliminate all standing water on or around your home and property where mosquitoes can breed. Make sure your roof gutters drain correctly and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall. Remove or turn over any items that may hold stagnant water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Clear vegetation and waste from the edge of ponds. 

“Working Together for a Healthier Community” – 2 – 

In response to this public health concern, the Clinton County Health Department is collaborating with the Clinton County Soil & Water Conservation District to provide free mosquito dunks to county residents. These mosquito dunks offer an effective method for controlling mosquito populations by preventing mosquito larvae from developing into adult mosquitoes. They are non-chemical and are also effective against blackfly larvae, making them safe for use in backyard ponds, fountains, and other water features where fish, frogs, tadpoles, and other aquatic life reside. 

Mosquito dunks will be available for distribution at the following locations and times: 

Clinton County Health Department 

133 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh 

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Clinton County Soil & Water Conservation District 

6064 Route 22, Suite 1, Plattsburgh 

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

They are free for all Clinton County residents on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. 

For more information on EEE, please call CCHD at 518-565-4848 or visit: 

CCHD North Country Health Effect: 

https://health.clintoncountyny.gov/nc_healtheffect/Mosquitoes.pdf 

New York State Department of Health’s website: 

https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/eastern_equine_encephalitis/fact_sheet.htm 

Center for Disease Control website: 

https://www.cdc.gov/easternequineencephalitis/index.html#:~:text=EEE%20virus%20is%20a%20rare,survivors%20have%20ongoing%20neurologic%20problems. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/equine/eee-wee-vee 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Voting is to take place on Sept. 3 (Corrected 8/20/24 at 7:56 PM. Originally posted as Sept. 5. It is Sept. 3)

Peru – Last spring, the Peru Volunteer Fire Department Board of Fire Commissioners invited the public to view its plans to expand and improve the 1973-era fire station. After researching how to finance the improvements, the commissioners have scheduled a referendum. The project’s scope and estimated cost have changed since March. Originally estimated at just over $3.8 million, commissioners estimate that the project may cost up to $5 million. The resulting tax increase is estimated at $.6683 per $1,000 assessed value, about $133 annually for a $200,000 property. The current fire tax rate is $1.06 per $1,000. The ultimate cost and tax rate depend on finalized plans, interest rates, contractor bids, etc. Voters can approve or disapprove of the project at a September 3 referendum at the Peru Fire Station on Bear Swamp Road between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Courtney Tetrault, Vice Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners,  explained why the project’s scope changed. “The current building has wooden framing, considered a Class B construction. The lending agency would only allow us to borrow for 15 years, so we decided to remove the wood and use other materials to make it a Class A building, allowing us to go with a 25-year loan. We increased the bond request to help cover the extra construction cost. We don’t have an exact cost estimate. We went a little high to keep things moving forward. We will do our best to stay below the $5 million.”  Tetrault said removing the wood frame might reduce insurance expenses and make adding insulation and renovating the building easier.  He doesn’t think construction would begin until early 2026.

The expansion and renovations include:

• Expanding the building’s five bays by forty feet toward Bear Swamp Road (The previous plan called for bays to be expanded by 50 feet)
• Adding a decontamination room.
• Adding a filling station/room.
• Adding a parking area east of the building
• Expanding equipment storage space to include a locker room with nearby showers and restrooms.
• Using the existing social room to expand space for ambulance EMS personnel.
• Constructing a new social room.
• Improving building drainage.
• Installing new furnaces/boilers.
• Adding a fitness room.
• Including space for the public to see its historic fire truck.

On March 5, Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Greg Timmons summarized why the expansion is needed: “The department built the original structure in 1973. It’s aging and deteriorating. We have drainage issues. We need to get water away from the building. We started planning this about two years ago.”

Fire trucks are changing. Timmons explained, “Today’s trucks are bigger, longer, and taller. We want plenty of room for the trucks because we anticipate Peru’s future growth. We also want to meet national and state decontamination standards.”

Discussing the decontamination room, Timmons said, “Fires can leave carcinogens, toxins, and organisms on a firefighter’s gear. The skin can be affected. Departments are going to what is called the clean concept.” The new decontamination room will enable firefighters to immediately clean and blow dry their equipment while keeping contaminants isolated from the rest of the station. The locker or turnaround room will give them much more room to stow gear. It will also have an outside entrance for emergency personnel from the new parking area east of the building. All firefighters report to the station before responding to a call.

As an incentive to attract and retain members, the department purchases gym memberships for firefighters if they want to join. The fitness room will include several aerobic machines so personnel can work out at the station rather than join a gym. The room currently serving as a social room will be converted into additional space for EMS crews. There will also be a new room for social gatherings, trophies, antique nozzles, and other memorabilia. The department’s twice-restored 1926 Brockway fire truck will have a home in the glass-enclosed room facing the highway at the western end of the building. Planning for these upgrades has been ongoing for over two years.

Voting is to take place on Sept. 3 (Corrected date. Originally posted as Sept. 5. It is Sept. 3)

Peru – Last spring, the Peru Volunteer Fire Department Board of Fire Commissioners invited the public to view its plans to expand and improve the 1973-era fire station. After researching how to finance the improvements, the commissioners have scheduled a referendum. The project’s scope and estimated cost have changed since March. Originally estimated at just over $3.8 million, commissioners estimate that the project may cost up to $5 million. The resulting tax increase is estimated at $.6683 per $1,000 assessed value, about $133 annually for a $200,000 property. The current fire tax rate is $1.06 per $1,000. The ultimate cost and tax rate depend on finalized plans, interest rates, contractor bids, etc. Voters can approve or disapprove of the project at a September 3 referendum at the Peru Fire Station on Bear Swamp Road between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Courtney Tetrault, Vice Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners,  explained why the project’s scope changed. “The current building has wooden framing, considered a Class B construction. The lending agency would only allow us to borrow for 15 years, so we decided to remove the wood and use other materials to make it a Class A building, allowing us to go with a 25-year loan. We increased the bond request to help cover the extra construction cost. We don’t have an exact cost estimate. We went a little high to keep things moving forward. We will do our best to stay below the $5 million.”  Tetrault said removing the wood frame might reduce insurance expenses and make adding insulation and renovating the building easier.  He doesn’t think construction would begin until early 2026.   

The expansion and renovations include:

• Expanding the building’s five bays by forty feet toward Bear Swamp Road (The previous plan called for bays to be expanded by 50 feet)
• Adding a decontamination room.
• Adding a filling station/room.
• Adding a parking area east of the building
• Expanding equipment storage space to include a locker room with nearby showers and restrooms.
• Using the existing social room to expand space for ambulance EMS personnel.
• Constructing a new social room.
• Improving building drainage.
• Installing new furnaces/boilers.
• Adding a fitness room.
• Including space for the public to see its historic fire truck.

On March 5, Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Greg Timmons summarized why the expansion is needed: “The department built the original structure in 1973. It’s aging and deteriorating. We have drainage issues. We need to get water away from the building. We started planning this about two years ago.”

Fire trucks are changing. Timmons explained, “Today’s trucks are bigger, longer, and taller. We want plenty of room for the trucks because we anticipate Peru’s future growth. We also want to meet national and state decontamination standards.”

Discussing the decontamination room, Timmons said, “Fires can leave carcinogens, toxins, and organisms on a firefighter’s gear. The skin can be affected. Departments are going to what is called the clean concept.” The new decontamination room will enable firefighters to immediately clean and blow dry their equipment while keeping contaminants isolated from the rest of the station. The locker or turnaround room will give them much more room to stow gear. It will also have an outside entrance for emergency personnel from the new parking area east of the building. All firefighters report to the station before responding to a call.

As an incentive to attract and retain members, the department purchases gym memberships for firefighters if they want to join. The fitness room will include several aerobic machines so personnel can work out at the station rather than join a gym. The room currently serving as a social room will be converted into additional space for EMS crews. There will also be a new room for social gatherings, trophies, antique nozzles, and other memorabilia. The department’s twice-restored 1926 Brockway fire truck will have a home in the glass-enclosed room facing the highway at the western end of the building. Planning for these upgrades has been ongoing for over two years.

Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Monday, June 10, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru. All blood collected is utilized in our trl-county region.

The drive is being coordinated by St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273. 

Shepherd’s Pie

Fruit 

Bread 

Dessert

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., take-out only, at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972 

All are invited and welcome!

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold a brief, special meeting in the High School Community Room on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at 7:30 AM.  The main topics of discussion/action include a proposed capital project and a sports merger.

The agenda will be available on the District’s website (perucsd.org).

The meeting is open to the public and current District, County, State and Federal safety procedures and protocols will be followed.

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

The story features Gary Badger of Peru 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Growing evidence suggests that everyday actions can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Join us at St. Augustine’s Parish Center on October 29, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. for a free 30-minute program on reducing your risk of dementia by up to 40% through lifestyle, even if you have a history of dementia in your family. Contact Brooke Dubuque with the Alzheimer’s Association at 518.915.3115 for more information

The Peru Town Board has scheduled an Emergency Meeting. Monday, August 19, 2024, at 5:30 PM at the Peru Town Hall.

The purpose of the meeting is to pass a resolution for the transfer of funds and discuss the immediate financial needs of the Highway and Water/Sewer Departments.

Approved Minutes added 1/15/25 – Minutes 2024-08-19-EM

Courtney Tetrault photo

Courtney Tetrault photo

Courtney Tetrault photo

Courtney Tetrault photo

On Monday, August 12, 2024, at the Peru Town Board meeting, Councilman Eric Duquette and the board thanked Courtney Tetrault, Mike Farrell, and their personnel for working together last week to dredge the town’s water reservoir. Dredging the reservoir has been planned for several months. Tetreault drained it, and then, following heavy rainfall, the reservoir filled and overflowed. The Water-Sewer-Parks and Highway Departments drained the reservoir and hauled away about 150 truckloads of sediment and organic material built up since 2012/13. They trucked the material a short distance to the town’s old dump on the Barney Downs Road. Dredging removes sediment and organic material. It’s done to improve capacity and water quality.

Thank you to Courtney Tetrault for providing these photos.

Approved meeting minutes added 1/19/25 Minutes 2024-08-12-RM

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Rescheduled from August 26 to August 27

August 27 – 6:45 pm, Lake Forest Retirement Community, 8 Lake Forest Drive, Plattsburgh. The History of Railroads in Clinton County – Part 1. Inspired by CCHA photo albums of early area trains and the recently acquired collection of rail enthusiast Lawrence Duffina, Transportation Historian Dick Soper will share the history of rail development, which opened up Clinton County to new markets and eventually to new tourism and a past we now take for granted. This is the 1st of a five-part series that will span the period from 1833 to the present and include photographs, newspaper articles, and information from our extensive collection of railroad books recently added to our research library. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Craig Randall is officially the Peru Town Supervisor

Paying for Peru’s immense infrastructure needs is a challenge 

Peru, NY, August 13, 2024—Last evening, the town board conducted a moment of silence for Greg Timmons, Peru’s longtime Water-Sewer Superintendent. Deputy Supervisor Jim Douglass, who chaired last evening’s meeting, said the massive turnout at Greg’s funeral showed how much the community respected him. Timmons passed away on July 15 at age 68.

On July 29, the board conducted a similar moment of silence to honor longtime town justice and county legislator Peter Keenan, who passed away on July 24, 2024, at age 94. Keenan periodically attended town board meetings, keeping members updated on Clinton County issues.

The board officially named Craig Randall as Interim town supervisor effective today, August 13, 2024, through December 31, 2025. His term of office coincides with the remaining term of former supervisor Brandy McDonald, who resigned effective August 11 after having moved to Plattsburgh. Randall said as a member of the audience, “This is a real privilege. I wasn’t expecting to join this board as a supervisor. I’m honored to replace Brandy, who spent several years serving the community. I think your send-off at the last meeting was appropriate. I wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Randall recalled his experience as a twelve-year Lake Placid mayor and 44 years in the banking industry. He also mentioned Peru’s significant infrastructure projects ahead, stating, “I wish when the State of New York issues mandates, they’d be a little more thoughtful of how little communities have to react to address these things. We, as a government body, have to resolve these issues. We still have to account to our constituents, taxpayers, and residents.”  Randall referred to the board as “good, solid, and conservative” and said he plans to spend several hours daily in the town hall.  Click here to view Craig Randall’s remarks. 

Lyons Road culvert

Highway Department Superintendent Michael Farrell continued reporting bad infrastructure news. A Lyons Road culvert for Silver Stream water is beginning to collapse. As usual, a rusted metal culvert is the reason. Farrell said he anticipates purchasing another concrete box culvert and going through the DEC and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting process. Jim Douglass recommended that Craig Randall schedule a special board meeting to consider how the town will pay for its many infrastructure repairs.

Complete Cook Road Culvert

On the good news front, Farrell said the Cook Road culvert project is complete. He said Ed Garrow and Sons did an excellent job as a contractor. Garrow bid $142,936 for the work. The town purchased the box culvert for $129,000. Emergency repairs last February cost $14,000. Engineering and other expenses cost $47,319. The approximate total cost is $333,255.

The board appointed Lucas Tooker to a seven-year term as an alternate Zoning Board member. Code Enforcement Bob Guynup said he anticipates Mr. Tooker participating in almost every meeting because one member or another is typically absent. Mr. Tooker responded to the Peru Gazette’s appeal for board volunteers. 

Councilman Eric Duquette and the board thanked Courtney Tetrault, Mike Farrell, and all the staff for dredging the town’s water reservoir. Dredging the reservoir has been planned for several months. Tetreault drained it, and then, following heavy rainfall on July 30, the reservoir filled and overflowed. The Water-Sewer-Parks Department drained the reservoir and worked with the Highway Department to haul away about 150 truckloads of sediment and organic material built up since 2012/13. They trucked the material a short distance to the town’s old dump on the Barney Downs Road. Dredging removes sediment and organic material. It’s done to improve capacity and water quality.

Youth Director Kristen Marino reported that baseball and softball concluded. Three hundred children signed up for soccer. There will be eight pee wee and ten mite teams.

Now that JCEO Outreach has moved to the St Augustine’s Parish Center, Historian Helen Nerska requested that the town hall downstairs area be cleaned and painted in several areas. She would like to use it as a display and meeting area.

Last Sunday’s rain forced Pam Barber to move the Heyworth Mason Park concert to the Peru Community Church Fellowship Center. She thanked the Church for its hospitality.  The last two summer concerts are on August 18 and August 25.

Note: The Gazette clarified the paragraph describing the reservoir dredging at 12:44 PM on August 14, 2024. 

Approved Minutes added 1/19/25 – Minutes 2024-08-12-RM

The Adirondack Center for Writing (ACW) and North Country Public Radio (NCPR) have announced the final six Howl Story Slams of the 2024 season.

The first will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Ausable Brewing Company in Keeseville, NY. Additional story slams are scheduled in Bolton Landing at Bolton Landing Brewing Company on Aug. 22; Malone at Prairie’s Orchard on Sept. 5; Potsdam at 1844 House on Sept. 18; Saratoga Springs at Caffe Lena on Oct. 23 and Tupper Lake at Raquette River Brewing Company on Nov. 12. The theme for these six events is “Close Call.” More info for each event can all be found on ACW’s events page at adirondackcenterforwriting.org/events.

Anyone can sign up to tell a story. Stories must be: true, under five minutes and told without notes. Storytellers are judged by selected audience members – on quality, adherence to theme and adherence to time – and a winner is announced at the end of each night. Every 2024 winner will be invited to compete at the Howl Grand Slam in early January.

So far this year, The Howl Story Slam has been to Plattsburgh, Morristown, Upper Jay, Indian Lake, Saranac Lake and Wanakena. Over 400 attendees have listened to nearly 60 different storytellers – six of whom have clinched their spot to compete at the grand slam.

No tickets are needed; each slam is a suggested $10 donation which is split between ACW and NCPR, two North Country nonprofits dedicated to inspiring the love of storytelling. 

The Adirondack Center for Writing has been bringing people and words together for 25 years through provocative events and meaningful programs. For more information about ACW, visit adirondackcenterforwriting.org or follow @adkctr4writing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.