PERU – Selectmen received copies of the 2004 projected state valuation report and the town’s preliminary assessment has increased more than 4 percent.

The state valuation is a mass appraisal estimate of the 100 percent market value of all taxable property of a municipality. It is established annually by the state tax assessor. The projected assessment value is $80.9 million, which reflects an increase of $3,350,000 or 4.32 percent.

In other news, Selectmen had a long discussion Monday with Road Commissioner David Gammon about unpaid bills for private culverts. Selectman Jim Pulsifer said that it has always been the policy of the town that the road commissioner puts in the culverts to people’s property, but the resident must pay for the culvert. If they wish a culvert removed, they must pay for the removal.

He also added that the road commissioner determines what culvert is needed for property maintenance. From now on, it will be the policy of the town that the culvert is paid for before being installed.

Gammon also reported that while ditching on East Shore Road last week, he ran into a live electric wire running through a culvert. Pulsifer said, “Anything crossing a road through a culvert without a permit should be removed without question.” This would include electric wires, sewer, water or whatever.

A Tree Growth application was approved for Robert Libby, and a building permit was approved for Carroll Hutchinson for a garage.

The board went into executive session to discuss the neighborhood leachfield that is still in litigation.

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