PERU – At the request of Peru’s Comprehensive Planning Committee, selectmen on Monday discussed town sewage treatment options for the future.

As part of their mandate, committee members have been asked to develop a capital plan to help decide what kinds of businesses the town would like to attract. Some members said they think the lack of a sewage system could hinder Peru’s chances in courting many new businesses. They asked selectmen for their input about any options, including exercising the town’s right to tap into the Mexico sewer system

Referring to the Peru/Mexico sewer agreement that the town entered into decades ago, Selectman Jim Pulsifer said, “We spent half a million dollars and got nothing. I don’t think the town can afford to spend that much or more without a present need.”

Pulsifer suggested that rather than hooking the town into the Mexico system at considerable expense, committee members look into the possibility of building a small sewage treatment center for town areas that may have a need for such a facility.

Also on Monday, some board members announced they are planning to attend workshops this month on the Palesky tax cap initiative that, if passed, would limit property taxes to $10 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Within the next few weeks, the board plans to put out a statement expressing its view on the initiative. In addition, the board will provide a synopsis explaining the effects that reducing the town’s tax rate from $15 to $10 would have on services.

Bids for the Peru’s Small Community Grant Septic System Replacements were opened Monday. Gorham Contracting won the contract with a bid of $12,400 for two systems. Lawrence Hansen bid $12,998 and Daniel Noyes bid $13,280.

Town officials have been seeking guidance from the state since they realized that the grant, which is supposed to pay for the systems, is less than the bid that was accepted.