PERU – Selectmen on Monday night voted 4-1 to allow ATVs to use certain town roads.

Wally Kazregis made the request on behalf of the Peru ATV club.

Chairman Bill Hine informed the board that neighboring Sumner had recently voted to take such a request to townspeople for approval. He said Peru should do the same, as well as asking the Planning Board to be involved in the decision.

“I am not in favor and will vote against the motion,” he said.

Selectman Andy St. Pierre said, “In the past we’ve granted permission and removed that privilege if there was abuse.”

Selectman Rodney Jamison said he had a problem with ATV riders who don’t belong to the club coming by his home.

“We need to set a limit,” he said.

Board secretary Kathy Hussey asked if this was a decision for the town to make.

“If the town is asked permission, would we also have to ask to the town to revoke the privilege?” asked St. Pierre.

The request came after several property owners refused to allow the club to cross their land to access trails.

The roads permitted to be used are: All of Burbank, Main Street from village store to Peru-Mexico bridge, all of Pleasant, Valley from Lufkin to High, all of High, all of Gammon and Concord Pond Road to Turner Road in Woodstock.

Road Commissioner David Gammon commented earlier in the meeting that other ATVs were running all over the town’s sand pile and it took him a day to get the sand back into a pile before it could be used.

The board voted to have Gammon use up the sand at the old site and solicit bids for 2,000 yards to be put in the new shed when it is finished.

Kazregis said the club would put up “No ATVs” signs at the sand pile.

Gammon also voiced his concern that Code Enforcement Officer Jack Plumley wanted him to take more steps to correct road runoff.

“We don’t have enough money to fix the roads the way Plumley wants,” he said.

The board suggested more money may need to be put in the budget for next year.

The next selectmen’s meeting will be Sept. 11.