PERU — Selectmen on Monday gave the New England Forest Rally permission to use the Town Office parking lot to stage its July 21 road race.

The rally will pass through two miles of Dickvale Road, from the Mary Turner Bridge to Concord Pond, Board of Selectmen Vice Chairwoman Carol Roach said.

The race begins at 11:30 a.m. at Sunday River ski area in Newry.

In other news, residents will receive their tax bills late this year because the tax rate cannot be determined until a budget for Regional School Unit 56 is passed. A vote Tuesday by residents of Peru, Canton, Carthage and Dixfield rejected the $13.2 million spending plan for 2017-18 by a combined total of 375-596 on June 13.

The budget would have increased assessments in the four towns by more than 20 percent over last year, when they were part of RSU 10.

Residents of Peru approved a $997,685 municipal budget at the polls June 13, Town Clerk Vera Parent said previously. It included Oxford County’s tax assessment.

Originally the town approved sending out the bills in March and August, but Roach said the schedule “needs to be revisited.”

“Luckily we have enough money in our account, so it won’t present a cash flow problem for the town,” she said.

In other news, Fire Chief Bill Hussey told selectmen the foundation for the new fire station is in and the floor may be started Monday.

The builders can begin after June 28, Roach said.

She said the playground behind the Town Hall will be repaired soon. Voters approved $3,000 to upgrade equipment and address safety concerns.

Selectmen and Hussey have still not reached an agreement about the State Fire Marshal’s report on Friends of Peru Elementary School, after a resident’s complaint in May prompted an inspection. Roach said previously that there are inaccessible emergency exits and improperly hung or missing fire extinguishers.

The food pantry will continue to run out of the basement, she said.

The building is owned by the town and used by Friends of Peru Elementary School for community events and the pantry.

In other business, owners of Surry’s Seafood of Dixfield plan to bring a truck with fresh seafood to Worthley Pond on Saturday mornings, and asked selectmen if any permits are required. Selectmen said they are not.

Selectmen also welcomed Kevin Taylor to the board and elected Raquel Welch as chairwoman.

emarquis@sunmediagroup.net

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