Peru utilities and water management staff described a multi‑phase lead service line replacement program funded by SRF 0% loans and grants, estimated at about $29 million. Officials said homeowners will not be charged directly but must sign right‑of‑entry forms for free replacement work.

Staff reported that the contract allowance to clean accumulated debris in wastewater tanks has been largely used and that an additional roughly 3,000 cubic yards remain to be removed, producing an estimated extra cost of $300,000–$400,000; staff will provide formal figures in coming weeks and may seek IFA reimbursement from contingency.

Walsh told councilors that changes to local income-tax distribution under recent legislation require county and city decisions by 2028 and could affect roughly $6.8–7.0 million Peru now receives; he urged coordination with the county and further study.

City consultants told the Sept. 14 meeting the proposed 2027 budget is balanced across major operating funds but flagged potential negative cash flows in the general fund and the public safety local income tax fund if departments spend full budgets.

Baker Tilly advised the council that Senate Bill 1 will change local income tax distribution and that Peru currently receives about $6.8–7.0 million in LIT; the city must coordinate with the county on decisions expected in 2028 (impacts by 2030).

An IT staffer, Matt, told the board he attended state and national briefings after coordinated SCADA/PLC attacks and said Indiana is creating an Office of Cybersecurity; he said Peru's utilities are ahead of many peers in security posture.

Manager explained the quarterly power-cost tracker (fuel/power cost adjustment), cited IURC guidance and recent MISO auction prices, and described scheduled rate steps in Jan. 2027 and Jan. 2028; he said the tracker avoids large swings that would otherwise force adjustments in base rates.

The authority decided not to proceed with new hangars this year after rebids for four hangars returned a low bid of $1.1 million — far above earlier estimates — and members raised questions about prevailing‑wage requirements and bid specifications.

Board was told the lowest rebid for four new hangars was $1,100,000, a price the airport cannot afford now; the board agreed not to build new hangars this year and possibly not next year unless new funding appears.

The city attorney said the utility submitted a secondary PFAS claim related to PFAS contamination from companies including DuPont, Tyco and 3M; the manager said auditors have completed utility-side work and will finish the city side before a joint closing meeting.

Utility assistant superintendent Jamons reported phase 1 and phase 2 progress on the lead service line replacement program, warned that two homeowners declined service after signing, and said customers who later hire contractors could face $3,000–$4,000 bills; the program includes a public database for lead‑line status.

Council members were briefed on Peru Utilities' lead service-line replacement outreach (roughly 50% right-of-entry response) and an IDEM-mandated sewer overflow project with work continuing through 2030 or risk fines, including a quoted potential fine of $25,000 per day.

Staff rejected a single, high bid for hangar construction and will rebid; board members also flagged unusually low tax revenue (a $39,634 deposit) and an unencumbered balance of roughly $68,000, raising near-term budget concerns.

The Peru Common Council on July 16 reconsidered Resolution 7-20-26 to establish a tax-increment financing (TIF) allocation area but did not reach the votes required; proponents said the designation only enables future redevelopment and does not approve any project.

The commission approved a declaratory resolution to establish the Homan Heritage tax-increment financing allocation area to support income-based senior apartments near the Ivy Tech campus; TIF percentages and term lengths will be set later by the economic development authority.

The city utility board unanimously approved SRF disbursements, a contractor bid for distribution reclosures, a grant-management amendment and a change order for filter-media replacement — all tied to ongoing wastewater and water-treatment projects, staff said.

The Peru City Council approved two ordinances rezoning parcels associated with IvyTech from R1 to R3 for a planned multi‑unit housing development. Residents raised concerns about notice, parking and safety; the developer said the plan includes on‑site parking and on‑site management.

Miami County's new economic development plan, focused on radiological medicine, food manufacturing, logistics and workforce housing, was presented to Peru council. Separately, councilmember Tim Fischer and local coalition urged a moratorium on data centers pending ordinance development; Fischer will bring a draft for a July 6 vote.

Peru utilities detailed a multi‑phase lead service line replacement program funded largely by 0% loans and grants; staff said homeowners will not pay the private-side replacement costs directly but must sign right‑of‑entry forms for crews to perform full replacements.

Councilman Fischer said staff will draft a temporary moratorium on new data‑center development for a July vote to allow study of utility and land‑use impacts. Tori Pendell and others urged action. Separately, the Miami County EDA and American Structurepoint presented a draft economic development plan prioritizing sites along US‑24/31 and near Grissom.