PERU — Starting Feb. 1 the town will no longer provide sand for residents’ walkways, because people with large trucks and nonresidents are taking so much of it, Road Commissioner Lee Merrill told selectmen Monday night.

Merrill said his crew has been filling the box at 85 Peru Center Road twice a day — totaling about 8 cubic yards — and it’s being “wiped out.”

He’s concerned the town will run out of sand for the roads in the next three months.

Merrill said he and his workers have witnessed large trucks loading up at the box and some people filling up sanders, he said.

He said people from other towns have also been taking the sand.

The limit, posted at the sand box, is two 5-gallon buckets per resident per storm. 

“The sand is supposed to be for walkways, not driveways,” Merrill said.

The town put up two large rocks to prevent people from filling trucks, but vehicles can still get within 6 feet of the box.

Resident Gail Belyea said her husband has a bad back, and the barrier has made it difficult for him to get the permitted amount for their walkway.

Selectman Larry Snowman said, “A certain few have spoiled it for everyone.”

Until Feb. 1, Merrill said he and his crew will fill the sand box up once a day to conserve the “less than half a shed” of sand left.

Chairwoman Carol Roach suggested that Merrill put a video recording device in his budget next year to monitor the box.

emarquis@sunmediagroup.net