Do I need to license my dog?
All dogs over the age of six months must be licensed. Licenses can be obtained at the Perham Police Department for a $10.00 fee. All dogs over six months of age must also have documentation of current vaccination of the animal. Vaccination of rabies and distemper must be done at least once every three years.

How can I reserve a picnic shelter at Paul Miller Park?
To reserve a picnic shelter at Paul Miller Park call City Hall at 218-346-4455 or e-mail pstokke@cityofperham.com. A $20.00 reservation fee is required to guarantee the reservation.

Why does the city water sometimes have a brown color and/or have sediment in it?
Naturally occurring iron and manganese minerals in water can build up on the inside of water pipes and lines. It occasionally breaks loose, causing rusty water to flow when faucets are first opened. This happens especially when city or household water lines are disturbed (e.g., moved, replaced, back flushed, or repaired) and rust breaks loose from pipes. The City of Perham Public Works Department flushes city water lines three times a year, in April, July, and October, as a part of ongoing water line maintenance. During these periods, your water is more likely to have a brown tinge to it; however, the water should return to normal within a couple of days. For additional information on water quality in the City of Perham or the dates of scheduled water flushing click here.

What can I do if my laundry becomes stained while the City is flushing the water lines?
To completely avoid stained or yellowed laundry because of rust in the water, if at all possible, avoid doing laundry while the city water lines are being flushed. If you notice rust or iron on clothes when taking them from the washer, don't dry them in the dryer before treating the stains. Heat sets the stains and makes them difficult or impossible to remove. Do not use chlorine bleach to attempt to remove rust stains. Chlorine will also make the stain permanent. The following suggestions may help remove or lighten rust stains.
1) Rewash clothes immediately in clear water with a heavy duty detergent.
2) Rewash clothes immediately in clear water  with one cup of non-precipitating water softener (brand names may include Spring Rain or Calgon) without detergent.
3) For white clothing only, boil water adding cream of tarter and dip and boil article of clothing for a few minutes, rinse.
4) Launder with a commercial rust remover (such as RoVer, Rit Rust Remover, Iron-Out, Miracle-Rid-Iron, Whink, or Yellow Out). Follow the instructions on the product package. Commercial rust removers are intended for use only on white or colorfast fabrics. Test colored clothes for colorfastness before attempting to remove rust stains with commercial removers.
Note: Another iron stain situation unrelated to water quality occurs due to deterioration of the washer inner basket. Small areas near basket holes may show chipping of enamel, allowing the basket to rust. During the spin cycle, clothing comes in direct contact with this surface, and rust is deposited or transferred onto clothes. Stains may not be noticeable until dried, or may even "mysteriously" appear later in storage due to oxidation of the iron. Stains may appear as small pin-points scattered over a portion of the garment, or as larger, stained areas about the size of a dime. In this case, the source of the rust must be corrected through repair or replacement of the washer basket. Stain removal procedures for stained clothing are similar to those suggested for other iron stains.

What is the snowplow schedule for clearing the streets?
Snow plows are sent to clear the streets in general whenever more than 1-2 inches of snow has fallen or based upon the current conditions of the city’s streets. The City regulates parking of vehicles on city streets during the winter snow season. Seasonal parking takes effect when the Police Chief or Public Works Director declare a snow emergency. Announcements are made on Lakes Radio 99.5 FM and TV 14 when the emergency is in effect. During snow emergency, residents are required to park even days on the even side of the streets and on odd days, on the odd sides of the streets. Even and odd sides of the streets correspond with house numbers for that particular street or avenue.

When are the utility meters read by the city?
Utility meters located within the Perham city limits are read between the 20-25 of every month. Because rural customers read their own meter, a city representative does only random checks of rural meters throughout the year.

When do I get my utility bill?
Utility bills are mailed on the 10^th of each month.

Where can I pay my utility bill?
Your municipal utility bills can be paid in one of several ways: 1) by mail to Perham City Hall, PO Box 130, Perham, MN 56573 2) at the City Hall reception desk or in the drop box by the exterior entrance to City Hall 3) by automatic debit of your bank account. Contact City Hall at 218-346-4455 for more information on automatic debit.

What is the current municipal natural gas rate?
Gas rates for the City of Perham fluctuate monthly according to the market and based upon the previous month’s usage. For current rates and charges please call City Hall at 218-346-4455 or 1-877-864-7963.

Do I need a building permit?
Check with the Perham Building Official for the specific requirements in Perham. 218-346-4455. Generally building permits are required for the following: New Buildings, Additions, Renovations, Demolitions, Prefabricated structures, Temporary Buildings, Mobile Homes, Electrical Systems, Plumbing Systems, HVAC Systems (heating, ventilating, air conditioning), Miscellaneous for residential (fireplace, pools, decks, fences, etc.), Miscellaneous for commercial (parking, health, food handling, etc.). A printable version of the City of Perham Building Permit Application is available by clicking here.

What is the remaining special assessment on my property?
For specific information regarding balances on special assessments to your property, contact the City Finance officer at 218-346-4455 or kmccall@cityofperham.com.

What is the hardness of the water in Perham?
Water from the Perham city wells measures 21 grains of hardness.

What are the hours for the public library?
The Perham Area Public Library is open Monday & Wednesday: 10:00am-8:00pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00am-5:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-3:00pm.

When is story hour at the public library?
Story hour at the Perham Area Public Library is held every Tuesday morning at 10:15am. All children ages 3-6 are welcome to attend.

Does the library hold Used Book Sales?
The Friends of the Perham Area Public Library has two used book sales per year. The first is in February during the Perham Farm, Trade and Home show at the Perham Area Community Center. The second is at the library in June during Turtle Fest.

Copyright 2000 City of Perham Minnesota

Web Site Design By   Minnesota WebWorks