Ken Jones of Wightman Petrie, the engineering firm for the town of Syracuse, gave the town council a progress report during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening.

Jones said good progress is being made on the industrial project. Almost all the sanitary and lateral sewers have been placed. Jones brought up a matter raised during last month’s meeting regarding a change order for Cripe Excavating.

During the design phase, Wightman Petrie was furnished with a drawing showing the typical depth for gas lines was 3 feet. Near the highway there was a conflict and the engineering firm wasn’t told of a vertical change in depth. The result is the sewer line has to be adjusted so it won’t conflict with the gas line. Jones stressed it is an unusual or rare situation to physically find the lines during the design phase.

Cripe Excavating sent in a change order with the cost of added depth being $1.70 per foot and $200 per manhole, which need to be deeper. The result is a cost of $2,874. The council approved the change order.

Jones brought up another conflict with AT&T fiber optic. Again during the design phase it was estimated the approximate depth vertically and horizontally where the fiber optic cable is located.

AT&T has to be reimbursed for engineering work and work it will do to install a sleeve around the cable to protect it. After several delays regarding what the cost would be, AT&T sent a contract requesting $6,000 for its work on the cable. Jones asked the council to review the contract and it should be signed.

Syracuse Town Manager Henry DeJulia informed the council Mike Reed, town attorney, reviewed the contract and recommended it be signed. Council approved the contract.

H & G Underground Utilities is making good progress on its work in the park and will continue as long as the weather holds. Council president Larry Siegel noted there is a problem with grading as water accumulates in one area every time it rains. Jones said they will look into it. He pointed out changes can be made until the paving starts.

In the parks report, park superintendent Chad Jonsson reported there is no more big construction going on at the athletic complex. Work is concentrated on the interior of the concessions stand, drywall is being installed and work is continuing in the bathrooms. Dick Pelletier from Wawasee Kiwanis Club continues to apply for grant money.

In the public comment section of the meeting Pelletier told the council he had submitted a request for funds from the town on several occasions and asked if there would be any type of answer.

Pelletier noted Kiwanis has run the youth league program for the last 30 years and does so because it is important for the kids in the community. Chris Cotton who runs the Wawasee Pee Wee Football League does so for the same reason.

Rotary built and Kiwanis has invested funds for the ball field at St. Andrew’s Church. Pelletier also noted Vega Field was not cared for, for several years.

He also told the council Kiwanis serves between 200 and 300 children through the youth league program. “Kids belong to the town╔and all I’m asking is for the town to stand up a bit and support them,” he said.

Pelletier continued noting he has been writing grants and raising funds. The maintenance of the park will be donated. Kiwanis will run the concessions stand and give those funds back to the town to operate the park. There are also plans to develop adult leagues.

Councilman Brian Woody asked for a number. Pelletier said the park is going into a hole financially and Kiwanis is actually covering some of the bills. He said he would take what the town could offer, “bearing in mind these are your kids.”

Siegel stated the town did the appraisal of the property, purchased the property, handled the legal fees and acquired a storm water issue that will cost $80,000 to fix. He told Pelletier the town council has been nothing but supportive of the project. “We certainly have stepped up,” he told Pelletier, noting the town will continue to support the complex in the future by handling its maintenance.

“I’ve always been in favor of it,” Woody said. “I’d like to give them as much as we can. We have lighting to buy ╔ I could easily go $40,000 today, despite what we have to do in the future.”

Looking over the budget, Woody said he would give every dime in the cigarette tax line, approximately $51,000, to the athletic complex.

Julie Kline, clerk-treasurer, explained if funds are pulled from the riverboat gambling line item or cigarette tax, an appropriation needs to be made that requires advertising and council approval. If an appropriation is made from the rainy day fund it also requires approval from the Department of Local Government Finance by Dec. 15.

Councilman Jeff Morgan said he was concerned about maintenance in the future because if it isn’t donated, it will fall to the town. Councilman Bill Musser asked how far $40,000 will get the project to conclusion. Jonsson said fairly close. The project would have spent $350,000 to $400,000 without lights. Doug Schrock made a donation of $60,000 for lights as long as the community raises a matching $60,000. Pelletier said he has grants turned in and continues to talk to business owners.

Jonsson noted the sprinkler system has to be finished, electrical work, baseball materials, dugouts constructed and ground work between the fields to be completed.

DeJulia said he would like the funds restricted to maintenance. Pelletier noted he has Kiwanis, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Syracuse Lions committed to helping in the concessions stand.

Siegel asked if money needs to be earmarked for the industrial park project. DeJulia said some will have to be earmarked depending on what the Economic Development Administration grant administrator will allow.

Discussion turned to using Economic Development Income Tax funds for the athletic complex. Kline said everything in that account has been earmarked for the industrial park. The town receives $150,000 a year in EDIT revenue.

Jonsson told the council the park department has already accepted some maintenance responsibilities for the complex such as mowing the fields. Musser asked what the projected costs would be,  Jonsson said it is unknown until the season is underway. He also noted he did not raise the park budget because of assurances from community organizations they would help maintain the complex.

“We spend a lot of money in the hope people will buy into the industrial park. We know in March and April the kids will come,” Woody told the council.

He then made a motion to give the complex $20,000 now. Council approved the motion.