Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday, July 10, welcomed new board member Sylvia Gargett to its ranks.

Gargett, sitting in on her first official meeting, replaced Kim Cates, who resigned her position on the board to join the Kosciusko County Council.

Gargett has served on several boards, including the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce board, Rotary board and the financial committee of St. Martin’s De Porres Parish in Syracuse.

“I am interested in helping the community with my time and talent,” said Gargett, who works at Northern Lakes Insurance in Syracuse.

She moved to Syracuse in 1978 and has two children and four grandchildren.

Relations between the township board and the community are “good, but they can always be better,” she said. “More people need to be aware of the functions of the township board.”

Township Trustee Barb Griffith presented her proposed budget for 2018. “The budget is down $6,300 from this year’s budget,” she said, “and we made no salary increases.”

Griffith’s proposal includes $30,000 for cemetery care, $2,000 for machinery and equipment, $6,000 for direct assistance and other requests for personal services and supplies.

For other direct relief, Griffith requested:

• $1,500 for food and household supplies

• $15,000 for shelter

• $2,000 for fuel

• $40,000 for public utility services

Her proposal totaled $220,400, down from the 2017 budget of $226,700.

The board unanimously approved the proposed budget.

The board also approved a bid as modified for architect services from Malcolm Associates of Claypool for upcoming improvements to the township’s two fire stations.

The bid includes “a fixed fee of $15,000,” said Andrew Grossnickle, the township’s attorney, “with some exceptions for additional expenses,” such as permit fees, surveys, testing and inspections, soil borings, LEED certification and acoustical engineering.

Fire Chief Mickey Scott submitted his June report and proposed budget for 2018. The board unanimously approved Scott’s approved budget, which included $1,695,854 for operations and $200,000 for equipment replacement.

The board will next meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, at Syracuse Town Hall.