Syracuse Town Council President Makes Two Proclamations
By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews
SYRACUSE — Syracuse Town Council President Bill Musser started off the council’s regular meeting Tuesday night, April 19, by reading two proclamations into the record.
The first was the annual Arbor Day Proclamation. Musser noted Syracuse was holding a big tree planting event on Saturday, April 30, and needed volunteers. The second was proclaiming April National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation highlighted CASA Kosciusko and the work it does advocating for children. CASA is court appointed special advocates.
Local attorney Steve Snyder asked the council to assist Polywood with its 2021 compliance form. Polywood filed its 2021 compliance form, an annual requirement for companies with tax abatements, to the town in April 2021; however, it was not signed by the council.
The process to fix the problem is to file a waiver for failing to file the form in a timely manner. Councilman Larry Siegel asked who was at fault, the council or company. Snyder said no one knows, but he did point out Polywood significantly exceeded what it said it would do on the compliance form. The council approved the waiver.
David Wilkinson started his report with a matter that came to his attention after the agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting was made. Again Snyder approached the council, explaining a local restaurant made a mistake due to some confusion and misunderstanding over permits.
Los Toritos, a fairly new Mexican Restaurant, had approached the Syracuse building inspector regarding a permit to put up a front patio deck. The permit was issued and the building inspector kept up with the work being done.
The problem arose when the permit gave the restaurant permission to be 5 feet from the access road, which was 6 feet into the right of way.
Snyder requested the town enter into an encroachment agreement with the restaurant owners. This would allow them to keep the patio deck in place unless the town needed to widen the road at some point in the future. If that happened, the restaurant would have to redo the patio deck, pulling it back to the property line.
The council approved the encroachment agreement and the next step is for the restaurant owners to go before the Syracuse Board of Zoning. The owner of Los Toritos thanked the council and apologized, explaining when the permit was requested new people were coming onboard at town hall.
The council tabled approving town job descriptions until they can be reviewed thoroughly. Travel Lite has filed its CF 1 form for tax abatement with the town and Wilkinson reported the Kern Road annexation is complete.
The council approved Jaime Beer as a new park board member. Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, explained the tree planting project to take place April 30. He’s looking for 50 people to help plant trees throughout town.
The egg hunts were a success, despite being postponed a week due to the snowy weather. Touch a Truck is set for May 7. It will be held in front of Syracuse Elementary School while the Wawasee Key Club hosts its annual car show in the Eagles Parking lot. The Eagles will also be open for lunch.
The ball park is progressing. Water and sewer lines are in and have been tested. Wall coverings are still going up and underground conduit is being laid before concrete work is done around the ball park.
Siegel asked when the bond for the community center will be paid off. It is to be paid off this year. After the last payment the council can decide what it wants to do with the Building Foundation, which meets to make sure the bond is paid. Funds from the park cumulative fund that were used to pay the bond will be used for a new roof once the bond is paid.
During the public works report, the council approved a drainage project at Maple Grove and Harkless to be done in-house for $13,961 It also approved $41,737 for paving work on Maple Grove, $16,704 to pave Harkless Drive from Pickwick to Chicago including both intersections and $5,775 for removing and replacing curbing on the curve of Chicago Street and Harkless Drive.
“I’m thrilled this was approved. We have a street department that is exceedingly capable,” said Mark Aurich, public works superintendent.
The council approved the street department spending $201,364 on a new leaf truck, which would free up three people during leaf collecting time.
The council approved $15,075.51 for a new rescue boat. The Turkey Creek Fire Department is working with Polar Craft on the new boat, which will have both fire fighting and rescue capability.
Erin Rowland Jones of CASA thanked the council for reading the proclamation. She noted there will be a pinwheel garden planting at the Kosciusko courthouse at noon Thursday, April 21. CASA is also having a Hacienda Day on April 26.
Musser reported in old business he has been working with Jonsson on making the dog park a project for 2022. They have been looking at various locations and hopefully by the May council meeting will be able to make a proposal.