With only one bid submitted by Allen County Builders for the remodel of Syracuse Fire Station 1, township advisors were disheartened at their regular monthly meeting Monday with the bid amount being higher than expected. Although no specific amount was announced, the board voted to hold another meeting at 8 p.m. this Thursday, immediately following the Turkey Creek Township Fire Territory Board meeting, to further discuss this construction bid.

A representative of Allen County Builders was at the meeting and explained the sprinkler system added an additional $58,000 to the bid as well as the rising or fluctuating costs of building materials like wood, gypsum, insulation and copper.

Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported he has checked with Allen County Builders’ references, who all stated they were extremely satisfied with the work and professionalism of the business.

In his report, Scott also reported the fire territory responded to 22 fire calls and 101 EMS calls during May, an increase of 27 calls from April. The department is currently working with Oakwood Inn, South Shore Golf Course, Polywood and Spinks Condos regarding fire inspections.

Scott is currently working on the 2014 budget proposal for the fire territory and will submit it in July. In exchange for a PERF pension plan, employees will not be receiving a base salary increase in 2014, he said. However, a different base salary will be implemented for those who have completed additional training.

The fire department’s annual pork chop and chicken barbecue is slated for Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. until food is sold out. Chicken halves and pork chops will sell for $5 and corn-on-the-cob will be $1.

For Independence Day celebrations, the department will be providing standby with a boat at the end of John Street for the Syracuse Lake Association’s firework display on July 4 and will standby at Fire Station 2 for the Wawasee Property Owners Association’s fireworks display on July 6.

In other news, board member Bill Dixon reported he met with the department’s union representative to finalize the employee contract. Board president Dennis Darr stated the renovations at Union Cemetery were coming along fine with a fence ready to install soon.

The next regular monthly meeting of the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board is 7 p.m. Monday, July 8, at Syracuse Fire Station 2.