Among the sign designs Syracuse is considering for its new industrial park is something like this artist’s rendition of a sailboat. (Photo provided)

After a half hour discussion, including having a motion made and withdrawn, Syracuse Town Council requested more information regarding signage for the new industrial/technology park at SR 13 and U.S. 6 during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night.

Town manager Henry DeJulia presented three different sign options, ranging from traditional lighting to using solar with the sign being hard wired into the electrical grid should it need backup power.

Council members liked the second option, a 21-foot sign featuring a sailboat design, but had questions regarding how the company names would be lettered on the sign, how it would be lit at night and where the lights would be placed so the sign could be seen at night.

There were questions about where the solar panels would be placed. The signs on U.S. 6 would have the panels flush against them, while those on SR 13 would be placed a bit away. Council president Brian Woody asked if any consideration was given to putting the solar panels on top of the sign, but DeJulia said he wasn’t sure the signs are wide enough to handle a panel. Woody also asked if wind energy was considered in the design plan, to which DeJulia explained that even a small turbine would take up too much space in the industrial park.

DeJulia offered to have someone answer the council’s questions at next month’s meeting.

In the public works report, the council discussed quotes from London Witte, a local accounting firm, on hiring an engineer to review renovating the wastewater treatment plant. The building is currently 25 years old and needs renovating to “bring it up to the 21st century and make it viable for the next 25 years,” said Jeremy Sponseller, public works superintendent.

Sponseller noted one clarifier is currently offline because it is in dire shape. While the clarifier can work, it is literally falling apart. Clerk-treasurer Julie Kline suggested, “Jeremy’s need is really dire and I’d like to have a work session in the next few weeks. It would be better for them (London Witte) to make a presentation on what they can do.”

After discussion it was decided Woody would meet with Sponseller, DeJulia, Kline and London Witte and report back to the council. Woody told Sponseller he wants a punch list of the top five or six projects that need to be done first.

During the town manager’s report, the council agreed to appoint Jason Traycoff to the board of zoning appeals. Kosciusko County Leadership Academy held a session in Syracuse this month.

In the clerk-treasurer’s report, Kline pointed out due to the amount of snow the community has had, water meters could not be read for January or February leading to estimated bills. “If we had the radio read meters we wouldn’t have this problem. Customers don’t like estimated bills,” she told the council. Overtime costs for the last two months has been $10,346.38, included in the budget.

In new business, the council approved attorney Steve Snyder as the fifth member of the Turkey Creek Fire Territory board. The council also approved the fire territory spending $4,000 on a backup generator for the radio repeater.