Syracuse Councilmen Tom Hoover and Larry Marindale go over some notes with Town Manager Mike Noe prior to the February Syracuse Town Council Meeting.

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Town Council passed a resolution opposing House Bill 1165 during its regular meeting Tuesday night, Feb. 18. HB1165 would make it possible for landlords to put properties in their tenants names for utilities.

Clerk-Treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker explained if the bill is passed and a utility bill goes to collection, it means it is less likely the town will be able to collect the amount owed. The council approved the resolution opposing the house bill.

Town Manager Mike Noe announced the Turkey Creek Dam and Dike Conservancy will have a public hearing at 1:15 p.m. March 5 at the County Courthouse in Warsaw. The purpose of the conservancy is to provide flood prevention and control for the dam and the dike system.

“I think they’re doing a good job,” he told the council.

Two trees near the dam have been removed. Bids for the work will be opened March 3.

The council approved hiring HRP out of South Bend for the Medusa Street project. The winning bid was for $421,728 while other bids ranged between $500,000 and $700,000. This project is part of the Community Crossings Grant the town recently received.

The Medusa Street project includes installing a new water main as well as road work. The water main will be installed first and then the road work, which is expected to be completed by Memorial Day.

The council also approved hiring Pulver Asphalt Paving out of Albion for $340,501.50 for paving projects later this summer. Nine streets in Syracuse are slated for paving this summer.

The council approved hiring Commonwealth Engineering on an on-call basis for $20,000

London Witte Group was hired for a future bonding project for $35,000 based on if the bond happens.

The council approved paying White Oak Construction $9,292.75 for work already completed on the influenant at the waste water plant. The waste water plant also needs a new roof, the winning bid went to White Oak Construction for $15,775. Noe said the work will begin in late spring.

Three wells at the water plant need to be replaced. They are currently running at 50 % capacity and cannot be rebuilt. Replacement cost is $24,120 which the council approved.

Councilman Tom Hoover told Noe he didn’t mind approving these types of maintenance projects because Noe was coming to the council when the issue occurred, not when the project would cost $300,000 to fix.

Police Chief Jim Layne reported seven reserve officers have completed their reserve officer basic training and four are currently attending the reserve officer academy.

Renovation work is done in the police department which included new paint and carpet. Automatic doors were also installed at town hall for handicap accessibility to. Building Inspector Hal Hansborough will take on additional responsibilities as the new enforcement officer. There is now a dedicated handicap stop in front of the movie theater.

Councilman Bill Musser asked about parking meters in the uptown area. Layne said in order to be effective, someone would have to monitor them full-time. He also noted the busiest times for the uptown area was in the evening with people going out to eat or to the movies..

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, reported the parking lot project at the community center is expected to begin March 1 if the weather holds.

Both the indoor garage sale and princess parties are sold out.

The tree board has entered into an agreement with the St. Joseph River Basin Association and was one of six communities in the association to be selected for a tree canopy study and to receive 50 trees to plant. This is a matching grant, where the tree board will need to provide volunteers to assist in planting trees.

Jonsson said it may be 2021 before the project is complete. The 50 trees can be planted as street trees, park trees or a combination. The tree canopy study will help determine locations that need trees.

The council approved $100 to the division of water of the Department of Natural Resources for a permit to dredge the area in front of the dam in Crosson Mill Park.

Fire Chief Mickey Scott noted there were 107 runs last month. The outdoor warning system was not conducted last Friday due to the extreme cold. The new ambulance was returned to the graphics company because the auto wrap was done incorrectly on it. Insurance paid $61,000 for the wrecked ambulance and the fire territory sold it for $4,000

Scott also noted Indiana law requires landlords to have working smoke detectors in their properties. There is a form landlords can fill out stating they have working smoke detectors at the time a tenant signs a lease. Those forms are available at the fire station and the clerk-treasurer’s office.

Indiana does not have a similar law regarding carbon monoxide detectors.

Hoover noted the recent passing of Syracuse resident Sharon Fowler saying “She tried to do right, for what it’s worth, I think we’ll miss her. She kept us on our toes.”