Larry Siegel, left, president of the Syracuse Town Council, presents Town Attorney Vern Landis a plaque of appreciation for his work with the council during the last nine years. Landis is “starting the slide into retirement,” by pulling back on some of his responsibilities.
Jay Rigdon will take over as town attorney in January. Looking on is Councilman Larry Martindale.

By Lauren Zeugner
Staff Writer

SYRACUSE — Syracuse Town Attorney Vern Landis was presented with a plaque of appreciation at the Syracuse Town Council’s monthly meeting Tuesday night, Dec. 21. Landis has served as town attorney for nine years and is stepping down.

Toward the end of the meeting Landis thanked the council, saying it had been a pleasure during the last nine years. He said he thought the town “is on the verge of  significant growth.”

The council approved an economic development agreement with EZ Vane, a company interested in purchasing the last remaining lot in the technology park. Syracuse Redevelopment Commission approved the agreement in its meeting prior to the town council meeting.

EZ Vane makes weather vanes and yard ornaments. The company is currently located in Michigan but according to Syracuse Town Council President Larry Siegel, it was recently purchased by someone local who is moving it to Indiana.

Jeremy Hardy, of Commonwealth Engineers, the town’s engineering firm, went over a variety of projects currently underway, notably improvements to Main and Brooklyn streets. The council approved a change order for $7270.44 for work on Main and Brooklyn. With the approval of the change order striping will be done in the spring.

Hardy also handed out a study of Kern Road. He recommended members of the council look the study over so it can be discussed at the January meeting.

In the department reports, David Wilkinson, town manager, requested the following appointments be approved: Jay Rigdon, town attorney; Jim Layne, police chief; Larry Siegel, Corey Mast, Layne and Jeff Goralczyk, Syracuse Redevelopment Commission; Corky Wong and Andrew Grossnickle, Turkey Creek Fire Territory; and Paul Hoffman, Gary Green, Mark Auer, Syracuse Tree Board.

Councilman Bill Musser noted in his motion to approve the board appointments the council is looking for a representative to the Syracuse Park Board.

Wilkinson reported he is working with the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce on an agreement that will be brought before the council for approval at a later date.

The council approved Development Drive as the new name for a street in the tech park, as well as approved a speed limit of 25 miles per hour in the tech park.

Wilkinson reported the town received a $200,000 grant from the K21 Foundation for the new ball fields.

He sought direction from the council regarding pursuing residential tax increment finance districts. Noting there are a few housing developments percolating in the area, he told the council now is the time to start working on residential TIFs since they take three to four months to complete.

In the police report, the council approved accepting a bid of $4,435 from an auction of two squad cars being pulled out of the car pool. A third car was donated to the police academy in return for training hours.

Mark Auer, public works superintendent, said he had his first absolutely “fun” day since starting at Syracuse. Explaining fun is different than good, Auer reported he has two operators going for a class one license in wastewater; one operator seeking a class two license in wastewater and a third pursuing a distribution system license for water. Auer is also seeking a distribution system license in water. Auer spent about two hours with the employees in continuing education. The plan is for all four to test at Ivy Tech in January.

Clerk-Treasurer Virginia Cazier requested the council approve an appropriation ordinance moving $550,000 from the Economic Development Income Tax line to the infrastructure line.

The council also approved a transfer order so Cazier could balance the books at the end of the year.

Cazier also informed the council she is losing a deputy clerk-treasurer as that person is moving to be the administrative assistant to the Turkey Creek Fire Territory.