Councilman Larry Siegel, Town Attorney Jay Rigdon and Syracuse Clerk-Treasurer Virginia Cazier chat before the January Syracuse Town Council meeting Tuesday night, Jan. 18.

By Lauren Zeugner
Staff Writer

SYRACUSE — Syracuse Town Council completed its agenda for its January meeting in just under 25 minutes Tuesday night.

Cindy Kaiser attended the meeting via Face time while Paul Stoelting was absent.

During the meeting, council members approved establishing a 25 mph speed limit inside the Syracuse Technology Park north of town.

The council also approved a request from Polywood to have Oak Street and Polywood Drive a two-way stop instead of a four-way stop. The company is also willing to purchase solar-powered digital speed signs. After discussion, the council voted 3 to 1 in favor of Polywood’s request.

“That felt good. I don’t think I’ve ever voted against something before,” Councilman Larry Martindale said after the vote. Martindale lives in the neighborhood near Polywood and doesn’t believe the changes will benefit traffic.

The council approved a recommendation by the Syracuse Redevelopment Commission to approve a contract for $5,500 with Bose McKinney and Evans for legal services regarding residential tax increment finance districts. The funds will come from the town manager’s professional services budget.

Town Manager David Wilkinson noted the Harkless Foundation awarded the town a $4,000 grant.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, reported work is continuing at the new ballpark. The buildings are starting to go up, roofs are on and electrical and plumbing have been roughed in. Wilkinson and Jonsson meet with the contractors every three weeks for a progress report. The hope is to have water and sewer done yet this winter.

January is typically a slow time of year for the parks department. Jonsson noted March is when the activity starts to pick up with the Indoor Garage Sale and Princess Parties. Registration for both is now open on the park department’s website.

Mark Aurich, public works superintendent, reported things are running well with the new meters. Lab results have been exceeding all expectations.

The council approved spending $13,100.96 for Brown Equipment to rebuild the leaf vacuum. “It’s time. It receives hard service,” Aurich told the council.

Aurich also brought up safety protocols and training. He recommended a safety training course that provides more than 800 courses that cover all federally required training. Those taking the course must pass them with 100% before they can move on.

The course costs $2,500 each year and covers four town departments. Aurich said safety talks will still be done before tackling a job. To take the courses, town employees will have four workstations in the public works building, two work stations in the street department. Courses can also be done over the phone.

Virginia Cazier, clerk-treasurer, reported the town encumbered $632,679.60 from the 2021 budget.

At the end of the meeting, Councilman Bill Musser was selected as council president for 2022.

After the meeting, Aurich noted the street department has free wood chips available to the public.

Aurich also reminded the public regardless of what the wrapper says, most wipes are really not flushable. The town’s lift stations and pumps are getting clogged up with the debris.