Kristin Rude of Kosciusko Area Bus Service, addresses the Syracuse Town Council and the public during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday night. Rude is working on improving service to smaller communities in Kosciusko County. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Kristin Rude from Kosciusko Area Bus Service came before the Syracuse Town Council during its regular meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 20. Rude has been at KABS for four months, working with Kosciusko County leadership on learning what barriers are preventing people in the county from using the service.

Rude said many in the county don’t know what KABS is. The service offers transportation throughout the county.

Rude explained Syracuse was one of the harder areas to reach due to its distance from Warsaw.

Rude went on to explain how fares are determined and that KABS provides rides to anyone, not just seniors. KABS also provides rides anywhere in the state of Indiana for Medicare patients.

KABS has 10 vehicles that are handicapped accessible.

Nathan Scherer, council president, showcased the service isn’t just for the elderly explaining his son will be using the service to go to and from school in Warsaw.

Rude said KABS is working on several options to better serve small communities like Syracuse.

In the department reports Police Chief Jim Layne noted school has started and there was a rough start with the new traffic pattern at the high school. Layne said things have settled down at the school.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, told the council that July events went well. Things at the park department are usually slow in August and September while there are events every weekend in October.

PeeWee football games start Saturday.

The Ward Park playground is now complete and getting a lot of use.

Council member Bill Musser asked how the farmers market was doing. Jonsson said the first two months were up while the last few weeks things have slowed down.

In the public works report, the council approved the purchase of a new excavator for $51,638.93 plus a $95,000 trade in.

The council also approved a factory refurbishing of a belt press for $29,436.

Mark Aurich, public works superintendent, also asked the council to approve $50,004 for a new mixer for the oxidation ditch. The current one has a seal that is failing.

The fire department received approval of spending $106,755, which is a 25% deposit on a new training tower. The total cost of the tower is $427,008.

The council also approved the fire territory’s operation budget of $2,741,055 and its equipment budget of $855,000

Chief Mickey Scott also publicly thanked an anonymous donor who donated $28,750 for thermal masks.