By Lauren Zeugner
Staff Writer

SYRACUSE — Recently, the office of Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced 15 rural communities would be receiving more than $10.8 million in federal grant funding to expand community facilities, improve water infrastructure and eliminate blight.

Among those communities, the Town of Syracuse was awarded a $700,000 grant to improve its water utility infrastructure system along Huntington Street and adjacent side streets. Mark Aurich, public works director, said the grant will help fund a $6 million project to replace lead and steel galvanized pipe running from the street to people’s homes as well as provide enhanced fire protection on Allen, Mullen, north Huntington, Branch and Bailey Streets.

Aurich said it is hoped the remaining funding for the project will come from the state revolving fund.

In addition to replacing pipe, undersized mains, measuring 2-4 inches, will be replaced with 6-8 inch mains and additional fire hydrants will be installed, while at the same time pressure to existing hydrants will be increased.

An 8-inch line will run to the north county line and new RV Park. Additionally, service lines on High, Washington and Mill streets will be replaced off the existing mains.

The project is currently in the engineering phase with work expected to start in 2026 and carry over into 2027.

“We hope to start early summer, but there are many variables that affect the project,” Aurich said. “From conception to completion, we hope to have it done in three years, but four to five years is not unheard of.”

Additionally, if financing falls in line, the town hopes to run water down Kern Road. Aurich also hopes to run a 12-inch feeder main from the water department over to the north water tower to boost flows and pressure on the north side of town.

For the project, Aurich said the plan is to rely on directional boring to minimize disruptions to neighbors as much as possible; however, there will be some necessary excavation work done as well.

Aurich said the purpose of the project is to address replacing undersized mains, increasing fire protection, removing lead service lines and future growth of the town.

“I want to get flow up there (on the north side of town). I want better fire protection (for the town),” he said.

Aurich stressed the town wants to do as much work as possible without causing a rate increase for residents, if at all possible.

This project is just part of much bigger plan to update water and sewer in Syracuse.

“We have a tremendous amount of work to do in Syracuse. It’s (the work) decades long,” Aurich said.

If anyone has any questions or concerns about the project, they can call Aurich at (574) 457-3229.