Syracuse Park Board approved a motion to allow park superintendent Chad Jonnson and program coordinator Tyler McLead to write checks so referees could be paid for working basketball games for the adult basketball league underway. The motion was made during the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday evening.

The board also learned it has about $40,000, about 10 percent of its budget leftover from last year and approximately $14,940.50 in encumbrances.

Jerry Riffle reported the Syracuse Tree Board has collected and assembled data for reports to the National Arbor Day Foundation for its Tree City USA and Growth Awards. The results are expected in April. In 2013, 31 trees were planted, 10 were pruned and 24 were removed. About $27,153.09 was spent on plantings, forestry management, tree removals and tree maintenance.

Jonsson reported the trail project received $28,457 from the holiday mailer to be used to finish up trail sections on Northshore and Eastshore drives. That section is expected to be completed in the spring and any funds leftover will be spent in researching other sections on the southern end of Lake Wawasee.

Jonsson, representatives of the trail committee and State Rep. Rebecca Kubaki discussed the SR 13 section. It was decided the trail committee will work with Michiana Area Council of Governments on submitting a proposal to the Indiana Department of Transportation when it issues a call for projects.

The board was updated on projects at the Harold Schrock Athletic Complex. The installation of the light poles has been put on Middlebury Electric’s work schedule for the spring. The town received a storm water grant to clean out the ditch that runs west of the ball park. A donation was also received for finishing the parking lot with more gravel and stone. The parking lot will also have re-configured entrances.

Work will continue on the walking path and some posts will be installed to prevent cars from parking right up against the football field.

Officer elections were held with Dave Van Lue elected president and Kip Schumm elected as vice president.

(For a more in-depth account of the meeting, see today’s issue of The Mail-Journal.)