Water The Main Theme During Syracuse Town Council Meeting
SYRACUSE — Water was the main theme during the Syracuse Town Council’s monthly meeting held Tuesday night, Aug. 21.
In new business, Councilman Tom Hoover stated a difference of opinion regarding rates between the council and the Turkey Creek Sewer District has been discussed for months with no agreement.
Representatives for the town have attempted to come to a mutual agreement with the sewer district with no result. Hoover demanded an agreement be reached or the town file a complaint in court. All five members of the council, Hoover, Larry Martindale, Larry Siegel, Council President Bill Musser and Paul Stoelting approved the decision to file a lawsuit if an agreement cannot be reached.
According to Hoover, the sewer district owes the town approximately $200,000.
In discussion from the floor several members of the community came forward to discuss the water control device in Crosson Mill Park.
John Earnst, a member of the Syracuse Lake Association, told the council he appreciated the report Town Manager Henry DeJulia, Musser and Hoover brought to a recent association meeting. He encouraged the council to find and appropriate the necessary funds to fix the water control device in 2019. Earnst offered his help in finding ways to fund the project.
Earlier in the meeting, DeJulia reported the repairs would could $575,000 if done in one phase or more than $600,000 if done in two phases.
Siegel explained the town’s budget is regulated by the state as to what it can do with accumulated funds and there is no fund available for maintaining the water control device. “We all get it,” he said. “The state hasn’t given us the way to accumulate funds for the dam.”
Siegel urged Earnst to find those who helped residents around Lake Papakeechie with their dam issue. “They (state officials) need to hear from more than just me,” Siegel said.
Musser suggested a fee or tax from everyone in the watershed to fix and maintain the water control device. Hoover noted Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation raised money and the trails had more than $1 million so money was in the community. “We need to find those sources,” he said.
Bill Pipp, a representative of the Wawasee Property Owners Association, said “I think the most important thing for the council is if you expect the township or those outside (the town limits) to help out, we need to be included more.” He noted while those in the township don’t pay town taxes, they do spend a lot of money in the community.
He told the council he didn’t believe the state would not allow the town to establish a fund to maintain the flood control device, but he is willing to help work out a solution.
Jim Silcox, another member of WPOA, said “the impression is it’s the town’s dam and the town wanted it.” He told the council no one wanted an adversarial relationship. “We have this precious piece of equipment that needs to be fixed and maintained.”