Syracuse Town Councilmen Bill Musser, left, Nathan Scherer and Larry Siegel chat before the council’s April meeting Tuesday, April 18.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Erin Rowland Jones, executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates, was in attendance as Cindy Kaiser, president of the Syracuse Town Council, read a proclamation declaring April National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Kaiser read the proclamation during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday night, April 18.

Rowland Jones explained this year CASA wanted to be more mindful in its observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month by visiting the top three communities where children have been removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect. Along with Syracuse, CASA also visited Warsaw and Mentone.

Rowland Jones also noted CASA serves all of Kosciusko County and needs more volunteers.

After the reading of the proclamation, Councilman Larry Siegel asked if those abuse cases were located within the town limits of Syracuse or had a Syracuse address. Roland Jones said “a Syracuse address.” Siegel then noted they could range from Dewart Lake to the other side of Lake Wawasee.

Kaiser also read the annual Arbor Day Proclamation. During his report, Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, told the council Arbor Day will be celebrated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the new ballpark with third graders from Syracuse Elementary School. The students will assist in planting some evergreen trees along the south property line of the ballpark.

The council held a public hearing and approved a waiver of noncompliance for property tax deductions for QES Reality LLC. Local attorney Steve Snyder explained QES Reality applied for and received tax abatement in 2021. It later submitted its annual compliance form; however, the form was never signed by the council president or the clerk-treasurer and submitted to the county auditor.

The council approved the waiver, signed the compliance papers and gave them to Snyder to deliver to the county auditor.

The council instructed town attorney Jay Rigdon to adjust a town ordinance, which forbids obstructions on sidewalks, to provide a process to allow for outdoor dining. The request came after a petition from staff at Kelly Jae’s, which would like to provide outdoor dining this spring and summer. Rigdon is to come up with a process that includes requiring Kelly Jae’s and other dining establishments to go through an application process.

Steve Showalter of Showalter RV, Nappanee, and Debra Hughes, senior project manager for Sam Companies, Elkhart, came before the council requesting permission to connect to the town’s water and sewer without annexation.

Showalter plans to develop a high-end luxury RV Park near CR 29 in Elkhart County and would like to connect to the town’s water and sewer. The neighbors to the proposed park do not want to be annexed into the Town of Syracuse.

After some discussion regarding rates and wear and tear on the system, Councilman Bill Musser made a motion to approve allowing Showalter to connect to the utilities with Showalter agreeing to pay a higher water and sewer rate. The council passed Musser’s motion.

In new business, Councilman Larry Siegel presented a letter from the State Board of Accounts stating the town’s ordinance related to its Health Safety Account deduction is unclear. Siegel has argued he is entitled to having $3,000 deposited into his HSA.

Virginia Cazier, clerk-treasurer, countered with information from the Internal Revenue Service comparability rules noting town employees have PHP insurance, which allows $3,000 to be deposited into an HSA. Siegel has Anthem Insurance, which allows $2,400 to be deposited into its HSA.

As the two started to argue, Rigdon broke in, stating there were several questions on the table: What has the council approved? He noted the state board of accounts said it isn’t clear. He said there was nothing wrong for the town to determine an amount that is the same for everyone. Rigdon said the Affordable Care Act has made some changes to the rules regarding HSAs.

Musser made a motion to have the same amount, $3,000, placed in employees’ and council members’ HSAs. The vote was three for the motion, with Kaiser abstaining and Councilman Paul Stoelting voting no.

During the town manager’s report, David Wilkinson reported a small piece of property has been donated to the town on Harkless Drive, so NIPSCO can move a pole and the sidewalk can be fixed. The town approved accepting the donation.

Wilkinson publicly praised Jonsson and his staff for their hard work on getting the ballpark finished. “They have worked tremendously hard to get that ready,” he said.

In the parks report, Jonsson said there will be a grand opening celebration of the new ballpark Saturday, April 29. Anyone attending the opening is recommended to come from the south to avoid the parade of Little League players coming from Syracuse Elementary School.

Mark Aurich, public works superintendent, requested $30,000 from the South Benton Tax Increment Finance District for upgrades to the booster station at the Technology Park to maintain required fire suppression requirements. The Syracuse Redevelopment Commission approved the request earlier Tuesday night during its regular meeting. The council approved the request.

The Turkey Creek Fire Territory will be offering a Safe Sitter Class for students in sixth through eighth grade from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20. The cost is $30 for materials. The next CPR class will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, at Station 1.

Rigdon informed the council he found the deed and legal description for the Dolan Street property to be donated to the Syracuse Public Library. The town approved the deed and signed it for the library project to move forward.