Jeff Nicodemus, left, and Paul Newcomer, park board members, discuss the roof project at the community center at its meeting Aug. 14,

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — After 20 years, the Syracuse Community Center needs a new roof. How it will be paid for, who will do the work and where the money will come has yet to be decided.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, explained the roof project at the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board meeting Monday, Aug. 14.

He said the project is expected to cost $115,000, which was the original estimate.

Jonsson got three quotes for the work from local roofing companies. After looking the bids over, President Paul Newcomer said he would like to see itemized quotes from each business. The board said it does have a company it will recommend, pending approval from the town council.

The town has American Rescue Plan Act funds, Jonsson said, and he will ask the town council if some of the monies can be used for a new roof. The rest of the funds would come from the park department’s budget.

The matter was scheduled to be discussed at the Syracuse Town Council meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 15.

The tree board met recently and several trees will be removed in the town.

“We started our removal list for the year,” Jonsson said. “We are also doing our fall planting with eight spots in mind.”

Schrock Fields’ football field is being prepared for the season. Practice and the first games will begin by Sept. 9.

“We’ve been spending a lot of time out there, and we need to get the scoreboard done. We are finishing up our part,” Jonsson said. “We are getting there.”

Jonsson gave an update on Henry Ward Park’s pavilion and restroom project. “It’s moving forward, and it’s progressing,” said Jonsson. “It will be an improvement.”

The facilities committee met and, “We came up with some ideas,” said Jonsson. The committee visited Hoy’s Beach, Laudeman Park and the town pier. “I’d like some input.”

He said he’d like to put together a list of projects, which need to be done in the next five years.

Jonsson gave the program report. He said the day of the Tour des Lakes it was rainy and “the numbers were down.”

The triathlon was July 29 and 100 registered but only 80 people showed up.

“The first one that we had, there was 300 people who participated,” said Newcomer. “A lot of other communities are doing them.”

Jonsson said the last day of the farmers market is Sept. 2, followed by Harvest Fest in October. He said the town-wide garage sale event had quite a few registrations with 51 of them. Newcomer suggested maybe moving the next event to earlier in the summer.

The family camp out will be Aug. 25-26. The cost is $5 per person and the event starts at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25.

Touch-a-truck will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the indoor garage sale will be Oct. 14. Participants can register starting at 4 p.m. Sept. 6.

Jonsson gave the financial report from July 10 to Aug. 14 and the financial report for July.

“We are in pretty good shape,” he said.

The board discussed the possibility of purchasing a new mower. The parks department has three mowers, one of which is a 2008 model. It will need to be replaced by next season, Jonsson noted. The other mower, a new one, is located at the new ball field.

The next meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, at SCC.