Syracuse Councilman Larry Siegel and Council President Cindy Kaiser chat prior to the start of the May town council meeting held Tuesday, May 16. File photo

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

Once again Syracuse Town Councilman Larry Siegel brought up the need for the town to have a resolution regarding annexation. He made his comments during the “old business” section of the council’s regular meeting Tuesday night, Oct. 17.

Siegel began by asking Clerk-Treasurer Virginia Cazier how her office handles tap-on fees for water and sewer. Cazier explained usually a developer or home owner comes in asking to hook up to town utilities.
Cazier went through the rates for providing water and sewer. Siegel then asked how the clerk treasurer’s office knew if the property was in or out of the town limits. Cazier said the address was usually put in the GIS to determine if it was within the town limits before any fees were accepted.

Siegel again stated there needed to be a resolution detailing property out of the town limits needed to be annexed in order to receive utilities. He stressed the point by giving examples how in the past properties outside the town limits received utilities without being annexed.

Mark Aurich, public works superintendent, explained state law requires if a home is within 300 feet of a sewer line it must tap on. State law also allows municipalities to regulate water and sewer.

Aurich also informed the council tap-on fees are handled by his office. His administrative assistant plugs the address into the GIS to determine if the property is within town limits.

Siegel went on asking how would Cazier or Town Manager David Wilkinson know what to do if there was no resolution outlining the town’s position. Cazier said it was common sense, if you lived outside the town limits you had to be annexed into town in order to receive utilities.

Again, Siegel noted several examples where this didn’t happen. Cindy Kaiser noted the matter needs to be an agenda item so council members can research and come to the discussion informed, not in old business.

Councilman Bill Musser noted the examples Siegel gave were “water under the bridge” and were decisions made by previous councils years ago. He seconded Kaiser telling Siegel if the issue is so important to him he should make it an agenda item, not bring it up at the end of the meeting when people want to go home.

Kaiser asked if there was any more old business, seeing as there was none, she called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.