Members of the Syracuse Town Council vote on a motion during their regular meeting Tuesday night. From left are Bill Musser, Larry Siegel, Cindy Kaiser, Nathan Scherer and Paul Stoelting. Also Jay Ridgon, town attorney and Virginia Cazier, clerk-treasurer. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE —  After almost a year of hearing requests and remonstrances from Doug Schrock and his neighbors, the Syracuse Town Council granted Schrock permission to pave an easement allowing him access to his new home on North Shore Drive. The council approved the request during its regular meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 20. The new home is currently under construction.

Schrock came before the council in December 2023 requesting the easement be vacated so he could use it as a driveway. At the time, neighbors objected stating they used the easement to access their backyards and their children used it to access different areas of the neighborhood without having to go out onto Northshore Drive.

After having Mark Aurich, public works superintendent, do some research in the area, the council denied the request noting it did not vacate town property under any circumstance. A few months after Aurich made his report, a contractor for Beer and Slabaugh came before the council asking for a contract to pave the easement with Schrock paying for the work. The representative was told at that time the town was not interested in paving the easement.

During public comments Tuesday night, Corey Mast, a neighbor, told the council he left some information regarding the matter at their places in the room. He noted the homeowners in the area are against the easement being paved and want it left as green space. “If the town feels it needs to vacate the easement, it should go back to the three home owners (it affects),” Mast told he council.

Larry Copeland, who no longer lives in the community, took the other side pointing out Schrock offered to pave it at his own expense. He also noted Schrock has given a lot to the community. “You don’t have a lot of people who have contributed to this community as much as Mr. Schrock,” he told the council.

When the matter came up on the agenda, Nathan Scherer, council president, asked what Schrock proposed to do. Schrock said he intended to pave it and requested the town put up a “dead end” street sign.

Jay Rigdon, town attorney, noted the easement will still be the town’s right of way whether it’s paved or not.

Schrock told the council he could put gravel down without its permission.

Councilman Larry Siegel, who represents the Ward which Schrock and the Northshore/Hiawatha neighbors live in, pointed out the issue has caused a major rift in the neighborhood and asked if there was any way the Schrocks and their neighbors could sit down and work through their differences.

Saying Siegel was “too emotionally involved,” Jeannine Schrock said “We don’t understand why everyone is so upset.”

Councilman Bill Musser said kids play in that area all the time and questioned whether they would be in harm’s way

In the end the council approved allowing Schrock to improve the easement with the provision he does not expect the town to maintain it. The vote was 4 in favor with Siegel abstaining.

The council tabled ordinance 2024-06 regarding pollinator garden introduction. Councilman Paul Stoelting made the motion saying he understood the council wanted some areas not covered by the ordinance.

Siegel wondered if the ordinance should have verbiage regarding industrial areas, commercial areas and residential. Rigdon said he’s never seen an ordinance that specified specific zones like Siegel suggested.

David Wilkinson, town manager, told the council this was the same conversation he’s had with councils for 30 years.

Council members noted the ordinance was originally crafted to combat blight and people who don’t take care of their property. Now the council has to decide how to enforce it — will the ordinance be used for blighted areas or for every dandelion that is over 9 inches tall, which could affect pollinator gardens throughout town. Scherer said the matter warrants more thought. The council approved tabling the matter while they did more research.