Jay Rigdon,left, town attorney for Syracuse, chats with Councilman Larry Siegel prior to the council’s regular meeting Tuesday night, Nov. 19. Photo by Lauren Zeugner

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — After a lengthy discussion regarding regulating food trucks in town, the Syracuse Town Council quickly worked through its agenda during its regular meeting Tuesday night, Nov. 19.

The council approved a proposal for legal services from Bose, McKenny and Evans LLP.

A public hearing was opened and quickly closed as there were no remonstrators for adoption of a resolution offering tax abatement to Resolution Designating Era.

A confirmatory resolution was adopted granting tax abatement to Storie Real Estate LLC. Storie Real Estate purchased lot seven in the Syracuse Technology Park.

Councilman Larry Siegel moved to continue discussion on ordinance 2024-07, the salaries and compensation ordinance, when he learned employees were to receive a 5% pay increase. Councilman Bill Musser asked when that was discussed and received no answer.

After a lengthy discussion regarding setbacks for mowing, the council approved an amendment to the town’s weed ordinance requiring commercial and residential areas be mowed 75 feet from the road or an existing building.

Gale Gerber, CommonWealth Engineering, gave an update to the council. CommonWealth Engineering and Michiana Council of Governments are working together on a grant for the preliminary engineering report for Oakwood.

The town did not receive the Community Crossing Matching grant in the latest grant cycle. The grant application will be resubmitted in January.

Paving on Kern Road was completed Monday, Nov. 18. The project is almost completed.

In department reports, David Wilkinson, town manger, told the council the town is receiving opioid funds from the attorney general’s office and has yet to decide how to spend those funds.

There are local groups addressing the issue of addiction.

The town has $29,588 in restricted funds and $12,223 in unrestricted funds it can use. After some discussion, where Siegel recommended giving the funds to local organizations, Council President Nathan Scherer suggested looking at pro-active programs working toward preventing addiction in the first place. He said he’d like to see some options before making a decision.

The Kern Road project came in well under budget. American Rescue Plan funds were used for the project and the town still has money it needs to use or send back to the federal government.

Wilkinson provided a list of potential projects, ranging from clarifier repairs at the wastewater treatment plant, to new entrance doors and bathroom repairs at the community center to a wide variety of park projects. The council took the list under advisement.

In the police report, Chief Jim Layne requested purchasing 10 new AEDs for $25,000. The council approved the purchase.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, reported all parks are now winterized, meaning the public bathrooms have been locked for the season.

The next park event will be Breakfast with Santa, Saturday, Dec. 7. The park department will be working with Wawasee Kiwanis, Syracuse Public Library, Lakeland Youth Center, The Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum and local Boy Scouts for the event.

Mark Aurich, public works director, requested residents get their leaves to the curb as soon as possible. Leaf pickup will continue until “the leaves freeze to the road.”

“”We’ll pick them up as long as possible,” he said.

Mickey Scott, fire chief, requested purchasing a 2024 Chevy Tahoe for $51,453 as a special services vehicle. The current special services vehicle will be used by three new firefighters to go to the academy. The council approved the purchase.

Work continues on the new training center at Station II. Nipsco has agreed to run power to the storm siren tower so Ritter’s Electric can run it behind the station to the new training center. The cost for Ritter’s work is $19,475. The council approved the contract.

In the clerk-treasurer’s report, as council was reviewing the town’s insurance plan, Seigel asked if Jay Rigdon, town attorney, had reviewed the policy and if it was legal, according to town ordinance. He requested Rigdon look it over before council approved it.

Virginia Cazier, clerk-treasurer, reported health savings accounts went up from $3,200 to $3,300 across the board.

In old business, Siegel asked about parking on Pearl Street once the new parking lot is done and the library constructs its parking lot. Aurich and Wilkinson said the road will remain one way since it has bad sight lines for two- way traffic.