Township Pledges $1,000 To Athletic Complex
The Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board voted to give $1,000 to the new Harold Schrock Athletic Complex in Syracuse during the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday evening. Dick Pelletier made the request for funds to the board, noting the board running the complex hopes to raise an additional $60,000 to install lights on the new ball fields by year’s end.
The $1,000 will come out of the township’s recreation fund, which currently provides payment for lifeguards at Lakeside Park each summer.
“Kids who live in the township are definitely benefiting from the athletic complex and participating in Pee Wee Football and Little League,” said Bill Dixon, member of the board. “Honestly, I think this is better use of our money than paying for lifeguards.”
Discussion was had on whether the township should commit to an annual contribution to the athletic complex from its recreation fund budget. The board agreed to look into that possibility for next year’s budget.
In his report, fire chief Mickey Scott reported a total of 91 fire and EMS responses for the month of April.
He also reported the process for obtaining bids and proceeding with the addition of a second story on Fire Station 1 is ongoing. Bids are due Friday, May 24.
Upcoming events the department plans to participate in include, the Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27; a picture fundraising project to purchase Class A uniforms later this month; the annual pork chop and chicken barbecue fundraiser Saturday, June 29, starting at 10 a.m.; and the Wawasee Property Owners Association’s fireworks display Saturday, July 6.
Dennis Darr, president of the board, reported the closing for the purchase of an addition to Union Cemetery will be Thursday. The board signed the purchase agreement of $13,700 for .68 acres at last month’s board meeting. Darr also reported new fencing has been installed and problematic trees removed at the cemetery.
To close the meeting, Chris Cotton, the fire department’s insurance agent, made a presentation to provide insight into the department’s health insurance projections for 2014. Cotton reported, due to new health care reform, rates will be affected but it is near impossible to guess how much at this point.
His recommendation was to allow for a 20 percent increase to health insurance rates. He also discussed the possibility of a defined contribution insurance model as opposed to insurance premiums, which the department currently uses.
The Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at Syracuse Fire Station 2. The next regular monthly meeting is Monday, June 10.