The Syracuse Town Council approved the 2014 budget on first reading during its regular monthly meeting Monday night. The budget estimate is $3,331,981 with an estimated tax levy of $1,700,562, which is approximately $50,000 under the maximum levy of $1,750,021.

Brett Konarski of Jones Petrie Rafinski provided a monthly report on the Syracuse industrial park. NIPSCO has completed installation for gas and electric at the park, Cripe Excavating will finish paving soon and should be done by the end of next week. By the council’s October meeting, most of Cripe Excavating’s contract will be wrapped up.

The landscape department at Jones Petrie Rafinski has done some drawings for review and suggested a budget of $26,000 for landscaping the entrances to the park. A graphic for the proposed entrance signs was also provided. H + G Underground Utilities just has minor restoration work to do before it is done with its work.

In department reports, town manager Henry DeJulia reported work continues on a website for the industrial park. J.R. Parent, owner of Oakwood, has the agreement for the street dedication. DeJulia hopes to have it back soon. Phend and Brown are almost done with the paving project on SR 13 and the French Street Bridge project may not start until next spring.

In the police report, police chief Tony Ciriello noted the number of calls are down, but the type of crime being committed is more serious. Council president Bill Musser asked about restrictions on officers taking squad cars home since an officer has moved to North Webster. The rule is an officer must live within 15 miles of Syracuse to have a take home car.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, reported October will be a busy month. The annual Harvest Fest will be Saturday, Oct. 12, which will also be the last day of the season for the Farmers and Artisans Market. Lakeland Youth Center will have its annual fall carnival Oct. 19 and the Haunted House will be in Crosson Mill Park Oct. 24-26.

In old business, councilman Larry Siegel asked town attorney Vern Landis to review the fire territory agreement. Landis explained his understanding is if an expenditure from the equipment replacement fund is not approved by either the town council or township advisory board, it goes back to the fire territory board for review and then goes through the process of being approved the town council and township advisory board. The advisory board cannot ignore the town council and go head with the expenditure.

(For a more in-depth account, see today’s issue of The Mail-Journal.)