Community center lease OK'd
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE -ÊDuring their 3-1/2 hour meeting Tuesday, the Syracuse Town Council managed to pass a preliminary determination to enter into a lease for the community center, pass a noise ordinance, discuss the scout cabin and hear department reports.
After several months of requests by the park board to put the preliminary determination to enter into a lease for the community center on hold, the park board was ready for the council to approve the determination Tuesday.
Park Board President Bill Wight told the council the board met with various groups and, as of Oct. 4, Lakeland Youth Center said they want to participate with the park board in the center.
"We want to move forward in slow, determined steps and not jump into things," Wight said.
Keith Bice, of McCale, Cook & Welch, bond council for the project, then told the council the method of bonding best suited for the project is through a lease-financing corporation. Once the community center is built, it will be leased back to the council for approximately 20 years or less.
"Any time during that lease the council has the option to buy the building," Bice said. At the end of the lease payments, the building becomes town property, he said.
Dan Kramer, of Thurber, Brock & Kramer, Indianapolis, is the financial adviser for the project. He presented the council with preliminary determination information on the tax rates for the project. The numbers were based on a $2.31 million building corporation bond issue.
For a lease term of 12 years and an interest rate of 5.5 percent, the annual payments would be $307,000 with a tax rate of $0.76. Total interest payment would equal $860,000. With a 17-year lease term and 6 percent interest rate, the annual payment would be $240,000 with a tax rate of $0.59. Interest would be $1.373 million. For 22 years and an interest rate of 6.5 percent, the annual payment would be $210,000 with a tax rate of $0.52 and total interest of $2.01 million.
Council President Bill Cutter told the council and the crowd, "Should we determine at any time that this is not what it was going to be, the town council can say enough is enough."
The council approved the determination unanimously.
By a vote of three to one, the council also approved an ordinance prohibiting loud noise on public streets and public places.
The ordinance states, "No person shall play, use, operate or permit to be played, used or operated any sound amplification system if it is located in or on ... any town owned property ... any motor vehicle on a public street, alley, highway, park or other town owned property and if the sound generated is plainly audible to any other person measured at a distance at least 50 feet from the sound amplification system. No person shall operate any motor vehicle (on town property) in which the engine, muffler, exhaust and/or other noise control equipment has been altered, removed, or maintained in such disrepair as to generate a sound plainly audible to any other person measured at a distance at least 50 feet from the motor vehicle."
The ordinance does allow for exemptions, such as emergency vehicles, warning devices and parades. Any person in violation will be fined between $100 and $500 dollars.
Dan VanLue, of the Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club, requested the town council grant the organization permission to rebuild the Scout Cabin.
"Our goal for five years now has been to attempt to organize to rebuild this facility," VanLue said. He said they will build the new scout cabin without grants or taxpayer money.
John Call, volunteer architect for the scout cabin project, said they will do a soil boring on the grounds, the area is not in the flood plains and they will deal with the parking issues. He also said he thinks they should use 30 feet more than they already use.
The council requested more definite information on the project before they vote either way on the request.
In other business, the town council:
• Approved an alley vacation for Charles and Anna Harris, South Main Street, by a vote of four to one. Councilman Paul Stoelting voted against the vacation. The alley is between the Harris' two properties and was never city-maintained.
• Approved the Syracuse- Wawasee planning agreement.
• Approved the lease of a new copier for the police department for $122 per month for 60 months.
• Made no motions on Police Chief Bill Endler's request for permission to order a Ford Taurus detective car. The current detective car, Endler said, is "on its last leg."
• Approved the purchase of a new one-ton four-wheel drive vehicle for $23,910.39 for the Public Works department.
• Approved salary ordinance 99-22. [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE -ÊDuring their 3-1/2 hour meeting Tuesday, the Syracuse Town Council managed to pass a preliminary determination to enter into a lease for the community center, pass a noise ordinance, discuss the scout cabin and hear department reports.
After several months of requests by the park board to put the preliminary determination to enter into a lease for the community center on hold, the park board was ready for the council to approve the determination Tuesday.
Park Board President Bill Wight told the council the board met with various groups and, as of Oct. 4, Lakeland Youth Center said they want to participate with the park board in the center.
"We want to move forward in slow, determined steps and not jump into things," Wight said.
Keith Bice, of McCale, Cook & Welch, bond council for the project, then told the council the method of bonding best suited for the project is through a lease-financing corporation. Once the community center is built, it will be leased back to the council for approximately 20 years or less.
"Any time during that lease the council has the option to buy the building," Bice said. At the end of the lease payments, the building becomes town property, he said.
Dan Kramer, of Thurber, Brock & Kramer, Indianapolis, is the financial adviser for the project. He presented the council with preliminary determination information on the tax rates for the project. The numbers were based on a $2.31 million building corporation bond issue.
For a lease term of 12 years and an interest rate of 5.5 percent, the annual payments would be $307,000 with a tax rate of $0.76. Total interest payment would equal $860,000. With a 17-year lease term and 6 percent interest rate, the annual payment would be $240,000 with a tax rate of $0.59. Interest would be $1.373 million. For 22 years and an interest rate of 6.5 percent, the annual payment would be $210,000 with a tax rate of $0.52 and total interest of $2.01 million.
Council President Bill Cutter told the council and the crowd, "Should we determine at any time that this is not what it was going to be, the town council can say enough is enough."
The council approved the determination unanimously.
By a vote of three to one, the council also approved an ordinance prohibiting loud noise on public streets and public places.
The ordinance states, "No person shall play, use, operate or permit to be played, used or operated any sound amplification system if it is located in or on ... any town owned property ... any motor vehicle on a public street, alley, highway, park or other town owned property and if the sound generated is plainly audible to any other person measured at a distance at least 50 feet from the sound amplification system. No person shall operate any motor vehicle (on town property) in which the engine, muffler, exhaust and/or other noise control equipment has been altered, removed, or maintained in such disrepair as to generate a sound plainly audible to any other person measured at a distance at least 50 feet from the motor vehicle."
The ordinance does allow for exemptions, such as emergency vehicles, warning devices and parades. Any person in violation will be fined between $100 and $500 dollars.
Dan VanLue, of the Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club, requested the town council grant the organization permission to rebuild the Scout Cabin.
"Our goal for five years now has been to attempt to organize to rebuild this facility," VanLue said. He said they will build the new scout cabin without grants or taxpayer money.
John Call, volunteer architect for the scout cabin project, said they will do a soil boring on the grounds, the area is not in the flood plains and they will deal with the parking issues. He also said he thinks they should use 30 feet more than they already use.
The council requested more definite information on the project before they vote either way on the request.
In other business, the town council:
• Approved an alley vacation for Charles and Anna Harris, South Main Street, by a vote of four to one. Councilman Paul Stoelting voted against the vacation. The alley is between the Harris' two properties and was never city-maintained.
• Approved the Syracuse- Wawasee planning agreement.
• Approved the lease of a new copier for the police department for $122 per month for 60 months.
• Made no motions on Police Chief Bill Endler's request for permission to order a Ford Taurus detective car. The current detective car, Endler said, is "on its last leg."
• Approved the purchase of a new one-ton four-wheel drive vehicle for $23,910.39 for the Public Works department.
• Approved salary ordinance 99-22. [[In-content Ad]]