SYRACUSE - Of the Syracuse Community Center's total cost, approximately $1.9 million, only 36 percent of the total project was funded through a bond issue.

And as of Tuesday, the balance left on the project is zero, according to Mike Hixenbaugh, Syracuse Parks and Recreation Department superintendent. All the contracts have been paid off for the center.

And it hasn't taken long for the center to be used. Since June, the center has had at least 5,392 visitors. And while that number does include repeat visitors, Hixenbaugh said, the estimate is low.

"In my opinion," he said, "this is a huge success" and the center is just getting started.

Councilwoman Carol Koble said she was "pleased" to see Hixenbaugh incorporating all ages into the center's programming.

Hixenbaugh said he is working on grants for more after-school programming. He presented the council with a list of tentative planned events for young people for 2002-03, which include dances, holiday events and various parties.

"My goal is to have two special events a month," he said.

The programming for kids, he said, he couldn't do without the support of the Lakeland Youth Center. "I just think it's great," he said. "It's nice to see us working together."

He also reported he is applying for a grant from the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, for an urban forester. The urban forester would develop and implement an inaugural tree inventory, resulting in a comprehensive compilation to identify tree hazards for future abatement. Severe tree hazards would be identified and the urban forester also would develop a plan for the future tree maintenance.

He also said he is beginning to raise money for the community center's endowment fund. His goal, he said, is to raise $1 million in three years.

"I think we can accomplish that," he said. Now that Syracuse has a building people can actually see and touch, he said, they can "make our case." The fund will help keep the community center maintained.

Hixenbaugh said, "If it can be done, it can be done in three years."

In other business, the town council:

• Approved the 2003 salary ordinance.

Salaries include $42,640 per year for the clerk-treasurer; $55,343.31, town manager; $42,640, town marshal; $42,640, fire department chief; $39,257, park superintendent, street and water department superintendent, wastewater department superintendent; and town council president, $3,280 per year with each of the other council members receiving $2,767.50 per year. The town attorney will receive $10,660 per year.

• Approved the expenditure of $11,185 for Peerless Midwest to do emergency repairs on the Dolan Well.

• Approved the purchase of eight new pagers and two new two-way portable radios for an amount not to exceed $4,368 for the Syracuse Fire Department.

• Approved two change orders for the Palm Drive sewer and water main project, one for $1,850 and the other for $3,950.

• Approved the expenditure of $1,620 for new tires for a backhoe and two trucks from Monteith Tire for the public works department.

• Approved the bid from D&H Tree Care for $1,200 to remove five trees in Syracuse.

• Approved an amount not to exceed $1,000 for the purchase of a recorder for the town hall from Electro-Net/Radio Shack, Syracuse.

• Accepted a donation of a used car from Gary Stuckman for the Syracuse Police Department to be used for the school resource officer.

• Approved a transfer of $900 for the animal control and of $2,000 for the EMS.

• Approved the U.S. Department of Agriculture statement of budget, income and equity as required for the town's water bond. [[In-content Ad]]