Syracuse Accepts Acreage for Potential Park
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Kathy Cone-kcone@timesuniononline.com
The acreage, at the end of Wildwood Drive in Wawasee Heights southeast of Wawasee High School, is for sale by Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Charitable Foundation for $35,000. That’s about half of its worth, said Rotarian Bob Smith.
Smith and Chad Jonsson, town parks director, approached the council with an offer that would have the Syracuse Park Foundation purchase the land and then turn around and donate it to the town. That way the land would be available for a future town park.
The undeveloped acreage could feature native grasses and has a pond, council heard.
Council President Brian Woody asked just how much it would cost the town to accept the offer. Jonsson said there would be mowing costs including labor, gas and wear and tear on the equipment for around $120 a month. Town Manager Henry DeJulia added that there would be minimal increase to insurance, not more than $200 a year, all totaling somewhere around $140 a month.
Smith emphasized how the town is promoting green technology with its new technology park and trails and how it should continue to offer green amenities. Noting the close proximity to the new trails and how the land might be incorporated into those as a trailhead, Smith told council, “I think this would be your crown jewel.”
Asked if he had plans for it, Jonsson responded, “We really don’t have a plan for it now, but it would make a great nature park. That’s something we don’t have now.” The council unanimously agreed.
The need for new green technology was discussed in relation to a proposal for the rebuilding of the town’s waste water system. Jeremy Sponseller, utilities director, presented a plan for updating the 25-year old plant. Council discussed how many of the items needed immediate attention and how the project would be financed.
Town Clerk Julie Kline explained how accounting firm London Witte would be willing to sit down with council and discuss at least three methods of paying for the rebuild. Sponseller suggested they consider doing all items at once to take advantage of new technologies. Kline, Sponseller, DeJulia and Woody will meet with the accountants to discuss the options.
Another item that’s going to cost the town is the purchase of new signs for the technology park. Three designs were again discussed, as well as whether to light them with standard electrical power or solar power. Council members indicated they were leaning toward a sailboat design and using solar power.
The cost for two signs, one to be placed at the entrance at U.S. 6 and the other at Ind. 13, would be around $50,000. However, upon hearing that the solar batteries might have to be replaced within eight to 10 years, and that the batteries were the bulk of the cost, they said they wanted to discuss it a bit more. They also had questions about where batteries and panels would be located, since this winter’s weather would encourage placing those items high off the ground. The council decided to put off a vote until next month.
In other business, council approved:
• The appointment of Jason Traycoff to the county Board of Zoning Appeals.
• The naming of local attorney Steve Snyder to the fire territory board of directors.
• A bid of $4,000 from Darr Electric to install a propane generator at the fire station as backup power for its repeater.[[In-content Ad]]
The acreage, at the end of Wildwood Drive in Wawasee Heights southeast of Wawasee High School, is for sale by Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Charitable Foundation for $35,000. That’s about half of its worth, said Rotarian Bob Smith.
Smith and Chad Jonsson, town parks director, approached the council with an offer that would have the Syracuse Park Foundation purchase the land and then turn around and donate it to the town. That way the land would be available for a future town park.
The undeveloped acreage could feature native grasses and has a pond, council heard.
Council President Brian Woody asked just how much it would cost the town to accept the offer. Jonsson said there would be mowing costs including labor, gas and wear and tear on the equipment for around $120 a month. Town Manager Henry DeJulia added that there would be minimal increase to insurance, not more than $200 a year, all totaling somewhere around $140 a month.
Smith emphasized how the town is promoting green technology with its new technology park and trails and how it should continue to offer green amenities. Noting the close proximity to the new trails and how the land might be incorporated into those as a trailhead, Smith told council, “I think this would be your crown jewel.”
Asked if he had plans for it, Jonsson responded, “We really don’t have a plan for it now, but it would make a great nature park. That’s something we don’t have now.” The council unanimously agreed.
The need for new green technology was discussed in relation to a proposal for the rebuilding of the town’s waste water system. Jeremy Sponseller, utilities director, presented a plan for updating the 25-year old plant. Council discussed how many of the items needed immediate attention and how the project would be financed.
Town Clerk Julie Kline explained how accounting firm London Witte would be willing to sit down with council and discuss at least three methods of paying for the rebuild. Sponseller suggested they consider doing all items at once to take advantage of new technologies. Kline, Sponseller, DeJulia and Woody will meet with the accountants to discuss the options.
Another item that’s going to cost the town is the purchase of new signs for the technology park. Three designs were again discussed, as well as whether to light them with standard electrical power or solar power. Council members indicated they were leaning toward a sailboat design and using solar power.
The cost for two signs, one to be placed at the entrance at U.S. 6 and the other at Ind. 13, would be around $50,000. However, upon hearing that the solar batteries might have to be replaced within eight to 10 years, and that the batteries were the bulk of the cost, they said they wanted to discuss it a bit more. They also had questions about where batteries and panels would be located, since this winter’s weather would encourage placing those items high off the ground. The council decided to put off a vote until next month.
In other business, council approved:
• The appointment of Jason Traycoff to the county Board of Zoning Appeals.
• The naming of local attorney Steve Snyder to the fire territory board of directors.
• A bid of $4,000 from Darr Electric to install a propane generator at the fire station as backup power for its repeater.[[In-content Ad]]
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