SYRACUSE - Unanimously, the Syracuse Town Council approved the 2004 water and wastewater department budgets Tuesday as presented by Tom Miller, Severn Trent.

The water department total budget for 2004 is $644,389, a 2 percent decrease from the 2003 budgeted amount of $658,154.

"I think it looks like a good budget," said councilwoman Carol Koble.

Meanwhile, the wastewater department budget will increase 10 percent to $813,020 for 2004 compared to 2003's budgeted amount of $739,520. The 2004 budget includes the purchase of a new front end loader. Also, liability insurance for 2004 will increase 200 percent from $2,000 in 2003 to $6,000 in 2004. Vehicle insurance will increase 20 percent to $3,000 in 2004 from $2,500 in 2003.

"Looks like a good budget to me," said Barbara Carwile, council president.

Also, the agreement with Severn Trent Environmental Services Inc. for the management of the Syracuse Public Works Department was unanimously approved. The approval extends the current agreement for another five years to Dec. 31, 2008.

After the five years are completed, the parties have the option to renew and extend the management agreement for two additional terms of two years each.

"We have a lot of vision for the future," said Miller, and "... we're very proud of our relationship and hope to continue that."

In other business, the town council:

• Approved Gary and Tonya Jenkins' request to vacate an unnamed public alley in the plat of Strombeck and Weavers Second Addition, Turkey Creek Township. The alley is between the southeast right-of-way of the alley between lot 87/88 and 91/92 in Strombeck and Weavers Second Addition.

• Appointed councilmen Paul Stoelting and Larry Siegel to represent the town council for the negotiation of land with the Wawasee School Board for land acquisition for a water storage tower.

• Approved an agreement with Wightman Petrie Inc., Elkhart, for $8,300 for a Syracuse North Corridor Business Development Plan.

• Approved the proposal from Greeley and Hansen for $14,500 for the utilities service project for Ind. 13 between Bowser Road and Palm Drive.

• Approved the purchase of a Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 2300 printer from J.A. Business, Syracuse, for $715 for the Syracuse dispatch. The council could have bought the same printer from Staples for $649.98 but chose to purchase the more expensive printer from the Syracuse business.

• Approved the annual statement of budget, income and equity for the United States Department of Agriculture as part of the town's water bond.

• Approved an ordinance for transfers of: $2,000, town clerk; $2,000, fire department; $3,500, EMS; and $4,500, street department.

• Approved an ordinance for the temporary transfer of funds, including $50,000 for general fund from the cumulative capital improvement fund; $10,000, park fund, from CCI; and $8,000, park fund, from the cumulative park fund.

• Approved an additional appropriation ordinance of $10,000 for the EMS.

• Heard from Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Mike Hixenbaugh that Breakfast with Santa is Dec. 13 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.; Christmas in the Park, Dec. 21, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; and that Sprague Bartels donated approximately $4,000 for 16 trees.

Members of the Syracuse Town Council are Barbara Carwile, Bill Hane, Carol Koble, Paul Stoelting and Larry Siegel. Their next two meetings are at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and Dec. 30 in the town hall. [[In-content Ad]]