Syracuse Approves New Ambulance, Hears of County Meth Cleanup
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
Councilman Bill Musser made the motion, after reading from prepared notes about how it was "time to make a decision" and to "put personal feelings aside."
Members voted unanimously for the replacement for the 11-year-old Unit 6, already approved by the Syracuse-Turkey Creek Joint Fire board.
Syracuse had denied the purchase in June by a vote of 3-2.
Member Larry Siegel, who spoke against the purchase before the June vote, was quick to second Musser's motion, though he said after the meeting that his thoughts hadn't changed.
The new ambulance will cost $155,000. The old unit, which Musser described as being on its last legs, will be traded in toward the purchase, and council will work with Fire Chief Mickey Scott on a vehicle replacement schedule and on keeping vehicles running as long as possible.
Earlier in the meeting, Syracuse Police Chief Tony Ciriello told council about plans for a countywide meth lab cleanup team. He said federal funding for cleanup, currently handled by state agencies, will continue for another year but is doubtful after that.
Ciriello, Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert and state Rep. Rebecca Kubacki have been in talks in recent weeks about developing a county cleanup team, similar to teams a few larger cities in Indiana have. They are seeking funds and hope to have something in place in about a year, Ciriello said.
He noted that after an initial training cost of about $25,000, a county team could work for much cheaper than state teams. The state spends $2,500 to $5,000 per lab, but the chief said he thinks the county could do it for under $1,000.
There are also local costs currently in the form of overtime pay, as officers have to wait for a state cleanup crew to arrive and sometimes have to spend 10 hours at a scene during the whole process.
Ciriello emphasized that a Kosciusko team of local police officers, firefighters and medical technicians would respond to anywhere in the county. But the first step is finding funds, he said.
"We have to find out first where we can get the money. If we can't get money it's all moot,"he said.
Also during the meeting, council approved crosswalks for Syracuse-Webster Road, Sycamore Street, and Kinder and Manor drives, as part of a new pedestrian walkway and bridge. The ordinance will allow city officers to cite drivers who ignore the crosswalk under either city or state law, including a fine up to $100 for repeat offences.
Siegel remarked on the importance of the public understanding how crosswalks work. A driver must yield to a pedestrian already crossing, but is not required to stop when people are waiting to cross.[[In-content Ad]]
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Councilman Bill Musser made the motion, after reading from prepared notes about how it was "time to make a decision" and to "put personal feelings aside."
Members voted unanimously for the replacement for the 11-year-old Unit 6, already approved by the Syracuse-Turkey Creek Joint Fire board.
Syracuse had denied the purchase in June by a vote of 3-2.
Member Larry Siegel, who spoke against the purchase before the June vote, was quick to second Musser's motion, though he said after the meeting that his thoughts hadn't changed.
The new ambulance will cost $155,000. The old unit, which Musser described as being on its last legs, will be traded in toward the purchase, and council will work with Fire Chief Mickey Scott on a vehicle replacement schedule and on keeping vehicles running as long as possible.
Earlier in the meeting, Syracuse Police Chief Tony Ciriello told council about plans for a countywide meth lab cleanup team. He said federal funding for cleanup, currently handled by state agencies, will continue for another year but is doubtful after that.
Ciriello, Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert and state Rep. Rebecca Kubacki have been in talks in recent weeks about developing a county cleanup team, similar to teams a few larger cities in Indiana have. They are seeking funds and hope to have something in place in about a year, Ciriello said.
He noted that after an initial training cost of about $25,000, a county team could work for much cheaper than state teams. The state spends $2,500 to $5,000 per lab, but the chief said he thinks the county could do it for under $1,000.
There are also local costs currently in the form of overtime pay, as officers have to wait for a state cleanup crew to arrive and sometimes have to spend 10 hours at a scene during the whole process.
Ciriello emphasized that a Kosciusko team of local police officers, firefighters and medical technicians would respond to anywhere in the county. But the first step is finding funds, he said.
"We have to find out first where we can get the money. If we can't get money it's all moot,"he said.
Also during the meeting, council approved crosswalks for Syracuse-Webster Road, Sycamore Street, and Kinder and Manor drives, as part of a new pedestrian walkway and bridge. The ordinance will allow city officers to cite drivers who ignore the crosswalk under either city or state law, including a fine up to $100 for repeat offences.
Siegel remarked on the importance of the public understanding how crosswalks work. A driver must yield to a pedestrian already crossing, but is not required to stop when people are waiting to cross.[[In-content Ad]]
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