SYRACUSE - As of Tuesday, the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce had received 368 surveys regarding the Ind. 13 project, chamber executive director Steven Hite reported today at the chamber meeting.

Of the surveys returned, 49.5 percent said they were in support of Ind. 13 as a three-lane highway; 20.9 percent said they supported it as a five-lane highway; and 29.6 percent said they like Ind. 13 the way it is now.

Question two of the survey asked if Indiana says a five-lane highway will cost Syracuse $250,000 and a three-lane will cost $450,000, which would the respondent support? Supporting a three-lane road would be 66.4 percent because it would suit Syracuse better, but 33.6 percent said they would support a five-lane because it would save Syracuse money.

If Ind. 13 remains the way it is, question three asks respondents if they would favor curbs along the sides of the greenways. The majority, 53 percent, said yes; 31.7 percent said no; and 15.3 percent were undecided.

The survey also asks respondents if they think the telephone poles along Ind. 13 should be moved behind the businesses or buried. Buried was favored by 68.4 percent; left alone, 12.8 percent; moved, 7.8 percent; and undecided, 10.9 percent.

Other issues covered by the survey include the community center project, taxes to pay for the community center, tree planting in Syracuse and Daylight Saving Time.

In other business:

• Hite reported the chamber has 112 members, with Hawg House and Victory Circle being the newest members.

He said Kosciusko County is a candidate to be an All-American City. The county is one of approximately 36 finalists, he said, and the finals will be June 22 in Atlanta. If Kosciusko County is one of the top 10 finalists, he said, the county will get national press coverage.

"We're part of that," Hite said. "It's a really big deal. ... It looks pretty good for us."

• Stephanie Yoder, Wawasee High School, was the first recipient of the chamber's academic scholarship, Hite said. She will receive $500 to attend Indiana University.

Donations to support the continuation of the scholarship are welcome, Hite said.

• The garage and sidewalk sales days will be the second weekend in August, Bill Beemer, chamber board member, reported.

• Chamber treasurer Dr. Daniel Haifley reported, "It looks like we're still in the black. That's good."

For May, Haifley reported the chamber had an income of $5,851.38 and expenditures of $3,074.31, for a balance of $2,777.07.

Haifley said the chamber will need to find someone to replace him soon.

"I'm at a place where I need to step back a little bit," he said.

• To get listed in the chamber's membership directory, Hite reported, dues need to be paid by June 15.

He also said the chicken barbecue will be June 30 at Lakeland Youth Center beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The chamber's golf outing will be June 20 at South Shore Golf Course, with rain date scheduled for June 27. The Wawasee High School golf outing will be July 16 at South Shore.

For next year, Hite said, he is trying to combine the chamber's golf outing with the Rotary and Kiwanis golf outings. By combining the golf outings, the golf courses and businesses who contribute to the outings will be "given a break," Hite said. "Everyone so far has been very positive for it."

Beemer said he favors combining the golf outings. "I'm in support of that," he said.

• Dekko Heating Technologies is recruiting candidates for the 2001-02 class of the Kosciusko Leadership Academy, Hite said. Tuition for each participant is $350.

• Indiana state flags are available for purchase for $39.95 for Flag Day, June 14, Hite said. The flags will be displayed around town during that week, June 11-17.

• The telephone etiquette and customer service seminar, Hite said, will be July 18 from 9 a.m. to noon at Oakwood Inn. Cost is $49.95.

• The next chamber meeting is at 7:45 a.m. July 11. [[In-content Ad]]