Syracuse Council Donates $20k to Youth Athletic Complex
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Kathy Cone-
Dick Pelletier made his second appearance in two months before the council, updating progress and asking the council for financial help.
The new sports park, formerly Vega Field, had estimated costs of around $400,000. To date, the park department, with the help of Pelletier and community supporters, have raised around $350,000, and getting that remaining amount would go far to get the park ready for spring activity, explained Pelletier.
“You need to step up,” he admonished council members.
Pelletier explained how the Kiwanis have been managing the youth baseball program for more than 30 years and has a proven record of performance and maintenance of facilities.
“We do this for the kids,” he said, adding that just a couple of participants have ties to the Kiwanis so the service organization’s intentions were strictly charitable. He noted how the Rotary Club originally donated the field at St. Andrew’s church, and that he has received monetary and voluntary donations from many other local service groups.
He continued, “These are your kids. It’s time for the town to own up to this.”
Council President Larry Siegel would have none of it.
“When you come asking for help,” he countered, “you probably shouldn’t insult us first. The town did donate the land.”
Siegel explained how the land was a major donation. It was first obtained, then a parcel from Polywood was switched for a similar parcel, and ultimately the town gave it as a park. There happens to be a storm sewer drainage problem with the piece from Polywood that the town will pay to remedy. This Siegel offered as an example of added costs the town is willing to accept in support of the park.
“The town has stepped up. We’ve been very supportive,” said Siegel.
Brian Woody reminded the council that he is big supporter of the athletic park. H e said, “I’d use every dime of the cigarette money, and there’s over $51,000 in there.”
He also reminded attendees that the Kiwanis have been maintaining fields for more than three decades, so suggestions of earmarking funds for maintenance would be unnecessary.
Settling on the $20,000 figure, the council approved advertising the appropriation and getting a check off.
Syracuse resident Sharon Fowler questioned why she didn’t see police cars parked at the town hall building. She also suggested the town clean up the Chinese Gardens at Kale Island, but it was explained that this is not part of the town. Fowler said she wanted the council to know that she attends the meetings to offer insight into town matters, never to upset people.
In other business, the council congratulated the public works department for recent awards to its water treatment plant. The Indiana Water Environmental Association awarded the plant for lab excellence and plant safety. Town Manager Henry DeJulia commended the department.
“Even though we’re a Class 2, we meet all the standards of a Class 4 facility,” he said.
Ken Jones, of Wightman Petrie, engineers of the industrial park, was given approval to pay Cripe Excavating $2,800.74 extra for work changing a sewer line. The council also gave him the go-ahead to contract with AT&T for up to $6,000 for installation of a sleeve around its fiber optic cable.
The council approved just more than $5,000 plus a $29.95 monthly expense for a website dedicated to the new industrial park. DeJulia will be working with Digital Hill on this project.
They were apprised of costs for installing electrical lines in the industrial park. NIPSCO offered at least three options. The town will be looking at spending approximately $100,000 down the road.
Public works will contract with Cripe Excavating to chip brush for $2,800.
Breakfast with Santa, an annual town event, will be held Dec. 8.[[In-content Ad]]
Dick Pelletier made his second appearance in two months before the council, updating progress and asking the council for financial help.
The new sports park, formerly Vega Field, had estimated costs of around $400,000. To date, the park department, with the help of Pelletier and community supporters, have raised around $350,000, and getting that remaining amount would go far to get the park ready for spring activity, explained Pelletier.
“You need to step up,” he admonished council members.
Pelletier explained how the Kiwanis have been managing the youth baseball program for more than 30 years and has a proven record of performance and maintenance of facilities.
“We do this for the kids,” he said, adding that just a couple of participants have ties to the Kiwanis so the service organization’s intentions were strictly charitable. He noted how the Rotary Club originally donated the field at St. Andrew’s church, and that he has received monetary and voluntary donations from many other local service groups.
He continued, “These are your kids. It’s time for the town to own up to this.”
Council President Larry Siegel would have none of it.
“When you come asking for help,” he countered, “you probably shouldn’t insult us first. The town did donate the land.”
Siegel explained how the land was a major donation. It was first obtained, then a parcel from Polywood was switched for a similar parcel, and ultimately the town gave it as a park. There happens to be a storm sewer drainage problem with the piece from Polywood that the town will pay to remedy. This Siegel offered as an example of added costs the town is willing to accept in support of the park.
“The town has stepped up. We’ve been very supportive,” said Siegel.
Brian Woody reminded the council that he is big supporter of the athletic park. H e said, “I’d use every dime of the cigarette money, and there’s over $51,000 in there.”
He also reminded attendees that the Kiwanis have been maintaining fields for more than three decades, so suggestions of earmarking funds for maintenance would be unnecessary.
Settling on the $20,000 figure, the council approved advertising the appropriation and getting a check off.
Syracuse resident Sharon Fowler questioned why she didn’t see police cars parked at the town hall building. She also suggested the town clean up the Chinese Gardens at Kale Island, but it was explained that this is not part of the town. Fowler said she wanted the council to know that she attends the meetings to offer insight into town matters, never to upset people.
In other business, the council congratulated the public works department for recent awards to its water treatment plant. The Indiana Water Environmental Association awarded the plant for lab excellence and plant safety. Town Manager Henry DeJulia commended the department.
“Even though we’re a Class 2, we meet all the standards of a Class 4 facility,” he said.
Ken Jones, of Wightman Petrie, engineers of the industrial park, was given approval to pay Cripe Excavating $2,800.74 extra for work changing a sewer line. The council also gave him the go-ahead to contract with AT&T for up to $6,000 for installation of a sleeve around its fiber optic cable.
The council approved just more than $5,000 plus a $29.95 monthly expense for a website dedicated to the new industrial park. DeJulia will be working with Digital Hill on this project.
They were apprised of costs for installing electrical lines in the industrial park. NIPSCO offered at least three options. The town will be looking at spending approximately $100,000 down the road.
Public works will contract with Cripe Excavating to chip brush for $2,800.
Breakfast with Santa, an annual town event, will be held Dec. 8.[[In-content Ad]]
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