Syracuse Council Names Streets in Industrial park
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Kathy Cone-
After much deliberation and approval by Elkhart County officials, the new industrial park will be the site of Technology Way, Directors Court and Innovation Boulevard. Town manager Henry DeJulia informed council that visitors would be able to check out the new park on a website soon to be up and running.
The costs for work on passing blisters on roads might be reduced from what the council approved last month. Discovering that the existing soil might not be suitable for those areas resulted in a change order.
The council approved $10 a ton for new, more suitable soil to be brought in by Cripe Excavating. That company has been working the area – waiting for dry conditions and using the soil on-site – and is finding that the job might be done without bringing in much new soil. As long as state specifications are met, the roadwork will be completed as inexpensively as possible.
The council extended the deadline for completion of the project by Cripe Excavating from June 30 to Aug. 31. Weather has been a negative factor causing some delay.
Confusion abounded regarding a culvert at the corner of Long Drive and County Line Road, the first being whether or not Syracuse or Elkhart County has jurisdiction over the south side of the road. Industrial Park engineer Ken Jones stated that Elkhart County was in charge of the entire road, but town public works manager Jeremy Sponseller said he thought the town had responsibility for the south side.
The culvert appears to be in a different position now from the time before work started on the industrial park. Members thought it looked as if heavy equipment might have been parked over it. There is also a deep drop-off at the west corner of Long Drive that council members did not remember being there before the start of the park project. One other question that remained unanswered was whether or not the culvert had actually been working.
Jones said H & G Utilities, the company hired to install underground sewer lines, would re-grade and re-seed the area. Then, he added, we could see if there is drainage.
Councilman Larry Siegel countered that first the culvert should be cleaned and replaced to its original position. Sponseller said he would examine the situation.
H & G will be called back to install security items at the industrial park’s new lift station. Although all equipment is safely locked, the council discussed the necessity of keeping people completely away from it.
“All equipment is secure. I supposed it’s how aggressive you want to be,” stated Jones. Suggestions included installing barbed or razor wire at the top of the fence.
Councilman Brian Woody, though, was worried that “it might look like a small prison. It sticks out like a sore thumb already.” Sponseller assured him that, in addition to the wire, there would be angled braces to prevent entrance, making the place less prison-like. The council approved $2,183 to be spent on the added security.
In other business, the council discussed the loss of maple trees and their old-fashioned canopy. Replacement trees are selected with the help of arborist Jerry Riffle. Riffle chooses trees specifically for their location, size of planting area, and preponderance of shade or sun. So far the town has planted “certain trees in certain spots” but the council agreed that the new trees seem smaller.
Decorative street lights will be purchased for $1,950 each. The town is buying 10 lights and Wawasee High School will pay for an additional 10 plus their installation.
The speed limit on four streets has been reduced from 30 to 20 miles per hour. These streets are Maple, Portland, North and Brooklyn.
Huntington Street from Main to the railroad tracks will be closed the morning of July 6 for the Chamber of Commerce’s “Celebrate Syracuse” parade. The Tour des Lakes 100k bicycle tour will take place July 13 on roads around area lakes.
In response to questions by resident Sharon Fowler, the council agreed to look into what measures should be taken regarding housing violations. The council will also take a first look at next year’s budget at the regular July meeting.
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After much deliberation and approval by Elkhart County officials, the new industrial park will be the site of Technology Way, Directors Court and Innovation Boulevard. Town manager Henry DeJulia informed council that visitors would be able to check out the new park on a website soon to be up and running.
The costs for work on passing blisters on roads might be reduced from what the council approved last month. Discovering that the existing soil might not be suitable for those areas resulted in a change order.
The council approved $10 a ton for new, more suitable soil to be brought in by Cripe Excavating. That company has been working the area – waiting for dry conditions and using the soil on-site – and is finding that the job might be done without bringing in much new soil. As long as state specifications are met, the roadwork will be completed as inexpensively as possible.
The council extended the deadline for completion of the project by Cripe Excavating from June 30 to Aug. 31. Weather has been a negative factor causing some delay.
Confusion abounded regarding a culvert at the corner of Long Drive and County Line Road, the first being whether or not Syracuse or Elkhart County has jurisdiction over the south side of the road. Industrial Park engineer Ken Jones stated that Elkhart County was in charge of the entire road, but town public works manager Jeremy Sponseller said he thought the town had responsibility for the south side.
The culvert appears to be in a different position now from the time before work started on the industrial park. Members thought it looked as if heavy equipment might have been parked over it. There is also a deep drop-off at the west corner of Long Drive that council members did not remember being there before the start of the park project. One other question that remained unanswered was whether or not the culvert had actually been working.
Jones said H & G Utilities, the company hired to install underground sewer lines, would re-grade and re-seed the area. Then, he added, we could see if there is drainage.
Councilman Larry Siegel countered that first the culvert should be cleaned and replaced to its original position. Sponseller said he would examine the situation.
H & G will be called back to install security items at the industrial park’s new lift station. Although all equipment is safely locked, the council discussed the necessity of keeping people completely away from it.
“All equipment is secure. I supposed it’s how aggressive you want to be,” stated Jones. Suggestions included installing barbed or razor wire at the top of the fence.
Councilman Brian Woody, though, was worried that “it might look like a small prison. It sticks out like a sore thumb already.” Sponseller assured him that, in addition to the wire, there would be angled braces to prevent entrance, making the place less prison-like. The council approved $2,183 to be spent on the added security.
In other business, the council discussed the loss of maple trees and their old-fashioned canopy. Replacement trees are selected with the help of arborist Jerry Riffle. Riffle chooses trees specifically for their location, size of planting area, and preponderance of shade or sun. So far the town has planted “certain trees in certain spots” but the council agreed that the new trees seem smaller.
Decorative street lights will be purchased for $1,950 each. The town is buying 10 lights and Wawasee High School will pay for an additional 10 plus their installation.
The speed limit on four streets has been reduced from 30 to 20 miles per hour. These streets are Maple, Portland, North and Brooklyn.
Huntington Street from Main to the railroad tracks will be closed the morning of July 6 for the Chamber of Commerce’s “Celebrate Syracuse” parade. The Tour des Lakes 100k bicycle tour will take place July 13 on roads around area lakes.
In response to questions by resident Sharon Fowler, the council agreed to look into what measures should be taken regarding housing violations. The council will also take a first look at next year’s budget at the regular July meeting.
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