SYRACUSE - It was a packed house when the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce Board met Wednesday, and it was a great place to hear what's happening, or about to happen, in town.

High-schoolers Seth Beer and Lucas White reported that a camera surveillance system is operational in Wawasee High School all day, every day and everywhere. It was installed to guarantee safety of students and to prevent theft.

They also reported that students will have picture IDs next year, that tickets to the girls sectionals are on sale, that "Fiddler on the Roof" will be presented this spring and that Saturday is the Sweetheart Dance.

Phil Lund said Dana is cutting its second shift this week, moving all production people to first or third shifts and eliminating 14 to 18 non-production jobs. He also mentioned that the plant's energy bill went from $12,000 to $40,000 in just one month.

Michael Hixenbaugh, superintendent of parks, explained the operating budget for the proposed Community Center with detailed information. He said the entire facility is 16,350 square feet, that it will house a gymnasium and that Celebration Hall is about 1,000 square feet. Based on current figures, an average in-town Syracuse household will see a tax increase of about $53 annually to finance the center's operating budget.

Once again, Hixenbaugh asked for chamber support.

It did not come. Instead, members chose to wait another month before taking a stand.

Their comments ranged from, "It should be based on a township-wide taxing unit," to "I have a hard time supporting something that involves a tax increase," to "You cannot freeze taxes or there would be no building," to "It's primarily for seniors," to "Quality of life is important to our town," to "It doesn't sound very big."

Hixenbaugh said he hopes to know by the end of summer if a township-wide taxing base is possible. Paul Stoelting said he thought it would be a real plus to get a partnership going.

Brian Rensberger of Lakeland Youth Center said the center is bursting at the seams and he doesn't know when it will be able to expand. He added that gymnasiums are so busy that high school students play intramurals on Sundays, and that the center's basketball program for kindergarten to eighth grade is delighted to have use of the Syracuse Elementary School gym on Saturdays. This year the program has about 300 participants, up threefold from last year.

Rensberger said the Car Show will be different this year, more limited, but its exact nature hasn't been decided. Generally, it takes 400 to 500 man-hours to put on the show, and in the past couple of years the show has not generated enough revenue to warrant it.

Syracuse Town Manager Brian Redshaw reported that he still is working on the whistle-ban petition and is following the Elkhart case closely. He reported that Industrial/SWADCO holds its annual meeting Feb. 26, but it is in a holding pattern until acquisition papers are ready. He also discussed the widening of Ind. 13, Phase 2, from Chicago to Bowser.

Stoelting said he would appreciate any input from chamber members on that project.

Speaking for the Quality of Life Committee, Bill Beemer reported that he still needs donations for the decorative lights for the town that cost $1,250 each.

Martha Stoelting, who chairs the Retail Committee, said she would like to see three to four meetings a year to help develop a cohesive strategy.

The chamber has not set specific dates, but the annual chicken barbecue will be held in August to coincide with Sidewalk Days and Garage Sale Days. The golf outing tentatively has been set for May 23.

Sprint will sponsor a March 8 luncheon at Oakwood Inn with the program provided by Connextions-Pathfinder. The 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. event will be free for all Chamber of Commerce members.

Some members expressed concern that the executive director's position became full-time when the budget was passed with an 8-to-3 vote at a Jan. 10 meeting that was not announced a week earlier at the regular monthly meeting. Questions were raised as to how the chamber could afford the additional salary.

Executive director Steven Hite said he will raise the money by selling advertisements for the business resource guide and the membership directory as well as through other fund-raising events, including selling links to the SWCHAMBER.com Web site. He is attending workshops and seminars to learn how to generate more revenue at golf outings and how to bring meetings and conventions to Syracuse.

Hite was praised for his timely response in planning the Jan. 13 Job Fair to answer the needs of about 700 people who had lost their jobs due to plant closings or layoffs. Thirty companies offered more than 300 jobs to area residents.

All Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificates must be redeemed before the end of August, or they will be invalid, according to a vote taken Feb. 7. New ones will be issued with an expiration date. [[In-content Ad]]