SYRACUSE - The new millennium will bring about at least one change for the town of Syracuse.

Tuesday, Syracuse Town Marshal William F. Endler presented his resignation to the town council effective Jan. 7.

In his resignation letter, Endler wrote: "There are times in life when situations change, whether it be family or otherwise, and critical decisions have to be made. I have come to that point in my life where this is the case.

"It is with much sadness that I tender my resignation. ... I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the town council as well as the citizens of Syracuse for your support and cooperation during the past four years. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve as your town marshal."

Councilwoman Carol Koble told Endler, "We are doing that with regret, at least I am."

Council president William Cutter seconded Koble's comment and added, "You're leaving us a lot better than you found us."

After the meeting Endler said, "I'm going to be a full-time instructor for the National Institute for Truth Verification out of West Palm Beach, Florida."

He said he will be teaching computer voice stress to officers and has been doing it part-time since July. His job will allow him to travel all over the United States.

Endler has served in law enforcement for 30 years.

The council also approved advertising for applicants to replace Endler.

In other business, the senior citizens looking for the town council to support their application for a planning grant for a senior citizen center struck out for the third time.

Councilwoman Barb Carwile motioned to approve letting the senior citizens apply for the grant. Councilman Bill Hane seconded. Cutter and Koble voted against the motion. Councilman Paul Stoelting abstained.

With a tie vote, Indiana allows the clerk-treasurer to vote to break the tie. Clerk-treasurer Elgie Tatman abstained without comment and the motion failed for lack of a majority vote.

Koble and Cutter said they were not against a senior citizen center per se. However, the state allows boards to have only two grants at one time and they were not positive the Lakeland Day Care grant has been cleared out. Since the community center is also planning to apply for grants, they were concerned that if the senior citizens applied for grants, it may negate the community center's chances of receiving grants from the state.

In related news, the town council approved Bill Wight, Scott Abbs and Bill Musser to be on the building corporation committee for the community center.

The council approved allowing town manager Brian Redshaw to negotiate with McClure's for the purchase of a parcel of land for the Ind. 13 expansion project.

The council also:

• Approved the proposed agreement with Jones & Henry Engineers LTD., Fort Wayne, for the water system analysis provided they remove a paragraph limiting their liability to $10,000.

• Approved Carwile to the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals and the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals. Redshaw, who was serving on the board, was told that because he lives outside the Syracuse city limits, he is ineligible to continue serving.

• Approved to meet Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. to hear insurance proposals for the city.

• Approved the purchase of a detective car for the police department for not more than $15,141.90 less the trade-in at the discretion of the police chief.

• Approved the purchase of a new cot for an ambulance for $2,775 and the purchase of a radio and headset for the new ambulance for $3,484. The council also approved Pat Tranter to do the gold leaf lettering for the ambulance for $2,493.08.

• Was told by park board president Bill Wight that the board will be hiring a new superintendent soon. Wight did not want to release the new superintendent's name until she has quit her other job and officially accepted the position in Syracuse.

• Approved heaters to be replaced in the public works building by J.D. Mory Inc. for $2,587; approved a hydrant to be replaced and an isolation valve to be put on the water line for $3,085.

• Approved giving $450 to the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce for 12-foot by 12-foot welcome signs to Syracuse. The total cost of both signs is $2,100 and most of it was paid by local service organizations.

• Approved $1,421 for lights outside the town hall. The lights are mercury vapor lights and not standard flood lights and are near $80 apiece.

• Town attorney Robert Reed told the council the Crossen Mill Park ground, where the scout cabin is situated, is legally the responsibility of the park board.

"By state law," Reed said, "the park department is supposed to look over that property for you."

He said whoever wants to negotiate a new scout cabin there needs to go before the park board, not the town council.

Cutter said, "That could mean some radical changes."

The Rotary Club had been seeking approval from the council to rebuild the scout cabin.

• Cutter told Shelly Bickel, chamber of commerce director, the chamber did a great job in decorating the town for the holidays and it was appreciated.

Bickel told the council they should thank the community for giving donations and the people who put the decorations up.

Hane said the Boy Scouts also needed to be thanked for putting posts and flags up at each of the fire hydrants. [[In-content Ad]]