Syracuse Receives Grant To Hire Policeman
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE - Another officer will be added to the Syracuse Police Force thanks to a three-year $75,000 grant from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Syracuse Police Chief Thomas Perzanowski informed the town council at Tuesday's meeting in town hall that this will bring the force to 10 full-time and three reserve officers.
The Parks Department unveiled plans to replace damaged silver maple trees with four white and green ash outside of the town hall. The planting will be part of the Arbor Day celebrations, which will begin with games at Lakeside Park and conclude at town hall. NIPSCO will remove the trees without charge to promote partnering and cooperation.
Council member Bill Hane voiced approval: "Take advantage and let NIPSCO take down the trees." Other council members concurred.
The Tree Board, which will handle the replanting, meets at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. The public is welcome to attend.
Parks Superintendent Michael Hixenbaugh gave the council a copy of an engineering report on repairing the roof of the Scout cabin. Later this week he will have the estimated cost for the repairs after he meets with a general contractor.
When members of Boy Scout Troop 728, who attended the meeting, were asked where they now meet, one scout told the board, "We meet in the Knights of Columbus Hall. I don't want to go back to the Scout cabin. It's nasty."
An adult leader who stressed that the scout was speaking only for himself quickly dismissed his comment.
Hixenbaugh told the board that bids for the community center will be opened Feb. 28 and there are 85 sets of plans out throughout the state. Contracts will be awarded May 15 with groundbreaking set for July 31.
"But," he said, "there is one piece to the puzzle we need and that is how much can we issue in bonds. We need to know because it takes three months to get the bonds in place."
He further explained that they now have $1.1 million of the estimated total needed, but that cost figures can only be estimated until contracts are opened.
Council president Barb Carwile said no decision will be made about the bonds until the full board can vote on it, which will be at the April meeting.
In other action, the council approved a $1,680 expenditure to replace a portable sampler for the Public Works Department, which advised that it would receive about $3,500 in reimbursements due to the snow emergencies in December.
The council also approved the contract with Severn Trend Environmental Services, a consulting firm for public works management. The contract is essentially the same as in 1989 when the company was first hired.
Town manager Brian Redshaw approached the board about renumbering addresses in Wawasee Village, the area recently annexed to the town. He explained that police and fire departments prefer that numbering within the town be uniform to make responses to 911 calls faster.
The council agreed and instructed that property owners be given a six-month grace period to enact the change and the Post Office be given a list with both addresses so that no mail is lost.
An ordinance putting into law changes to the employee handbook was passed. Redshaw said all changes to the handbook will be codified by date so that town council minutes can be referenced for complete information.
An ordinance to modify 24-hour parking was tabled until all the ordinances involving parking could be studied. Perzanowski explained that there is confusion because of differences in parking limits at all the lots and even within the same lot. He is working to update the ordinance book. Once he completes each section, it will be presented to the council for approval.
Mediacom, the town's cable provider, was a hot topic at the meeting. Carwile said it took nearly 48 hours for the company to respond to a problem in her home. Hane said he hears more complaints about the cable service than anything else in the town. Redshaw asked for documentation of these complaints to keep with others he is saving for the next set of contract talks with Mediacom.
Hane also mentioned garbage lined up alongside a house near Beemer Enterprises. Perzanowski will send a letter to the property owner.
Council member Paul Stoelting asked about the Village Plan, and Redshaw gave each member a copy of the plan to study and to write comments. Once the comments are completed, the plans will be given to Ball State University to compile and present a single plan.
Stoelting also asked about the railroad ordinances. Redshaw explained that he is watching the Elkhart court case, which will define what will happen in Syracuse.
"The only difference is that the speed of our trains is much greater. There are about 65 trains a day that pass through Syracuse," he said. [[In-content Ad]]
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SYRACUSE - Another officer will be added to the Syracuse Police Force thanks to a three-year $75,000 grant from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Syracuse Police Chief Thomas Perzanowski informed the town council at Tuesday's meeting in town hall that this will bring the force to 10 full-time and three reserve officers.
The Parks Department unveiled plans to replace damaged silver maple trees with four white and green ash outside of the town hall. The planting will be part of the Arbor Day celebrations, which will begin with games at Lakeside Park and conclude at town hall. NIPSCO will remove the trees without charge to promote partnering and cooperation.
Council member Bill Hane voiced approval: "Take advantage and let NIPSCO take down the trees." Other council members concurred.
The Tree Board, which will handle the replanting, meets at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. The public is welcome to attend.
Parks Superintendent Michael Hixenbaugh gave the council a copy of an engineering report on repairing the roof of the Scout cabin. Later this week he will have the estimated cost for the repairs after he meets with a general contractor.
When members of Boy Scout Troop 728, who attended the meeting, were asked where they now meet, one scout told the board, "We meet in the Knights of Columbus Hall. I don't want to go back to the Scout cabin. It's nasty."
An adult leader who stressed that the scout was speaking only for himself quickly dismissed his comment.
Hixenbaugh told the board that bids for the community center will be opened Feb. 28 and there are 85 sets of plans out throughout the state. Contracts will be awarded May 15 with groundbreaking set for July 31.
"But," he said, "there is one piece to the puzzle we need and that is how much can we issue in bonds. We need to know because it takes three months to get the bonds in place."
He further explained that they now have $1.1 million of the estimated total needed, but that cost figures can only be estimated until contracts are opened.
Council president Barb Carwile said no decision will be made about the bonds until the full board can vote on it, which will be at the April meeting.
In other action, the council approved a $1,680 expenditure to replace a portable sampler for the Public Works Department, which advised that it would receive about $3,500 in reimbursements due to the snow emergencies in December.
The council also approved the contract with Severn Trend Environmental Services, a consulting firm for public works management. The contract is essentially the same as in 1989 when the company was first hired.
Town manager Brian Redshaw approached the board about renumbering addresses in Wawasee Village, the area recently annexed to the town. He explained that police and fire departments prefer that numbering within the town be uniform to make responses to 911 calls faster.
The council agreed and instructed that property owners be given a six-month grace period to enact the change and the Post Office be given a list with both addresses so that no mail is lost.
An ordinance putting into law changes to the employee handbook was passed. Redshaw said all changes to the handbook will be codified by date so that town council minutes can be referenced for complete information.
An ordinance to modify 24-hour parking was tabled until all the ordinances involving parking could be studied. Perzanowski explained that there is confusion because of differences in parking limits at all the lots and even within the same lot. He is working to update the ordinance book. Once he completes each section, it will be presented to the council for approval.
Mediacom, the town's cable provider, was a hot topic at the meeting. Carwile said it took nearly 48 hours for the company to respond to a problem in her home. Hane said he hears more complaints about the cable service than anything else in the town. Redshaw asked for documentation of these complaints to keep with others he is saving for the next set of contract talks with Mediacom.
Hane also mentioned garbage lined up alongside a house near Beemer Enterprises. Perzanowski will send a letter to the property owner.
Council member Paul Stoelting asked about the Village Plan, and Redshaw gave each member a copy of the plan to study and to write comments. Once the comments are completed, the plans will be given to Ball State University to compile and present a single plan.
Stoelting also asked about the railroad ordinances. Redshaw explained that he is watching the Elkhart court case, which will define what will happen in Syracuse.
"The only difference is that the speed of our trains is much greater. There are about 65 trains a day that pass through Syracuse," he said. [[In-content Ad]]