Syracuse Studies Economic Development
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By John DeGroff-
Town Manager Henry DeJulia presented an overview of detailed programs within the plan. According to DeJulia, the programs are designed to broaden the tax base, induce added capital investment, generate new spendable income for the town, and to aid in the creation of new jobs for the community.[[In-content Ad]]Goals to be accomplished within the plan are: 1. develop a business environment that is conducive to economic growth; 2. develop programs that will assist industry and businesses in the creation on new investments; 3. develop a continuous, on-going relationship with all Syracuse businesses and industries; and 4. focus area attraction program on developing a community of small- and medium-sized growth industries.
"We also want to maintain communications and dialogue with the Indiana Department of Economic Development, the redevelopment corporations of both Kosciusko and Elkhart counties, local developers and also the various utility economic development specialists that we will work with," said DeJulia.
He said part of the incentive to bring businesses to the area would be the creation of a Tax Increment Financing area. This is a financing method that allows for the expansion and replacement of new infrastructure.
"The big thing about TIFs is that you're recapturing new dollars," said DeJulia. "Those new dollars are going towards improvements ... infrastructure improvements within the zone. You saw the zone that we're hoping to establish. That's our industrial/commercial zone. We have to provide infrastructure. What do businesses first want from us? Infrastructure improvements. So TIFs is the way, I felt, that we needed to go to try to pay for those. This way, there are no additional tax dollars being spent from our general fund. This is coming from new assessed value. Now, in a TIF, you can still have a tax abatement if you want. However, if you do abate anything, you'll loose money that goes into TIF. This is reason for wanting to put a TIF area in place."
The site, which is being called the Syracuse 6 & 13 Technology and Industrial Park, includes 60 acres, located in Benton township in Elkhart County. During the development phase, Syracuse will work and assist potential developers, work with realtors in the marketing aspect, provide access to potential prospects, and assist in completing all infrastructure as required. The council approved the plan.
The council was then addressed by attorney Steve Snyder, representing the engineering firm Technical Services. Technical Services develops various high-tech equipment for the military, aviation, agriculture and other fields. The business wants to move to a 10.5-acre tract on Sycamore Street that has been available for some time. Their proposal would be to develop two separate structures on this site.
Snyder's presentation before the council was to ask for a tax abatement for this project, and he made it clear that his client was not interested in being included in an economic redevelopment plan, nor did they wish to be included in a TIF district.
After considerable discussion, the council did agree to a declaratory resolution, which would put the proposal of a tax abatement up for a public hearing next month. This process could be extended at council's discretion, and DeJulia asked the council to appoint two members to meet with himself and Snyder for more discussion.
The council approved two bid awards.
The first was to Phend and Brown for $258,999.50 for Syracuse-Webster Road improvements. Since this could directly impact the high school, construction will be completed within 60 days. School officials have been consulted regarding the work, and while the front entrances to the school will be closed for a while, the back entrance to the property will remain open.
The second bid award was to Cripes Excavation of Syracuse, for $178,015.21, for more work on the Forest Park utility improvements. Since the Forest Park addition has been annexed by the town, this is work that Syracuse is obligated to complete.
The council approved an additional appropriation ordinance. The expenditures to be met by this ordinance include $14,546.79 for the fire department for new equipment, and $5,000 for the police department's new phone system.
The council also approved an emergency ordinance providing for the transfer of appropriations for the police and street departments. For the police department, $4,000 was transferred for insurance fund to gas and oil fund. For the street department, $14,000 (combined) from laborers, insurance, and tree maintenance funds were transferred to gas and oil fund.
In other business:
n The council approved payment of $383,637.15 for total claims for June 2008.
n There is a new municipal code book for Syracuse, which can be accessed at www.municode.com
Syracuse Town Council members are Larry Siegel, Brian Woody, Paul Stoelting, William Musser and Cassie Cowan.
Town Manager Henry DeJulia presented an overview of detailed programs within the plan. According to DeJulia, the programs are designed to broaden the tax base, induce added capital investment, generate new spendable income for the town, and to aid in the creation of new jobs for the community.[[In-content Ad]]Goals to be accomplished within the plan are: 1. develop a business environment that is conducive to economic growth; 2. develop programs that will assist industry and businesses in the creation on new investments; 3. develop a continuous, on-going relationship with all Syracuse businesses and industries; and 4. focus area attraction program on developing a community of small- and medium-sized growth industries.
"We also want to maintain communications and dialogue with the Indiana Department of Economic Development, the redevelopment corporations of both Kosciusko and Elkhart counties, local developers and also the various utility economic development specialists that we will work with," said DeJulia.
He said part of the incentive to bring businesses to the area would be the creation of a Tax Increment Financing area. This is a financing method that allows for the expansion and replacement of new infrastructure.
"The big thing about TIFs is that you're recapturing new dollars," said DeJulia. "Those new dollars are going towards improvements ... infrastructure improvements within the zone. You saw the zone that we're hoping to establish. That's our industrial/commercial zone. We have to provide infrastructure. What do businesses first want from us? Infrastructure improvements. So TIFs is the way, I felt, that we needed to go to try to pay for those. This way, there are no additional tax dollars being spent from our general fund. This is coming from new assessed value. Now, in a TIF, you can still have a tax abatement if you want. However, if you do abate anything, you'll loose money that goes into TIF. This is reason for wanting to put a TIF area in place."
The site, which is being called the Syracuse 6 & 13 Technology and Industrial Park, includes 60 acres, located in Benton township in Elkhart County. During the development phase, Syracuse will work and assist potential developers, work with realtors in the marketing aspect, provide access to potential prospects, and assist in completing all infrastructure as required. The council approved the plan.
The council was then addressed by attorney Steve Snyder, representing the engineering firm Technical Services. Technical Services develops various high-tech equipment for the military, aviation, agriculture and other fields. The business wants to move to a 10.5-acre tract on Sycamore Street that has been available for some time. Their proposal would be to develop two separate structures on this site.
Snyder's presentation before the council was to ask for a tax abatement for this project, and he made it clear that his client was not interested in being included in an economic redevelopment plan, nor did they wish to be included in a TIF district.
After considerable discussion, the council did agree to a declaratory resolution, which would put the proposal of a tax abatement up for a public hearing next month. This process could be extended at council's discretion, and DeJulia asked the council to appoint two members to meet with himself and Snyder for more discussion.
The council approved two bid awards.
The first was to Phend and Brown for $258,999.50 for Syracuse-Webster Road improvements. Since this could directly impact the high school, construction will be completed within 60 days. School officials have been consulted regarding the work, and while the front entrances to the school will be closed for a while, the back entrance to the property will remain open.
The second bid award was to Cripes Excavation of Syracuse, for $178,015.21, for more work on the Forest Park utility improvements. Since the Forest Park addition has been annexed by the town, this is work that Syracuse is obligated to complete.
The council approved an additional appropriation ordinance. The expenditures to be met by this ordinance include $14,546.79 for the fire department for new equipment, and $5,000 for the police department's new phone system.
The council also approved an emergency ordinance providing for the transfer of appropriations for the police and street departments. For the police department, $4,000 was transferred for insurance fund to gas and oil fund. For the street department, $14,000 (combined) from laborers, insurance, and tree maintenance funds were transferred to gas and oil fund.
In other business:
n The council approved payment of $383,637.15 for total claims for June 2008.
n There is a new municipal code book for Syracuse, which can be accessed at www.municode.com
Syracuse Town Council members are Larry Siegel, Brian Woody, Paul Stoelting, William Musser and Cassie Cowan.
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