SYRACUSE - Syracuse's water distribution project is moving ahead and plans have been submitted to the state, town officials reported Tuesday.

Clint Houseworth, public works superintendent, reported the building specifications and drawing were submitted to Indiana Department of Emergency Management. The town expects a response within 45 days.

"We're now in the waiting game of waiting for a response before we can take the next step," Houseworth said.

The next step, Town Manager Jeff Noffsinger said, is securing a construction permit and advertising for bids.

In the meantime, Houseworth asked the board to approve Dixon Engineering to inspect the new water tower involved in the project. According to Houseworth, water town engineering is very specialized and there are few firms that do it. Dixon Engineering was approved and will be paid $9,625 for the tower inspection.

In other water distribution project news, Noffsinger reported the not-to-exceed amounts requested of potential construction site management engineering firms were received.

Wightman and Petrie estimated a not-to-exceed amount of $260,957, while Jones and Henry estimated $369,000. Wightman and Petrie, who were approved for the project, originally estimated the project to cost $161,000. Noffsinger said they hope to complete the project for that amount, the not-to-exceed price is a worst-case scenario and offers the town protection. The nearly $100,000 price difference is due to a dramatically increased number of work hours included in the estimate.

In other business:

• The town's building inspection process is underway and Noffsinger recently held the first hearing regarding a dilapidated shed at 207 S. Front St. The property owner failed to appear for the hearing and was fined $1,000. The fine is postponed for 30 days, and if the property is cleaned up, will be cancelled.

"The goal is not to collect funds," Noffsinger said. "The goal is to clean up the property."

Town Marshal Tony Ciriello added to Noffsinger's report, saying he believes progress will be made in cleaning up the town.

"It's no any longer just one person trying to do it all," Ciriello said, referring to the fact that the town manager, building inspector and police all are working together to enforce violations.

• Fire Chief Mickey Scott announced the third annual firefighter's festival is June 7-11. Scott was criticized by board member Bill Musser for not scheduling the event with the Chamber of Commerce.

Scott said he scheduled the event so it is not in conflict with any other town events.

Scott also announced the hiring of three new emergency medical technicians - Tony Meek, Matt Dunithin and Constance McKee, and received approval to purchase a $1,670.40 software license for a computer program used to track EMS runs.

• The parks department announced receiving a $5,000 grant from the Rinker Family Foundation for playground equipment at Lakeside Park. The equipment was ordered and will be in by May 1. Also announced was that the 60-by-100-foot concrete pad for the skate park will be poured in April.

• The board approved the public works design manual be updated for a cost of $5,000 by engineering firm Wightman and Petrie. The updates are much needed, Houseworth said, as the town's current building and design standards are from 1996. Many new construction methods as well as materials have been introduced since then that make building more economical, he said.

The town will present its comprehensive plan Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Syracuse Community Center.

Syracuse Town Council members are Paul Stoelting, Cassie Cowan, Bill Musser, Larry Siegel and Brian Woody. [[In-content Ad]]