SYRACUSE -ÊBy a vote of 3 to 2, the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday approved the annexation of the Wawasee High School property into the town's corporate limits.

Voting in favor of the annexation was Paul Stoelting, Carol Koble and Barbara Carwile. Against the annexation were Mike Davis and Bill Hane.

The total acreage annexed, according to the fiscal plan also approved by the council 3 to 2, is 118.04 acres. Wawasee School Corp. is the sole owner of the property and the annexation area includes both the administration offices and high school campus. The annexation area will add 9.38 percent to the total area within the Syracuse town limits.

Attorney David Cates, representing the Wawasee School Corp., said, "From our perspective, we'd like to be a part of the town."

He said the school corp.'s primary reason for wanting the annexation is security. "You've got 100 percent of the landowners here asking for (the annexation)."

The only remonstrator against the annexation was Ron Sharp. He said the town "really can't afford this." He said the town would not be able to maintain or plow the roads and there was more than a mile of road there. "I think it's a bad deal for us," Sharp said.

"We'd certainly be able to maintain (the roads)," said Tom Miller, Syracuse public works. "That goes beyond question." He said the town plowed the roads previously as a shared-responsibility with the county. Once annexed, it will just become the sole responsibility of the town.

Councilman Bill Hane said the town will lose $5,000 to $6,000 a year once the property is incorporated into the town but the school corporation will save money on the sewer because different rates are paid in the town's corporate limits compared to being outside the limits.

The town has to look down the road, said councilwoman Carol Koble. "Personally, I would welcome the school being part of Syracuse," she said.

Town manager Brian Redshaw agreed. He said, "If you don't want Syracuse to grow, I recommend you turn this down." If they want the town to grow, he said it has to grow west toward Milford. "From a long-term standpoint, this is the way to grow."

He said from his perspective as a planner, the town should keep growth as close to the town limits as possible.

Cates said, "I think it's important for the school to be a part of the town, if nothing else," to have local government entities working together.

The town has no guarantee, said Sharp, property owners on the other side of the school will want to be annexed.

In other business the board:

• Approved an ordinance amending and restating the salary and compensation of town officials and employees for 2002. Some of the salaries include: town council president, $3,200; other council members, $2,700; clerk-treasurer, $41,600; town manager, $53,993.47; town attorney, $10,400; town marshal, $41,600; fire department chief, $41,600; and park department superintendent, $35,000.

• Approved the public works department request for $1,105 to have Bob's Services haul sewage to a farm field; $4,150 for 50 meters; $2,500 for Umbaugh and Associates, Plymouth, to do a preliminary financial study on the town's water system including a look at the rate structure; and $1,840 for Nelson Tank Engineering and Consulting Inc. to inspect and clean the north elevated water tank.

• Approved to have town and town employees insurance through the state's Blue Cross & Blue Shield plan. Additional coverage for disability and life insurance will be provided through Cotton and Cotton Insurance. The town's 2002 premium will be $337,810.30.

• Approved an ordinance for the following transfers: town clerk, $2,000 from insurance account to group insurance; fire department, $5,000 from insurance to firemen and officers; EMS, $6,000 from dues and training to medical supplies; park department, $1,200 from insurance to health insurance; street department, $10,000 from insurance to laborers; and street department, $3,000 from curbs and sidewalks to laborers.

• Approved $1,872 to buy a full page advertisement in the Lakes and Lore Publication's vacation planner.

• Approved to alter Town Manager Brian Redshaw's contract to allow him to live within 10 miles from the town limits. Previously, his contract stipulated he had to live within Turkey Creek Township.

• Heard from Town Marshal Tom Perzanowski Halloween is Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. and that security for the town's property has increased due to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

• Was introduced to Josh Galloway a paramedic hired Sept. 17.

• Heard from Syracuse Parks and Recreation Superintendent Mike Hixenbaugh the park restrooms are closed for the winter.

The town council meets at 7 p.m. in the town hall on the third Tuesday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]