Syracuse Hears About Dark, Narrow Streets And Noisy Neighbors
September 20, 2017 at 7:38 p.m.
By JUDE STRIEBY-RASKA-
Charmayne Doyle requested the town try to find a way to come up with a solution to open up space on Harrison Street. Parking on both sides of the street causes blind spots and creates a very narrow path for motorists.
"I'm afraid there's going to be a horrible accident," said Doyle.
Police Chief James Layne answered the query by letting her know that by ordinance, the town cannot stop anyone from parking on either side of that street.
"That's the town rule,” he said, "unless that ordinance is changed. But then we'd come across an issue where any ordinance change we make to one street would need to apply to all."
Council Member Larry Siegal said the narrowness of some roads has been discussed in the past, but the rest of neighbors at that time said restricting parking to one side of the road would simply move the issue from the east and west roads to the north and south roads.
"Maybe it would warrant some study," said Siegal. "But moving one problem from one place to another doesn't help anybody."
The council asked Town Manager Henry DeJulia and Director of Public Works Rob Merchant to look into the matter.
Oakwood property owners Nancy Harter and Joan Knepht asked if there was any way the town could find a way to get Oakwood to replace streetlights that have been out all summer.
"We only need one," she said. "We don't need anything fancy like they have."
The council promised to look into the issue.
Dale Calahand came forward to complain about the continuous traffic in and out of a residence near him.
"I'm tired of it. Calahand said. "I work 12 hours a day, and I can't be kept up til 2 o'clock at night."
"We have to go by the law," Layne answered. "We can't just go in and kick people out. If they want to have a party ... we can't stop that."
Merchant asked for some kind of notice to Triad that an outstanding bill for $16,000, will not be paid, since the job was not done well. He mentioned that the electric bill from the equipment use went up another 25 percent for the month of august, which means the plant is running a 45-50 percent higher utility bill than was required before the installation of the new equipment. The council was in agreement that it was within their rights to refuse to pay the final $16,000. It was agreed that Vern Landis, town attorney would draft the response.
Layne reported that the police department had received nine portable drug test instruments through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institution. Were the department to have purchased them, the total cost would have been $4,050.
In other matters, a Commonwealth representative advised the council to switch to a guaranteed savings contract rather than open bid system on some work that needed done. The advantages included greater financial and scheduling flexibility, and also an open-book pricing system.
For instance, if the job doesn't cost the full amount, the excess amount goes back to the town. Whereas with a public bid, the town is quoted one lump sum that would be required to be paid, regardless of whether the cost of the project was not the amount billed.
"I see what's going on in the public bid market, and in that I'm not sure you're going to get the best price," he said. "Whereas this process here, you know you're going to see what you're being billed for. Also, if there's excess, you get that savings back."
Merchant agreed, mentioning that in the past, some quotes from the open-bid system had equipment markups that were between 40 and 50 percent more than actual cost.
Council President Tom Hoover asked if there would be any change-overs with this system. The representative answered that the maximum entered into the project is the maximum amount the town would have to pay.
After deliberation, the council authorized Commonwealth to proceed in pursuing a guaranteed savings contract on behalf of the town.
Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported $80,000 in property loss due to fires in August. He also thanked the Milford Fire Department, Benton Township Fire Department, North Webster Fire Department and the Syracuse Police Department for their help in dealing with the fire at the Lakeland Daycare Center, as well as the staff of the facility.
"During this difficult time, it’s great to know that we live in a community of so many organizations of people working together with one common goal," Scott said.
He also thanked the community for the $2,900 from the fire department's recent boot drive.
Clerk-Treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker needed funds from depreciation fund moved into the wastewater fund. $23,908 The council passed the motion.
She also requested to pre-pay McKinley Painting $10,000 in order for the business to purchase supplies for renovation. The council passed the motion.
The first reading and public hearing of the 2018 budget was given. The total budget amount for the year is expected to be $4,066,455.
Charmayne Doyle requested the town try to find a way to come up with a solution to open up space on Harrison Street. Parking on both sides of the street causes blind spots and creates a very narrow path for motorists.
"I'm afraid there's going to be a horrible accident," said Doyle.
Police Chief James Layne answered the query by letting her know that by ordinance, the town cannot stop anyone from parking on either side of that street.
"That's the town rule,” he said, "unless that ordinance is changed. But then we'd come across an issue where any ordinance change we make to one street would need to apply to all."
Council Member Larry Siegal said the narrowness of some roads has been discussed in the past, but the rest of neighbors at that time said restricting parking to one side of the road would simply move the issue from the east and west roads to the north and south roads.
"Maybe it would warrant some study," said Siegal. "But moving one problem from one place to another doesn't help anybody."
The council asked Town Manager Henry DeJulia and Director of Public Works Rob Merchant to look into the matter.
Oakwood property owners Nancy Harter and Joan Knepht asked if there was any way the town could find a way to get Oakwood to replace streetlights that have been out all summer.
"We only need one," she said. "We don't need anything fancy like they have."
The council promised to look into the issue.
Dale Calahand came forward to complain about the continuous traffic in and out of a residence near him.
"I'm tired of it. Calahand said. "I work 12 hours a day, and I can't be kept up til 2 o'clock at night."
"We have to go by the law," Layne answered. "We can't just go in and kick people out. If they want to have a party ... we can't stop that."
Merchant asked for some kind of notice to Triad that an outstanding bill for $16,000, will not be paid, since the job was not done well. He mentioned that the electric bill from the equipment use went up another 25 percent for the month of august, which means the plant is running a 45-50 percent higher utility bill than was required before the installation of the new equipment. The council was in agreement that it was within their rights to refuse to pay the final $16,000. It was agreed that Vern Landis, town attorney would draft the response.
Layne reported that the police department had received nine portable drug test instruments through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institution. Were the department to have purchased them, the total cost would have been $4,050.
In other matters, a Commonwealth representative advised the council to switch to a guaranteed savings contract rather than open bid system on some work that needed done. The advantages included greater financial and scheduling flexibility, and also an open-book pricing system.
For instance, if the job doesn't cost the full amount, the excess amount goes back to the town. Whereas with a public bid, the town is quoted one lump sum that would be required to be paid, regardless of whether the cost of the project was not the amount billed.
"I see what's going on in the public bid market, and in that I'm not sure you're going to get the best price," he said. "Whereas this process here, you know you're going to see what you're being billed for. Also, if there's excess, you get that savings back."
Merchant agreed, mentioning that in the past, some quotes from the open-bid system had equipment markups that were between 40 and 50 percent more than actual cost.
Council President Tom Hoover asked if there would be any change-overs with this system. The representative answered that the maximum entered into the project is the maximum amount the town would have to pay.
After deliberation, the council authorized Commonwealth to proceed in pursuing a guaranteed savings contract on behalf of the town.
Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported $80,000 in property loss due to fires in August. He also thanked the Milford Fire Department, Benton Township Fire Department, North Webster Fire Department and the Syracuse Police Department for their help in dealing with the fire at the Lakeland Daycare Center, as well as the staff of the facility.
"During this difficult time, it’s great to know that we live in a community of so many organizations of people working together with one common goal," Scott said.
He also thanked the community for the $2,900 from the fire department's recent boot drive.
Clerk-Treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker needed funds from depreciation fund moved into the wastewater fund. $23,908 The council passed the motion.
She also requested to pre-pay McKinley Painting $10,000 in order for the business to purchase supplies for renovation. The council passed the motion.
The first reading and public hearing of the 2018 budget was given. The total budget amount for the year is expected to be $4,066,455.
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