Citizens Offer Help To Syracuse With Much-Needed Dam Repair
August 22, 2018 at 5:20 p.m.
Citizens Offer Help To Syracuse With Much-Needed Dam Repair
By Mark [email protected]
John Earnest, Bill Pipp and Jim Silcox addressed the council during the public comments section of the meeting. Each said they wanted to help organize people and ultimately help find funding necessary to bring the dam in Crosson Mill Park up to 21st-century standards.
Council member Larry Siegel said the town was given control of the dam more than 20 years ago from the state but without financial resources to maintain it. He pointed out the town has allocated $80,000 for engineering, but the town doesn’t have the legal means to set aside money for the work, estimated to cost around $600,000.
During the friendly exchange, all agreed the particulars of how the dam and town came to its current disposition doesn’t matter; the emphasis needs to be on the solution in the short and long term.
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Earnest, Pipp and Silcox each said they’d be willing to serve on a committee to work on the solution. Pipp said between the Wawasee Property Owners Association, the Syracuse Lake Association, the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation and other organizations, there was a wealth of knowledge to tap in to as to where to look for finances for the project.
All five council members said they’d be happy to serve on the board, but agreed only two needed to.
In new business, Council member Tom Hoover read the following motion regarding the town’s dispute with the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District:
“We have a difference of opinion with Turkey Creek (RSD) regarding their discharges into our system, the amount of the discharges and the rates Turkey Creek should pay. We have talked publicly about the difference for months now, and have previously instructed our rate consultant and engineer to meet with Tureky Creek’s accountant and engineer, and tried to reach a mutually satisfactory decision.
“Our rate consultant and engineer have been unable to reach any sort of mutually acceptable agreement. I would move or make a resolution that our rate consultant, engineer and other professionals work together in an effort to make a demand or offer that is acceptable to the town.
“If unable to reach a reasonable agreement or decision, I wold resolve that we file a complaint in court.”
Hoover said the TCRSD owes the town about $200,000. The council unanimously approved the motion.
Council members were updated on the work being done with the town’s chlorene system. Ryan Braun of Wessler Engineering recommended the town replace the chlorene generation system and just buy what it needs. Siegel expressed some frustration because the board had previously been told making its own chlorene was the way to go, and now that’s changed.
The town has also been working with NIPSCO on an energy study, and the results have produced two rebate checks for the town with more to come.
In other business the council:
• Approved a resolution for perviously designated economic revitalization area for TC Commericial Properties and Driven Innovations, LLC.
• Transfered $38,228.70 from local road and matching grant fund to the motor vehicle highway fund, and $1,413.02 from local road and matching grant fund to locals road and street fund.
• Established accounting procedures for investigative drug buy money.
The Syracuse Town Council’s next scheduled meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at the town hall, 310 N. Huntington St.
John Earnest, Bill Pipp and Jim Silcox addressed the council during the public comments section of the meeting. Each said they wanted to help organize people and ultimately help find funding necessary to bring the dam in Crosson Mill Park up to 21st-century standards.
Council member Larry Siegel said the town was given control of the dam more than 20 years ago from the state but without financial resources to maintain it. He pointed out the town has allocated $80,000 for engineering, but the town doesn’t have the legal means to set aside money for the work, estimated to cost around $600,000.
During the friendly exchange, all agreed the particulars of how the dam and town came to its current disposition doesn’t matter; the emphasis needs to be on the solution in the short and long term.
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Earnest, Pipp and Silcox each said they’d be willing to serve on a committee to work on the solution. Pipp said between the Wawasee Property Owners Association, the Syracuse Lake Association, the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation and other organizations, there was a wealth of knowledge to tap in to as to where to look for finances for the project.
All five council members said they’d be happy to serve on the board, but agreed only two needed to.
In new business, Council member Tom Hoover read the following motion regarding the town’s dispute with the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District:
“We have a difference of opinion with Turkey Creek (RSD) regarding their discharges into our system, the amount of the discharges and the rates Turkey Creek should pay. We have talked publicly about the difference for months now, and have previously instructed our rate consultant and engineer to meet with Tureky Creek’s accountant and engineer, and tried to reach a mutually satisfactory decision.
“Our rate consultant and engineer have been unable to reach any sort of mutually acceptable agreement. I would move or make a resolution that our rate consultant, engineer and other professionals work together in an effort to make a demand or offer that is acceptable to the town.
“If unable to reach a reasonable agreement or decision, I wold resolve that we file a complaint in court.”
Hoover said the TCRSD owes the town about $200,000. The council unanimously approved the motion.
Council members were updated on the work being done with the town’s chlorene system. Ryan Braun of Wessler Engineering recommended the town replace the chlorene generation system and just buy what it needs. Siegel expressed some frustration because the board had previously been told making its own chlorene was the way to go, and now that’s changed.
The town has also been working with NIPSCO on an energy study, and the results have produced two rebate checks for the town with more to come.
In other business the council:
• Approved a resolution for perviously designated economic revitalization area for TC Commericial Properties and Driven Innovations, LLC.
• Transfered $38,228.70 from local road and matching grant fund to the motor vehicle highway fund, and $1,413.02 from local road and matching grant fund to locals road and street fund.
• Established accounting procedures for investigative drug buy money.
The Syracuse Town Council’s next scheduled meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at the town hall, 310 N. Huntington St.
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