K21 Foundation Offers Health, Wellness Grant To Syracuse
November 21, 2019 at 12:17 a.m.
By Denise Federow-
The pledge of $200,000 was made to each incorporated town, other than Warsaw and Winona Lake, “because every community and every resident is important.” The grant is specifically for health and wellness for the town. Haddad said K21 will leave it up to the council to come up with a plan on their own for the grant or maybe they’d like to invite the community to participate by presenting ideas.
Councilman Larry Siegel said that was a good idea since council members were integrated into a lot of groups in town. Siegel asked about the timeline. He was told there was no deadline on K21’s part and they’d prefer the town take its time and get the community involved as to what would best benefit the community when it comes to health and wellness.
Haddad also said it didn’t have to be just one idea, but they wanted all the ideas to be presented at one time.
Dark alleys, streets and parking lots came up more than once at Tuesday’s council meeting. Resident Sharon Fowler brought up that the street she lives on—Pittsburgh Street—is very dark and needs street lights.
Siegel said he agreed with Fowler and said his idea was to have police list all the dark streets and alleys.
“It’ll be a long list,” Police Chief Jim Layne said.
Siegel said, “I think we need to take a look at it — it’s a matter of safety and security. Break-ins in the summer have all been happening where alleys are dark.”
Councilman Tom Hoover said he also had a request from a library board member to add additional lighting at the parking lot across the street from the library.
Town Manager Mike Noe said maybe a NIPSCO light instead of a decorative one would work. Siegel suggested he look at parking lot lighting options that would work better than a decorative light.
Council members passed several ordinances, including the 2020 salaries and compensation ordinance that lists salaries, holidays and paydays. Clerk-treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker said it included a 1.5% across-the-board increase, except for council members who wanted more.
Kehr-Wicker said they increased the budget by $1,000 and that amount is divided amongst the council members, making the pay increase about $300 per year per council member.
The council also amended the town code regarding payment of health insurance premiums for town employees and their spouses and dependents. It states all full-time employees and their dependents and all town council members and their dependents shall be provided health insurance for $1 per year. Full-time employees will be eligible for insurance following a probationary period of 60 days after hire date. All spouses of full-time employees and of town council members are also eligible for $1 a year. The ordinance also addresses vacations and sick leave.
Council members also passed an ordinance transferring funds. They’re transferring $10,000 of Economic Development Income Tax funds from capital improvements to professional services. They’re also transferring $2,000 from Parks and Recreations new equipment to maintenance and repairs.
Noe received the council’s approval to solicit bids for a new water main on Medusa Street. He wanted the bids to go out now so the work can be done before Memorial Day.
Noe also got the council’s OK to discontinue fluoride treatments. He said the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has said they don’t need to inject fluoride into the water anymore as the ground water has about .5 milligrams of natural fluoride. He said the town has said .7 mg is optimal. Noe said with fluoride in toothpaste now “we don’t think we need to make the people of Syracuse ingest more fluoride and chemicals they don’t need plus it’ll save the town $18,250 a year.”
Noe received four quotes for security at the water, wastewater and street buildings. He received quotes from M&M Security, ADT, Community County Security and Coorsen Security from South Bend. He recommended Coorsen at $22,340.39.
There was discussion about building permit fees. Noe said Councilman Bill Musser asked him to check into the fees and he gave the council a written report. Noe said he used Nappanee’s data as a sample. Next to the type of fee he wrote in the number of times they issued that permit and what they would’ve charged.
“It’s a substantial amount of money we would’ve charged,” Noe said.
Siegel urged caution, saying they had a number of years when there was no development, and he told the council, “What we pass will transfer into the bad years, too.”
Musser said they could use the permit fees to fund demolition projects. Siegel said he didn’t want them to max out in a good economy and have trouble later.
Musser said, “I don’t see this causing anyone not to build here.”
Noe told them when people come in for permit they are generally prepared to pay. Siegel asked Noe to check with Ligonier, Milford and North Webster for their fees.
In other business, the council approved:
• Repairing a panel at Louie’s Bar & Grill for $8,740.
• The purchase of a lift station for $41,825.
• Replacing a generator at Smokey’s lift station for $21,896 from Middlebury Electric.
• Leak pickup will end Nov. 27.
• The annual agreement for terminal and central dispatch for $5,000.
• The tree lighting will be Saturday at Crosson Mill starting at 5 p.m. and Santa will arrive at 6:30 p.m.
• Breakfast with Santa will be Dec. 7 from 8 to 11 a.m.
• Turkey Creek Fire Station purchasing a demolition ambulance for $295,000.
• Having Noe contracting with someone to do a survey along a levee behind Subway.
The pledge of $200,000 was made to each incorporated town, other than Warsaw and Winona Lake, “because every community and every resident is important.” The grant is specifically for health and wellness for the town. Haddad said K21 will leave it up to the council to come up with a plan on their own for the grant or maybe they’d like to invite the community to participate by presenting ideas.
Councilman Larry Siegel said that was a good idea since council members were integrated into a lot of groups in town. Siegel asked about the timeline. He was told there was no deadline on K21’s part and they’d prefer the town take its time and get the community involved as to what would best benefit the community when it comes to health and wellness.
Haddad also said it didn’t have to be just one idea, but they wanted all the ideas to be presented at one time.
Dark alleys, streets and parking lots came up more than once at Tuesday’s council meeting. Resident Sharon Fowler brought up that the street she lives on—Pittsburgh Street—is very dark and needs street lights.
Siegel said he agreed with Fowler and said his idea was to have police list all the dark streets and alleys.
“It’ll be a long list,” Police Chief Jim Layne said.
Siegel said, “I think we need to take a look at it — it’s a matter of safety and security. Break-ins in the summer have all been happening where alleys are dark.”
Councilman Tom Hoover said he also had a request from a library board member to add additional lighting at the parking lot across the street from the library.
Town Manager Mike Noe said maybe a NIPSCO light instead of a decorative one would work. Siegel suggested he look at parking lot lighting options that would work better than a decorative light.
Council members passed several ordinances, including the 2020 salaries and compensation ordinance that lists salaries, holidays and paydays. Clerk-treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker said it included a 1.5% across-the-board increase, except for council members who wanted more.
Kehr-Wicker said they increased the budget by $1,000 and that amount is divided amongst the council members, making the pay increase about $300 per year per council member.
The council also amended the town code regarding payment of health insurance premiums for town employees and their spouses and dependents. It states all full-time employees and their dependents and all town council members and their dependents shall be provided health insurance for $1 per year. Full-time employees will be eligible for insurance following a probationary period of 60 days after hire date. All spouses of full-time employees and of town council members are also eligible for $1 a year. The ordinance also addresses vacations and sick leave.
Council members also passed an ordinance transferring funds. They’re transferring $10,000 of Economic Development Income Tax funds from capital improvements to professional services. They’re also transferring $2,000 from Parks and Recreations new equipment to maintenance and repairs.
Noe received the council’s approval to solicit bids for a new water main on Medusa Street. He wanted the bids to go out now so the work can be done before Memorial Day.
Noe also got the council’s OK to discontinue fluoride treatments. He said the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has said they don’t need to inject fluoride into the water anymore as the ground water has about .5 milligrams of natural fluoride. He said the town has said .7 mg is optimal. Noe said with fluoride in toothpaste now “we don’t think we need to make the people of Syracuse ingest more fluoride and chemicals they don’t need plus it’ll save the town $18,250 a year.”
Noe received four quotes for security at the water, wastewater and street buildings. He received quotes from M&M Security, ADT, Community County Security and Coorsen Security from South Bend. He recommended Coorsen at $22,340.39.
There was discussion about building permit fees. Noe said Councilman Bill Musser asked him to check into the fees and he gave the council a written report. Noe said he used Nappanee’s data as a sample. Next to the type of fee he wrote in the number of times they issued that permit and what they would’ve charged.
“It’s a substantial amount of money we would’ve charged,” Noe said.
Siegel urged caution, saying they had a number of years when there was no development, and he told the council, “What we pass will transfer into the bad years, too.”
Musser said they could use the permit fees to fund demolition projects. Siegel said he didn’t want them to max out in a good economy and have trouble later.
Musser said, “I don’t see this causing anyone not to build here.”
Noe told them when people come in for permit they are generally prepared to pay. Siegel asked Noe to check with Ligonier, Milford and North Webster for their fees.
In other business, the council approved:
• Repairing a panel at Louie’s Bar & Grill for $8,740.
• The purchase of a lift station for $41,825.
• Replacing a generator at Smokey’s lift station for $21,896 from Middlebury Electric.
• Leak pickup will end Nov. 27.
• The annual agreement for terminal and central dispatch for $5,000.
• The tree lighting will be Saturday at Crosson Mill starting at 5 p.m. and Santa will arrive at 6:30 p.m.
• Breakfast with Santa will be Dec. 7 from 8 to 11 a.m.
• Turkey Creek Fire Station purchasing a demolition ambulance for $295,000.
• Having Noe contracting with someone to do a survey along a levee behind Subway.
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