Syracuse Parks Closed Weekend Of July 4th
June 17, 2020 at 10:32 p.m.
By Denise Federow-
Councilman Larry Siegel asked how they were planning to close the parks. Park Superintendent Chad Jonsson said Lakeside Park and Hoy’s Beach would be barricaded with snow fencing in between the barricades, the picnic tables would be moved and bathrooms locked.
Signs would be posted, too. Siegel said the signs need to be in Spanish, too, because he’s been hearing a lot of Spanish being spoken at the beach and park.
“If we’re serious then the signs need to be in Spanish, too,” Siegel said.
Jonsson said that could be done.
Police Chief Jim Layne said they would have frequent patrols of the parks and any violators would be asked to leave the premises.
Councilman Paul Stoelting said he agreed with Siegel that the parks were supposed to be closed (Jonsson said only the playgrounds and beaches were closed to this point, not the parks) but weren’t. He said people needed to realize, “They’re assuming their own risk if they trespass on our property.”
The council also passed an amendment to an ordinance regarding vendors and permits. The amendment states that those who are participating in the Chamber of Commerce’s Last Friday events would not need a vendor permit. The amendment also waives permits for people delivering newspapers.
Last Friday is a new chamber event and this month’s theme is Family Night Out. The event will take place June 26 on the corner of Dolan and West Main from 6 to 7:30 and will include vendor booths, food vendors and more.
The theme for July 31 will be Back to School Jamboree, Aug. 25’s theme is Hot Summer Nights and Sept. 25 is Taco Wars.
Both the police chief and the fire chief fielded questions about COVID-19. Layne said his department was going back to near normal operations but were still taking extra precautions. He told the council COVID cases were rising.
“Elkhart County is going through the roof right now,” he said.
He was asked how he’d enforce a mask requirement if the town had one. Layne responded, “It’d be difficult. Businesses enforcing it would be way more effective than us taking it on.”
Fire Chief Mickey Scot had the numbers one council member asked for. He said cases in the county went from 38 to 205 in one month and rose to 336 in the last two weeks.
“It went up 131 cases in the county in two weeks,” he said.
Scott said they’re taking extra precautions and treating every patient as if they were COVID 19 positive because they just don’t know. When they return from a call, they shower and decontaminate the ambulances.
In a related matter, Scott said, as for letting the fireworks displays go, on they thought it best to let the professionals handle the displays versus people going out and getting their own fireworks. He said the Turkey Creek fireworks are on July 3 and Lake Wawasee’s display is on July 4.
He said, “COVID hasn’t gone away. It’s still here. It’s going to be up to the public.”
Town Manager Mike Noe received approval for paving two additional streets above what was previously approved. He said while Pulver Asphalt Paving was in town it would save the town some money.
Council approved paving Front Street at a cost of $14,900. Noe said the street has been “terrible for years.”
The council also approved paving Pickwick Drive from Harkless to Lakeside east to the bridge at a cost of $22,041. Noe said they plan to improve the pitch of the road to solve flooding issues near Miller’s Merry Manor. He apologized for the last-minute inclusion.
Stoelting said, “If anyone’s driven that road after a substantial rain it’s definitely flooded, so I think we should do it.”
In other business, the council:
• Heard Noe is waiting on one quote for the proposed ball field and another appraisal before they can close on the property. They will likely need a special meeting to keep things moving along.
• Heard the Syracuse Parks & Recreation Mud Run is Saturday. They have 200 participants and Jonsson said they will be able to keep them distanced.
• Heard the community center and town hall are open to the public.
• Received thanks from Scott for the three new hydrants on Medusa Street.
• Heard Ind. 13 at the intersection of U.S. 6 and Ind. 13 is closed and likely will be until September.
• Heard budgets will likely be tight as it’s expected that income tax, Motor Vehicle Highway tax, Economic Development Income Tax and sales tax will be down.
• Approved pay application #2 to HRP for a total of $336,763.56, pay application #3 for a total of $29,148 and change order #2 for $54,575. Clerk-Treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker said she could pay the water portion but needs to wait for the Community Crossing grant funds to come before paying the street portion of those pay applications.
• Heard the Syracuse Fire Department will hold its annual Fourth of July pork chop barbecue but it will be carry-out only. Prices remain the same as in years past: pork chops at $6, chicken at $6 and corn on the cob $1. It starts at 11 a.m. until sold out.
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Councilman Larry Siegel asked how they were planning to close the parks. Park Superintendent Chad Jonsson said Lakeside Park and Hoy’s Beach would be barricaded with snow fencing in between the barricades, the picnic tables would be moved and bathrooms locked.
Signs would be posted, too. Siegel said the signs need to be in Spanish, too, because he’s been hearing a lot of Spanish being spoken at the beach and park.
“If we’re serious then the signs need to be in Spanish, too,” Siegel said.
Jonsson said that could be done.
Police Chief Jim Layne said they would have frequent patrols of the parks and any violators would be asked to leave the premises.
Councilman Paul Stoelting said he agreed with Siegel that the parks were supposed to be closed (Jonsson said only the playgrounds and beaches were closed to this point, not the parks) but weren’t. He said people needed to realize, “They’re assuming their own risk if they trespass on our property.”
The council also passed an amendment to an ordinance regarding vendors and permits. The amendment states that those who are participating in the Chamber of Commerce’s Last Friday events would not need a vendor permit. The amendment also waives permits for people delivering newspapers.
Last Friday is a new chamber event and this month’s theme is Family Night Out. The event will take place June 26 on the corner of Dolan and West Main from 6 to 7:30 and will include vendor booths, food vendors and more.
The theme for July 31 will be Back to School Jamboree, Aug. 25’s theme is Hot Summer Nights and Sept. 25 is Taco Wars.
Both the police chief and the fire chief fielded questions about COVID-19. Layne said his department was going back to near normal operations but were still taking extra precautions. He told the council COVID cases were rising.
“Elkhart County is going through the roof right now,” he said.
He was asked how he’d enforce a mask requirement if the town had one. Layne responded, “It’d be difficult. Businesses enforcing it would be way more effective than us taking it on.”
Fire Chief Mickey Scot had the numbers one council member asked for. He said cases in the county went from 38 to 205 in one month and rose to 336 in the last two weeks.
“It went up 131 cases in the county in two weeks,” he said.
Scott said they’re taking extra precautions and treating every patient as if they were COVID 19 positive because they just don’t know. When they return from a call, they shower and decontaminate the ambulances.
In a related matter, Scott said, as for letting the fireworks displays go, on they thought it best to let the professionals handle the displays versus people going out and getting their own fireworks. He said the Turkey Creek fireworks are on July 3 and Lake Wawasee’s display is on July 4.
He said, “COVID hasn’t gone away. It’s still here. It’s going to be up to the public.”
Town Manager Mike Noe received approval for paving two additional streets above what was previously approved. He said while Pulver Asphalt Paving was in town it would save the town some money.
Council approved paving Front Street at a cost of $14,900. Noe said the street has been “terrible for years.”
The council also approved paving Pickwick Drive from Harkless to Lakeside east to the bridge at a cost of $22,041. Noe said they plan to improve the pitch of the road to solve flooding issues near Miller’s Merry Manor. He apologized for the last-minute inclusion.
Stoelting said, “If anyone’s driven that road after a substantial rain it’s definitely flooded, so I think we should do it.”
In other business, the council:
• Heard Noe is waiting on one quote for the proposed ball field and another appraisal before they can close on the property. They will likely need a special meeting to keep things moving along.
• Heard the Syracuse Parks & Recreation Mud Run is Saturday. They have 200 participants and Jonsson said they will be able to keep them distanced.
• Heard the community center and town hall are open to the public.
• Received thanks from Scott for the three new hydrants on Medusa Street.
• Heard Ind. 13 at the intersection of U.S. 6 and Ind. 13 is closed and likely will be until September.
• Heard budgets will likely be tight as it’s expected that income tax, Motor Vehicle Highway tax, Economic Development Income Tax and sales tax will be down.
• Approved pay application #2 to HRP for a total of $336,763.56, pay application #3 for a total of $29,148 and change order #2 for $54,575. Clerk-Treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker said she could pay the water portion but needs to wait for the Community Crossing grant funds to come before paying the street portion of those pay applications.
• Heard the Syracuse Fire Department will hold its annual Fourth of July pork chop barbecue but it will be carry-out only. Prices remain the same as in years past: pork chops at $6, chicken at $6 and corn on the cob $1. It starts at 11 a.m. until sold out.
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