DeJulia Gives Syracuse Report On Proposed Industrial Park
Posted
John DeGroff-
SYRACUSE - The Syracuse Town Council heard a report Tuesday from Henry DeJulia, town manager, regarding the proposed industrial park.
One of the steps needed was to have the legal description of the site officially recorded. According to DeJulia, this has been done.
"There are a couple of areas that need clarification, and the surveyor is working on that to get that resolved," DeJulia said."We do have an interlocal agreement with the Elkhart County Redevelopment Commission," he continued. "We were also able to get certain areas approved for outside storage."
DeJulia told the council he will be meeting with some marketing people and also spoke about a meeting he had with the Michiana Area Council of Governments in order to pursue an economic development administration grant.
Another meeting held with the Elkhart County Regional Planning Commission was to address the issue of growth and what exactly the town of Syracuse expects. The result is that Syracuse will change the industrial park site's classification from a general urban development plan to a far more specific plan known as a detailed urban development plan. This gives the town the ability to "engineer" or make specific changes to parcels within the industrial park. The cost of the engineering was a subject for some discussion, but no firm financial decision was make regarding these particular costs.
DeJulia said approval for any site changes will have to be granted by the county commissioners, and also by the Kosciusko Area Plan Commission because of the overall economic redevelopment process the town uses.
An issue related to the site is the possible removal of trees, in two- to four-acre sections, along Ind. 6 and 13. The reason is to provide better visibility of the industrial park from the road.
Other matters DeJulia discussed was the possibility of the county receiving some money through the federal stimulus program, and the need to develop an updated Web site for the town.
Pam Kennedy, Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, presented the council with information on the emergency repair program. All the houses that have been previously approved have gone through the bidding process and have been awarded needed repairs. One home for repairs was presented to the council this month, which is house number three on the second grant. For needed electrical and roof repairs, the council approved the grant application, not to exceed $12,000.
The council approved the expenditure of $987.40 for video equipment for the police department. Along with the equipment, a $30 monthly maintenance fee, which includes installation and training, was approved for three years. This equipment will be used in interrogations and evidence gathering.
The utilities department was approved to purchase two water-meter reader "guns" at a cost of $2,297. The department had recently purchased new meter reader guns, but found that they wouldn't function with some of the older water meters. Plus, there were maintenance and repair issues that helped to necessitate the purchase from EJP Inc.
The council adopted an additional appropriation ordinance for $85,000 from the Economic Development Income Tax Fund to the industrial park.
In other business, the council:
- Announced the annual Easter Egg Hunt, co-sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the park department, will be held at Lakeside Park April 4 at 11 a.m.
- Announced April 24th is Arbor Day, held at the school from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
- Paid claims for March 2009, in the amount of $549,248.55
- Announced the Syracuse Police Department will host a found bike auction April 25h at the Community Center.
Syracuse Town Council members are Cassie Cowan, Paul Stoelting, Larry Siegel, Bill Musser and Brian Woody.
