Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - While Kosciusko Development Inc., could not conduct official business Monday at its monthly meeting in Syracuse, the board still was able to concentrate on the business needs of the area.
The board lacked a quorum, and could not conduct official business.
Syracuse Town Manager Matt Vigneault, Syracuse Town Council President Barbara Carwile and Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce member Tim Yeager spoke to the board about their concerns for Syracuse's future economic growth.
Much of the discussion revolved around the lack of space for industrial growth in the area.
Several businesses are "maxed out" and looking for places to expand or move, they said. Some of the businesses are land-locked, and any expansion would have to be taken out of the Syracuse area.
Yeager mentioned a 28-acre plot, which, he said, could be used for industrial expansion. The downside of the idea is that the land in question has no access.
To prepare the land could cost close to $1 million, according to Vigneault's estimates.
Eddie Creighton, KDI board member and Kosciusko County commissioner, said that in residential development it was up to the developer to provide the land improvements, such as roads and septic systems.
After the meeting, which lasted for 1-1/2 hours, KDI president Larry Teghtmeyer said he believed the input from the area was "very helpful."
The next KDI meeting will be held at the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce meeting room at 7 a.m. July 22.
