Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Because of a change in Syracuse's population, the town council Tuesday approved an ordinance redistricting the town for elections.
The redistricting is required by statute every 10 years after the census.
The town has five districts/wards.
For First District/Ward 1, the population in 1992 was 556 with a decrease of 20 by 2002. In the redistricting, the new district/ward has a population of 587.
Second District/Ward 2 had a population of 524 in 1992 and also dropped by 20 by 2002. The new district/ward has a population of 611.
The other three districts/wards populations include: District/Ward 3, 555 in 1992, 725 in 2002, 634 in the new district; District/Ward 4, 536 in 1992, 830 in 2002 and 610 in the new district; and District/Ward 5, 549 in 1992, 443 in 2002 and 596 in the new district.
Town manager Brian Redshaw said if the districts had not been reconfigured, District/Ward 4 would have been too big.
"I thought you did a good job with the changes that had to be made," town councilwoman Carol Koble told Redshaw.
In other business, the town council:
• Approved the purchase of a gas detector/oxygen sensor from Gusco Inc., South Bend, for $1,463, per utilities superintendent Clint Houseworth's request.
• Approved Houseworth's request for Peerless-Midwest Inc. to clean the Dolan and Vega wells with chlorine to deter biofouling and inspect the Dolan Well pump for a total of $4,500. Biofouling is iron buildup in and around the screens of the wells. As the buildup increases, the pumps' ability to pump water at a targeted rate decreases.
• Approved an additional $364.56 in dues for the year to Indiana Association of Cities and Towns because IACT is having cash flow problems.
• Approved up to $300 for the purchase of a picnic table or bench for the town's public pier. Ryan Harkelroad is improving the pier and area as part of his Eagle Scout badge project.
• Approved an ordinance establishing two handicapped parking spaces adjacent to the Syracuse Cafe on West Pearl Street.
• Heard from Tom Perzanowski, town marshal, that the town received a grant from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to purchase computer equipment to make posters of missing children. There is no cost to the town.
• Heard that Syracuse's Halloween trick-or-treating will be Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m., and Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 23-31.
• Approved the appointment of John Conley to represent Syracuse on the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals for a four-year term. Conley is replacing Ron Sharp, who is retiring from the board at the end of this year.
"I thyink he will do a good job," said council president Barb Carwile.
Members of the Syracuse Town Council are Carwile, Koble, Bill Hane, Mike Davis and Paul Stoelting. They meet at 7 p.m. in the Syracuse town hall on the third Tuesday of every month.
