Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - One month after being denied the purchase of a replacement police vehicle, town marshal Tom Perzanowski asked again Tuesday to purchase one and the town council agreed.
Perzanowski told the council the 1994 Crown Victoria police vehicle "went down with a transmission problem." To fix it would cost close to $1,500, but it's only worth $2,000. Another police vehicle also went out of commission. To replace the two vehicles out of commission, he said, he wanted to buy a used vehicle from Missouri for $13,000.
He also said the town council doesn't have a policy in place as to when the police department can replace a vehicle. He asked the council to provide him with a policy to follow.
Council member Cassie Cowan asked if the police force will eliminate the spare vehicle. Perzanowski said they would, but the current spare also is down at the moment. The cars out of commission are cars 10 and 11, and car 4 is in the garage with damages estimated at $4,400.
Larry Siegel, council chairman, asked what is the availability for the vehicle from Missouri.
"As soon as I drive down there and pick one out," said Perzanowski. Elkhart County buys many of their administrative vehicles through Missouri and Perzanowski said he may try to get a ride with someone from Elkhart when they go down to save Syracuse on mileage.
A motion by council vice chairman Paul Stoelting to allow Perzanowski to purchase the vehicle from Missouri for a cost not to exceed $13,000 to replace cars 10 and 11 unanimously was approved.
Perzanowski said the equipment from the cars out of commission will be installed in the new vehicle.
Cowan asked how long it would take to repair car 4. "The estimate I got was about a week," answered Perzanowski.
As for a policy of replacing vehicles, Siegel requested more information on what other departments are doing, with the focus being on departments in towns of Syracuse's size.
In other business, the town council:
• Approved the bid from Borden Waste Away for a three-year contract for trash pickup and recycling for approximately $346,550.40. Trash pickup will begin Aug. 1; recycling will begin Jan. 1.
• Approved an agreement with Speedway Super America for a test well at 206 S. Huntington St. Speedway has some contamination on their property that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management is requiring Speedway to monitor to prevent further contamination.
• Approved the agreement with Wawasee Schools to purchase property for an estimated $23,000 for a water tower. The cost includes monies toward a Wawasee Schools logo to be put on the tower.
• Approved the purchase of two 35-foot ladders for the fire department from Heiman Inc., Ashton, Iowa, for $1,756.90.
• Approved the purchase of 75 water meters for the water department from Utility Supply Co. for $6,225.
• Approved clerk-treasurer Julie Kline to purchase new computer hardware and software for an amount not to exceed $14,500.
• Approved an agreement with Macy's Condominiums for storm drainage use.
• Met the new housing inspector, Harold "Hal" Hansborough.
• Heard the Memorial Day Parade will be May 31, starting at 1 p.m.
• Approved the scope of services for bids for the town master plan.
• Approved an ordinance establishing a town budget account. According to Kline, the fund will allow the town to accept donations for general purposes and better keep track of where those donations are spent.
Members of the Syracuse town council are Paul Stoelting, Cassie Cowan, Brian Antonides, Larry Siegel and Brian Woody. They meet at 7 p.m. in the town hall on the third Tuesday of every month.
