SYRACUSE – Resident Sharon Fowler asked the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday night if it would consider setting up a fund for dealing with town residents’ tree removal problems. “I’m coming here with a legitimate concern,” she said. Fowler has brought up her problem at past meetings, and told council that she would bring up the matter again until she feels it is resolved. At issue are at least two damaged trees between her property and her neighbor’s that have fallen and become entwined. She and her neighbor have not been able to come to an agreement on who should pay, or how much to pay, to remove them. Since the trees are on private property, the town has no jurisdiction in the matter, said town attorney Vern Landis. Council President Paul Stoelting added that he, as an attorney, agrees that the town deals only with trees on public rights of way, street and alley easements, for example. Fowler said she thinks the trees are dangerous, and could make access to the homes difficult for emergency vehicles like fire trucks. The town does have ordinances to deal with nuisances, but whether or not this situation fits that category was not discussed. Outgoing Utilities Superintendent Jeremy Sponseller updated council on the wastewater treatment plant project, and how the council might spend contingency funds, money left over from the main project expenses. He said that bids were less than what was budgeted and about 2.3 percent, or around $97,000, was left to spend. Items to be considered are putting a telemetry system back into the plant; roofing and soffit replacement; and repairs to or replacement of the HVAC system. Sponseller said the meeting was his last, and board members and department heads thanked him and told him how much they appreciated his good work. The new utilities supervisor is Clint Houseworth, regional manager, operational support mid-west region, at Severn Trent Services. He served in the town position before Sponseller’s term. Before leaving, however, Sponseller was given approval to purchase a new Chevy one-ton truck for the department for $28,598. Council also approved an ordnance amending a town-owned tract of land from public use to residential. The property at the corner or Pearl and Harrison streets includes a church and parsonage, which will be used as a residence. Councilwoman Kathy Beer asked if this would be a single family residence, and was told yes. In other business, council: • Approved the purchase of two trash cans for public use at Main and Huntington streets for a cost of $675 each plus shipping. • Approved spending up to $1,630 for the service of entering ordinances into the code book. • Was informed by the clerk that March water bills were estimated again due to snow. • Heard a report by trails committee Executive Director Megan McClellan that plans are proceeding for installation of sidewalks along Harkless Drive from Palm Drive to Ind. 13. A trail will eventually run from the Ind. 13 and Harkless Drive intersection down the state road to Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s property. • Learned that police received 295 calls for service with 11 crashes which included 1 personal injury, and seven arrests, including three felony arrests. • Was notified that the parks department has set dates for Easter activities. There will be a geocache egg hunt Monday and Tuesday; March 27 is the date for the annual teen dark hunt; and March 28 is the annual children’s egg hunt in the park. • Approved Paul Newcomer as new park board member.
