Syracuse Town Council members voiced their irritation about the closed railroad crossing at the monthly meeting Tuesday evening. The railroad crossing at Ind. 13/ North Huntington Street will close next Monday and be closed for up to three weeks. The official state detour is U.S. 30 to Ind. 15 to U.S. 6. Police Chief Tony Ciriello said he is already preparing alternate traffic routes to alleviate congestion from students leaving Wawasee High School. CSX will be removing and replacing all of the asphalt and concrete around the crossing. Also Tuesday, council approved a bid to pave local streets. The bid by Phend and Brown is for $140,627.30. The company was also awarded a bid for paving Turkey Creek Fire Territory for $66,778.20 Other items discussed were additions to Lakeside Park, future Parks Department events and the possibility for more crosswalks. The city hopes to add more aesthetic fences and lights at Lakeside Park to outline it better and to make it look more inviting. These additions could happen this year if funds are available, but can be put off until 2016. The new pavillion at Lakeside Park is nearly finished. The park will host the annual Harvest Festival on Oct. 10. The council intends to add more crosswalks where local trails cross city streets. Ciriello said that those can be added to any crossing as long as proper signage is placed in the appropriate spots. In the past month, there were 486 total calls to the Syracuse Police Department, 34 written reports, 12 accidents, 17 arrests and 18 traffic tickets. Of the 12 accidents, 10 were property damage and two were personal injury. There were 10 criminal arrests, one for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, four warrant arrests and two juveniles.
