Syracuse OKs Engineering of Wastewater Treatment Project
Posted
Gary Gerard-ggerard@timesuniononline.com
SYRACUSE – Town council Tuesday evening gave the go ahead for the engineering phase of the wastewater treatment project. Utilities Superintendent Jeremy Sponseller recommended the council approve the contract with Triad and Associates Engineering at a cost of $182,000. Council agreed with Sponseller’s assessment that this would be the best way to keep the project moving forward. The engineering contract was approved unanimously. Council also unanimously approved a request from Sponseller for an additional two-wheel drive pickup for the utilities department. Sponseller explained the bed of the Ford Ranger pickup the department currently uses is not large enough for many jobs. He also said trade-in value for the Ranger was only $3,000. At that price, he said, it would be worth it for the town to keep it. Cost of the new Dodge pickup from Sorg Dodge is not to exceed $21,935. Sponseller also reported: • The pedestrian bridge on Harkless Drive should be completed in another week. Pier sections and the boardwalk are in, but concrete work remains. • An insurance check has been received following an incident where a propane tank caught fire and destroyed the town’s asphalt roller. Council action was not needed for Sponseller to use the insurance check – $14,900, plus another $900 to $1,000 from his equipment fund – to purchase a new asphalt roller. • The first 72 of 100 water meters in Oakwood have been changed. The rest of the meters will be changed along with a software change next week. The following week, test readings will be taken to make sure all the meters are working properly. • There are approximately 20 spot repairs that must be made in sewer lines in Oakwood before new asphalt can be installed. The council also: • Approved an additional $6,000 for site signage at the industrial park on Ind. 13 north of town, bringing the total cost to $62,000. The contractors are General Crafts and Solar Energy Solutions. The signage uses green technology and solar panels. Police Chief Tony Ciriello reported a total of 476 calls for service, 33 written reports, 15 property damage accidents, one personal injury accident, seven criminal arrests, two DUI arrests, 11 traffic tickets and 32 warnings. Ciriello also reported: • Long Drive will be closed from Washington Street to North Shore Drive on July 4 for the annual fireworks display over Syracuse Lake. The council also heard: • The Chamber parade will be conducted beginning at 10 a.m. July 5. • A produce-only farmers market will be conducted each Wednesday at Crosson Mills Park from 4 to 7 p.m. • The Tour de Lakes Bike ride is scheduled for July 19. An ordinance passed by the council created a new budget account for funds generated by the Oakwood tax increment finance district. Town Clerk Julie Kline explained that there are two TIF districts in Syracuse – one for the industrial park and one for the Oakwood project. She said Town Manager Henry DeJulia, who was not present at the meeting, suggested it makes sense to separate them for purposes of reporting to the redevelopment commission and for overall transparency. The ordinance creating the new account for Oakwood TIF funds passed unanimously. Kline also reported the budget calendar for the town. She said the town budget should be ready for advertising by late August or early September. First reading of the budget should be Sept. 16 with final reading and adoption Oct. 21. She said DeJulia advised her that it was his opinion that there should be no salary increases for either salaried or hourly town workers for 2015. Because of the calendar, there are 27 pay periods in 2015, instead of the usual 26. The extra pay period amounts to a 3.8 percent increase in salaries, even though each paycheck is the same amount as the previous year. Kline said the only alternative would be to cut pay. The council, without voting, agreed with DeJulia’s assessment regarding salaries for 2015. Council president Brian Woody asked the council to approve a change order for the addition to Fire Station One. Woody said the addition is nearly complete, but that three change orders were needed at a total cost of $8,422. The change orders included a generator power supply, asphalt work and occupancy sensors for lighting. The change order was approved with four yes votes. Councilman Larry Siegel abstained. Syracuse Town Council meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the town hall. Council members are Bill Musser, Kathy Beer, Larry Siegel, Brian Woody and Paul Stoelting. Town attorney is Vern Landis.
