Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board has no plans to pursue the cause of E.coli bacteria contamination that closed its largest beach last week, according to comments at Monday's meeting in town hall.
"No formal meetings have been set with anyone," said parks board president Bill Wight, adding that all the homes in the area are on sewers, so a leak from a septic system could not be the source of the contamination.
Parks superintendent Michael Hixenbaugh added that his staff daily cleans at least two five-gallon pails of goose/duck droppings from the beach and park.
Although some residents were angry that they didn't know the beach had been closed, the staff followed procedures set forth by the Kosciusko County health department. Staff members erected signs, put up caution tape and notified the media.
The beach opened the next day when health officials retested and found no contamination.
Fishing tournaments also anger some residents who live near the boat launch, and they have asked the board to control them. The noise and confusion that goes hand-in-hand with hundreds of people, boats, cars, trucks and trailers before dawn is exacerbated by inconsiderate fishermen who block driveways and trespass on private property.
"We only have control over the parking lots, the fee structure and the restroom," Hixenbaugh told the board.
The board has no jurisdiction over the fishing contests. The water in the lake belongs to the citizens of Indiana and is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources, which also owns the boat ramp.
However, the situation is being taken to the state Legislature for further discussion. According to information given at the board meeting, the Wawasee and Syracuse lakes associations as well as the Wawasee Area Conservancy have sent a joint letter petitioning the DNR and state legislators to exclude these lakes from tournaments and to provide better control. A copy of the letter was not available at the meeting.
In other business the board is advertising for someone who lives in Turkey Creek Township and is interested in the parks to serve on the board. Interested persons can contact Hixenbaugh at the town hall.
It also was announced that slightly less than $900 has been spent to repair the fountain by the Scout cabin. One more piece needs to be replaced and then the fountain will be back in action.
