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SYRACUSE -ÊA tourist map for Syracuse?
That's an idea discussed by the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce Wednesday. It's not a new idea, though.
Chamber president Tim Yeager said a brochure for tourists was distributed in the past when there were several hotels and motels in the area. Those businesses left and the tourist map disappeared along with them because the town no longer had a place to put visitors.
Now with Brook Pointe Inn, Anchor Inn Bed and Breakfast and Oakwood Inn and Conference Center in Syracuse, Yeager said, a map for tourists may be something the chamber wants to start up again. He said it probably couldn't happen until next year, but they should begin thinking about the tourist map now.
"It is our mission to promote tourism - that's what a chamber does," Yeager said.
He said the only attraction Syracuse has to offer is its lakes, so their focus may be that Syracuse is a hub to visit other places in the county.
The map would be dispensed outside the community. The chamber needs to find out how they could put the map at toll roads throughout the state.
"We're still investigating," he said. There is not enough information to go ahead with the tourist map project yet, he said, and it is already mid-April. He said he expects some flack from residents opposed to tourism.
In other business, Yeager said, the Syracuse town board received about 38 applications from around the country for the town manager job. He said the board hopes to have the position filled by June 1 and will begin interviewing next week.
"I'm going to draft a letter, unless I hear protest here, that they look for a very knowledgeable person who knows about civic planning," Yeager said.
He said the town needs to be certain they don't just hire a "people" person. It is important that the next town manager knows how to help plan a town, he said. He also suggested each of the people at the meeting write letters to the town council about the qualities the next town manager should have to replace former manager Matt Vigneault.
Chamber treasurer Steve Ehle gave a report about the public meeting on the Wawasee Village Comprehensive Plan.
A comprehensive plan for the village is the chamber's project for 1999. Dr. Jim Segedy, Ball State University professor, met with interested Syracuse residents and chamber members several weeks ago on how to develop such a plan.
Ehle said, "The whole idea of doing the plan was to get the community involved. It's not a chamber project, it's a community project."
An outside planner would charge $40,000 for a village plan, Ehle said, but Segedy and Ball State students would charge only $15,000 to $20,000 if the community decides to go ahead with the project.
The next public meeting on the village plan is May 11 at 7 p.m. at Brook Pointe Inn.
The agenda will consist of detailed information about the plan from Segedy. Volunteers will be sought at the meeting to serve on the steering committee, which will work closely with Segedy and his staff. Refreshments will be served.
Chamber director Shelly Bickel also announced Sidewalk Days this year will be August 5-7. There will be a community garage sale. The chamber may host a chicken barbecue to raise money for a yet-unnamed project.
