Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE -ÊThe noise in Syracuse is becoming too much for many residents, according to town manager Brian Redshaw.
Tuesday, Redshaw said he was presented with a petition by several residents for the town to do something about the excessive noise. The residents, who live along Parkaway, Delaware and Henry streets, said loud music from homes and vehicles is being played at all times of the day and night.
Redshaw suggested that he could get a copy of the noise ordinance recently passed by Goshen and several other towns and present them to the council at the next meeting.
"My preference would be that we consider an ordinance similar to the one Goshen has," he said. The ordinance, he said, would be town-wide 24 hours a day. He said it shouldn't be based on decibel levels because an officer using a decibel meter would have to be certified and it would cause more problems than it would solve.
"For me, the issue is more the profanity I hear than the loudness," he said.
Councilwoman Barbara Carwile said she has problems with noise in her neighborhood and would be interested in looking at adopting a noise ordinance. The council told Redshaw to gather the information.
Redshaw said a public meeting will be held Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. with Ind. Sen. Robert Meeks on the increase of train traffic in Syracuse and the constant whistle blowing.
In other business, Jay Niec, Greeley & Hansen Engineers, gave a report on the Baltimore and Pittsburgh streets storm sewer project.
He said the project began a few years ago when the community decided to install storm sewers at the two streets and continue west to Skinner Ditch. As the initial drawings were prepared, it was discovered the Indiana Department of Transportation planned to widen Ind. 13 and improve the drainage. INDOT was contacted and they agreed to include a portion of Syracuse's storm sewer project into their project.
Syracuse's cost for the project is estimated at $210,000. About $50,000 was eliminated from the cost when INDOT accepted a portion of the project, Niec said.
He said he was told INDOT will accept bids for the project in spring 2000 and Syracuse may want to accept bids for their storm sewer project at that time. He said Greeley & Hansen Engineers are digitalizing the project plans.
"We're having a little problem getting the plans digitalized but we're working on it," he said.
Syracuse Park Board members Virginia Lambright and Nancy Duehmig performed a skit for the town council regarding the community center.
At this time, the community center will possibly encompass the Turkey Creek Museum, the Youth Center, new restrooms, a small concessions area and room for private local events.
Afterwards, the Kiwanis presented the council with a letter of support for the community center as did the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce and the Syracuse Lake Association.
Redshaw read a letter from Jeannine Schlock who, with her husband, Doug, donated the 4.7 acres for the community center.
The letter expressed the couple's disappointment that there is no community center project yet and asked for a response by the town council. The council instructed Redshaw to write a letter of response.
Redshaw also asked the council to continue the hearing for the preliminary determination to enter into a lease for the community center until September. The park board is still working on fund-raising and talking to local organizations to see if they want to be involved in the center.
Park board president Bill Wight said lifeguards will work only weekends beginning today because school has started. The official season will end after Labor Day.
The town council also:
• Approved the purchase of a $97,990 Ford E450 ambulance for the EMS.
• Approved the purchase of a new computer for the town clerk's office. The $1,811 purchase will cover all computer hardware, including a monitor, plus the transfer of information from the old computer to the new one.
• Approved Redshaw to purchase a digital mapping CD-Rom program for his office for $956.
• Approved an additional appropriation ordinance for $5,000 for paramedic services.
• Approved an ordinance fixing the number of deputy marshals and reserve officers for the town. The town approved no more than seven deputy marshals and no more than 10 reserve officers. Syracuse now has seven deputy marshals. Town attorney Robert Reed said the town could amend the ordinance in the future.
• Approved a bid from Phend & Brown for the town's street paving project. The base bid was approved at $54,431.50. The town approved $15,000 for alternatives for the project.
• Approved an ordinance requiring all vehicles to stop at the crosswalk on W.E. Long Drive in Lakeside Park in Syracuse. A stop sign for all vehicles driving north or south will be installed. Any person in violation will be fined between $10 and $50.
