SYRACUSE – Syracuse Town Council addressed 2015 budgets and noise complaints at its Tuesday night meeting. In June council was advised that there would be 27 pay periods next year, which would cause an increase in the payroll budget. Consequently, they decided not to offer raises to employees. Tuesday, Council President Brian Woody changed his mind. He suggested the preliminary department budgets be adjusted to provide raises for full-time employees. Woody said town employees did a great job during the hard winter and recent storm and should be rewarded for their hard work. Woody also suggested that equipment replacement budgets be reduced to make up for the payroll increase. “We have so much money available in other accounts, the rainy day account, riverboat funds, etc., that I think we could use some of that if we need it and keep the levy under the current maximum amount,” he said. “This suggestion is just to offset the raise.” Council agreed to a 3-percent raise for full-time employees, and will review the final budgets in August. Council also discussed the fire territory budget, which came in Monday night at $400,000. Woody said some language in the town’s contract with the township needs to be added. As it stands, the council has no authority when it comes to the territory budget. All they can do now, agreed councilman Larry Siegel, is deny equipment purchases. Council approved the transfer of $5,000 of Economic Development Income Tax funds from a professional services account to a miscellaneous account that would pay for items such as new mower blades for work at the industrial park. Contracts were awarded for repair of sewer lines and some asphalt work at Oakwood to Geiger Excavating Inc. for $51,600 and Niblock Asphalt for $5,000. Work is to be completed by the end of August. At least 30 area residents attended the meeting to air concerns about noise coming from both train whistles and music projecting across Lake Wawasee from Oakwood Resort. Residents of George Street asked the council to limit the decibels created by bands playing outside the venue. Residents of Medusa Street requested permission to pursue “quiet zone” designation from the Federal Railroad Administration. Andy Mohr, whose home is across Conklin Bay from Oakwood, stated, “There is a significant and serious problem out of Oakwood,” and said he would like to see the town address this. Council passed a noise ordinance in May which limits loud noises after 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. Mohr said the noise from Oakwood “is obnoxious beyond belief.” Citing the town ordinance, Mohr said, “If they’ve made some changes, it’s not noticeable.” He read the county ordinance which prohibits loud, unnecessary noise. Mohr suggested changing the town’s ordinance to limit decibels levels. He would also like Oakwood to move the music inside or to the other side of their building, the parking lot side. George Street resident Dan Harstine listed decibel levels of lawn mowers, train whistles and other sounds. Siegel replied that ordinances affect the entire town, and a change to the noise ordinance would affect bands in the park and even church services on the lakes. Council asked residents to provide their names and phone numbers, and that the issue would be discussed. Police Chief Tony Ciriello is working with all parties. The issue of loud train whistles has come up before, said Woody, and the solution has been too expensive to address, costing around $1 million. Not so much, now, said residents Van Young and George Krabbe. They told council that rather than the expensive fix of new crossing gates, the town could install “drop paddles,” concrete bumpers that would extend 40 feet from the tracks, and then request a quiet zone designation. “I believe there’s an economical way to do this,” said Krabbe, adding, “it’s much, much less than what we were talking about 12 years ago.” Council granted Young and Krabbe permission to seek funding and application requirements from the Federal Railroad Administration. In other business: • Ciriello reported 449 calls for services including 12 accident reports and 14 arrests. They included two for driving while suspended; four battery; two false informing; one public intoxication; one invasion of privacy; one harassment; and one contributing to a minor. • Brett Konarski, of Petrie Jones Rafinski, told council that culvert work at Ind. 13 may have some problems as workers have found concrete under the asphalt and the culvert to be removed is made of poured concrete, making removal difficult. • Town manager Henry DeJulia reminded council that they still need to appoint a representative to the Board of Zoning Appeals. That person should be a town resident.
