Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - After some discussion with Jim Higgins, of London Witte, and Dennis Otten, of Bose, McKinney and Evans, who both attended virtually, the Syracuse Town Council approved an ordinance Tuesday to apply for a State Revolving Fund (SRF) bond for the Harrison Street water project.
Councilman Larry Siegel wanted to know if it was a coupon bond (fixed interest rate) and Otten said he didn’t know for sure, but he thought it’d be around 4.2% fixed rate, but they’d know when they closed. Higgins said he did hear from SRF that they’d have the interest rate in about two weeks. He said between now and the time the bonds come in they’ll determine the rate and the terms.
Higgins clarified that there is only one purchaser of these bonds and that’s the state; they are the investors of the loan to the town, and the town pays them back. Siegel asked if the current rates cover the payment of the loan.
Higgins said, “We believe the payments should be covered with the current water rate, but we need to see the final rate.”
After the meeting, Town Manager Dave Wilkinson was asked the amount of the SRF loan, and he said they didn’t have a final amount yet.
Tax Abatements
The council approved in one motion all the tax abatements as substantially compliant. Councilman Nathan Scherer asked in the future to quantify the tax abatements publicly so people can see the ROI (return on investment), how many jobs have been created, etc.
Siegel said between the companies listed there are “over $100 million of increased assessed valuations.”
After the meeting, Wilkinson shared who the abatements were for, including Aluminum Insights (real and personal property), Aluminum Insights expansion (real and personal property), Exton (Travel Star — personal), HG207 (Travel Star — real and personal property), Legacy Woods (real estate), PW Realty (Polywood building 7 — real and personal property), PW Realty (Polywood building 8 real and personal), QES Realty (vacant building deduct), Ridgestone Development (Urban Oaks — real estate) and Shore Capital (Polar Kraft facility — real estate).
Library Land Donation
The council approved a gift to the Turkey Creek Library of lots 15 and 16 with the addition of language similar to the original land donation that it be used for library or educational support and if nothing is done by July 24, 2029, the land reverts back to the town.
Commonwealth Engineer
Jeremy Hardy, of Commonwealth Engineers, was present and reported to the council on the Harrison Street water project, stating that they should be going out for bid soon so they’ll have the bids back for the July council meeting and to be awarded at the August meeting.
He said he’s also working on the Main Street parking lots project, finding a retaining wall and EV parking spaces.
Siegel asked Hardy whatever happened to the truck route around town. He said semi-trucks have trouble making that turn onto Main Street. Hardy agreed the truck route project stalled. He said he thought since Milford opened that road over the tracks that Polywood would tell their truckers to use that road and avoid downtown.
Siegel asked if there was national truck route database that truckers can go to. Hardy said he’d check into that and also with check with Indiana Department of Transportation.
Department Reports
Two officers were sworn in to office for the police department — Johnathon Moreno as a patrol officer and Dustin Hinen as reserve officer. Later, Utility Superintendent Mark Aurich said that Hinen was his water operator and he said, “I’m so proud of him.”
Wilkinson reported on the 250th celebration, which will be Sunday, June 28. They’ll be closing Main Street in the morning, have a couple of food vendors, a car show, music and bounce houses. There will be a community church service at 10 am.
Clerk-Treasurer Virginia Cazier spoke about the Movie in the Park, which will be at Veteran’s Park at 6 p.m. They’ll be showing Captain America and the Avengers, followed by a tree lighting. She asked permission from the council to close Henry Street from town hall to Harrison Street.
Park Superintendent Chad Jonsson reported the Syracuse fireworks will be July 3, Friday night. When the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday, the fireworks are always the Friday before.
He said Mudtastic is this Saturday at the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation (WACF), and he expects there will be around 200-225 attendees. He said Tours Des Lakes will be on July 18, and the Triathlon will be on July 25.
Councilman Bill Musser asked how the mobile garden works. Jonsson explained that Goshen Health donated the structure and 10 bags of plants and once the produce is ready, they’ll distribute the produce to the community.
Fire Chief Quinn Hunter said they’ll be having the chicken and pork chop sale on July 4 starting at 10 a.m. He said this year they’re partnering with WACF and all funds will go to them for their education fund.
Hunter also publicly thanked Police Chief Jim Layne, Aurich and Wilkinson for their assistance when they were fighting the fire on North Shore Drive. He also reported that the fire engine they were expecting August 2027 has been rescheduled to November 2027.
Cazier thanked all those who donated for the movie in the park night.
Public Comments
John Heckaman brought concerns about Gators and golf carts on the state highway. He said they have no flashing lights, no off-the-road stickers, etc. Layne said they are stopping them when they see them and they stopped three to four last week on Ind. 13.
In other business:
• Musser asked about EV charging stations and Wilkinson said the current administration has still not released the funds for those federal grants.
• Tabled an ordinance changing code to clarify further.
