Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Several public hearings were held at Tuesday’s Syracuse Town Council meeting for the 2027 budget and on two requests for vacations.
Attorney Steve Snyder brought a request for the second time to vacate a portion of an unimproved right-of-way on behalf of Kevin Unterbrink. Councilman Bill Musser is Unterbrink’s neighbor at 714 S. Harkless St. Snyder made a case for riparian rights, which he said did not apply in this case and told the council, “Vacate it because it doesn’t do anything for the public, it’s not utilized (so) eliminate it and add it to the tax rolls and that assures the public doesn’t park there.”
Musser was asked if anybody uses the lot in the 30-plus years that he’s lived there, and he responded that one of his neighbors used it a couple of times for parking when they had a July 4th party. Musser said his neighbor wants to improve the lot and his driveway and that’s why he wants it to be vacated.
Councilman Larry Siegel said, “I don’t see the benefit to the town, Bill.”
Snyder responded, “We’re not looking for benefits to the town, the town doesn’t own the land. But the benefit is they’ll pay taxes on the land and that’s not happening now.”
Siegel asked the other council members their thoughts. Council President Cindy Kaiser said she wasn’t in favor of it. Councilman Paul Stoelting said he was conflicted because of his friendship with Musser but said in the past they never approved vacating an alley or a street.
Musser said it wasn’t an alley or a street; it was just an unimproved right-of-way.
Siegel made the motion to deny the petition, Kaiser seconded and Stoelting abstained. Town attorney Jay Rigdon said if they didn’t have a majority voting (Scherer was not present) then no action was taken. The matter was continued until November.
Stoelting, who decided not to run for re-election, said it wouldn’t be him voting on it.
Snyder brought another request on behalf of Thoss LLC to vacate a “stub” of a-street off 1403 Indiana Ave. by Bill’s Automotive. Snyder said the street goes out to County Line Road. He said Thoss LLC has three lots that were combined into one. There’s a building next to right-of-way and the Kosciusko County Plan Commission enforcement officer said they had to remove the building due to it not having the proper setback.
If the town vacates, it eliminates the zoning violation. The enforcement officer also said they have to remove the security gate at Bill’s Automotive, according to Snyder.
Snyder said the history of this stub of a street is that the town has never maintained it because at first they said it wasn’t a public street, but then they annexed that area into town and got the property tax revenue but still didn’t maintain that road and it was full of potholes.
Snyder said, “If the city doesn’t have any interest in maintaining it, eliminate it so you don’t have to maintain it.”
Snyder said the only other choice they have beyond vacation is to appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance, which would require contacting all the neighbors, etc.
Since it was a public hearing, Matt Goodnight, who’s a member of the BZA, said a variance was never asked for the property.
Snyder said, “So what? If you’re not going to vacate, then you better start maintaining it!”
Kaiser asked for Rigdon’s input and he said, “It’s the butt end of a street that only helps the people who want you to vacate it.”
The council voted to approve ordinance 2026-10 to vacate the street.
2027 Budget
A second public hearing was held on the 2027 budget. This time, Clerk-Treasurer Virginia Cazier read the budget. She read the total budget was $7,213,400, including $4,657,600 in the general fund, local road and streets budget fund is $90,000, motor vehicle highway is $1,290,500 and Parks fund is $785,300. The estimated tax rate is $1.0057 per $100 of assessed valuation.
There was no comment from the public and the council voted to approve the budget.
Water Request from AACD
Snyder also represented American Animal Control Distribution to get town water to his property so he can add on. They have a building ready to be put in and they can’t get any further without permits until they know the town will provide water.
They had a signed petition of voluntary annexation from AACD and Snyder asked the council to sign it so they could get the ball rolling.
Rigdon said he didn’t represent the town on annexations and Kaiser said the town manager had contacted Steve Unger at the Indianapolis law firm and he has the paperwork.
Snyder said they needed the signed statement from the council so they could “get the ball rolling.” The council agreed to have the property annexed and provide water to the property at 72298 Ind. 13.
Public Works Budget
Public Works Superintendent Mark Aurich received approval for the water and wastewater budgets for 2027 from the council. After the meeting, Aurich said the wastewater budget for 2027 is $1,428,760, which is a 2.42% increase over the 2026 budget. The water budget is $1,095,290, a 2.99% increase from the 2026 budget.
He reported they were dealing with a leak at the old concrete plant on Medusa Street and will have a contractor in this week to insert a valve, so they’ll be better able to shut off the water in case of another leak.
In other business, the council:
• Introduced new building commissioner Laura Kaufman and new BZA member Doug Preston.
• Approved the recommendation of Mark Aurich and Commonwealth to appeal to the state not to be a licensed stormwater utility.
• Approved the agreement with Kosciusko County to administer elections.
• Heard the town was sued by Huntington 112 LLC about projected paving along North Medusa Court. Rigdon said they also requested a temporary restraining order to stop the town from removing trees and that was granted. A hearing will be upcoming on that matter and Rigdon said the case wouldn’t be decided then, just the matter of tree removal.
