Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Water rates for Syracuse waterworks customers could go up by as much as 25 percent "across the board" by the end of this year.
Next year, it may go up another 25 percent to help pay for the town's new waterworks facilities and improvements.
Tuesday, the Syracuse Town Council held the first reading of an ordinance establishing new rates and charges for the use of and services rendered by the waterworks system of Syracuse. The public hearing on the increases will be held during the second reading at the regular town council meeting Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. in the town hall.
Under the new rates, metered rates per month for the first 2,500 gallons will be $3.60 per 1,000 gallons. The rate then drops to $3.24 per 1,000 gallons for the next 17,500 gallons; $2.78 next 40,000 gallons; $2.38 next 90,000 gallons; and $1.94 next 150,000 gallons.
Each user pays a minimum charge based on the size of their meter. Those minimum monthly rates under the new ordinance would range from $9 for a five-eighths-inch to three-fourths-inch meter to $831.85 for a 6-inch meter.
The ordinance also will raise costs for unmetered rates per month, fire hydrants, private fire protection per year municipal drinking fountains per year and temporary users.
Councilwoman Carol Koble said she'd like to see the first phase done now but wants to wait on the second phase to see if they are going to do the project. She said she is not in favor of doing both 25 percent raises at once.
The town council then adopted three resolutions regarding the waterworks facilities. The first resolution adopted the preliminary engineering report as given at a previous meeting. The second resolution authorized the town manager to make application to the state revolving loan fund to possibly help pay for the project.
And the third resolution expressed the town's interest in purchasing property from the Wawasee School Corp. for the potential site of a new water tower to help with the expansion and upgrade of the town's water treatment and distribution system.
Two appraisals of the property will be made to determine the fair market value of the real estate. If the town council decides to purchase the property, the town can't offer any more than the average of the two appraisals.
In other business, the town council:
• Approved Marsh Supermarket's petition to rezone ground from an industrial II to a commercial district. The property is on the south side of Pickwick Drive and east of Sycamore Street in Turkey Creek Township. Marsh officials plan to put in an Arthur's Fresh Market, which specializes in fresh produce. Marsh is uncertain whether or not they will have gasoline sales.
The grocery store will be approximately 20,000 square feet.
"I think it's a great idea," said Koble.
Council chairman Barbara Carwile agreed, saying, "I think it's a wonderful idea."
Steve Snyder, attorney for Marsh, will go before the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals Thursday at 7 p.m. to request a variance for the store to allow 104 parking spaces when the ordinance requires 194 and for an exception to multiple uses on one tract.
Snyder said the Arthur's Fresh Market store is the first of its kind and one other is planned in Carmel.
The council also approved sending a letter to Matt Sandy, Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission assistant planner, supporting the variance for Marsh.
• Heard from parks and recreation superintendent Mike Hixenbaugh that the community center has had 17,422 visitors so far this year, "which is outstanding."
He also reported the Guitar Woodies will perform on Lakeside Park beach Saturday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
• Deputy clerk Julie Kline reported the clerk's office will be open until 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday next week so residents can pick up their new garbage tags. Residents will need to start using the new tags beginning with the first pickup in August. Also, the clerk's office will be open the next two Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m.
• Repealed two ordinances regarding signs in the road right of way and penalties for those signs. The town will reinforce the county's sign ordinances already in place.
• Heard the Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club is spearheading a bike-a-thon Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon. Rain date is Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Members of the Syracuse Town Council are Larry Siegel, Bill Hane, Carwile, Koble and Paul Stoelting. Their regular meetings are at 7 p.m. in the Syracuse town hall on the third Tuesday of every month. A budget meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday in the town hall. If a second budget meeting is necessary, it will be held July 23 at 6 p.m.
