Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Syracuse Town Council members made quick work of the agenda Tuesday evening, despite a couple members being absent.
Vice President Cindy Kaiser presided over the meeting in the absence of President Nathan Scherer, and she opened a public hearing on the second and final reading of the 2026 budget.
No one from the public commented on the budget and the three council members present had no further comment. They went on to adopt the 2026 budget with Kaiser, Paul Stoelting and Bill Musser voting for the budget.
The total amount of the budget is $9,196,246. Included in the budget is $4,401,600 for the general fund, $90,000 for local roads and streets, $1,209,500 for motor vehicle highway fund and $729,950 for parks. There are also cumulative funds, tax increment financing funds, etc. included in the budget. The estimated tax rate, according to Clerk-Treasurer Virginia Cazier at last month’s meeting, is $0.7525 and last year’s tax rate was $0.6992.
Commonwealth Engineers
Robin Matthews, with Commonwealth Engineers, received approval for a task order for the 2026 Community Crossing Matching Grant project at a cost not to exceed $142,625. She said the roads mostly needed resurfacing, but a few needed more work, like Kern Road, which will also get a little widening at the curve. Other roads include Oak Street from Portland to Railroad, Pittsburgh from Walnut to Ind. 13, Front Street from the railroad tracks to Chicago, Henry Street from Huntington to Front Street, Harrison from Ind. 13 to the dead end, Northshore Drive from Long Drive to East of town limits, Palm Drive from Harkless to Lakeside Drive, and a few others, along with various alleyways.
Matthews told the council Indiana Department of Transportation is increasing their match next year. This year it was 75%, next year they’ll be contributing 80% so the town will be responsible for 20%.
Matthews also said they had the 50% design review on the water project. Now they’re moving toward 90% completion on design work for the project.
Gateway Signs Discussion
Since Town Manager David Wilkinson wasn’t present at the meeting, Kaiser asked Chamber of Commerce Director Brent Randall if he wanted to share anything on the gateway signs. Randall, who is also on the town’s beautification committee, said he was in support of the design for the signs by the gentleman who lives on the lake but has his marketing business in Muncie.
Randall said the entryway signs are expensive, “But they’re really beautiful entryway signs that does our community a fitting salute and tribute to Syracuse, to the lakes and to what our community means to the county and tourism region throughout northeast Indiana.
“The chamber is in full support of the signs as a source of community pride entering from the north and south,” he said.
Stoelting said he wasn’t committed to the signs. He said he liked the way the north looked but he said he thought it should be a full five-person discussion, including the town manager, and thought the matter should be tabled.
Kaiser pointed out the agenda just stated a discussion would be held, no action. Musser said at the cost of $120,000, “especially with the cutbacks that are coming, it would be hard for me to vote for them. I can’t see spending that money at this time.”
Kaiser said she’s been on the beautification committee with Randall, Wilkinson and Cazier, among others and said, “I think it would be good for our town. They’re expensive, but if they last decades you’ll get your money’s worth. We spend a lot of money on things that we don’t see, I think this would be an asset for our community.”
She agreed the whole council and town manager should be involved, and the discussion ended.
Public Works Department
Public Works Superintendent Mark Aurich received approval from the council to purchase a demonstration Hydro spade excavator from Brown Equipment at a cost of $279,500.
He explained to the council in December 2023 he and Street Department foreman Paul Hoffman entered into an agreement with Vermeer Midwest in Fort Wayne to purchase a Vactor Hydro spade for excavating.
“They still haven’t come through with that machine, and their communication is lacking,” he said.
Aurich said both he and Hoffman have called many times and about halfway through they raised the price, so he said three weeks ago, he told them to keep the machine. He canceled the purchase order. He said Hoffman had been looking for a self-contained machine that doesn’t require a commercial driver’s license and it’s lighter than the trailer-truck combination.
However, he said it is $52,500 more than the original machine. He asked for approval to use the encumbered funds from the other machine plus the $52,500 from the equipment budget for a total of $279,500. He said it’s a demo model, but Brown Equipment is offering them a new vehicle warranty and they should take delivery in two to three weeks.
The council approved the purchase.
Town attorney Jay Rigdon said if they had a signed agreement with Vermeer and they failed to follow through and it’s now costing more to get the equipment, they could pursue damages in the amount of the difference if they chose to do so. Aurich said they could discuss it.
The council also approved the 2026 wastewater and water budgets. The wastewater budget is $1,395,000 and last year it was $1,330,500. The water budget is $1,063,520 — a 1.1% increase. Aurich told the council, “I shifted a few things around to keep the increase at the absolute minimum.”
In other business, the council:
• Approved an agreement for providing grant administration with Michiana Area Council of Government for the wastewater improvement project on Huntington Street - Ind. 13.
• Approved Diana Clark to the library board. New library Director John Gaskill was present and thanked the council for appointing her.
• Approved the annual interlocal agreement with Kosciusko County and the police department at a cost of $5,790.75 for terminal data services.
• Approved the purchase of turnout gear for new firefighter at a cost not to exceed $5,000 from Conway Shield.
• Heard Battalion Chief Robert Tinkey will retire Oct. 31 after 35 years and they’ll be hosting a retirement open house for him on Nov. 7 from 4 to 7 pm.
In the parks department report, it was noted that trick-or-treat at Lakeside Park will be Oct. 25 from 1-3 p.m.
