County, Town Of Syracuse To Assess Roads Near Polywood
County, Town Of Syracuse To Assess Roads Near Polywood
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
County, Town Of Syracuse To Assess Roads Near PolywoodThe county and the town of Syracuse will partner together to help improve the roads around Polywood.
The Kosciusko County commissioners approved $5,000 for road assessments around Polywood, 1001 W. Brooklyn St., Syracuse, which makes recycled plastic outdoor furniture. The town of Syracuse also has committed $5,000.
At the commissioners’ meeting Monday, Kosciusko Economic Development Co. Executive Director Alan Tio said, “We work closely with a number of companies around, how they might they grow in the community, what are the obstacles they need to overcome. So we have before you today a quest for some funding ... for an assessment we want to lead to look at how we can improve road access in and around the Polywood campus in Syracuse.”
Tio said Polywood is a fast-growing company in the community and “we want to make sure we do everything we can to help create the conditions so they continue to grow here.”
He said Polywood also has a campus in North Carolina.
“And so we’re working on a number of different items on our punch list. One of them though is studying how might we improve some of the road access for the employees as well as for trucks outgoing with products,” Tio said. “So we want to partner with the town of Syracuse and study three different options of how to improve road access in that area.”
He said the study will provide different options for road improvements, as well as cost, budgets, pros and cons.
Commissioner Brad Jackson, who represents the northern part of the county, said this was a positive thing as originally only the county was involved but that idea got shot down and now the town of Syracuse is involved.
Jackson said Polywood is in a growing industry, doubling in size every three years, and that’s been consistent for the past 20 years.
Tio said, “And it ties in very well with improvements the county is already planning – the overpass at County Road 1300 North, being able to move some of that truck traffic west up 15 to get to the north from the west, rather than going east through the town of Syracuse. The timing is great to see how we can improve other conditions in the area while the county is already making some significant investments.”
Jackson made the motion to approve the $5,000, and it was approved unanimously.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners recognized County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden, who is retiring Dec. 31.
Jackson told him he appreciated the way he’s been frugal over the years.
“You make life easier for the commissioners, I’ll tell you that,” Commissioner Bob Conley said. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”
“And we anticipate that will continue,” Jackson said, looking at Assistant Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty, who is taking over for Tilden.
After receiving a round of applause, Tilden thanked everyone and said, “All of you guys have been a big part of my life. Thank you.”
The commissioners presented Tilden with a plaque toward the meeting’s end.
Cary Groninger, commissioner, told him, “Scott, I know I haven’t had the pleasure of serving with you as long as the two gentlemen beside me, but it’s been a real pleasure to work with you, and I have come to admire the work you do here with our county.”
He called Tilden an “unsung hero” for trying to stretch the dollars as much and as best as possible to cover over 1,100 county road miles. “A job well done, Scott. We’re sure going to miss you and appreciate all of your efforts,” Groninger said.
There was a reception for Tilden after the meeting and many of his family were present.
In other business, the commissioners approved:
• The recommendation from the Area Plan Commission to deny a petition from Nick Deeter to rezone about 10 acres from residential to agriculture.
The 10.76 acres is on the east side of North Prairie Street and zero feet south of CR 400N in Plain Township, according to Plan Director Dan Richard.
The Plan Commission voted to deny the petition Dec. 4 after learning Deeter wanted to rezone the property for a potential communication tower, which would not be permitted in a residential zoning but would in a agricultural zoning.
Attorney Steve Snyder, on behalf of Deeter, said the issue before the commissioners was the rezoning. It would be up to the Board of Zoning Appeals whether or not to allow the tower.
• The purchase of two sidemount 60-inch side rotary mowers for $25,500 each, as requested by Tilden. He said they were budgeted for in the 2020 budget. They are to be mounted on some tractors to be purchased at a later date. The mowers were bid already through Sourcewell.
Tilden also requested, and the commissioners approved, for a bid letting date of 9:15 a.m. Feb. 18 to open bids for two new single-axle dump truck chassis and two dumptruck bodies and equipment. He said it’s in the highway budget for 2020.
• Superior Court I Judge David Cates’ request to apply for a third year of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative grant for $88,759. The county council approved his request at its meeting Dec. 12.
• Jackson as commissioners president and Conley as vice president for 2020. The next meeting is 9 a.m. Jan. 14.
• The appointment of Steve Harris as a public defender for a three-year term, as recommended by the county judges.
• The annual funding and service agreement with KEDCo.
