Syracuse Town Council Approves Outdoor Dining And Utility Extension
Syracuse Town Council Approves Outdoor Dining And Utility Extension
Posted
Denise Fedorow-
Syracuse Town Council Approves Outdoor Dining And Utility ExtensionSYRACUSE - Outdoor dining was informally approved by the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday night for Kelly Jae’s Lakeside.
Cassandra Griffin, general manager at Kelly Jae’s, and a couple staff members brought a slide presentation to the council of their plans to provide outdoor dining on the sidewalk in front of their restaurant at 110 E. Main St.
They shared they currently have benches that stick out 36 inches and they’d be removing those benches and adding four tables that seat two people and would only take up 34 inches, which would still leave 4 feet of walking space and room for wheelchairs.
They said having outdoor dining would give curb appeal and has been proven to increase business. They said they’d be creating three more jobs as they’d have designated servers for outdoors. It would provide a fun place to dine in the central business district so folks won’t have to go to Goshen or Warsaw to have that experience.
Council members asked if they’d be bringing the table and chairs in at night and they said they could, but would likely put the chairs on top of the table and lock them up Wednesday through Saturday and would probably bring them in Sunday through Tuesday.
A Council member asked if the town had an ordinance prohibiting it and Town Manager David Wilkinson said it did. He pulled up the ordinance that stated nothing should be placed on or obstruct the sidewalks.
The council discussed having an amendment to the ordinance or whether it’d be better to have a certificate of approval as the Kelly Jae staff suggested that other towns have.
Councilman Paul Stoelting made a motion to allow it and have town attorney Jay Rigdon figure out the amendments. Rigdon suggested letting them go ahead and not enforce the ordinance while he prepared the ordinance or certificate of approval for next month’s meeting.
The council consented to that suggestion.
Steve Showalter, of Showalter RV, and Debra Hughes, civil engineer, came before the council requesting the extension of utilities to his property without annexation. Hughes said Showalter approached the neighboring properties and they are not interested in being annexed.
Councilman Larry Siegel said there might still be a path to annexation because of bills currently moving through the Indiana House right now that, if passed, would allow for annexation if they have 75% of assessed value, which Siegel said he’d have and that would force annexation on the neighbors. He said that bill would also eliminate in lieu of annexation agreements.
Showalter said he’s not opposed to being annexed in the future but he needs the utilities extended now in order to move forward. Musser and Stoelting both said if Showalter was willing to be annexed in the future, they’d be willing. Siegel argued that there’d be a cost to the town with no way to recoup if they’re not able to collect property taxes.
Public Works Director Mark Aurich was asked about the cost. Showalter said he was willing to pay the cost. Aurich said they’d just be pumping water and receiving sewage so the only cost would be to treat the sewage.
Councilman Nathan Scherer said the economic impact of the project outweighs any expense. Rigdon said the town could charge out-of-town utility use up to 150% more than town residents pay and that would be how they could recoup some of their costs.
Musser said, “I’m all in favor of it. I’m looking at the big picture.”
The council unanimously approved allowing sewer and water to be extended to North Trace RV resort.
The property is located on the Elkhart County-Kosciusko County line on CR 29. Showalter said he plans 188 units with eight cabins for those with family members who don’t have an RV.
The council also held a public hearing on a waiver of noncompliance for property tax deductions for QES. Attorney Steve Snyder explained it was regarding the company’s tax abatement for 2021. They filed the compliance form but Snyder said, “Something happened and it was never signed and wasn’t filed with the county auditor.”
He asked the council to approve a waiver of timely filing for 2021 so that the auditor can take the signed compliance form and take the exemption for the 2021 payable 2022 taxes.
No one spoke during the public hearing. The council then went on to approve a resolution allowing the waiver.
Cindy Kaiser, council president, read two proclamations — the first declaring Arbor Day as April 28 in the town of Syracuse. The second was a proclamation declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month in Syracuse.
Erin Rowland Jones, executive director of CASA of Kosciusko County, was present and she said rather than going to all cities they calculated where most of the children they served came from and the top three were Warsaw, Mentone and Syracuse. She said the first quarter of this year they’ve already served 108 children and they’re always in need of volunteers.
In other business:
• The council agreed to take on the small piece of property on Harkless at a cost of $8,000.
• The council heard the Park Department will have an Arbor Day Celebration at the new ball park with third-graders.
• Saturday the annual Princess parties will be held at the community center.
• The Touch-a-Truck event will be May 13 at 10 a.m.
• Council were invited to the celebration of the new ball field on the 29th.
• The council heard the Redevelopment Commission agreed to give the public utilities director $30,000 from the South Benton TIF and he received council’s approval to purchase upgrade for control from Engineer Solutions Midwest in Indianapolis.
• Heard the fire department’s first Safe Sitter session will begin May 20. It is for sixth- to eighth-graders and the cost is $30 for materials. Sign up has started.
• Rigdon found the deed for the property the town agreed to give the library and the council approved having the language stating if it is used for anything other than library it returns to the town.
• The council heard they received a letter from the State Board of Accounts because the council did not approve an amount for employee’s health saving plan and they’ve been receiving it. They approved everyone receiving $3,000 -employees and eligible town council members - and will make it effective Jan. 1
• Heard the dam and dike conservancy will begin work on the dike behind Wawasee Village on May 1 so it will be noisy for a couple of weeks.
