[0:00] I call the meeting to order and we're going to start with the pledge of

[0:03] allegiance

[0:06] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it

[0:12] stands nation indivisibley

[0:17] and justice for all.

[0:25] We're going to start off the meeting with public comments from the floor.

[0:29] These are agenda items only. Two minutes per speaker.

[0:38] » Yes. >> My name is John Gazill. I'm the new

[0:42] director of the Syracuse uh Turkey Creek Township Public Library.

[0:48] » Nice to meet y'all. and and I wanted to say thank you to uh you for having our

[0:54] board member Diana Clark on the agenda tonight. So, speaking about the agenda

[0:58] item, um the library board is really supportive of public library here in

[1:03] Syracuse and if it weren't for great board members, we wouldn't have a great

[1:06] public library. So, thank you. >> Thank you for introducing yourself.

[1:12] » She's she's still healing trying hard.

[1:19] No.

[1:23] » Did you just get started? >> I did. It's at the beginning of my

[1:26] second week. Last night was my first board meeting.

[1:29] » Okay. >> And my door's always open. If y'all have

[1:32] any questions, please come and see me. >> You going to miss the drive?

[1:35] » No, I am not. I love 15 minutes is best. >> That's awesome.

[1:42] » Anyone else? We're going to move on to approval of

[1:46] minutes. We can do first through the 916 and then the 918

[1:57] to approve September 16 and September 18. Oh,

[2:03] they're two different agenda items. Okay. 16.

[2:08] » Do we have a second? >> Yes. Second. We have a motion and a

[2:15] second to accept the regular meeting minutes. All

[2:19] » in favor?

[2:22] » I'll make the same motion on September 18.

[2:30] » I think you can still >> you can still you are still able to

[2:33] vote. >> So can Ibody?

[2:41] » Okay. Okay, we have a motion to accept the minutes. Um, and a second. All in

[2:47] favor? >> Then Virginia, do I sign?

[2:51] » Yes.

[3:01] » Oh, sorry. I just

[3:14] I guess that goes in my

[3:26] » Now we'll move on to agenda number six, approval.

[3:33] I move to approve sign 88

[3:38] 113

[3:51] » 1123

[3:54] » I'll second >> Okay, we have a motion to approve the

[3:58] claims. All in favor?

[4:20] We have an agreement.

[4:25] It doesn't look like we have to take any

[4:30] » agreement. >> Yeah.

[4:32] » Yeah. Uh yeah, you do have to uh uh approve that. I don't think I was ready

[4:38] for last year. >> Okay.

[4:40] » So, you do have to prove it. It is a standard agreement which provides for

[4:45] Oprah.

[4:49] Excuse me. Doesn't provide for Oprah. provides for

[4:54] » yeah I couldn't think of the acronym thank you bill in here too

[4:58] » make to provide the administrative uh services for management of uh that grant

[5:03] on that project the language is the same as every other

[5:08] agreement that may sends out to every other organization or every other town

[5:13] or municipality >> I'll move to approve

[5:17] » yes I'll move to approve the agreement for professional brand administrative

[5:21] services

[5:26] and to be signed by guess our vice president.

[5:34] » We have a second. We have a

[5:40] motion and a second for the great professional services.

[5:46] All in favor?

[6:03] We have on the agenda just a gateway sign discussion and I wish David was

[6:11] here for this discussion. Um, >> Brett, do you have anything you want to

[6:16] add about the gateway signs? >> Well, I was Yeah.

[6:21] » Beautif >> uh I just would like to speak in support

[6:25] of those signs as designed from uh the gentleman who has his company, marketing

[6:32] company in I believe my lives here at the lake. Um the intruary signs wide

[6:40] um are expense obviously, but they're they're really a beautiful entryway

[6:46] signs. Does our community um a fitting uh salute and tribute to Syracuse and

[6:54] the lakes and what our community means to our county and our tourism region uh

[6:59] throughout northeast Indiana. And uh so the chamber is in full support of those

[7:04] designs um as a a source of community pride even as

[7:11] you enter Syracuse from the north and the south. So I just wanted to let you

[7:16] know that the chamber uh is fully behind the entryway signs as designed.

[7:24] » Do we have any other discussion this time?

[7:29] U I I I'm not committed to the both signs. I

[7:37] I think I like the way the north sign looks that they re rehab or whatever

[7:43] they brought up. I think it looks nice. I I can see some reason on the south

[7:50] side that it might be more visible, but uh I also think that maybe the

[7:57] gateway discussion should be a full five person discussion

[8:02] » and David probably should be here.

[8:06] » Yeah. >> And so maybe I would move to table that

[8:12] next month. >> Yeah. And it just says discussion.

[8:15] » Yeah. >> It doesn't say

[8:18] » it's just a agenda item. So I don't know. Well, I think

[8:22] » I know they're expensive. >> We have to Well, that's expensive as it

[8:26] were. We're spending $120,000 on signs of this nature, especially with

[8:32] the cutbacks that are coming through less tax money coming in. Uh, it

[8:39] would be very hard for me to

[8:44] fall. I like the one on the north. I know it's old, but I like it. I look at

[8:48] other communities around and they have the standard rectangular signs that say

[8:54] green whatever and I just can't see spending that kind of money at this

[9:01] time.

[9:08] I have been on a beautifification committee with David and

[9:13] Virginia on it. Michelle

[9:19] will >> Yeah. And um

[9:25] I I I think it would be a good thing for

[9:29] our town. That's just my opinion. I know they're expensive, but if they last

[9:35] decades, then you get your money out of them. Um,

[9:42] I know we're spending a lot of money on other things that people don't really

[9:45] see and those things are important, but I think it's

[9:51] just my opinion. I think they would be an asset for a community. But I do think

[9:57] we should have everybody here and also hear from David. So, anybody has

[10:03] anything else? Let's move on. >> Okay.

[10:07] » Okay. We have in front of us um

[10:12] we need to appoint Diana Clark if the boards like to to the library

[10:20] board and that's what John was speaking.

[10:25] » Well, she seems to be very happy there. She's obviously doing a good job.

[10:30] I would like to make the nomination to add to continue.

[10:37] » Second. >> Okay, we have a motion in a second to

[10:41] accept Diana Clark to library board for Syracuse. All in

[10:47] favor?

[11:17] Is that where you want the assignment? >> Yeah.

[11:24] So now we have our second public hearing for the 2026 budget and I have to open

[11:32] that again.

[11:38] » Okay, I'd like to open the

[11:43] 2026 budget hearing at this point. Do we have any comments from the community

[11:49] too? Any

[11:54] comments from

[12:00] any comments from the board?

[12:10] » So then we vote on this tonight.

[12:17] » Okay. I'm looking for a motion.

[12:21] » I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance.

[12:29] » Six. We have a motion. Do we have a second?

[12:33] » Yes. >> Thank you, Bill. We have a motion and a

[12:35] second

[12:39] for the ordinance or resolution for appropriations and tax rates for 2026.

[12:45] All in favor?

[12:51] There's the outside.

[13:07] » We're going to move on to the Commonwealth Engineering Report.

[13:11] » Robin, is that correct? >> Yes.

[13:14] » Thank you. I'm Robin Matthews with Commonwealth Engineers at a conference

[13:19] this week. So, but um I'm mostly do transportation engineering work for so

[13:25] it's probably appropriate that I'm here. Um Jeremy did want me to mention that on

[13:30] the water project there at um they've had their 50% design review this town

[13:36] and um so they're moving towards 90% completion on their design work on the

[13:41] water project. Um For the road projects, we're using the

[13:47] CCMG program within that. Um, we came out early today and observed progress on

[13:54] Boston Street, this year's project. And then I also have for your review and

[13:58] approval a task order to do the design work and assistance um with bidding and

[14:04] construction engineering and inepth coordination for next year's project.

[14:10] Um, hopefully you have that in front of you. the roads that the town is um

[14:16] looking to do um a resurface at a minimum. Some of these have a little bit

[14:20] more involvement. Um Kern Road, we're going to do a little widening the curve.

[14:27] Um Oak Street from Portland's Railroad. Pittsburgh from Walnut to State Road 13.

[14:35] Front Street from Railroad to Chicago Street. Sorry, railroad tracks to

[14:40] Chicago Street. Um Henry Street from Huntington Street to Street, Harrison

[14:48] Street from State Road 13 to the dead end.

[14:52] Northshore Drive from Long Drive to the East Town limit. Palm drive from Park

[14:58] Drive to Lakeside Drive. Walnut Street from Baltimore to Chicago. Parkway Drive

[15:07] from Carol to Henry. Carol Street from um 013 to dead end and then various

[15:14] alleys as well. Um so what's included in our scope as I was starting to mention

[15:22] the hourly assistance for the um application which Mark and I were just

[15:27] discussing that he's going to handle that for the most part um but we'll

[15:32] assist as needed. Um we've got quite a bit of survey work to do for the

[15:37] widening on cur. We also have to identify right away on current there

[15:42] being some county limit involvement. We need to make sure we do everything in

[15:47] appropriate right away for that. Um and then there's preliminary design final

[15:52] design bidding assistance put the project out to bid and then an hourly

[15:58] construction engineering phase as well to assist. Again Mark do a

[16:04] really good job with that. So our involvement tends to be minimal but um

[16:09] need to be involved a little bit. So there's some hour late in that phase. Um

[16:14] and then the schedule is um in here as well. It's just kind of as needed to get

[16:19] the project done um by the time frames required by INDOT and so that you can

[16:26] build the project next construction season which would be next summer.

[16:32] Are there any questions for me?

[16:39] » Yeah. >> Yes.

[16:41] » Yeah. And INDOT has um increased the percentage that they pay.

[16:48] So this year it was a 75% to your 25. Next year or this one we'll be

[16:53] submitting for this month. Um they'll be matching at 80%. You'll only be paying

[16:58] 20. So you're getting a little more

[17:03] Mark, is there any of this the city could do themselves?

[17:07] » We are doing all this. >> This is

[17:11] » we'll do quite a bit of that, but they'll be available on call if I need

[17:15] help. >> Okay.

[17:16] » So that we won't be build if if I'm doing the work.

[17:21] » So this this total that's in here is not to exceed total.

[17:26] » Correct. >> Worst case scenario.

[17:29] I move to approve the task order

[17:39] » 142 142,000 >> yeah not to exceed

[17:45] » and again be signed by the vice president

[17:50] » I'll second it excuse me

[17:55] we have a recommendation and then a second.

[18:00] » So for the task order, >> yes,

[18:02] » that Robin just kind of outlined for us and it was in your packet.

[18:06] » All in favor?

[18:10] » Do you have anything else to share with us?

[18:24] Virginia, did David leave anything except anything different than what's in

[18:29] that package? >> Did you have I don't know. You have

[18:32] questions about David's package. I guess we'll have to check with him when he

[18:37] gets back. I have questions.

[18:42] We'll move on to police. >> All right.

[18:46] » Jim, >> is there any questions over my report?

[18:51] » I didn't have any.

[18:58] » Um, you didn't get

[19:03] » Oh, gotcha. Got the 2018 police car, is that your next

[19:10] car up to be

[19:29] Uh, car nine. Yes, that'd be the next one up.

[19:34] » Which car? >> Which car? Nine?

[19:35] » Yeah, nine with 102,000. 56 miles. Car 10 is our spare card.

[19:42] » What about two? Why is 942? >> Two is uh one of the pickups.

[19:51] » And it it seems to be going well still. >> Um

[19:58] but the cars, they're the ones we've been having getting frequent issues with

[20:03] now that they're getting up there in age. We've replaced think three.

[20:11] is for next year. You're replacing this next year.

[20:15] » Yeah.

[20:24] And then possibly looking at car five. It's

[20:30] just right about 10 years old.

[20:42] Yeah, the pickups they seem to be doing a little bit better. I mean, they're not

[20:46] it's the detectives and me detective I

[20:53] seem to last pretty well. So in all you're proposing or you're

[21:01] going to propose in the future that the car number nine be replaced.

[21:06] » Yes. For vehicle license.

[21:12] » I have no other questions.

[21:18] » Um the only other thing I have is the 2026 terminal service data agreement

[21:24] with the county. for approval of it for $5,790.75.

[21:31] That's the yearly um agreement for us to access the equipment

[21:39] to access NCIC

[21:43] and fire computers.

[21:48] I move to approve the interlocal agreement between county

[21:58] $5,790.75.

[22:02] » We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second.

[22:06] » All in favor? That was for the interlocal agreement.

[22:12] Other than that, um, that's all I have as far

[22:16] as police. Um, ADA, no complaints.

[22:23] » Thank you.

[22:40] » Parks does

[22:43] here. They're always busy this time of year.

[22:50] You have any questions? I guess we'll go to public works.

[22:58] » Any questions on my report?

[23:05] » Probably seen a lot of activity around town.

[23:09] I was just reading all the stuff back here

[23:14] company.

[23:19] » Yeah, >> of course.

[23:24] Part of the job. >> Yeah.

[23:26] » In December of 2023 and January of 2024, we were working with Verier Midwest to

[23:34] get a backer trailer for the street department. It's for hydro excavating.

[23:41] Lot safer than running a back hole in many circumstances.

[23:46] Perfect for putting in a side. So we it's one of our most use

[23:52] existing trail. So in 2023 we

[24:01] agreed to a purchase from Verier and they still have not with that

[24:08] machine. So, their communication skills

[24:14] are are lacking. Um, >> where are they out of

[24:19] » Portland?

[24:23] Like me and uh so we have called many times. Paul Hoffman and I have reached

[24:30] out many times to get the status of this machine. We've been put off. Um they

[24:36] raised the price on in the middle of the agreeing.

[24:39] So, two weeks ago,

[24:45] three weeks ago, I told them they can keep their beautiful machine.

[24:50] So, Paul had looked had been looking extensively for a unit that would not

[24:56] require a CDL and he found one that is actually a self-contained truck very

[25:01] similar to the back truck that the sewer department uses. Um this is a

[25:07] self-contained unit just drive it and because of that it's lighter than a

[25:12] truck trailer combo it does not require a C drive. So that big cluster of tongue

[25:18] there. So my request is

[25:23] since I have vacated the PO liquidated the purchase order for the original

[25:29] piece of equipment we have that money is available. However, this machine because

[25:34] it is a truck is more expensive. The difference is $52,500.

[25:42] So, I would I would would request to use the encumbered money for the original

[25:46] purchase plus the $52,500 from new street equipment count for40.

[25:52] We have a balance of $140,000 there. So, for a total of $279,500

[26:03] We get this machine for >> And how soon can you get that machine?

[26:07] » Two weeks. >> It is a waiting two years.

[26:12] » It's a demo. They've had it in town. They will give us a new machine warranty

[26:17] on it. Our crew has actually ran actually used

[26:22] to see if it was something that we were now fell in love with.

[26:28] So my request is for $279,500

[26:34] from ground equipment. Just question. Did you have a signed agreement with

[26:40] them for $186,47?

[26:45] They violated the terms of that agreement by putting us off for almost

[26:49] two years. >> I mean, I'm just wondering if you could

[26:52] have enforced that. Well, you still can.

[26:56] » But I mean, I know you said that this is a better deal all in all, but it is.

[27:01] » If they signed an agreement that said they provide something for 186, I think

[27:05] they probably stuck with that agreement. It's not even built yet.

[27:09] » Yeah. Well, the the thing is if you enter a contract with somebody or

[27:14] whatever item might be and they've reached the contract, which is fair to

[27:17] say they've reached that, you have to go buy it from a another supplier at a

[27:22] higher price. Your damages are the difference between what you contracted

[27:26] with them originally and the higher price, which if I'm following your math,

[27:30] seems like it's about 52,000 bucks. >> 52,500.

[27:33] » Yeah. >> Right. Well,

[27:36] » it's an upgrade. >> I you've got to purchase what might be

[27:41] available out there. >> So, in theory, you could pursue them

[27:45] contractually for that. If you decided you wanted to, I don't know, hire an

[27:48] attorney to file a lawsuit, you'd have the opportunity to do that. Whether you

[27:52] want to do that for that kind of money, I I don't know.

[27:56] » That's a discussion we can have. >> Yeah.

[27:59] » But you have to get But that wouldn't keep us from approving.

[28:02] » Oh, I keep you from doing this at all. No,

[28:05] » we're actually coming out. >> Yeah. Well, then then I make a motion to

[28:12] um I guess allow you to

[28:21] for this demo hydro state and for delivery of this vehicle

[28:29] in the next two weeks.

[28:36] » Do we have a motion? Do we have a second?

[28:39] » I think I'll second that. >> Thank you.

[28:43] » We have a motion for the demo hydro quote

[28:48] and all in favor.

[28:53] » Thank you. And that's all I have unless there's questions.

[28:59] » Yes. Um, you have been presented with the 2026 water and wastewater budget.

[29:07] And if there's any questions on that, I would be glad to answer because we have

[29:13] shifted funds around and kept the increases to an absolute min.

[29:25] » I didn't really have any questions. >> And I looked it over and I thought the

[29:31] increases were very reasonable as well. probably totally in line with the cost

[29:37] of living we all we have to endure. Do we have to bring the waste for you?

[29:46] » You could

[29:58] move to approve the waste water and water

[30:04] 26 proposed budgets. I'll second.

[30:09] All >> in favor?

[30:18] Thank you.

[30:22] » You guys have any questions about our report?

[30:26] » Uh the only thing come before this council is we need approval to purchase

[30:30] the firefighter turnout gear up to $5,000 from Conway Shields. That will

[30:34] come from the 2025 equipment budget. It's for a new firefighter that we

[30:38] hired. As you know, I'll be retired at the end of the year. So, somebody else

[30:42] will be coming. So, we've already moved forward with that.

[30:45] » So, we need appropriate purchase here. >> How much was it?

[30:49] » Up to $5,000 from Conways. >> Okay. I'll make that motion.

[30:54] » I'll sub that motion. >> All right. We have up to $5,000 of

[30:59] firefighter. >> Not to exceed.

[31:01] » Not to exceed. >> Yes, we have a motion and a second. All

[31:06] in favor?

[31:09] I have

[31:26] » I saw the information for November meeting.

[31:29] » Yeah.

[31:32] » Oh, and then the ordinance appropriation that um to review and that

[31:40] it will be advertised between

[31:52] » Thank you.

[31:57] » That's what this is.

[32:04] » Okay. only thing Dave asked me to bring to you to make sure that you've already

[32:09] taken care of which is agreement.

[32:17] » Thank you. >> Do we have any public comments from the

[32:21] floor on nonaggenda items? >> Thank you. I forgot to mention we do

[32:26] have a battalion chief Robert Kinky will be retiring at at the end of this month

[32:31] October the 31st and we will have a retirement with Colton House for him at

[32:36] our station one on November the 7th which is a Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. He

[32:41] has been with our department for 35 years.

[32:45] » What was his name again? >> Robert Tinki. He's battalion chief.

[32:49] » 4 to 7 >> 4 to 7 p.m. at our station one. Yes. Can

[32:52] you remind us? >> I can't.

[32:56] Okay. Thank you. [Music]

[33:02] » Thank you. >> All business

[33:13] to have a motion to

[33:26] It's a spelling question, >> so it's not a big sad thing.

Town Council Meeting 10 21 2025

Transcript