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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Serving The Community See Page 6 One Nation Under God themail-journal.com
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North Webster Town Council kicks off 2023
Cazier, Musser file for clerk-treasurer, town council
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%\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU Syracuse 67$57,1* $ 1(: 7(50 ³ -D\ 5LJGRQ ULJKW WRZQ DWWRUQH\ IRU WKH 7RZQ RI 6\UDFXVH VZHDUV LQ /DUU\ Clerk-Trea6LHJHO OHIW DQG 3DXO 6WRHOWLQJ DW WKH VWDUW RI WKH 6\UDFXVH 7RZQ &RXQFLO·V PHHWLQJ 7XHVGD\ QLJKW -DQ 3KRWR surer VirE\ /DXUHQ =HXJQHU ginia Cazier recently filed to serve a first term as Syracuse Clerk-Treaed the Syracuse Community and recently three developers surer. %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 She Center bond has been paid off have come to the town request- is currently 9,5*,1,$ &$=,(5 6WDII :ULWHU and funds allocated for those ing water and sewer for their serving out After swearing in councilmen payments could now be directed projects. the remainder of former ClerkMusser said he didn’t believe Treasurer Paul Kehr-Wicker’s Larry Siegel and Paul Stoelting, to the BANs. Other sources of revenue, in- “a blanket ‘no’ is a good idea.” the Syracuse Town Council set term, having been chosen for the Siegel countered noting a mu- position by caucus. about tackling a packed agenda cluding a rate adjustment, will during its regular meeting Tues- be explored. The plan is to pay nicipal utility needs to break Cazier has been working for day night, Jan. 17. Stoelting was off both BANs by Dec. 27, 2027. even and there is currently no the Town of Syracuse for 25 years. later selected to be the council’s The council approved the reso- incentive for developers to an- “I love this town,” she said in a lution for the BANs with the nex into town if they can get phone interview. Prior to being vice president this year. The council tackled a number provision the funds only be used water and sewer services just by elected clerk-treasurer, Cazier of utility matters starting with for the Oakwood and water loop asking. served as the administrative asAfter further discussion, sistant for the public works direca resolution regarding bond an- projects. After some discussion a pro- Musser pointed out annexation tor and as administrative assisticipation notes. The BANs will be used to pay for the Oakwood posed ordinance that would must be of property contiguous tant for the public works director Park Sewer project and the avoid the provision of services or to the town limits. Stoelting not- and town manager. Lakeside Water Main Loop proj- extension of services to proper- ed in the past the town has enShe said she enjoys dealing ect. The estimated total cost of ties outside of town until those tered into “in lieu of annexation” with the public and her co-workproperties have been annexed agreements with developers. ers. “There’s so much to learn,” both projects is $2.2 million. Siegel asked which of the to the Town of Syracuse died for Siegel noted those agreements she said. She explained it took her are only good for four years. BANs would be paid off and lack of a second. about two years to become comCouncil President Bill Musser The council heard a proposal fortable with the job and there is where the funds for the payments would come from. Town expressed surprise as the ordi- from Kim Blaha, executive diManager David Wilkinson not- nance had never been discussed Continued on page 2
Syracuse Town Council tackles utility issues, looks to partner with Syracuse Public Library
always something new to learn in the position. Councilman Bill Musser has filed for reelection to the Syracuse %,// 0866(5 Town Council. He represents District 5. Musser said he would like to serve another term, “because I enjoy it. I really enjoy being a part of the Town of Syracuse.” He is seeking his 10th term on the town council. During his tenure on the council he has seen the town continue to grow. He served on the board when the community building was built, during the development of the industrial park and throughout the development of the first Little League park and the Turkey Creek Fire Territory. “The town has seen a lot of growth over the years,” he said. He noted the role of town council president rotates among the members, which gives everyone responsibility. “We learn more and do a much better job,” he said.
Martindale announces resignation from town council %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU Syracuse Town Councilman Larry Martindale announced his resignation at the end of the council’s regular meeting Tuesday night, Jan. 17. He is stepping down due to health reasons. Martindale, representing District 4, began serving on the Syracuse Town Council in June 2016 when Brian Woody stepped down to spend more time with his family. Martindale then ran for reelection in 2019. “I enjoyed my time here,” he said. Council President Bill Musser Continued on page 2
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Inside
Members of the North Webster Town Council gathered for the first time in the new year Tuesday evening. The first order of business was to reelect Dan Thystrup as council president, who was unanimously chosen by his colleagues. The council then approved the following appointments: Jack Birch, town attorney; Greg Church, town marshal; Dave May, detective sergeant; James Curtis, deputy marshal; and Noah Kiessling, deputy marshal. It also approved the town’s memberships in the Indiana League of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers, Accelerate Indiana Municipalities, Indiana Association Chiefs of Police, North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce and the Kosciusko County Terminal Services Agreement. The mileage reimbursement rate for town employees was set at 50 cents per mile. In the utilities report, Mike Noe informed the council that brush collection has been completed. He also informed the council of his desire to upgrade the downtown light poles with LED fixtures, which would be both brighter and more energy efficient. Additionally, he would like to add power outlets to poles, which would allow lighted Christmas decorations to be affixed during the holidays. Noe also informed the council that Continued on page 2
Kosciusko County has received $266,561.25 as its first payout in an opioid settlement. County Attorney Ed Ormsby announced the news at the Kosciusko County Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The county is getting the money as part of an agreement reached with Johnson & Johnson, Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen for their contribution to the national opioid epidemic. Indiana was one of multiple states to benefit from the $26 billion settlement, with half of its approximately $507 million received going to counties, cities and towns that agreed to participate. As part of the requirements of the payout, monies are to be split into restricted and unrestricted funds, with the former to be used for dealing with and combatting drug abuse, including Narcan distribution and training, medicationassisted treatment for addiction and treatment for infants suffering from drug withdrawal due to their mothers using drugs while pregnant, among other things. The county’s first payout has $187,050.69 in restricted funds and $79,510.56 in unrestricted. Commissioners didn’t decide yet at the meeting how those funds will be spent, but Commissioner Cary Groninger said after the meeting a committee may be set up for
that purpose. “There has been some talk of even a regional treatment facility and whether or not it would go together to help multiple communities at the same time,” said Groninger, adding that would involve a pooling of received funds from the county and other local governments that wished to participate. In other business, commissioners: • Approved replacing Alan Alderfer on the public defender board with Paul Stoelting. • Reappointed Ormsby and Bob Weaver to the Tippecanoe and Chapman Lakes Regional Sewer District board. • Approved a request brought by Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris McKeand to apply for a $31,920 Indiana Department of Homeland Security grant for new body cameras for KCSO employees. • Approved requests for using some of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act money from the federal government. Those, previously approved by both the county’s ARPA committee and Kosciusko County Council, consisted of: $32,991.54, $14,140.94, $18,457.44 and $154,272.94 for radio upgrades for the Claypool, Syracuse and Milford police departments and KCSO respectively; $37,066.68 for items including new washers and dryers and windows for The Beaman Home; and $18,859.25 to help pay for a new transit van for Combined Continued on page 2
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