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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Pinewood Derby Winners One Nation Under God
Page 5 themail-journal.com
Clerk-Treasurer candidates detail how they envision the job should they win primary
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Water main break closes portion of Pickwick Drive %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU A water main break closed the 100 East block of Pickwick Drive, Syracuse Tuesday morning, March 21. The break occurred at approximately 9 a.m. flooding the immediate area. Town Manager David Wilkinson, in an email, stated an outside utility struck the large water main, causing the break. Both the water main and
other utility lines were properly marked at the time of the incident. Mark Aurich, public works superintendent, said 1,000 gallon a minute pumps and the storm sewer were used to drain the water, most of it gone by 11 a.m. Members of the Syracuse Street, Water and Waste Water Departments were on scene working to fix the break and restore water to area residents. Aurich said he was considering
“the timing or necessity of issuing a boil water advisory” at the time he was interviewed. At 1:30 p.m. a boil order was issued for Pickwick Drive from SR 13 to Poplar Drive and on Forrest Drive. The repair to the water main was completed by late afternoon Tuesday. Afterwards the line was heavily flushed and water samples sent to the lab for a 24-hour analysis. “After service is restored residents may use water, but any-
thing for human consumption should be boiled as a precaution,” Aurich stated. Residents will be notified when the boil advisory is lifted. Making the repairs more complicated was how saturated the ground is. Water from the surrounding soil was flowing into the trench the men were working in. “The town’s people should have no worries. The town has a good crew (working on it), Aurich said.
Syracuse Town Council hears request for water, sewer extension %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU
6((.,1* ,1)250$7,21 ³ 6WHYH 6KRZDOWHU RZQHU RI 6KRZDOWHU 59 LQ 1DSSDQHH DQG 'HEUD +XJKHV VHQLRU SURMHFW PDQDJHU IRU 6DP &RPSDQLHV LQ (ONKDUW FDPH EHIRUH WKH 6\UDFXVH 7RZQ &RXQFLO 7XHVGD\ 0DUFK VHHNLQJ LQIRUPDWLRQ UHJDUGLQJ WKH H[WHQVLRQ RI ZDWHU DQG VHZHU WR D OX[XU\ 59 UHVRUW 6KRZDOWHU LV GHYHORS LQJ QHDU &5 6KRZQ DUH IURP OHIW &RXQFLO 3UHVLGHQW &LQG\ .DLVHU &RXQFLOPDQ 3DXO 6WRHOWLQJ DQG 7RZQ $WWRUQH\ -D\ 5LJGRQ 3KRWR E\ /DXUHQ =HXJQHU property, along with an interlocal agreement between Elkhart and Kosciusko counties. Rigdon pointed out the procedure may be more complicated as a new bill is working its way through the state legislature to make annexation harder. Councilman Paul Stoelting asked what type of time frame Showalter is looking for. He said he would like everything ap-
proved by the end of 2023 so he could start early 2024. The plan is to have approximately 150 flat sites for luxury RVs to park along with 8-10 small cabins for families renting spots who do not have RVs. The assessed value of the project is $4 to $5 million. Full House There was a full house of supporters for the new library attending the council meeting.
Rigdon reported he has a title company looking for the dead, noting the town has owned the property for longer than there are computerized records. The deed and a legal description of the property are required before the land can be donated to the library. Kim Blaha, executive director of the library, presented the counContinued on page 2
Bid awarded on dike project %\ '(% 3$77(5621 (GLWRU ,Q &KLHI Turkey Creek Dam and Dike Conservancy District not only awarded the bid on the Lake Wawasee Dike Project, Tuesday morning, March 21, it also talked about dual water level procedures. Jette Excavating, Fort Recovery, Ohio, was awarded the project bid at a cost of $636,890. Chris Jetter, Lawson-Fisher Associates, made the recommendation and provided documentation of notice of award.
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Jetter stated he will move forward with necessary paperwork and get the notice to proceed to the contractor by April 14. Construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter with a targeted completion date of June 20. There was some discussion on why the bid was close to $300,000 less than the engineer’s estimate. Jetter stated “from my end it (the estimate) was conservative because I was concerned we did not want to be the low bidder.” He indicated both bids were not far off from the
Inside
Steve Showalter, owner of Showalter RV in Nappanee, and Debra Hughes, senior project manager for Sam Companies in Elkhart, came before the Syracuse Town Council seeking information regarding extending water and sewer for the development of a higher end RV park. The request was made during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday night, March 21. Showalter and Hughes showed a 3-minute video highlighting the resort, which will be located on the Elkhart County side of the Elkhart/Kosciusko County line near CR 29. Showalter explained the park will offer short-term leases lasting from one day to possibly a month. Councilman Larry Siegel told the duo the council usually asks for a property to be annexed if the town is extending public utilities. He and Town Attorney Jay Rigdon explained the procedure would require annexation of the
5% allowed for acceptance. Bill Pipp, who chaired the meeting via Zoom, noted there were major differences between Jette and Milestone Contractors North Inc., South Bend. Most of the differences came in the clearing estimates. It was noted by Pipp and David Johnston, board member, the difference was due to the fact of Milestone being a larger corporation with a higher overhead. Jette Excavating is a family owned company. “They have experience working Continued on page 2
Baby Relinquished At Fire Station
See Page 7
See Public Notices On Pages 7-9
For the primary race for the Syracuse Clerk-Treasurer’s Office, The Mail-Journal is asking incumbent Virginia Cazier and challenger Larry Siegel a question a week through the April 26 edition to give readers an idea of how each envisions the office. The second question candidates were asked was, “What is your vision for the clerk-treasurer’s office for the next four years?” Larry Siegel My vision for the clerkt r e a s u r e r ’s office for the next four years is to put it back together bringing it into compliance with banking laws, /$55< 6,(*(/ IRS regulations, state laws and town ordinances. This primary is the voter’s chance to correct the wrongs currently occurring in the clerktreasurer’s office and elect someone who can do the job, someone who will comply with their oath of office. I would like to see an environment where employees are not overworked and underpaid. It is my vision to see that employees are paid a living wage, not struggling financially forced to move on to better paying jobs. Syracuse needs a clerk-treasurer who does not have to hire a consulting company “Local Government Services” to balance the town’s checkbook. Syracuse needs a clerk-treasurer who will not put the town of Syracuse’s bills on the docket for the redevelopment commission to pay. We need a clerk that can understand the difference so the checkbook can balance. It is my vision to be a clerktreasurer that understands the Indiana Code that describes the duties and limitations of the office. Syracuse needs a clerktreasurer who has the ability and willingness to follow their job duties. “Receive and care for all town money and pay the money out only on order of the town legislative body,” is the first duty of the clerk-treasurer defined by Indiana law.
It is my vision to return to the clerk-treasurer’s office the ability and willingness to understand and follow IRS “Compara9,5*,1,$ &$=,(5 bility Rules” regarding contributions to employee Health Savings Accounts. Having served on the town council more than 20 years I have co-authored, reviewed, and voted on all of the town ordinances and resolutions during my tenure. I understand their intention and meaning. It is my vision to return this understanding to the clerk’s office. It is my vision for the clerktreasurer to have a value system that does not deliberately misinterpret the laws governing its office to serve personal narratives. It is my vision to return the clerk-treasurer to compliance with banking laws, IRS regulations, state laws, and town ordinances. It is my vision for the clerktreasurer to be more integrated, supporting the town council and all other departments and employees working hard to make Syracuse a place where people want to live, work, and play. Virginia Cazier The clerk’s office is the primary access point for the residents of the Town of Syracuse. My vision for our office is to provide excellent customer service and support to our town residents. The clerk’s office, now and will always adhere to local, state and federal requirements and remain fully transparent and fiscally responsible with the town’s funds. As public servants, strive to provide accurate and efficient service and support, we are and will continue to expand our knowledge by attending the Indiana League of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers and International Institute of Municipal Clerks annual conferences. The advancement of our education will allow us to enhance our skills and best business practices in order to maintain optimal customer service. As part of our efforts to provide Continued on page 2
Trustee’s office makes official move March 27 The Tippecanoe Township Trustee’s Office will officially move to the North Webster Community Center Monday, March 27. The new workspace is located in suites 123 and 124 of The Culver Family Wellness Center. The center is located on the north end of the building.
Additionally, the township office’s phone number of (574) 8341171 will be discontinued and replaced with (574) 834-1600 ext. 228. The emergency number is (574) 526-1043. Public hours will remain 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
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