SYRACUSE — State Rep. Curt Nisly and Matt Meersman, director of the St. Joseph River Basin Commission, both made brief presentations during the Syracuse Town Council’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, April 17.
Nisly provided a brief update on what was going on at the state legislature, telling the council a brief special session will be scheduled for approximately mid-May to handle the four or five bills that were not addressed before the short session that ended a month ago.

During the short session, the legislature restored school funding after 6,000 more students enrolled than was originally budgeted. Nisely said he has not received a good answer as to how or where those 6,000 students came from,

Child labor laws were updated so youth under the age of 15 can work until 10 p.m. if there is no school the next day. Previously, children who were employed and under age 15 could not work past 7 p.m. from Labor Day through June 1.

A bill legalizing cannabis oil for medical uses has been passed and Nisly said he’s seeing it for sale in stores. This year there will be a summer study to examine legalizing medical marijuana.

Nisly is working on a bill to make boat inspections for passenger boats for hire, such as the Lily Pad, easier. Currently the Department of Natural Resources is studying what other states and the Coast Guard are doing.

Another study session will be a two year process examining the alcohol code. Currently there are 70 types of licenses to sell alcohol, so that will be examined.

Councilman Tom Hoover asked if Nisly could provide any assistance with the dam at Turkey Creek, which is in need of repairs. Nisly said he would be willing to work with the town and DNR on the dam and noted North Webster also had a dam with issues.

Meersman came before the council to introduce himself and explain Syracuse is a statutory member of the commission and can send a proxy member to the commission’s quarterly meetings held in Goshen. The St. Joseph River Basin Commission is interested in water quality and quantity and is looking for funding after the recent floods. Councilman Larry Siegel asked if the commission could help with the dam. Meersman said the commission could try to be a resource as long as the dam is for flood mitigation, which it is. The council will be getting in touch with Meersman in the future.

The council approved an ordinance allowing a sewer rate increase on first reading. A public hearing on the matter will be held during the May council meeting.

The council tabled a bill regarding those sent to collections for not paying their water bills. Clerk-Treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker explained the collection agency charges the town a percentage on what it collects. She wants to recoup those fees through an ordinance.

Siegel asked if landlords would be held responsible if a tenant, with the water bill in their name, left town without paying for it. Kehr-Wicker said yes, landlords would be held responsible. Siegel then objected, stating he wanted the ordinance to provide some protections for landlords. After some testy discussion, the matter was tabled.

The council also approved a right turn only ordinance at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Huntington Street.