What started out as a relatively brief Syracuse Town Council meeting hit a snag Tuesday night during the council’s regular monthly meeting, when town manager Henry DeJulia requested $20,000 from the Elkhart TIF (tax increment finance district) on behalf of the Syracuse Redevelopment Commission to market the industrial and technology park.

Councilmen Bill Musser and Kathy Beer both had questions about how the park would be marketed. Musser asked why the local chamber of commerce hasn’t been involved. He said he spoke to Tammy Cotton, executive director of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, who indicated she would love to help market the park on the chamber’s website. Councilman Larry Siegel, who serves on the redevelopment commission, said he has no problem with that.

Musser also asked if the park was being marketed, too, locally, although he noted the redevelopment commission took advantage of free listings on several real estate websites. He also asked how long the contract for the billboard on US 30 is for. DeJulia told him a year.

Beer asked which realtor would represent the town in the sale of the property. DeJulia explained the redevelopment commission is using a co-op method to incentivize realtors to bring projects to the town. Beer asked who does the realtor contact if he/she has such a project. DeJulia said they would contact him and then the matter would be taken under advisement by the redevelopment commission.

Siegel and DeJulia noted the redevelopment commission has to go back to pricing the property because some problems came up with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Musser said he wanted to know what the plan is for selling the lots in the park. Siegel explained the plan has to be changed. Beer asked about convenants and restrictions. DeJulia noted Elkhart County has already set a list of convenants and restrictions and offered to provide her with a copy.

Siegel pointed out one condition for purchasers is construction on the lot would have to be completed within 18 months of the property’s sale. The redevelopment commission does not want an investor to purchase property in the park and then sit on it. They are looking for buyers who will bring jobs and investment to the area. Beer asked if that is legal. Vern Landis, town attorney, said it could be a condition of the purchase agreement.

Neither Musser or Beer were keen on marketing the park on a billboard. Beer stated several times she and her husband have never purchased commercial property from a billboard. At one point discussion turned heated with Councilman Paul Stoelting, who also sits on the redevelopment commission, and Siegel offering to step down and Musser and Beer could take their place.

The council voted 4 to 1 to approve the redevelopment commission to spend $20,000 to market the park, including purchasing a one-year billboard contract. Beer voted against.

Brett Konarski of Jones Petrie Rafinski, the town’s engineering firm, reported the additional road striping has been completed at the park, final inspections by Elkhart County and Indiana Department of Transportation still has to be done. Konarski expected that to be done by the June council meeting. He is also requesting a pre-construction meeting with Michiana Area Council of Governments and Kline Excavating regarding the Long Drive culvert. Siegel asked the situation be addressed as quickly as possible as another car wreck occurred recently at the site.

The council approved a bid for $110,846 from Nibloc Industries Inc. for the Brooklyn Street drainage ditch. The ditch will be cleaned, graded and sod will be installed. The project is expected to be paid for with a $100,000 grant with the remainder coming from the cumulative storm water fund.