Shown chatting before the Syracuse Redevelopment Commission meeting Tuesday night, Feb. 17 are clockwise from left David Wilkinson, Syracuse town manager, Don Bokhart, Wawasee School Board; Jeff Goralczyk and Virginia Cazier, Syracuse clerk-treasurer. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.
By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews
SYRACUSE — Discussion turned to the street lights in the Syracuse Technology Park during the Syracuse Redevelopment Commission’s regular meeting Tuesday night, Feb. 17.
Member Jeff Goralczyk asked if Mark Aurich, public works director, had been successful in finding a new solar light bulb for the street lights in the park.
David Wilkinson, town manager, said so far Aurich has not been successful after testing several solar light bulbs.
Aurich had reached out to a new vendor who told him Indiana was terrible for solar and, because of that, refused to give him a quote.
Wilkinson told commission members replacing the lights in the park isn’t the commission’s responsibility since business owners in the park signed off on having solar lights. The tech park is no longer owned by the town but by the businesses located in it.
Commission member Mark Madinger asked if there had been complaints about the solar lights. He was told yes. Goralczyk said this was at least the second winter the tech park has had solar lights. The issue is they don’t remain bright throughout the night. Business owners in the park complained last summer to the redevelopment commission that the lights dim during the night and there have been break-ins.
Madinger asked if those in the tech park would be willing to split the cost of hardwiring the street lights. Wilkinson said that option had not been presented to those in the park.
The cost to hardwire the streetlights is around $50,000.
The only other business was approving claims. The Redevelopment Commission approved a payment of $23,654.82 from the Polywood Tax Increment Finance District to Lake City Bank as payment on the Polywood bond.
