SYRACUSE - Possible Electrical increases coming for Syracuse Residents.

Todd Blome of BMG CPA's discussed raising electric rates for Syracuse residents to offset rising costs of utility expenses. Blome also discussed with Mayor Deb Dettmer and city council members to be diligent about cash disbursements. In the past 2-3 years there have been a lot of big-ticket items being paid out. He said the city needs to look into growing its cash reserves.

 The city of Syracuse has entered into an agreement with Watts Electric company to replace the remaining old wiring from the south side of Syracuse to the Good Samaritan Center at a cost of $343,244.

JEO is under contract with the city of Syracuse, to replace 1,100 linear feet of 14"  HDPE old transmission main at the two Muddy Creek crossings. The engineering fees for this project will be $82,500. The total cost of the project will be $687,500.

The totals for the Phase I and Phase II water well projects came in at $10,540,339.  With the Muddy Creek project, the grand total is $11,227,839.

Sonni Graves of the parks department. gave an update on the basketball/pickleball courts. They are coming along nicely and completion should be soon.

The 2nd annual Aqua center fundraiser for Project Playground is scheduled for Friday June 28th  at 6 p.m. This is an 21-and-over event.

Project Playground is at $194,000. They need $250,000 for a matching grant to get to their goal of $550,000 for removal and purchasing new playground equipment in Williams Park. The committee has put in an application with Otoe County Keno for $30,000.

The committee is also looking for one more sponsor for the golf tournament on July 13 to make it 100 percent profitable. The proceeds from a Gatorade and bake sale located at 348 Mohawk St. on June 21 will also go to Project Playground.

Wendy Werner of the Syracuse Germanfest committee reported that Germanfest is scheduled for October 18,19, and 20th with the majority of the events being moved back to 5th Street. The volleyball tournament will happen on Friday night the 18th and the car show on the 20th. 

The new owner of 315 Fifth St., (prior Treasure Trove building) Tammy Ingwerson submitted a Downtown Revitalization  application for $18,000 to place overheard sprinklers in the building to bring it up to code.

Melissa Juilfs of the Syracuse library reported that Summer Bingo began in May and will continue to Aug. 3. Jenna Voorhees  and Sarah Ganzel have been hired as summer help at the library. Summer bingo is an incentive for kids to read over the summer.

They pick up a bingo card from the library, each square has a suggestion of what type of book to read to broaden their horizons. each square is worth $.50 to be paid out during a celebration on Aug. 8 with a Stomp, Tromp and Roar event, sponsored by the Syracuse Library foundation. There are about 50 to 75 kids signed up.