COUNCIL
PRESENT: Jeff
Carroll, Jerry Clevenger,
Dave Delp, Joy Lohse, Rolly Ortega, Retha Hicks
ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT: Pete O’Connell, Paul Schmitt, Mitch Titus
Town Council
President Rolly Ortega called the
meeting to order. He opened in prayer
and led the pledge of allegiance.
Fire Department
Service Award Presentation:
Rolly
Ortega presented service award plaques to Mike Cox and Roger
Gelbaugh. Mike has served the fire
department for 40 years and Roger has served for 35 years. Both firemen have moved to Senior Firefighter
status. They will still be around but
are semi-retired. The Council
thanked both firemen for their many years of dedicated service to the Town.
Election of Officers
for 2007:
Rolly
Ortega explained that the current council has traditionally
shared the duties of the president by each member taking a turn. Dave Delp served as the vice-president in
2006. Rolly
Ortega nominated Dave Delp as President for 2007. Jerry Clevenger
seconded the nomination. Dave Delp was
elected as the new President. Jeff Carroll nominated Joy
Lohse as Vice-President for the year. Dave Delp seconded the nomination. Joy Lohse
was elected to be the Vice-President.
Dave Delp began presiding over the meeting and thanked Rolly Ortega for his work as president for the past
year.
Minutes:
Joy Lohse made a motion to approve the minutes
of the December 27, 2006
Council Meeting. Jeff Carroll
seconded the motion. The motion passed
“Winona Happenings”
January 16, 2:00 p.m. – 107.3 “Talk of the Town” with Rolly Ortega
February 10, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Village at Winona Art for the
Heart-
Winter Art Fair at Rodeheaver
Auditorium, admission of $2 to benefit Lifeline Pregnancy
Center
Floor Topics: There were no floor topics.
Resolution 2007-1-1 Appointing Reserves:
Town Marshal Paul Schmitt presented two new reserve
police officers for appointment. David
Ruiz and John Leeper are the top two candidates after applications were taken,
background checks completed, and agility and written tests. Jeff Carroll
made a motion to appoint the two men as reserve police officers. Joy Lohse seconded the motion. The motion passed. Both were then sworn in by Retha Hicks.
Ordinance 2006-11-2 Vacating Public Ways:
This ordinance has been discussed and tabled
at several previous meetings. Larry Long
is doing some work on the vacation along Park Avenue
so that portion was tabled until the work is completed. Steve Stauffer was present to discuss the
vacation on Elder Lane. He and Grace Village
have come to an agreement on that issue.
They have agreed that if the Town vacates the area except for a ten foot
right-of-way that could be used for a water line or a walking path, everyone
will be satisfied. Rolly Ortega made a motion to amend Ordinance
2006-11-2. Jerry
Clevenger seconded the motion. The motion passed. Rolly Ortega
made a motion to strike the vacation on Park Avenue
from the ordinance. Joy Lohse seconded the motion. The motion passed. Rolly Ortega
made a motion to pass the amended ordinance.
Joy Lohse seconded the
motion. The motion passed. Craig will make certain that the vacation is
recorded at the courthouse.
Board Appointments for 2007:
Craig stated the terms of some board
positions have expired. All members of
the Redevelopment Commission have agreed to serve for another one year
term. Those members are: Judy Mugg, Judy
Reneker Burd, Dennis Daniels, Al Disbro, and Bob
Piecuch. Lisa LeMasters agreed to serve
another four year term on the Housing Authority Board. Dave Turner
will serve four years on the Economic Development Commission and Lynette Dick and Dave
Turner agreed to serve four years on the Plan Commission.
Craig Allebach will serve for
a year on the Plan Commission. Jerry Clevenger
made a motion to appoint these people to the respective boards. Jeff Carroll
seconded the motion. The motion
passed.
Report from Town Engineer:
Larry Long stated that he has the information
he needs to do work on the proposed vacation along Park
Avenue and it should be ready for discussion at the next
meeting. He also presented a contract
for his services in 2007 to the board.
He is requesting a 3% increase.
The council will take the contract under advisement.
Jerry
Clevenger asked about the street cut that was made by NIPSCO
on Wooster Road
within the past month, shortly after the road was paved. It has not been repaired properly and at
least one car has had damage done because of it. Pete explained that the current repair is
temporary. A permanent repair will be
made when the weather warms up and material can be purchased for it. Pete stated that NIPSCO did not realize that
their line would be under the road after the improvements were made. Dave Delp asked Craig to contact NIPSCO to
determine what can be done to the road to make it better before spring.
Report from Town Attorney:
Jim Walmer has been working with Craig on the
250 East documents. Those should be
wrapped up shortly. He presented a
contract for his services in 2007 to Retha to be taken under advisement.
Reports from Supervisors:
250
East: Craig has been working on paperwork for 250 East to satisfy INDOT. Some of the permits have expired and need to
be renewed. Craig went through the
process to renew one of the permits and then found put that the rules had
changed, so he had to do the paperwork over.
Greenway: The work on the Greenway project has
slowed down until the weather warms up.
Craig has seen quite a bit of activity on the trail already. Paul Schmitt was asked if the Greenway Trail
would be patrolled by the police. He
said that it would. There was also a suggestion
to install emergency boxes along the trail.
The boxes are quite expensive.
Fire Department: Mitch Titus presented a contract for 2007
between the Town and the Volunteer Fire Department. It is the same as the 2006 contract. Rolly Ortega
made a motion to approve the contract.
Joy Lohse seconded the motion.
The motion passed.
Hometown Matters: There will be a meeting in Indianapolis on January 17th
at 5:00 p.m. at the Westin
Hotel to discuss Hometown Matters.
Pictures: Retha stated that all of the historical
pictures in the council chambers are on loan from Al Disbro. Over the past few days Al has brought in
several more.
Greenway Art: Joy Lohse updated the council on the work
of the Greenway Art Commission. This
commission is working on sculptures and benches along the Winona Lake
portion of the Greenway Trail. There
were ten sites chosen for the benches and artwork. To date, all of the benches have been spoken
for and six of the sculptures have been spoken for. The community has been very enthusiastic
about this project.
Festival of Trees/ Community
Dinner: The Community dinner will be
held at Rodeheaver Auditorium again this year in conjunction with the Festival
of Trees. $2 of each community dinner ticket
sold in 2006 was donated to the Health Care Foundation.
Christmas Trees: Pete O’Connell stated that the street
department is picking up Christmas trees that are put out at the curb.
Website: The town’s website has a link on it for
the Greenway Trail and will soon have one for the artwork on the trail.
The meeting was adjourned.
____________________ _________________
DAVID DELP RETHA S. HICKS