The Town Council of Winona Lake, Indiana met in a
regular session on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 in the Town Hall at 7:00 a.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Joy Lohse, Sue Gooding, Jim Lancaster, Randy Swanson and Retha
Hicks
ABSENT: Mitch
Titus and Terry Howie
OTHERS PRESENT: Craig
Allebach, Paul Schmitt and Pete O’Connell
Opening
Swanson opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge
of Allegiance.
Approval of minutes – Lohse motioned to accept minutes, motion was seconded by Gooding. Minutes were approved as written.
March 27, 10:30 a.m. – 2nd Annual Run/Walk for WCN Hunger 5K at Park
March 27, 1:00 p.m. – Easter Egg Hunt at Park
March 27, 10:00 a.m.to Noon Easter Egg Hunt at the Gordon Rec. Center
April 17, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – Pancake Breakfast at the Fire Station
April 17, 9:00 a.m. to Noon – Town Clean Up
May 1, 2 – Bike Festival
May 22 – Trail Run Fundraiser for trail maintenance
Gooding was concerned about
different race groups marking lines or directions on the Greenway Trail and the
Town streets. Allebach responded we are
revising our event permit so that organizers are fully aware they cannot make
any permanent markings on the roads or Greenway.
Jerry Nelson asked if notification would
be sent to the island residents regarding the Bike Festival and Lancaster
responded that postcards would be sent.
Floor Topics: Jerry Nelson asked about restriping parking at the Post
Office area where the drop boxes use to be.
Allebach responded that this would be done when the weather warms up.
Jay and Lori Widman recently purchased 104 15th
St. and have completed clean up at the property. Widman is asking the Town to waive sewer fees
until the property is made livable. The
water has been shut off for quite some time but the sewer line is connected and
the Town has been billing the former resident.
He would like to cap the line at the house in order to stop the sewer
charges. Allebach asked O’Connell if
capping the line at the house was acceptable and O’Connell respond to the
affirmative. O’Connell reported that
this type of disconnect has been approved before for Merrywood. Lohse explained to Widman the history of
residents wanting the Council to waive sewer fees and why the Council needs to
be consistent. The Council approved
capping the line at the house.
Trash/Recycling Bid
Opening – Hicks
opened and reported the bids for base response as follows:
|
Company |
1st Year |
2nd Year |
3rd Year |
|
|
Staffords |
12.8 |
13.1 |
13.6 |
inclusive all classifications recycling (5 bag) |
|
Wabash Valley |
16.01 |
16.49 |
16.98 |
|
|
Veolia |
13.10 |
13.10 |
13.10 |
They will waive a fuel increase clause |
Wabash
Valley quote responded to several different scenarios but Retha just read the
base response. Retha will complete a
complete chart for the Council. The Council will take the bids under advisement
and make a decision at the April 13 meeting.
Energy Efficiency Grant - Allebach was approached
by a consulting group to apply for ACHV and lighting. The Town would be required to have an audit
of the areas and if the grant was approved we would be reimbursed for the audit
expense. IWM Consulting Group has
offered to do the audit for free and if the Town receives the grant then they
would be paid. This energy audit would
provide more data for the grant request.
IWM would look at the Town Hall, Senior Center, Street Department and
the Fire Department. Gooding moved to
approve the offer for the audit for the energy efficiency grant, Lohse seconded
the motion was approved.
2010 Strategic Plan - Lancaster asked if any of the plan had been posted online.
Allebach responded that it had not.
Lancaster asked that this be accomplished and felt that the information
about money for projects be the priority in posting. Lancaster felt everyone who is in Town
leadership, not just the Council, will have an area of ownership. He presented a “matrix” for leadership to use
in conjunction with their project and to note what was needed to move their
project forward. Lancaster also wanted
to post on the website a project update, so residents know where the project
stands on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Another tool Lancaster wanted the Council to look at would be to list
available resources, which might be financial resources or human
resources. This business matrix would
for example prioritize projects that were to be paid for out of a specific fund. Lancaster will send what he thinks is the
most important out of these matrixes to the leadership for further feed back
and then suggest we use some of those tools.
This will not only help us prioritize but also have a level of
accountability in terms of what we are trying to do.
Hicks asked where the town is in
regards to negotiation with Warsaw on the wastewater rate. Swanson reported that they are set to meet
when Dave Wolkins is back in town – sometime in early April. Ernie Wiggins just received information from
their consultants. Hicks shared that our
consultant reported that there is legislation coming into effect July 1 that
will make it more difficult to build a treatment plant. She asked the Council to set a deadline to
make a decision by May 1. Swanson felt
that they could be ready for the first meeting in May. Hicks asked that it be done sooner if
possible.
Lancaster – Asked the leaders to take
their projects and start moving forward.
One of the goals we are trying to accomplish this year is to obtain
feedback from business partners so we can come back and share with the Council. Allebach commented about the article in the
paper regarding restructuring of KDI.
They want to go to a full time executive director and really step this
program up. KDI is also working with
Orthoworks to really ramp up economic development in the County. KDI is taking a group to Columbus to see what
they are doing in their county.
Reports from Supervisors:
O’Connell – asked Allebach to post on the website for residents to bag their leaves.
Schmitt - asked the Council to anticipate approving the off-duty policy next meeting. Jim Walmer is putting the finishing touches on it. Schmitt reminded the Council that Winona Lake is a fitting station for child car seats. The department receives grant money to provide seats for those who qualify financially. They give out about 80 seats a year. State Farm and Ot Schroeder is sponsoring a car seat clinic that the department is involved in. Kohl’s will sponsor another one in the fall.
Gooding asked about the neighborhood preservation ordinance and Allebach responded that Plan Commission has not been able to meet, but he is working on a meeting time. Gooding asked about the zoning ordinance. Allebach integrated all the amendments into the zoning ordinance from 1966 and gave it to the Plan Commission. The Commission made a few changes and the ordinance was given to Walmer last August. Allebach will ask Walmer where he is on his review and then it will come to the Council for approval. Gooding also asked about the property located at 301 5th Street. Allebach responded that residents have been complaining about the property not being cared for. Walmer had contact with Mike Arnolt and there is a possibility of the property being donated to the Town. Allebach is not sure if the home is in poor shape which would require tearing it down or if the Town could turn around and sell it. Allebach will check with Walmer on this. Hicks suggested that a site visit be done and include Walmer and Dick Leaf.
Hicks – reported that there will not be a July 4th poster this year because the interest is waning. The committee thought they would change the format and request ideas for a poster. Allebach wondered if we would want to ask a Grace student to take it on as a project to organize and request the projects. It was felt that it is too late for this year.
Lancaster – asked to be emailed the Easter Egg Hunt flyer.
Swanson - asked to be sent a summary of the garbage/recycling bids and note the variations. Hicks will also look at the clause with the gasoline escalation.
Lohse – is working on the newsletter and she is trying to get it completed and out before April 17th.
Lancaster – has set up a meeting with Dr. Manahan to discuss the Community Partnership portion of the Economic Development to get feed back from him. Lancaster also asked that people send out information early for the next Council meeting because of spring break and vacation.
Brent Wilcoxson – asked if the Town had any interest in committing money to tearing down 104 15th Street. Allebach responded that it was not an issue since Jay Widman has purchased the property. Lohse asked what happens when a property get so bad that it needs to be demolished. Hicks responded there use to be a clause in the Indiana Code – imminent domain, but that has been restricted and so it makes it harder for Towns to take action.
Lohse moved to adjourn and Gooding seconded and the motion passed.
Meeting was adjourned
_________________________ ___________________________
TERRY
HOWIE RETHA
S. HICKS
PRESIDENT CLERK-TREASURER