The Town Council of Winona Lake, Indiana met in a
regular session on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 in the Town Hall at 7:00a.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Sue Gooding, Randy Swanson, Jim Lancaster, Retha Hicks
ABSENT: Joy
Lohse, Terry Howie
OTHERS PRESENT: Craig
Allebach, Pete O’Connell, Paul Schmitt
Opening
Lancaster opened the meeting with prayer and the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of minutes – Gooding motioned to accept minutes, motion was seconded by Swanson.
Minutes were approved as written.
March 28, 10:00 a.m. – Run/Walk for Hunger 5K at the
Winona Lake Park
March 28 – Village at Winona Chocolate March
April 18 – Kosciusko County Breast Cancer Day at the
Orthopedic Capital Center
April 25, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Town Clean Up Day
May 1, 2 and 3 – Fat Skinny Bike Race
Floor Topics: none
Resolution 2009-3-1 - Appointment of Winona Lake
Reserve Office David Rapp. Swanson moved
that this resolution be approved and Gooding seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Hicks swore David Rapp into office.
Strategic Plan 2009-11 – Lancaster explained that
the Council, supervisors, Allebach and Hicks have been working on goals for the
Council. The Council developed five themes
to the Strategic Plan and they are: Heritage, Infrastructure, Safety Services,
Environment and Economic Development.
The group then went through and stated what they felt were the critical
success factors under each theme. The
result of which is a prioritized project list on page 3 of the Strategic Plan
(see attachment). There are a lot more
projects that are not listed, but we picked the things we thought were
reasonable for us to accomplish in 2009.
The decision on the Fire Territory is one decision that has already been
made. We want residents to know that the
council does have a list of goals. There
are things on this list that you have already heard about: for example the
round-about at the entrance of Winona Lake.
This will not happen in 2009.
Jerry Nelson asked if there was a list for 2010, 11 and 12. Lancaster responded there is and we can
certainly make it available. Gooding
stated that we would look at the list at the end of the year and move items to
the top of the list for this next year.
A complete summary of the goals was given to Jerry Nelson.
Board Appointment – Allebach reported that
there is a vacancy on the Plan Commission since Jeff Carroll’s
resignation. Swanson has agreed to fill
this position and this is Allebach’s recommendation to the Council. There are two openings on the Redevelopment
Commission and Craig would welcome recommendations. Lancaster asked for a brief description of
the role of the Redevelopment Commission to be sent to the Council. Gooding made a motion that Swanson serve on
the Plan Commission and Lancaster seconded.
The motion passed.
Approval for Purchase of
Broom –
O’Connell stated that the Town has a street sweeper, but heavy debris will
damage the sweeper. He would like to
purchase a broom for the Bobcat that would push the debris off to the side of
the road. This would also be good for
using on the Greenway. O’Connell
presented three bids. The Council
discussed if you purchased in Ft. Wayne, would service be an issue. Swanson made a motion to purchase the broom
from Bobcat of Warsaw in the range of $3,500.00 and Gooding seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Ordinance 2009-3-2 - Law Enforcement Liaison
Grant Salary Enabling Ordinance, which is for Law Enforcement Liaisons. Allebach explained that our relationship
began with Lance Grubbs. Grubbs went to
work for the State as a liaison, meeting with various Police Departments,
Safety Councils and Drug Free Community Commissions. He also is involved with the Occupant
Protection Program, DUI Task Force, Aggressive Driving Program and FAT Program;
which is a Fatal Alcohol Team. Grubbs
approach the Town about becoming the administrator for his grant. Because of this relationship, the Town was
eventually asked to administer all seven of the state’s LEL grants. The Town administers the claims and pays
their payroll taxes, which is good financial accountability. The current budget for each LEL is
$70,000.00; the Town receives $5,000.00 for each LEL to administer the grant
($35,000.00 annually). There are no
expenses for the LELs paid from Town funds.
The State Board of Accounts notified the Town that we needed to have an
ordinance to pay the LELs. The Town has
had many discussions with the State Board of Accounts, the State’s attorneys
with Criminal Justice Institute and our attorney about an ordinance that would
protect us as far as the LELs being an employee so we would not have expense
from benefits. This is to create a
separate type of employee and to protect the Town. This was a first reading of the ordinance.
Reports from Supervisors:
O’Connell reported that the
Street Department is picking up leaves with the leaf vac and also lots of tree
limbs and brush. Gooding inquired about
the leaf machine the Council discussed last fall. O’Connell replied that he just spoke with
Brown Equipment and they have a used one coming in that they will rebuild. Brown Equipment will call when it is ready
and give O’Connell a price. Swanson
inquired about the separation of the asphalt from driveways in Southtown. Is there a plan to address this problem? O’Connell is waiting for the asphalt plants
to open and the Street Dept. will address this.
Gooding asked if the Street Dept. could do some patching in Country
Garden Estates on Westwood at the corner where drivers cut the corner. Gooding also brought up the problem of how
dark it is on Kings Highway where the Grace Students are crossing. O’Connell responded that the lights there
belong to Grace College. Gooding asked
if we couldn’t put a Pedestrian Crossing sign to alert people or somehow make
the crossing safer. O’Connell responded
that the town did not have lighted signs, but would check in to the
situation. Allebach has had discussion
with Grace College regarding this area and suggested that they replace the
light with ones that illuminate down on the street. O’Connell reported he found other street
lights out in the town and will be taking care of them tonight. Lancaster stated that cones have been placed
in 9th Street at a street cut which basically closes down one side
of the street. O’Connell has called
Phend & Brown and Indiana Construction about repairing the roads from last
falls construction as soon as the asphalt plants open. O’Connell stated he could put cold patch in
that spot.
Schmitt –
reported that there will be a new COPS Grant to hire personnel available here
soon and he would come to the Council to discuss it. There are also technology and equipment
grants that the Police Department will look in to. Some of the money is through the Stimulus
Package.
Allebach
–reported that there is also money for Fire Departments for equipment and
facilities. The focus will be ‘green”,
so if you wanted to add on or utilize ‘green’ technology. It appears that any projects to be funded
must be ‘shovel ready’ and must be on a federally classified highway according
to state or federal maps. In Winona Lake
those are Kings Highway, Park Ave, Winona Ave., 250 East, Wooster Road and
Pierceton Road. Of all of those the only
road that needs work is Pierceton Road.
We do not have any projects shovel ready. Allebach thinks communities will do
resurfacing projects because they do not have to do engineering and right-of-ways. He is putting together a list including
Pierceton Road, sidewalks and safety issues like signage. Allebach is still working on the Greenway
project. Lancaster asked if there was
any further information on the Fire Dept. roof.
Gooding wondered if we could use “green” technology on the roof.
Hicks –
reported receiving approval for the 2009 budget. We have also received a donation from the
Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation for the bases of the bronze
reliefs. We have ordered granite bases
which weigh about 2,000 lbs. Larry is
looking at the ground to make sure they do not sink. Three will be placed out front and one in the
back. Hicks asked the State Treasurer to
ask for an opinion from the State Attorney General in regards to the CDARS
program which is an investment program.
CDARS are covered by the FDIC insurance even if you have a million
dollars in one bank. Hicks would like to
have that extra security on the Town money.
Swanson –
noted that O’Connell and Larry Long were going to look into the flooding at
Country Garden Estates. O’Connell
responded that he and Long had gone back out to Country Garden Estates, but one
of the residents had hired Weed Inc. to come and look at the problem. O’Connell spoke with Weed and shared the
conclusion he and Long came to and Weed agreed.
The drainage line is open and the residents need to clean out the
ditch.
Gooding asked if there could
be a blocked drainage line at Stonehenge.
Allebach responded that we have not investigated Stonehenge that
far. Long thought we would want to put a
culvert under the road and build the road up and the road would not flood. Gooding felt we needed to look and see if
there is a blocked drain.
Lancaster
inquired if we had completed the documentation for FEMA related to the
flood. Hicks responded that the
information has already been sent in.
Allebach reported that if we are approved then FEMA will want firmer
numbers and then will pay 75% of the damage.
Meeting was adjourned
_________________________ ___________________________
JIM
LANCASTER RETHA
S. HICKS
VICE-PRESIDENT CLERK-TREASURER