The Town Council of Winona Lake, Indiana met in a
regular session on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 in the Town Hall at 6:00 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Joy Lohse, Sue Gooding, Jim Lancaster and Terry Howie
ABSENT: Randy
Swanson, Larry Long and Paul Schmitt
OTHERS PRESENT: Craig
Allebach, Retha Hicks, Pete O’Connell, Mitch Titus and Jim Walmer
Opening
Allebach opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge
of Allegiance.
Approval of minutes –Lancaster motioned to accept minutes, motion was seconded by Lohse. Minutes were approved as written.
May 14 – Village at Winona Arts Walk (“Art of Giving”) Luke Wright from Mud Love Pottery is doing a fund raiser with local 5th grade students to drill water wells
May 15, 8:00 a.m. – Run for Fun 5K and 15K
May 22 – Trail runs on the Mountain Bike Trails - a fundraiser for the trail maintenance
May 22 – Optimist Classic Car Show in Warsaw (parade through Winona Lake)
June 5 & 6 - 11th Annual Art Fair
June 12, 2:30 p.m. – Planet Adventure Ultra Runs on the Mountain Bike Trails
Orthotech Conference at Grace College OCC
Floor Topics: Jay Shively and Josh Lutes representing the home
owners association at Heritage Lake Park presented a problem of standing water
at the curb of 1887 E. Legacy Lane. Mr.
Shively has spoken with O’Connell and he thought Long would have been out to
look at the problem. Howie responded
that Long has been out and is still working on the problem. O’Connell stated that he and Long looked at
the problem last week. Allebach
presented a report from Long. Long’s report states that when the drive was
installed the gutter was cut and this created a seam. Because of traffic the curb dropped down and
so the water cannot get to the storm drain.
Long’s report states that about 55 feet of curb needs to be replaced
along with the gutter. The cost would be
around $2,200 and if the Council would like to proceed the Town could obtain
some quotes. Discussion followed
regarding the construction of the home and the traffic of large trucks that
went over the curb and damaged it.
Gooding read from Long’s report that Long felt there was a combination
of factors contributing to the damage, but the street and gutter were
satisfactory prior to the construction of the home. Howie stated that we would start losing the
street because of the damage to the curb and gutter. Lancaster stated that the Town would be
responsible because we accepted the streets; and moved that the Council go
forward and request bids for the project.
Lohse seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Marylou
Tobin of 105 Columbia Drive wrote a letter to Gooding and wanted to voice her
concerns regarding parking on Columbia Drive.
A copy of the letter is attached to these minutes. Mrs. Tobin ended with requesting that the
Council reconsider the issue. Howie
responded that the Council was struggling with the cost of adding additional
parking. Long was asked to look at the
area and see if it is feasible. Gooding
did not feel that Mrs. Tobin would see much use of the lot because it would
only be overflow. Mrs. Tobin stated that
the current lot was full every weekend, on Saturday and Sunday. During the summer months, people are parking
on Columbia to have picnics in the park.
Gooding responded that there are too many unknowns at this point, and
the Council and Long will continue to look at the situation. Lohse recommended that the Council have a
work session with the Park Department on the parking lot. Howie shared that a property owner approached
him about purchasing property and putting a parking lot on it. The Council will continue to explore
options. Lohse asked if the Council
could have a work session and Howie responded yes.
Gooding
asked about the parking along Park Ave. across from the Boathouse down to the
condominiums, if this is allowed?
Allebach responded that there is no ordinance against it.
John
Elliott referred the Council to the legal ad in the Times Union February of
this year (the annual report); he is not clear about how much money we have on
hand. As Mr. Elliott looks at the top
line the General Fund shows $5,300,000 and Wastewater shows $3,300,000, do we
have a cash balance of $8,600,000? Hicks
explain the annual report was completed with new software that she is required
by the State Board of Accounts to use.
The program does not allow her to enter the Town’s cash
investments. She called this to their
attention, but there is nothing that can be done about it this year. The cash balance for the Town Funds,
investments, MVH, LR&S, EDIT, etc. is $4,356,287.77 as of 12/31/2009. Out of that amount the investments are
$4,300,000. The Wastewater Fund cash
balance is $1,761,723. The investments
for Wastewater are $1,625,000. Elliott
is confused by the report and Hicks responded that it is because of the
software. Kent Adams asked what is an
enterprise fund and Hicks responded the Wastewater utility. He also questioned something about
$13,000,000 and Brent Wilcoxson responded you are adding income and assets
together. Elliott asked who to contact
at the State Board of Accounts and Hicks responded that she had contacted
Charlie Pride. Hicks will get the
contact information for Elliott when he calls her.
Trash/Recycling Bids - Walmer reported that the
bids seem to meet the bid requirements.
The letter of credit for Staffords would be good for the first year of
the contract, but would be under the amount for the second year. Hicks shared that she gave a copy of a
summary of everyone’s bid, but because there is such a variation in responses
she gave a total for each year. Per
household charges are: Stafford $1,368.00, for Veolia $1,346.76 and Wabash
Valley $1,386.36 for the current service level.
All the quotes are for the same services currently provided to the
residents. Walmer reminded the Council
that they are required to award to the lowest and most responsive bid unless
they have a specified reason not to go with the lowest. That reason needs to be part of the Town
Council record. Jerry Nelson asked about
sorting his recycling and was told he does not need to sort, that the recycling
is co-mingled. Lohse asked if there had
been complaints on our current trash service.
Hicks responded that if we receive any complaints it has been because
they were missed on pick-up. Our current
contract requires Veolia to come back and pick the trash up and they have done
a good job with that. Howie excused
himself from the bidding due to a business relationship with one of the
bidders. Gooding made a motion that we
accept the bid from Veolia and Lohse seconded the motion. Lancaster asked for further discussion and
then called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.
Jay
Shively asked about fencing that he had placed at the curb that was not picked
up by the trash service. Howie informed
Shively that he needed to notify Veolia that he had the fencing out for a large
item pick-up.
Request from WCDC for
Fireworks – The
Town has been requested to make a donation towards the cost of fireworks. Howie reported that last year we donated $1,000. Lohse made a motion that we give $1,000 and
Gooding seconded that motion. The motion
was approved by the Council unanimously.
Conflict of Interest – Hicks presented the Council
with a conflict of Interest from Howie Heating and Cooling requiring the
Council’s approval so that it can be sent to the State. Lancaster asked for a motion to accept the
Conflict of Interest and Lohse made the motion.
Gooding seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
Roundabout Study Proposal –
Allebach
presented an overview of the Roundabout.
The full presentation will be presented when Swanson can be in
attendance. A & Z had a proposal to
do a traffic/feasibility study and study the greenway for $5,900. The roundabout will provide the connection to
Warsaw for the Greenway and complete our portion of the Lake City
Greenway. Lancaster asked if the funds
for the study would be a MVH expenditure and Hicks responded yes. Lancaster made a motion to approve the study
and Gooding seconded. The motion passed
unanimously.
Report from Town Attorney: Walmer met with Larry Long regarding questions from
Mr. Stoops (Stonehenge). The golf course
did not want to give the Town any easements.
Long and he discussed how the Town would be affected by not having the
easements. Keep in mind that these storm
drains would not be significant now in saving streets. The biggest problem is the northeast corner
of Prestwick. There is a line between
lots 41 and 42, through the golf course up to a pumping station and then into
the pond. From that pond there is a line
that runs to the larger pond and this line runs through a large portion of
fairway. If you have a line plugged, you
could have backup to lot 42 and St Andrews Street. This could adversely affect the road. Stonehenge wanted to just cooperate between
the two parties if there is a problem.
Walmer asked the Council to look over the letter to Mr. Stoops. Howie asked if we could invite Long to the
next meeting and possibly move ahead a little quicker on this. The property owner at 2873 E Prestwick paid
out of his own pocket to have a crushed line repaired to deal with flooding at
his property. Howie asked where we were
with negotiations with Mr. Stoops and Walmer responded that we were moving
extremely slow. Gooding asked how we
could speed this process up. Walmer
responded that if we wanted to get this done right now we could forgo easements
across the golf course, fix the pumping station for the pond and we can
proceed. We would have to hope we do not
have a problem with the line across the golf course. In Walmer’s opinion, there is an implied
easement with the Prestwick subdivision because the owner developed the
drainage in order to sell the lots. We
could then obtain a court order to go on the property to fix the line. Howie felt that we needed to obtain the
easements so that another Council later on would not have to deal with this
problem. The sanitary sewers in
Muirfield have easements which show up on the plat map of 1988. In addition a utility easement was signed and
recorded in March 1990 which conveyed even more land to the Town for an
easement. Gooding would like to see if
we can establish a deadline so we can move forward on this. Walmer responded that we cannot force the
other people to come to the table. All
we can do is accept some additional risk which is a decision the Council will
have to make. John Elliott suggested
that the former golf course superintendent would know where some of the lines
are and the homeowners meeting is May the 23rd and this would be a
time the Council could share issues with the homeowners. Walmer suggested he meet with John Elliott
and another Stonehenge resident so they could explain it at the Stonehenge
meeting. Allebach felt it would be
better if we had an agreement to present to the homeowners at the May 23rd
meeting. Gooding suggested that Howie
attend the meeting as this was his district.
Reports from Supervisors:
Lancaster – Dr. Manahan will attend
the June 8th meeting to give an update on Grace College. As far as economic development, Lancaster has
a meeting with Cher Blanchard for early June to talk about how the Town can
help with Orthoworks.
Gooding – Asked about the stripes
on the curve on William Dr. Allebach
responded that it rained and we were unable to do the stripes. She also asked why the stands for the
descriptions of the art work on the Greenway were covered. Hicks responded that there are no plaques on
those stands. Tim is working on them
now, but there is still one piece of art that needs a sponsor. Allebach suggested that we put a plain plaque
there. Pete thought Tim could accomplish
that.
Hicks – Sent out the fund comparison
report to the Council. She had sent out the
report in October 2009, but in this report she added the accounts being used
for capital expenditures and gave three years of cash balances.
O’Connell – Niblock will probably start
on our street projects in the next week.
Howie asked that O’Connell let the paper know when and where the work
will be done. He has received tree
planting bids and sidewalk bids. He is
waiting for one more and then the information will be sent to the Council.
Titus – Reported that the Fire
Department made $1,000 profit from the Pancake Breakfast. He also asked if there was a size limit on
bonfires and Hicks responded no.
Allebach – He received a quote for the
Radio repeater for $10,000 and Fire Department radios for $30,000 this
includes 15 Minitors, 15 mobiles and 8 handheld. Allebach presented an application for Safe
Routes to School grant and Howie signed the application.
Lohse
moved the meeting be adjourned and Gooding seconded the motion.
Meeting was adjourned
_________________________ ___________________________
TERRY
HOWIE RETHA
S. HICKS
PRESIDENT CLERK-TREASURER