The Town Council of Winona Lake, Indiana met in a
regular session on Tuesday, July 28 2009 in the Town Hall at 7:00 a.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Joy Lohse, Sue Gooding, Jim Lancaster, Terry Howie and Randy
Swanson
ABSENT: Larry
Long, Mitch Titus, Paul Schmitt and Jim Walmer
OTHERS PRESENT: Craig
Allebach and Pete O’Connell
Opening
Terry Howie opened the meeting with prayer and the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of minutes –Jim Lancaster made a motioned to accept minutes and the motion was seconded by Joy Lohse. Minutes were approved with changes.
· July 31, 7:30 p.m. Strings at Winona Lake Free Methodist Church. Brent Wilcoxson shared there will be approximately 30 children, some as young as 4 years old and up through 17 or 18 performing on Friday.
· August 1 – Billy Sunday Day will include a visit from Ma Sunday and the vintage baseball game.
· August 1, 11:00 a.m. – Strings at Winona Lake performing at Rodeheaver Auditorium
· August 14 – Friday Shop Hop
· August 15 – Antique Car Festival
· August 26 – Day of Caring
Floor Topics: Jerry Nelson reported that the street sign for Court Street at Administration and Court Street is missing.
Ordinance 2009-7-1 Golf
Carts – Terry
Howie had requested that Jim Walmer add a provision to the ordinance regarding
the driver’s license requirement, but the request was received too late. There are two different versions for the
Council to consider with the only difference being Section 5-1 regarding
headlight requirement. Jim Lancaster
stated that the issue is how concerned the Council is with safety in regards to
headlights. Randy Swanson wondered if
there was a definition of headlights.
Retha Hicks responded that the Ordinance refers to the IN Code
definition. Jim Lancaster made a motion
to approve the ordinance not including Section 5-1 on the first reading. Sue Gooding seconded the motion and the
motion passed unanimously. Joy Lohse
made a motion to approve the Ordinance and Randy Swanson seconded the
motion. The motion was approved.
Agreement for Professional
Engineering Services for Greenway Phase IV- This phase was split into two portions: A and
B. Craig Allebach was working to get
both phases ready to start and hopefully speed things up a little. He has been looking at stimulus money and
hopefully putting a little pressure on IN DOT.
This is an agreement to design Phase IV from the current greenway in the
Chicago Boys Club up to Beta Hall. The
other section would split out in Miller Field and terminate at Lakeland
Christian Academy. Once the Council
approves the agreement it is sent to INDOT.
Jim Lancaster asked how long this portion will take. Craig Allebach responded 12 to 18
months. Terry Howie asked where the
money was coming from. Craig Allebach
stated that the money was already set aside.
Jim Lancaster inquired if there was information that could be used as an
update for the community. Craig shared
that he is following the Lake City Master Plan.
Craig thought the Town could do an article updating residents and he
could also add it to our web site. Terry
Howie suggested that we also give an article to The Paper as well as the
Times-Union which might bring in some donations. Craig will also pursue monies from Community
Foundation and K21. Craig also reported
that we are having 400 to 500 people on the greenway daily with 1,300 to 1,400
on some days. Sue Gooding suggested that
a map be displayed showing where the trail goes. Craig responded that he could work on this
with a sign company. We have maps of the
mountain bike trails and the Cycle Club maps at the beginning of the trail,
behind the Town Hall and at the Boy’s Club entrance. He also talked about working with the Village
and Visitors Center. Retha Hicks brought up the issue of parking and reported
to the Council that the Park Board will be discussing this at their next
meeting. Pete is to get a quote to add
more parking off of Fort Wayne Street.
Pete O’Connell reported that he is meeting with Larry Long this week and
they will discuss the parking lot. Sue
Gooding made a motion to approve the agreement with A and Z Engineering. Joy Lohse seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
Reports from Supervisors:
Pete – is meeting with Larry Long and Phend and Brown regarding a list of streets and alleys he wants to do work on. Jim Lancaster asked if the parking lot at the entrance to the Boy’s Club would be looked at. Craig Allebach responded that Larry Long already has plans for Boy’s City and Roy Street, along with Fort Wayne Street. Jim Lancaster felt these areas would be the perfect for pavers or pervious asphalt. The Council wants to ensure that we plan ahead for parking needs as more people come to Winona Lake. Craig Allebach shared that the next phase does include parking at Lakeland Christian trail head. The Council wondered about using the Gatke property for parking, restrooms and drinking fountains when we connect with the balance of the Lake City Greenway. Sue Gooding asked about boats launching from Bibler Park. Pete responded that signage is now in place prohibiting boats. Terry Howie asked about street lights. Pete responded that all but three were working and Northern Lakes Electric was called to look at those. Terry asked about doing maintenance on them and Pete responded he would see to it.
Sue – asked about the sink holes on the Greenway on Canal Street. Craig Allebach responded that we are working on them. Sue also asked about the green post along the greenway. Pete responded that the post is galvanized and the right way to fix them is to sandblast the post and repaint them. Pete also shared that he and Larry Long were talking about the cement coming up out of the post and they discussed pounding the cement back down.
Jim Lancaster presented a conflict of interest disclosure statement for Terry Howie and Howie Heating and Cooling. Joy Lohse made a motion to accept the disclosure statement and Randy Swanson seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Retha Hicks requested the Council to set a date for the budget hearing. The meeting was set for August 11at 8:00 p.m., after the regular Council meeting. Retha also shared that at the last IACT Executive Session the IN Municipal Power Assoc. (IMPA) shared about federal regulations that are coming down regarding limits on CO2 emissions. The federal government will be giving some of the Midwest’s allowance to some of the coastal states. IMPA is asking communities to pass a resolution agreeing to the emissions, but asking for protection of the Midwest’s allowance.
Sue Gooding asked about the Visitors Center funding and the amount the Town is paying. Craig Allebach responded that we are billed on a monthly basis and the first payment was about $2,000 as per the budget previously provided. In October the hours will change. The sign and some other things are going to be paid by the grant. We will evaluate everything again in October.
Jim Lancaster asked if the dredging of the canal will take place this fall. Craig responded that he has 2 or 3 quotes that are high and he is waiting on a quote from G & G. He is looking at November 1 for a starting date and do a “pay as you go”.
Joy Lohse made a motion to adjourn and Sue Gooding seconded. The motion passed.
Meeting was adjourned
_________________________ ___________________________
TERRY
HOWIE RETHA
S. HICKS
PRESIDENT CLERK-TREASURER