The Town Council of Winona Lake, Indiana met in a
regular session on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 in the Town Hall at 6:00 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Joy Lohse, Sue Gooding, Jim Lancaster and Terry Howie
ABSENT: Paul
Schmitt
OTHERS PRESENT: Craig
Allebach, Larry Long, Kevin Bell, Pete O’Connell, Jim Walmer
Opening
Joy Lohse opened the meeting with prayer and the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of minutes –Joy Lohse motioned to accept minutes; motion was seconded by Jim Lancaster. Minutes were approved as written.
August 14 – Friday Shop Hop
August 15 – Antique Car Festival
August 17 – Warsaw Community Schools Begins - Terry Howie asked Jennifer from the Times Union to put notice in the paper especially with the construction at Jefferson. Craig Allebach also wanted the information that students will be in classes at the Gordon Recreation Center as well as W. L. Grace Brethren Church included in the notice.
August 26 – Day of Caring - This is a joint effort between Housing Opportunities and United Way.
Floor Topics: There were no floor topics
Ordinance 2009-8-1 Amending Sign Ordinance - Terry Howie stated that the ordinance has been before the Plan Commission. Terry asked Jim Lancaster if he had any comments. Jim stated that the change is just a honing of the existing sign ordinance to make sure there was clarity as to the definition of what a sign is –front and back, size allowed etc. Jim Walmer’s feed back to the Plan Commission has been incorporated. This ordinance comes with full approval of the Plan Commission. Jim Walmer stated that he was told that all the changes he recommended have been incorporated. This is to be considered the first reading and Sue Gooding moved to accept this ordinance and Jim Lancaster seconded the motion was passed.
Fire Department
Presentation: Kevin Bell presented a
report about the Fire Department. This
report list the current officers, the mission of the Fire Department, a list of
services provided, organization background, membership and current list of
apparatus. Page 6 list the major
accomplishment over the last 12 months including fire prevention programs to
approximately 1,500 student and individuals.
Objective for 2009-2010 were also listed along with a listing of grants
obtained. Craig asked about the new
truck and Mitch responded that the truck has been painted and other details
like lettering are in process. The
Council thanked the Fire Department for all of the time they put in and
everything they do for the community.
250 East Update: Gary Randels from Bonar Group reported that the
surface of 250 East where the crack is will be torn out along with the curb and
gutter. Barricades will placed along the
side as well as a wider emergency lane.
Bonar is concerned and we know the Town is concerned. This is not a failure in the construction; it
is a failure in the subgrade that was not anticipated at the time. What Bonar did the first time around and the
change order that was created were done to handle an aspect with the soil
settling. Currently, the curb and gutter
are separating from the sides of the road and the asphalt is actually pulling
apart and not settling down. Part of the
problem is a pipe that is becoming egg shaped and it was round. This of course caused settling around
it. Joy Lohse asked what should have
been done to prevent this issue with the settling and cracking in the
road? Gary Randels responded that he
does not think it could have been prevented from the beginning. This area of roadway required continual
maintenance through out the years. The
problem is deep underneath the area. By
our initial planning and geotechnical evaluation Bonar calculated and installed
the proper amount of material to eliminate the problem. We did not go deep enough, and we don’t know
if one can go deep enough. Piling was
driven 150 feet deep and still did not hit anything. That is tremendously deep to not hit
anything. Jim Walmer asked how deep did
you factor the muck would go before you hit solid ground? Gary responded that it is not necessarily how
deep the muck would go but how deep we needed to go to bridge the muck and we
did effectively bridge the muck. Jim
Walmer asked if that wasn’t the problem with the sides of the road? Gary responded that they build right over
where the sides of the road were before.
The road will bear the weight but the sides of the road will not. Terry Howie asked what Bonar was doing to
keep the road from sloughing off to the sides.
Gary responded that it is not sloughing at this point. Bonar is trying to eliminate all the things
that were caused by the sloughing. Jim
Lancaster asked with what Bonar has learned through this experience, you are
not confident that you can put back in gutter and curbing? Gary answered that they could, but the curb
and gutter could pull away. Once that
cracks apart you will get water on the mat which will cause settling under the
mat. The asphalt will seal it off and
the water will run off the edge of the road way. Jim Lancaster asked if you had to do
something to protect the sides from the water run-off? Gary told the Council it was not an issue and
most of the water runs down 250 to Wooster anyway. Jim Lancaster asked if in a year we notice
erosion along the road, who is financially responsible to fix that. Gary responded that he did not know the
answer. In the past they have asked
contractors to monitor areas. Once a job
is done and INDOT is done that is the end of it. The problem would fall to the County. Jim Lancaster asked who is financially
responsible for this current problem.
Craig Allebach responded that it is 80% INDOT and 20% the Town. We have received additional funding and it
falls under the original grant. Jim
Lancaster expressed his frustration at paying for 20% of the fix. TAPE ENDED – STUFF MISSED Craig and say fix this thing where we
don’t have the problems, we would not have been funded for this. It is a $3,000,000 project anyway and they
are saying it would have gone up another $3,000,000. The design now comes from Dennis of the
County Highway who does not want the curb and gutter because he does not want
to maintain it. The curb and gutter verses
the guard rail and a six foot shoulder are more esthetics. Dennis was going to that area about every
seven years and adding on to the shoulder.
Gary Randels answered that this area was always and issue and with the
current construction you would have a bridge rather than an embankment. Craig stated that the County has invested
$160,000 in this project. This amount
was based on the projections in 2000 – 2001 for engineering cost. This amount doubled by the time we started
construction and has increased since then.
We will go back to the County once we know a figure. We will also go back to INDOT once we have
this project finished and request monies for this and the last project and see
if there is some kind of hardship money we could apply for. Craig believes the money is out there and
will apply for it. Jim Lancaster asked
if there was an estimated cost for the new design? Gary Randels responded to the affirmative and
Craig responded $306,000 and we were funded for $350,000. We asked for more than what we thought it
would be in case we ran into more problems.
Jim Lancaster asked it we had to come up with 20 percent of the $206,000
and Craig responded to the affirmative.
Jerry Nelson asked why the area was not turned over to the County after
the initial project to maintain. Craig
responded that problems arose before the project was completed and so it was
not closed out. Gary Randels stated that
the crack appeared after the construction was completed, but before the
“engineer certification.” Jim Lancaster
shared that if he develops a hip of knee and it was anticipated to work under
specific conditions and the consumer does something they are not suppose to do,
at the end of the day they will come back on me the engineer. Maybe, this situation is something we have to
let go of. He believes that we are not
going to be able to come up with a satisfactory answer and in the end it is
going to cost the Town money. Craig
believes that INDOT could pursue the issue with soil people or the engineers
and if they do find fault with people they could purse penalties. They may determine that it is an
environmental issue and no one is to blame.
Jim Lancaster shared that maybe the way to come to terms with it is to
determine we are going to have a road for a cost that we probably would not
have had otherwise and probably could not justify the cost of a bridge
there. At the end of the day the road
might be extra, but it is done. He would
hate to see the issue become that nagging thing that just continues on and
on. Gary Randels responded they Bonar
would agree with that and if they had the foresight, they had stopped the
project at Wooster Road. He is not
convinced that the issue is not with the soil engineering. Jerry Nelson stated that he did not know the
road was closed and also wanted to know how long it would be closed. The road closing was in the paper, but NIPSCo
closed the road without communicating with us.
Gary Randels responded that Bonar’s portion of the work is to take five
weeks. Craig emphasized that having the
road completed as soon as possible was very important in light of the Argonne
Road construction. Jim Lancaster asked
exactly where the reconstruction would begin.
Gary Randels responded not at Wooster, but at our pump station to just
past the railroad. The pipe under the
road will be moved and NIPSCo did some boring.
Gary is looking into the run off issue.
Report from Town Engineer – Larry Long presented a
change order on Kings Highway. All product
is on a unit price base and on the roadwork itself, there are some
variations: The change order is what was
actually done versus what was bid and designed.
This change order is for $2,713.14 additional to reconcile for actual
quantities to the contract amounts. The
change order is to allow for the exploratory work that had to be done in front
of ABC Industries. Also, there were some
areas that had settled and they were leveled out along with voids that had to
be dug out and filled with limestone.
Jim Lancaster asked if the difference was in the unforeseen things not
that the project was underbid. Larry
responded to the affirmative and that he does the bidding with the unit price
see we the tonnage of material used.
This step assures Larry we are paying for what we received. Jim Lancaster moved to approve the change
order in the amount of $2,713.14 and Joy Lohse seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Larry
has been looking into parking lots and presented a drawing for one at the Town
Hall across the street. The parking
spaces would be at 60 degree angles with 36 parking spaces and it would be
“green”. We would eliminate the 14 old
parking spaces. Larry is looking at
pavers as a possibility. Sue Gooding
wondered about vehicles left in the Park parking lot 24 – 7 by the residents
across the street. She would like to
reclaim what is ours. Joy Lohse wanted
to know when Larry Long would have the materials for the Town Hall parking
lot. Larry thought he would have it for
the next meeting along with surveying and storm drainage completed. Pete O’Connell reported that the Park
Department wanted Larry to look at the parking lot on the other side of the
gatehouse and the property up to the creek.
This could be an additional 30 spaces for parking. Sue Gooding does not want to disrupt the
visual picture in that area. Larry Long
reported he was also looking at a parking lot at Boys City and at Roy
Street. Those two lots should help with
the parking lot issues at the Park.
Larry will have some options and prices at the next meeting. Sue Gooding brought the thought from the last
meeting of parking at Gatke and wanted someone to look into that. She asked Craig if he could talk with Warsaw
about this. Craig responded that Warsaw
was talking about putting a trail head on McKinley Street and there would be
need for parking there. There has also
been conversation about water quality and doing something with storm drainage
where they store the water underground and filter the water before it goes into
the lake.
Larry
Long also reported that he is working on the Wooster Road lift station and flow
testing and survey work and is close to getting recommendations to the
council. It is looking like if we were
to put in a new lift station in and a new forced main along with a new gravity
line that were are talking about over $100,000. to make it the way it should
be. The flow test showed the pumps should
be pumping 400 gallons a minute and they are only pumping 100 gallons a
minute. Larry feels this is happening
due to restrictions in the line. Larry
should have a recommendation soon. Larry
is also working on asphalt paving for this year.
Jim
Walmer has nothing to report
Retha
reported to the Council that we have received $800. in revenue canoe rental
during the month of July. Retha would
Jim Walmer to look at the waiver we have signed by the canoe renters. Sue Gooding asked about weekend rental and
Retha explained that people can rent on Friday for the weekend. Possible ways to rent out the canoes on
Saturday were discussed. Jim Lancaster
asked how the rental of the Lodge was going.
Retha responded that rental was going well, but the Town had to invest
some money to bring the outside up to standards and there were also repairs on
the inside. The Park Board is discussing
how to handle rental during the winter – if they would continue with weekly
rental or rent the facility out for 8 months. Sue Gooding inquired about the Gatehouse and
Retha reported that we have painted and are putting down laminate flooring.
TAPE STOPPED
Sue
Gooding asked if there was a machine that would clean up the goose poop because
the greenway gets really nasty. She also
wondered about the dock and how sanitary the situation is. Jim Walmer asked if we every considered
getting an alligator head for the swimming area. Pete responded that the Street Department
does have a sweeper and he would have his guys sweep the greenway once a week.
Mitch Titus – has received another bid for
the Fire Department station. Bambi’
Roofing wants to do a non-cash gift which will make the bid $1,000 less. Bambi’s bid is $4,505. and the other bid is
$5,505. The Council took the bid under
advisement. Craig has been working on a
“green” roof and trying to obtain a grant.
He is also looking for ways to reduce our energy consumption.
Joy Lohse- Ray Piper, a resident of the Winona Hotel Condominiums is asked about a curb that is attached to a private sidewalk that leads down to the boats. Mr. Piper wanted the Town to cut into the curb and make it handicap accessible. This is private property and the Town does not have an issue if Mr. Piper would like to do that. Mr. Piper needs to take the issue up with the Condo owners association.
Terry Howie – Announced that the fireworks will be Saturday, July 3, 2010.
Jim Lancaster – shared a letter from City of Warsaw that due to the fact we are not a part of the Wayne Township Fire Protection Territory that Warsaw will no longer respond to calls in Winona Lake. Effective immediately, Warsaw Fire Department will assist the Town with mutual aid only and only when the Town has exhausted all resources. Jim reminded the Council that in our discussion about the Fire territory the Council’s perspective based on feed back from the Fire Department, we did not anticipate that the dual response agreement and mutual aid agreement would change. Mitch reported to the Town that approximately 15 years ago Roger Gelbaugh went to the City of Warsaw and requested that station 2 come quietly to Grace Village, Grace College and Jefferson School due to the amount of people. The Town of Winona Lake reciprocates by responding to Daltons and the Gatke area. Sue Gooding asked if we had enough people in the Fire Department. Mitch responded that we do not have enough 3rd shift people. Sue wanted to know if it would be helpful to put a notice in the paper. Kevin Bell responded that you are looking at budget issues. There was also much conversation regarding the availability of volunteers.
Joy Lohse made a motion to adjourn to the Budget Workshop and Sue Gooding seconded the motion.
Meeting was adjourned
_________________________ ___________________________
TERRY
HOWIE RETHA
S. HICKS
PRESIDENT CLERK-TREASURER
The Budget Workshop
Retha explained to the Council that with the information that comes from the State and the County and a recommendation that she figures the budget at 80% of our assessed value of the prior year. She went with a 1% raise for the salaries and budget. The departments have requested their own budgets. Someone asked about the amount the Town receiving from Wayne Township which is currently $17,000. Retha is very comfortable that we can pick up any difference from our cash balances because we have worked very hard at keeping that cash balance there. The effect of the caps in 2010 is $110. which is not a problem for us. This is because we are cost effective, we are not going to have that impact like the larger cities.
Terry Howie shared with the group that City of Warsaw set their increase in budget and salaries at 1%, but the Mayor and some of the other people like that are keeping their salaries at the 2009 wage levels. Also, the Kosciusko County Sherriff Department is not receiving and wage increase, he believes. Terry also brought up Joy Lohse’s suggestion from last year that the Council not take an increase and he recommend that action. Sue Gooding would like to set the 1% aside to help residents in need, to maybe pay a sewage bill.
Joy Lohse wanted to know on the Police Budget what from the largest expenses, why has it increased. A FIREMAN RESPONDED??? Retha pointed out the one that increases the most is operating supplies account 244 is increased by 33%. Kevin Bell responded that currently the budget amount is $4,500 and they are asking for $6,500. The main reason is the Fire Department has increase Fire Prevention from $1,200 to $2,700. This is for educational materials given to kids, senior citizens and grace college students. Sue Gooding asked if the Fire Department was able to quantify the results of handing out the materials. Kevin responded that the last juvenile fire-setter was 7 to 8 years ago. The next line is 452 with a 13% increase. This line item is for fire equipment and the increase is due to the new ladder truck. Sue Gooding asked about the $9,700. left in the 09 budget. She wanted to know if the Fire Dept anticipated needing that amount and the $11,000. in 2010? Kevin responded to the affirmative, that there several things they need on the ladder truck that will increase the capacity of the truck. Jim Lancaster pointed out the capital budget will actually be about 3% less for 2010. Joy Lohse asked if the Fire Department would apply for any grants. Kevin responded they will apply for the same grants. Retha advised the Fire Department that since we are not part of the Fire Territory, it might help with a K-21 Foundation grant.
Retha told the Council that the Parks Department is not going to be able to spend their $5,500 for capital expenses so she increased it for 2010. There was discussion about applying for a grant for playground equipment in 2010 and Craig reported that Warsaw received $15,000 for equipment. Jim Lancaster asked where the support for the fireworks came from. Retha responded that the Town’s portion comes from 381 in central services. The rest of the monies come from donations. Terry Howie questioned the reduction in advertising. Retha responded that she would increase the amount back to $200.
MVH fund 124 went up 20% because there is not enough money in the benefit line. Retha will increase this line an additional $500. It was decided to combine 131 and 132 and increase the amount $12,000. In discussion about 142 Street Lights, Sue Gooding asked Pete to check into CFL bulbs. Craig informed the Council that the fee on the lights is a flat rate. Sue responded that the bulbs would last longer. Sue Gooding asked why the signs budget is going up and Pete responded because there are so many that need to be replaced. Joy Lohse asked it there would be money to replace the “Welcome” signs for the community. Craig is working on a committee that is trying to come up with a “look” for Kosciusko County and we can pick out of that look and use it. We should have money to do that.
Jim Lancaster asked about the time table regarding Budget hearings. Retha reported that the public hearing second week in September and the budget will be adopted in first meeting in October. Sue Gooding wondered if the office needed a continuing education fund to make life easier for the office staff. Retha responded that we do have a line item for continuing education and the office has utilized this. Sue wondered if purchasing the update software would benefit the office. Retha responded that she has the money $10,000 in General and $15,000 in the wastewater fund. Jim Lancaster asked about 312 engineer and why we did not increase the amount since we are currently at 88%. Retha wanted to leave it as it is. Jim Lancaster wanted to look at the strategic plan and consider hiring someone to help Holly. Craig would like the Council to think about two things; put money towards a tree program for $2,500 or $5,000 and sidewalk program for the same amount.