The Town Council of Winona Lake, Indiana met in a regular session on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 in the Town Hall at 6:00 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Joy Lohse, Sue Gooding, Terry Howie, Randy Swanson and Retha Hicks
ABSENT: Jim Lancaster
OTHERS PRESENT: Craig Allebach, Jim Walmer, Larry Long, Mitch Titus,
Pete O’Connell
Opening
Retha Hicks opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of minutes – Sue Gooding motioned to accept minutes; motion was seconded by Joy Lohse. Minutes were approved as written.
September 9, 3 to 6 p.m. - Community Foundation, “Get on Board” opportunity to volunteer involvement with not-for-profits
September 11 – Shop Hop
September 12 – Lake City Runners Races
September 12 – Car seat check at Kohl’s
September 19 – Adventure Race
September 19 – Cranberry Cottage and Saks & Co. grand opening
September 24, 5 to 9 p.m. Light the Night Walk
Floor Topics: There were no floor topics
Report from Town Engineer: Larry Long provided the Council copies of an inspection report to apply for stimulus money for work on Pierceton Road, Kings Highway and Park Ave.; from the stop light to 12th Street. This would be for basically milling and paving. Long presented parking lot drawings for the Boys Club entrance and Roy Street entrance of Heritage Trail. Long reported we would probably have to obtain easements to do this. A few trees would need to be removed to accommodate a one-way lot. We are looking at planting a row of trees along the street to provide landscaping. Long presented 2 options for the lot on Boys City Dr. The first option only allows for 7 parking spaces with one-way traffic and 45 degree angle parking. Option #2 with 90 degree allows for 12 parking spaces, but the spaces are the absolute minimum size of 9’ wide. Will there be handicap spaces? Long responded there are two spaces. Sue Gooding asked “what does the law require?” Allebach responded that it depended on the usage and thought it was 1 to 25 or 1 to 50. Long wanted to know the Council’s desires on the two different options. Allebach talked about adding a couple of spaces to the current lot on Boys City Dr. Long wanted to know if the Council would like to use pavers and where. Gooding brought up the pavers that you put top soil on and plant grass. Long suggested a grid work of plastic that works the same way and provides the needed support. With this option it is difficult to designate the parking spaces, unless you paint it every time you mow. Gooding suggested using parking blocks. She asked for a larger scale comprehensive picture of the trails and the parking. Gooding did not want to do reactionary planning for the parking. Allebach responded that we did not know in the beginning the usage scale as we are now experiencing. The new area of the greenway already has large parking lots available. Gooding asked if we would be able to vacate the road and make this whole area a large parking lot (at Boys City Dr.). Long responded that we would need to install a cul-de-sac and that would take quite a bit of space. Gooding expressed her concern that adding 12 spaces will not alleviate the problems with all the weekend usage, especially during special events. Lohse asked if parking can be added right off the street (at an angle) for the existing lot. Brent Wilcoxson asked if the Council really wanted to spend money on parking lot when there is plenty of remote parking. Gooding and Hicks responded that every weekend and many times through the week there are parking issues at the Park and at the Boys City entrance to the greenway. Gooding wanted to rework the existing lot to add more spaces. Long suggested that the area across the street from the current lot on Boys City be made into the grass parking lot. Lohse made a motion to revamp the current parking lot at Boys City to add more spaces. Gooding seconded the motion and the motion passed. Long asked the Council for direction on the Roy Street parking lot. Allebach said if we expanded the lot size we would have to get permission from the owner. He felt the owner would be fine with Long’s current plan. Howie felt we should go with what Long has presented. Gooding would like the lot to blend in with the setting. Long asked if they wanted a brick or block for one option and grass for a second option. Gooding made a motion to continue to explore this lot with a brick or grass lot and Lohse seconded the motion and it passed. Long brought the issue of materials is tax exempt and contractors need to be reminded of this when we bid.
Fire Department – Mitch had shared with the Council at the last meeting two quotes for repairing the roof. Bambi’s Roofing quoted $5,555 with an addendum that he will donate $1,000 bringing the total price to $4,555; the other quote is from Van Horn Fiber Coating for $5,405.25. Gooding made a motion to accept Bambi’s bid for $5,555 less a $1,000 donation and Lohse seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Police Department Volunteer Victim Advocate Program – The Council had tabled this item last meeting to have more time to think about it. Paul Schmitt explained that a volunteer Victim Advocate would be available if an officer would get into a situation of domestic violence. The volunteer is there to find services and be supportive of the victim. They would also utilize the volunteer in the instance of sexual assault and child abuse. Walmer asked what kind of training the volunteer received. Schmitt responded that Becky Moreno taught the class that this person attended. Allebach thought the classes totaled more that 40 hours and then a clinical training. Randy Swanson asked if the victim was just put in touch with this volunteer or asked how far they went to work with the volunteer. Schmitt responded that the police can ask the volunteer to come to the home or the hospital. Schmitt will ask the insurance company about risk/liability next week when he meets with them. Gooding moved that we table the issue until Schmitt has met with the insurance company and Swanson seconded. The motion passed.
Report from Town Attorney: Walmer has spent time redrafting waivers for residents who rent canoes and kayaks from the Town. He is also working on the zoning ordinance, neighborhood preservation ordinance and Stonehenge. Walmer reported on the meeting with Stonehenge representatives. Stonehenge was concerned about giving a “blanket’ easement in regards to the course. They are not interested in giving anything to repair the pump. They wanted our assistance in regards to a drain that runs on the south side of the golf course. Since it is on County property there is nothing the Town can do. Pete O’Connell and Larry Long are to figure out exactly where their lines run across the course and then provide a description for the easements. An unknown drain was discovered this last week and this type of thing is a concern in regards to the easements. Swanson wanted to know if the Stonehenge residents related any concerns regarding the “snails pace” at which this is going. Long shared that he had heard from a resident regarding this. Allebach shared that he felt the residents of Stonehenge knew the Town was mired down in the easement issues.
Reports from Supervisors:
Craig Allebach – Canal dredging -Craig is waiting on another bid, which he should have this week or the next. When that bid is received, he will be coming to the Council so we can move ahead on the dredging yet this fall. Piers are to be out by November 15. Allebach also called Chris Cummings to find out when the lake would be lowered, but did not get an answer. It looks like it will be around the 1st of November to dredge to canal. Jerry Nelson asked if we were planning on dredging the entire canal. Allebach responded that we would, but would start at one end and then move the pontoons so we could do the other end. Nelson asked who was responsible for Cherry Creek and Allebach responded that it is the County’s responsibility. Sue Gooding asked when the work on Wyland Ditch was supposed to happen and she was told to contact Dick Kemper with the County. Allebach had spoken with Kemper when we were planning the clean-up day and was told we could clean up the ditch as long as we did not use any mechanical equipment to scoop out the ditch. It was too wet on the clean-up day to work in that area. Allebach stated that separate permits were needed to do this work and that it was possible to obtain grant money for the work (L.A.R.E.). The preservation group received grant money to do work at the fairgrounds shore and put rip-rap in.
Pete O’Connell– Reported that he is spraying for mosquitoes on Wednesday and Thursday night. They had also sprayed two days last week. Gooding asked about writing up specs for the building quotes. O’Connell responded he has, but does not have any quotes back. Gooding also asked about how the lift station/infiltration project was going. O’Connell responded that he found two homes in Stonehenge that have storm drainage directly into the sanitary sewer. Gooding asked if we were contacting the homeowners right away. O’Connell has obtained copies of the ordinance and is working on a letter. The state gives us the right to dye test a property of such instances. The Street Department has found seven manholes that are in people’s yards, some are up against their houses. Gooding also asked about CFL bulbs for the streetlights. O’Connell responded that he did not find them for the streetlight, but he found some for the Town Hall. The mercury lights would only save NIPSCo because we pay a flat rate. O’Connell reported that all contractors for the Town must now sign a waiver of liability for complying with OSHA standards.
Mitch Titus –shared with the Council a letter he received from Brent Wilcoxson requesting the Fire Department to burn the wildflowers on Winona Lake along Park Ave. The Town has a no burn ordinance and Titus would like direction from the Council. Howie has concerns regarding people with health issues that might be affected. If we publicize the burn, this would prevent problems. Lohse wanted to be sure that people were aware the J. F. New Associates was a leading expert in wildflower and native grasses and they recommended burning off plants. Jerry Nelson wanted to know if any private citizen could request this service and the Council responded that the burn is used as training for the Fire Department. Lohse made a motion for Titus to speak with Wilcoxson for further details regarding the burn and then come back to the Council. The Council wanted Wilcoxson to be responsible for notification to residents. Swanson seconded the motion and the motion passed
Joy Lohse - is meeting with Allebach with the web designer this week to talk about the town website design. Lohse wanted to meet with Allebach regarding the Tree City designation. Allebach responded that we would need a tree ordinance, a tree committee and a $2 per capita funding. This would cost us around $8,000. This could involve work the Street Department currently does in regards to tree maintenance. Lohse will come back next meeting with a plan. She has spoken with Winona Lake Preservation and the lake will be lowered November 1st. Lohse asked everyone to have the articles for the newsletter to her this week.
Craig Allebach reported that the Community Dinner Committee met this last week and the date will be November 20. There is no Festival of Trees. The Dinner will be at the OCC and Grace College has waived the rental charges. Because there is not a Festival of Trees the Publicity Committee is going to do a special event on Saturday morning for kids and the first committee meeting will be Wednesday, September 9. They will also look into an Easter Egg Hunt.
Retha Hicks – the budget hearing will be September 22. The budget has been advertised. The Community Dinner program will include a vignette of “The Sound of Music”. Retha contacted Bruce Shaffner and he agreed to provide the entertainment. The videotaping for the IACT award went very well on Wednesday with a good turnout.
Mitch Titus – reported that Warsaw has not found out what their tax rate will be for the Fire Territory. Allebach is doing research regarding compensation due to the Town. Hicks responded that Wayne Township has paid us for one-half of the year. Titus reported that Winona Lake is still responding to calls with Warsaw including the Zimmer call.
Lohse made a motion to adjourn, Gooding seconded and motion passed.
Meeting was adjourned
_________________________ ___________________________
TERRY HOWIE RETHA S. HICKS
PRESIDENT CLERK-TREASURER