The Town Council of Winona Lake, Indiana met in a
regular session on Tuesday, September 22, 2009, in the Town Hall at 7:00 a.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Joy Lohse, Sue Gooding, Jim Lancaster, Terry Howie, Randy
Swanson and Retha Hicks
ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT: Craig
Allebach, Paul Schmitt and Pete O’Connell
Opening
Jim Lancaster opened the meeting with prayer and the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of minutes – Sue Gooding made a motioned to accept minutes, motion was seconded by Jim Lancaster. Minutes were approved as written.
October 3 – Fall Festival - 15 demonstrators doing 19 century crafts and the Huzzah Hoosier Pennant Vintage Baseball Tournament with 10 teams participating
October 3 – 12 Hours of Winona – a 12 hour mountain bike race on the trails benefiting the Salvation Army and local Food Bank
October 17 – Symphony of the Lake Concert
October 31, 5:30-7:30 – Trick or Treat
Floor Topics: There were no floor topics
Police Department
Volunteer Victim Advocate Program: Paul Schmitt and Craig
Allebach met with Bliss McKnight, the town’s liability insurance carrier, and this
volunteer program was not a problem with them.
The name of the volunteer is listed along with the reserve officers and
coverage is extended to that person.
Paul Schmitt is asking the Council to approve the program as presented
last meeting. Gooding made a motion to
approve the volunteer program and Joy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Dredging Quotes: Craig Allebach reported the canal
dredging project should start on the north end and work south. The worst area starts with Cerulean and goes
to the south. The quotes are for
scooping out the canal, putting it in trucks and hauling it to the pit. We anticipate starting November 1, which is
when the lake is lowered. The project
would take 45 to 60 days. The pricing is
“per cubic yard removed” because of the magnitude of the job. This protects the town because based on our
finances we can control what we actually expend. Jim Lancaster asked about one of the quotes
stating the material being taken out was 3 feet deep and assuming we needed 3
feet removed from the entire canal, this is how they calculated the cubic
yards. Allebach confirmed this. Jerry Nelson asked if they would be working
from the bank and not from a float.
Allebach confirmed they would work from the bank. We might have to talk with property owners at
the mouths of the canal to be able to do the work. Allebach reported that the money will come
from the Canal fund and $150,000 was set aside from Edit money to supplement
the project. There is about $50,000 left
in the Canal fund after paying for the canal lawsuit. Allebach feels that the current rate for pier
space rental should be adequate to pay for dredging in the future but we will
have more information after completing this project to review the rates for piers. Brent Wilcoxson reported that the section
between the street bridges is fine.
Lancaster inquired how long it took to accumulate the $50,000 and Retha
Hicks respond about 4 years. There are no
issues with dumping at the pit but the Street Department will have to do some
site management afterwards. Randy
Swanson asked about the nature of the material being removed from the pit. Allebach responded that it will be sand, silt
and water. The Street Department will
clean up the streets during and after the project. There is no real concern about an odor
problem. Gooding made a motion to accept
the G & G Hauling & Excavating bid of $91,112.60; Lohse seconded;
motion passed.
2010 Budget Public
Hearing: Retha reported on the fund
budgeted amounts for the 2010 Town Budget.
Jerry Nelson commented that it is important to the taxpayers that we get
what we pay for. He felt the town needed
to look at some of the expenditures and put controls on them. Joy Lohse made a motion to accept the budget
as presented and Lancaster seconded the motion.
The motion passed.
Reports from Supervisors:
Pete – Presented a report on the work the Street Department has been doing on liftstations, sewer lines and manholes. The report contains pictures of manholes without manhole covers. There is a resident that has a 4 inch line coming directly from their heat pump to the sanitary sewer. The violations of releasing into the sanitary sewer are numerous as are the manholes that are covered up by flowers and bushes. O’Connell feels that when the project is complete, we will save on sewer treatment cost. O’Connell advised Terry Howie that when Terry calls, caller ID shows as unlisted, and O’Connell does not answer those. If Howie would call on the Town line, O’Connell would get back with him. The crosswalks will be completed as the Street Department has time. Howie asked about a drainage issue at Short Street and Kings Court. O’Connell responded that Larry Long has his report ready. Howie asked what we know about 250 East since Argonne Road is open. Allebach responded that the work might be started the first full week in October and the road will be closed for two weeks.
Paul – met with our workman compensation carrier and the Police Department needs some MSDS sheets in the garage. The sheets will be posted above the products. Schmitt is in the process of writing two grant applications. One is for car cameras. He has not heard for ICJI regarding the new radios. Jerry Nelson expressed appreciation for the police presence at Jefferson school drop-off and pick-up.
Joy – Shared packets with the Council on being a “Tree City” and ask that the Council review it for the next meeting. Lohse asked the Council to look at information regarding a November 21 community event since the Festival of Trees is not scheduled this year. This would be an event directed at kids with a Christmas theme. Joy would like the Council to address this event at the next meeting. Lohse also reported that the newsletter is going out and progress is being made on the new web site. Schmitt reported that the Beaman Home will assume responsibility for the Festival of Trees starting next year. Allebach suggested that all parties involved in the Festival in the past be notified that we are going to do a children’s event this year. Lancaster wanted the Council to go back to review the Strategic Plan and Town’s commitment to events that bring people into the community.
Retha – Informed the Council that the Community Dinner is Friday, November 20th, at the Senior Center and the program will feature portions of the Sound of Music. Bruce Shaffner will bring in some of the Wagon Wheel actors to make this presentation. The committee is working hard to make this a special event.
Craig – Asked the Council if they had looked at the vacation information from Lew Mackey. The Council had not and so Allebach asked them to do so and be prepared to discuss it at the next meeting. Allebach is working on both phase 4A and 4B of the Greenway, meeting with Grace and property owners. INDOT attended a site meeting yesterday. Allebach has applied for money for phase 4B and has a presentation on the 30th. He does not look for funding until 2013.
Retha – reported that both Ken Jones and Sue Haase will be here for the next meeting, October 13th.
Sue – Thought it would be nice to have a presentation from the Park Department and Dick Leaf once or twice a year. Allebach suggested Leaf do a presentation in January and Holly Hummitch in the spring and fall. He will get with them and work that out.
Jim – Wanted the Council to look at our strategic plan for 2009 at the next meeting to help us stay on task.
Terry – Received a letter from an Eagle Scout wanting to paint the fire hydrants in Town. Allebach responded that some had been painted and we could get with Mitch Titus. Howie gave the request to Allebach. Howie read a statement regarding the town building an environmental friendly clean water plant. Jerry Nelson registered a complaint regarding the high cost for sewage of his rental properties. Brent Wilcoxson felt it would be beneficial to have a regional wastewater treatment facility. Gooding responded that the Council did have discussion with other communities, but everyone is at a different point in their experience.
Lohse made a motion to adjourn and Gooding seconded. The motion passed.
Meeting was adjourned
_________________________ ___________________________
TERRY
HOWIE RETHA
S. HICKS
PRESIDENT CLERK-TREASURER