WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council approved several items regarding the Miller Sunset Pavilion Monday.
The first item approved was a revised dog policy for the pavilion.
Council President Ashley McGinnis said the policy was approved during February’s meeting, but there were some significant changes to the policy, “so we just wanted to bring it in front of everybody.” There were questions about whether the dog policy was just for the farmers market or for the pavilion year-round.
The dog policy was split up to cover the farmers market and the pavilion year-round.
Specificly for the farmers market, the policy states: “Winona Lake knows that many of our shoppers enjoy bringing their canine companions at our market. Well-behaved dogs are welcome to join you at the market ...”
In the policy specific to the farmers market, it states dogs must be kept away from products, plants and other market/vendor fixtures - both head and tail ends.
The guidelines for dogs for both the farmers market and the pavilion year-round are dogs must be comfortable around crowds and other dogs to shop at the market; no dogs shall be permitted in the artificial green space; dogs must be on a 6-foot leash in hand, well-mannered and by the owner’s side at all times; and any damage caused by a dog will be the responsibility of the dog owner and may include the costs associated with the replacement or cleaning of the damaged items.
The council also approved a farmers market manager agreement with Brittany Denney of Denney Farms.
In the agreement, Denney’s responsibilities include being present at the market every week or have a designee in place in case of her absence; assigning vendor spots for the season along with any drop-ins and food trucks; make sure all vendors have the right number of tables set up for their spot on a weekly basis; verifying appropriate setup and breakdown of the market each week; managing the market on a weekly basis and problem solving anything that may arise; recruiting live music for the market; and overseeing marketing campaigns for the market.
In exchange, Denney will receive $75 per Saturday.
Also, McGinnis said the Miller Sunset Pavilion Committee was looking for ways to raise money for the farmers market.
The idea is to have businesses or organizations buy a 24-inch-by-24-inch logo spot on a banner for $500. The banner will go where the K21 Health Foundation banner goes for the free skate above the garage door at the pavilion. The banner will say the farmers market is every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Councilman Jim Lancaster asked if it would be just one banner. McGinnis said the goal the committee talked about was having three banners.
Lancaster asked what would happen if someone booked the pavilion and requested the banners be taken down. McGinnis said she hoped that wouldn’t happen, but said the banners could be taken down if requested. Lancaster asked if that had been factored into the cost. McGinnis said yes.
McGinnis asked for permission to sell those logo spots. The council approved.
In other business, the council:
• Heard the tornado siren in town will be activated the first Saturday of each month at 11 a.m. The siren will run for 20 seconds.
• Approved for the town to apply for the 2026 Comprehensive Hoosier Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHHIRP) Grant.
Town Manager Craig Allebach said for the past couple decades, Winona Lake has been the fiscal agent for the Kosciusko County Traffic Safety Partnership. At the end of this fiscal year, which is Sept. 30, the partnership will be disbanded. So in 2026, each individual department has to apply for a CHHIRP grant.
• Approved establishing brick fundraiser, federal highway, Indiana volunteer firefighter and local law enforcement forfeiture funds.
Clerk-Treasurer Heather James said the State Board of Accounts recommended the town make some changes to its submissions in Gateway. The funds were created to help clean everything up.
• Approved an annual agreement for James to work with Baker Tilly if needed.
• Heard there were some issues with door-to-door salesmen going around town without permits.
• Heard the Egg My House fundraiser is April 18-19. People can buy candy and toy-filled eggs, which will be delivered to people to their front porch in a basket, or the park department will actually hide them in people’s yard.