Kings Highway Crosswalks Rethought

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer-

At least two of the "traffic calming" crosswalks on Kings Highway will be removed because of their unpopularity.

The raised crosswalks have been anything but calming to citizens, according to town councilmen Jerry Clevenger and David Delp Tuesday, although councilman Rolly Ortega preferred to keep the devices in place.

"I think it's easier to cross the street. I still see college students bolting across the street wherever they want to. I think it is something they'll get used to," Ortega said, adding that people in his neighborhood like the crosswalks.

"I've heard just the opposite," Clevenger said. "My neighbors are just passing through and it's not calming to drivers."

Delp said he wanted to see the crosswalk at Jefferson Elementary School remain there, and the board voted 2 to 1 to remove the two farthest north of the stop sign at Rupe Drive. Jeff Carroll and John Boal were absent.

The board approved a 6 percent increase for council members with the 2004 annual salaries for the president of the town council set at $3,975 (up from $3,750 last year); and town council members, $3,339 each, an increase of 6 percent from last year ($3,150 each). This is the first council member salary increase in two years.

Ordinance 2004-10-4 also indicated 2005 salaries for the clerk-treasurer, $1880.57 bi-weekly with the last pay of the year, $2,155.57, reflecting a Christmas bonus. Clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks said she gives her office staff 2 percent of her salary. The town marshal will receive $2,250 bi-weekly. Annual compensation for appointed park board members will be $300.

In addition, the town will pay the clerk-treasurer's and town marshal's 3 percent PERF contribution and up to a 2 percent match of their base salaries to an employee's deferred savings plan.

• Approved Resolution 2004-10-5 fixing salaries of town employees as a base of $2,237.88 biweekly for the town coordinator; $13.67 per hour each for Karen Shingledecker and Ellen Swaim; and $1,111.92 bi-weekly for Building Commissioner Richard Leaf.

The town also will pay a 3 percent PERF contribution for town employees and up to a 2 percent match of each employees wages for 2,080 hours to an employee's deferred savings plan.

• Approved GAI Engineering as consultants and construction engineers for the proposed Winona Lake Trail for an amount not to exceed $83,539.21.

• Approved an estimate of $24,015 submitted by Jay Widman Construction to make repairs to the town's rental cottages.

It was noted the rentals made a $66,000 profit over the last few years.

• Heard vertical warning "flashing" lights have been ordered for installation at the fire station. The lights will be activated when the fire trucks leave the station.

• n Events in town were given as: trick or treat, Saturday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; free dance lessons with instructor Kathy Nate, 7 p.m., Nov. 3 in the senior center; Grace College Homecoming Nov. 5 to 7; American Lyceum Lecture featuring Thomas Jefferson impersonator Clay Jenkinson, 4 p.m., Nov. 7, Rodeheaver Auditorium; mountain bike "poker run," Boys City trails, Nov. 23; MasterWorks Second Sunday Concert Series, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. in Rodeheaver; town employee Christmas lunch, 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9; and the Fort Wayne Philharmonics Holiday Pops, Lakeland Community Concert Association, 2 p.m., Dec. 19, in Rodeheaver Auditorium.

The next town council meeting is at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 in town hall. [[In-content Ad]]

At least two of the "traffic calming" crosswalks on Kings Highway will be removed because of their unpopularity.

The raised crosswalks have been anything but calming to citizens, according to town councilmen Jerry Clevenger and David Delp Tuesday, although councilman Rolly Ortega preferred to keep the devices in place.

"I think it's easier to cross the street. I still see college students bolting across the street wherever they want to. I think it is something they'll get used to," Ortega said, adding that people in his neighborhood like the crosswalks.

"I've heard just the opposite," Clevenger said. "My neighbors are just passing through and it's not calming to drivers."

Delp said he wanted to see the crosswalk at Jefferson Elementary School remain there, and the board voted 2 to 1 to remove the two farthest north of the stop sign at Rupe Drive. Jeff Carroll and John Boal were absent.

The board approved a 6 percent increase for council members with the 2004 annual salaries for the president of the town council set at $3,975 (up from $3,750 last year); and town council members, $3,339 each, an increase of 6 percent from last year ($3,150 each). This is the first council member salary increase in two years.

Ordinance 2004-10-4 also indicated 2005 salaries for the clerk-treasurer, $1880.57 bi-weekly with the last pay of the year, $2,155.57, reflecting a Christmas bonus. Clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks said she gives her office staff 2 percent of her salary. The town marshal will receive $2,250 bi-weekly. Annual compensation for appointed park board members will be $300.

In addition, the town will pay the clerk-treasurer's and town marshal's 3 percent PERF contribution and up to a 2 percent match of their base salaries to an employee's deferred savings plan.

• Approved Resolution 2004-10-5 fixing salaries of town employees as a base of $2,237.88 biweekly for the town coordinator; $13.67 per hour each for Karen Shingledecker and Ellen Swaim; and $1,111.92 bi-weekly for Building Commissioner Richard Leaf.

The town also will pay a 3 percent PERF contribution for town employees and up to a 2 percent match of each employees wages for 2,080 hours to an employee's deferred savings plan.

• Approved GAI Engineering as consultants and construction engineers for the proposed Winona Lake Trail for an amount not to exceed $83,539.21.

• Approved an estimate of $24,015 submitted by Jay Widman Construction to make repairs to the town's rental cottages.

It was noted the rentals made a $66,000 profit over the last few years.

• Heard vertical warning "flashing" lights have been ordered for installation at the fire station. The lights will be activated when the fire trucks leave the station.

• n Events in town were given as: trick or treat, Saturday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; free dance lessons with instructor Kathy Nate, 7 p.m., Nov. 3 in the senior center; Grace College Homecoming Nov. 5 to 7; American Lyceum Lecture featuring Thomas Jefferson impersonator Clay Jenkinson, 4 p.m., Nov. 7, Rodeheaver Auditorium; mountain bike "poker run," Boys City trails, Nov. 23; MasterWorks Second Sunday Concert Series, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. in Rodeheaver; town employee Christmas lunch, 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9; and the Fort Wayne Philharmonics Holiday Pops, Lakeland Community Concert Association, 2 p.m., Dec. 19, in Rodeheaver Auditorium.

The next town council meeting is at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 in town hall. [[In-content Ad]]

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