WINONA LAKE - "Now I have county people coming to me," said town councilman Jerry Clevenger referring to the condition of CR 250E. The council has had plans and state funds for years to significantly improve the road. In the meantime, travelers dodge potholes and endure the bumpy, rough road.

Collecting rights of way from property owners and finding a place to establish a wetlands has held up progress.

"Our problem has become someone else's excuse now," Clevenger said during Tuesday's town council meeting. "People living in the county have gone to the highway department and they're told there won't be improvements to Wooster Road until we do CR 250E. So now I have county people coming to me."

Public works superintendent Pete O'Connell said a temporary overlay will be applied to the road surface until actual construction begins.

Mary Ann Cox of the Winona Lake Presbyterian Church asked that directional signs be installed indicating locations of all of the town's churches, which was approved as long as they conform with the town's sign ordinance.

Cox also asked that a sign indicating parking along College Avenue be installed and indicate parking is allowed during certain Sunday hours.

Boy Scout leader Dick McCleary also attended the meeting, saying the no parking on College Avenue means a long walk to the church prior to Monday night's weekly Scout meetings. More than 40 Boy Scouts use a room in the Presbyterian Church's basement, and McCleary said he never arrived empty-handed.

Cox said the church meeting rooms are often full with Scouts, youth meetings and sessions held there.

Town coordinator Craig Allebach said the parking limitations were initiated because of the number of people walking in the area.

"It's an inconvenience in bad weather," McCleary said.

Councilman Rolly Ortega, chairing the meeting in Jeff Carroll's absence, said he thought Scouts met in the Lion's Club building.

McCleary said Cub Scouts and Explorers meet there.

Ortega asked McCleary if the Senior Center would be a preferable place to meet, that they would have their own parking lot.

McCleary said the Scouts also used the upstairs and the church's audio/visual equipment for awards presentations and for practice prior to the awards night. And the use of the church is free.

Jerry Nelson asked the board questions about the new pier ordinance, saying the price change and the parking situation were discussed, but moving the lease deadline back to April 1 was never mentioned in public.

"Current renters received postcards advising them of the date," Nelson said. "Is that all they are going to receive as far as notice?"

Allebach said there are several deadlines to rent the pier spaces. The April 1 payment deadline is for ongoing renters. Then the contracts are open to residents then to nonresidents.

In his supervisor's report, Allebach said the town is seeking a second opinion with a financial consultant regarding increases in wastewater payments to Warsaw.

Town council members are: Jerry Clevenger, David Delp, Joy Lohse and Rolly Ortega. Jeff Carroll was absent. [[In-content Ad]]