Winona Approves Changing Insurance Providers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The town unanimously approved changing its insurance provider from Bliss McKnight with Clevenger Insurance to Hall & Marose Insurance for its liability, property, and auto insurance.
Council members Randy Swanson, Terry Howie, Sue Gooding, and Bruce Shaffner voted in favor of changing providers. Councilwoman Joy Lohse did not vote as she left the meeting early because of a family matter.
The town has had Bliss McKnight Insurance for the past 3 or 4 years, according to town coordinator Craig Allebach.
The town council felt having an insurance umbrella, an amount of money over all the insurance policies, was a better policy.
Jerry Clevenger, Clevenger Insurance, and Dan Woods, Hall & Marose Insurance, attended Tuesday night’s meeting to discuss both of their insurance policies.
Woods said Hall & Marose will offer a $5 million insurance umbrella that covers vehicle and liability claims. The policy will begin Oct. 1.
In other business the council approved selling the 301 Fifth St. property that has been donated to the town. The property will be sold to Grow Winona for $5,000.
The council also reviewed a bid for $2,000 for the property from Steve Silveus.
The council approved advertising for asphalt bids for 10 projects in the town.
The projects include asphalting Administration Boulevard, Winona Avenue and McKinley Street, the College Avenue and 5th Street intersection, East Boy’s City Drive greenway parking lot, 1909 Park Avenue, Liberty Street, Roy Street, Pierceton Road, King’s Highway, and Park Avenue.
The town will accept bids until Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.
The council will make a decision on an asphalt company at its Oct. 11 meeting.
The council also approved an ordinance to vacate an easement at 108 Peachtree.
The council also had discussion on anonymous donors and approved Jim Walmer, town attorney, and councilman Randy Swanson working together to put together a policy for anonymous donors.
Jack Hicks, Winona Lake resident, attended the council meeting and asked town council President Sue Gooding for an update on her submission of a complaint to the public access counselor.
Gooding submitted a formal complaint on July 26 to the Indiana Public Counselor alleging town clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks violated the Access to Public Records Law.
In her complaint she alleged that she repeatedly requested an accounting of the town’s donation fund, including a list of individual donors she said she did not receive.
As previously reported in the Times-Union’s Aug. 24 edition, Gooding informed the town again Tuesday night that she received a response letter to her complaint from the public access counselor.
Joe Hoage, public access counselor, wrote in his response that the Access To Public Records Act permits public agencies to withhold the identity of a donor of a gift made to the public agency if a donor required nondisclosure of the donor’s identity as a condition of making the gift, or after the gift is made the donor or a member of the donor’s family requests nondisclosure.
The response also states if a public agency has no records responsive to a public records request, the agency does not violate the public records act by denying the request.
Hicks said she sent 5 years of revenue and expense history of the donation account to the council two weeks prior to when Gooding’s complaint was filed.
Pete O’Connell, street superintendent, said leaf season begins in the town on Sept. 30.
Upcoming events in the town include American Heart Association Walk at Winona Lake Park Saturday at 9 a.m., Day of Generosity Bicycle Tour at Trailhouse Sept. 24 at 8 a.m., and the Light the Night Walk Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium.[[In-content Ad]]
The town unanimously approved changing its insurance provider from Bliss McKnight with Clevenger Insurance to Hall & Marose Insurance for its liability, property, and auto insurance.
Council members Randy Swanson, Terry Howie, Sue Gooding, and Bruce Shaffner voted in favor of changing providers. Councilwoman Joy Lohse did not vote as she left the meeting early because of a family matter.
The town has had Bliss McKnight Insurance for the past 3 or 4 years, according to town coordinator Craig Allebach.
The town council felt having an insurance umbrella, an amount of money over all the insurance policies, was a better policy.
Jerry Clevenger, Clevenger Insurance, and Dan Woods, Hall & Marose Insurance, attended Tuesday night’s meeting to discuss both of their insurance policies.
Woods said Hall & Marose will offer a $5 million insurance umbrella that covers vehicle and liability claims. The policy will begin Oct. 1.
In other business the council approved selling the 301 Fifth St. property that has been donated to the town. The property will be sold to Grow Winona for $5,000.
The council also reviewed a bid for $2,000 for the property from Steve Silveus.
The council approved advertising for asphalt bids for 10 projects in the town.
The projects include asphalting Administration Boulevard, Winona Avenue and McKinley Street, the College Avenue and 5th Street intersection, East Boy’s City Drive greenway parking lot, 1909 Park Avenue, Liberty Street, Roy Street, Pierceton Road, King’s Highway, and Park Avenue.
The town will accept bids until Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.
The council will make a decision on an asphalt company at its Oct. 11 meeting.
The council also approved an ordinance to vacate an easement at 108 Peachtree.
The council also had discussion on anonymous donors and approved Jim Walmer, town attorney, and councilman Randy Swanson working together to put together a policy for anonymous donors.
Jack Hicks, Winona Lake resident, attended the council meeting and asked town council President Sue Gooding for an update on her submission of a complaint to the public access counselor.
Gooding submitted a formal complaint on July 26 to the Indiana Public Counselor alleging town clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks violated the Access to Public Records Law.
In her complaint she alleged that she repeatedly requested an accounting of the town’s donation fund, including a list of individual donors she said she did not receive.
As previously reported in the Times-Union’s Aug. 24 edition, Gooding informed the town again Tuesday night that she received a response letter to her complaint from the public access counselor.
Joe Hoage, public access counselor, wrote in his response that the Access To Public Records Act permits public agencies to withhold the identity of a donor of a gift made to the public agency if a donor required nondisclosure of the donor’s identity as a condition of making the gift, or after the gift is made the donor or a member of the donor’s family requests nondisclosure.
The response also states if a public agency has no records responsive to a public records request, the agency does not violate the public records act by denying the request.
Hicks said she sent 5 years of revenue and expense history of the donation account to the council two weeks prior to when Gooding’s complaint was filed.
Pete O’Connell, street superintendent, said leaf season begins in the town on Sept. 30.
Upcoming events in the town include American Heart Association Walk at Winona Lake Park Saturday at 9 a.m., Day of Generosity Bicycle Tour at Trailhouse Sept. 24 at 8 a.m., and the Light the Night Walk Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium.[[In-content Ad]]
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