Winona Approves Skateboard Ordinance, Reviews No Smoking Proposal
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Town Council approved an ordinance Tuesday night restricting the use of skateboards in the town by requiring them to abide by the rules of the road applicable to motor vehicles, such as stopping at intersections and yielding right of way. Skaters who do not abide by traffic laws will receive a $25 fine on first offense and $50 on further offenses.
Paul Schmitt, town marshal, informed the council at its April 15 meeting that there has been an issue with skateboarders going down the hills on 9th, 7th and Chestnut streets causing a safety problem by not stopping. The council during its May 20 meeting discussed having Jim Walmer, town attorney, put together an ordinance to restrict skateboarding.
Curt Barkey, Trail Side Drive resident, said during the meeting that 10 skateboarders spent over an hour last weekend skateboarding by his home, where there is a blind curve that poses a safety issue with bicyclists and motorists.
“I’m a cyclist and a Kosciusko Velo Cycling Club member and am about alternative modes of transportation,” Barkey said.
In other business, the council passed a motion by councilman Greg Winn, seconded by council member Peter Christos, to draft an ordinance prohibiting smoking on town park properties including Winona Lake, Bibler and Chestnut Street parks and on the Heritage Trail portion of the Greenway in Winona Lake.
Terry Howie voted against considering the ordinance, saying he was concerned about how a smoking prohibition would be enforced.
“I’m concerned about passing more and more ordinances and laws. I think the state of Indiana looked at this same thing and they are going the other way. Not that I like smoking or anything, but I am concerned we are passing more and more laws and how are we going to enforce it,” Howie said. “My concern is that we are passing more and more laws that will basically handcuff the police department, having them go after more and more things like this that will be rough to enforce.”
Walmer said the parks department can make park rules and law enforcement will enforce the rules. Schmitt said an ordinance will make it easier to enforce the smoking issue.
The council will vote on the ordinance during its July meeting.
Winn said he has heard both support and opposition to a park smoking ban from constituents.
“When our park board was here last month there was a resounding ‘we want this,’ and from my observation there was no wavering in their thoughts,” Winn said. “From my viewpoint this is about the park; we have these people who have been elected to be on our park board and I think we should support them.”
Winona Lake Park Board members and Limitless Park Committee members had attended the council’s May meeting requesting smoking be prohibited in town parks.
In other business, the council reviewed three bids for the replacement of the town’s lift station that will be taken under advisement and awarded at a meeting Thursday night.
The council also reviewed bids for phase one of the Limitless Park, which will be awarded Thursday night. Phase one is the installation of a splash pad, year-round restrooms, trailhead facilities and parking area.
The council approved a $27,863 quote from Phend & Brown for 7th Street improvements including removal of the existing curb and sidewalk and installation of a new curb, sidewalk and concrete pavement.
A $15,000 contract was approved with Ousley Seawall to improve the west and east sides of the town’s seawall.
Mitch Titus, Winona Lake fire chief, asked council to review replacing the town’s tornado siren.
Town Happenings include MasterWorks Festival until July 12; Limitless Park Cookout at Cerulean from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday; Optimist Triathlon June 28 at 8 a.m. at Winona Lake Park. July 4 activities include Winona Lake Great 4th Of July Celebration, Patriotic Pops Concert at 8:30 p.m., fireworks over Winona Lake at 10 p.m.; July 5 events include Firecracker 5K at Winona Lake Park at 8 a.m., Flotilla around Winona Lake at 8:30 p.m. and the WINEona Hops at the Shops Festival July 12.
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Town Council approved an ordinance Tuesday night restricting the use of skateboards in the town by requiring them to abide by the rules of the road applicable to motor vehicles, such as stopping at intersections and yielding right of way. Skaters who do not abide by traffic laws will receive a $25 fine on first offense and $50 on further offenses.
Paul Schmitt, town marshal, informed the council at its April 15 meeting that there has been an issue with skateboarders going down the hills on 9th, 7th and Chestnut streets causing a safety problem by not stopping. The council during its May 20 meeting discussed having Jim Walmer, town attorney, put together an ordinance to restrict skateboarding.
Curt Barkey, Trail Side Drive resident, said during the meeting that 10 skateboarders spent over an hour last weekend skateboarding by his home, where there is a blind curve that poses a safety issue with bicyclists and motorists.
“I’m a cyclist and a Kosciusko Velo Cycling Club member and am about alternative modes of transportation,” Barkey said.
In other business, the council passed a motion by councilman Greg Winn, seconded by council member Peter Christos, to draft an ordinance prohibiting smoking on town park properties including Winona Lake, Bibler and Chestnut Street parks and on the Heritage Trail portion of the Greenway in Winona Lake.
Terry Howie voted against considering the ordinance, saying he was concerned about how a smoking prohibition would be enforced.
“I’m concerned about passing more and more ordinances and laws. I think the state of Indiana looked at this same thing and they are going the other way. Not that I like smoking or anything, but I am concerned we are passing more and more laws and how are we going to enforce it,” Howie said. “My concern is that we are passing more and more laws that will basically handcuff the police department, having them go after more and more things like this that will be rough to enforce.”
Walmer said the parks department can make park rules and law enforcement will enforce the rules. Schmitt said an ordinance will make it easier to enforce the smoking issue.
The council will vote on the ordinance during its July meeting.
Winn said he has heard both support and opposition to a park smoking ban from constituents.
“When our park board was here last month there was a resounding ‘we want this,’ and from my observation there was no wavering in their thoughts,” Winn said. “From my viewpoint this is about the park; we have these people who have been elected to be on our park board and I think we should support them.”
Winona Lake Park Board members and Limitless Park Committee members had attended the council’s May meeting requesting smoking be prohibited in town parks.
In other business, the council reviewed three bids for the replacement of the town’s lift station that will be taken under advisement and awarded at a meeting Thursday night.
The council also reviewed bids for phase one of the Limitless Park, which will be awarded Thursday night. Phase one is the installation of a splash pad, year-round restrooms, trailhead facilities and parking area.
The council approved a $27,863 quote from Phend & Brown for 7th Street improvements including removal of the existing curb and sidewalk and installation of a new curb, sidewalk and concrete pavement.
A $15,000 contract was approved with Ousley Seawall to improve the west and east sides of the town’s seawall.
Mitch Titus, Winona Lake fire chief, asked council to review replacing the town’s tornado siren.
Town Happenings include MasterWorks Festival until July 12; Limitless Park Cookout at Cerulean from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday; Optimist Triathlon June 28 at 8 a.m. at Winona Lake Park. July 4 activities include Winona Lake Great 4th Of July Celebration, Patriotic Pops Concert at 8:30 p.m., fireworks over Winona Lake at 10 p.m.; July 5 events include Firecracker 5K at Winona Lake Park at 8 a.m., Flotilla around Winona Lake at 8:30 p.m. and the WINEona Hops at the Shops Festival July 12.
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