Winona Hears Traffic Issues, Holds Hearing On Budget
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Jon Serbousek, Court Street resident, said as a result of traffic confusion and flow issues on Court Street, 12th Street and West Canal Street, he supports a petition signed by 13 residents to reverse the one-way traffic direction on Court Street between 12th Street and Auditorium Boulevard.
This would result in a south to north traffic flow pattern from the corner of Court Street and 12th Street to the corner of Court Street and Auditorium Boulevard.
Town Marshal Paul Schmitt will look at the issue.
Dave Wolkins, Winona Lake resident, asked the town the reasoning behind the lane changes at the light at the intersection of Argonne Road, Winona and Park Avenues, and Kings Highway.
All the lanes at the intersection are straight or right turn lanes and all the left turn lanes are now left turn only.
Craig Allebach, town coordinator, said this was done to avoid potential head-on crashes, and to line up lanes properly so traffic can go straight and not make a jog in the intersection.
Wolkins asked for an update on the CR 250E project where the town is paying for repairing the sinking soil under the road.
Wolkins said he felt the contractor, not the town should pay for the work since the soil borings were not done correctly by the contractor the first time.
Allebach said he is still working with legal counsel on the issue.
The council held a public hearing for its 2012 budget and will approve the budget at its next meeting.
The 2012 general fund is being proposed at $1,271,610.
The 2012 total budget is $3,131,750.
Motor vehicle highway fund is at $699,640.
Local road and street fund is at $110,000.
Park and recreation fund is at $36,500.
Economic Development Income Tax fund is at $800,000.
Riverboat fund is at $95,000.
Rainy day fund is at $119,000.
Local law enforcement education is at $2,500.
Winona Lake redevelopment district fund is at $200,000.
Cumulative capital development fund is at $130,000.
In other business, the council approved having Mutual Federal to provide banking services for the town.
The council reviewed four other quotes.
The council also reviewed a town donation form for those who donate to the town.
The council will approve the donation form at its next meeting.
The town did not previously require those who make donations to fill out the form.
Councilman Randy Swanson reminded the council that routine tracking and accounting procedures for donations are designed to keep the donor’s identity out of the public eye, unless such donor wishes to participate in some form of public recognition of the donation.
Town attorney Jim Walmer, with the help of councilman Randy Swanson, put together a town of Winona Lake private donation policy and procedure form.
The purpose of the policy is to provide a record of consistent procedures for receiving and accounting of private donations to the town.
The policy states record keeping and accounting for the donations shall include the following information in accord with the clerk treasurer’s accounting procedures for the donation account.
The donation must include the name of the donor, date of donation, amount of donation, dollar amount, description of property donated, and department or town project to which the donation may be directed by the donor.
The policy must be documented by way of a numbered receipt given to the donor and signed by the department head and or clerk-treasurer.
Donations other than cash or check such as property must be brought to the attention of the town council at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
The town council must be involved in decisions regarding the acceptance of the donation, and the ultimate disposition of the donation.
The policy also covers anonymity of donors, and states access to the records of the donation account shall be limited to the clerk treasurer and town council members unless the donor wants its identity to be made public.
If the donor or a donor’s family member wishes to have a degree of anonymity beyond the procedures or a request of no name on a recorded receipt or donation account the requests must be made in writing by the donor.
The anonymous donation must be brought to the attention of the town council by the clerk-treasurer and council president.
The council must make a determination as to whether to accept the donation, and or any specific donor direction which may be requested for the use of such donated funds.
Councilwoman Joy Lohse commended the town, Dr. Dane Miller, Grace College, and sponsors for bringing former first lady Laura Bush to Winona Lake to speak.
Lohse also said the Winona Lake Community Dinner is Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium and those who attend can preview the Festival of Trees. The cost is $15 per person to attend the dinner. People can call town hall at 574-267-5783 for reservations. Festival of Trees is Nov. 18-20 at Rodeheaver Auditorium and volunteers are needed and should call Tracie Hodson at 574-372-3503.
Upcoming events include the Winona Lake Fire Department Chili Cook Off at the WLFD on Oct. 23 at 4 p.m., the YMCA 5K Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. at the YMCA, and trick-or-treat Oct. 31 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
Jon Serbousek, Court Street resident, said as a result of traffic confusion and flow issues on Court Street, 12th Street and West Canal Street, he supports a petition signed by 13 residents to reverse the one-way traffic direction on Court Street between 12th Street and Auditorium Boulevard.
This would result in a south to north traffic flow pattern from the corner of Court Street and 12th Street to the corner of Court Street and Auditorium Boulevard.
Town Marshal Paul Schmitt will look at the issue.
Dave Wolkins, Winona Lake resident, asked the town the reasoning behind the lane changes at the light at the intersection of Argonne Road, Winona and Park Avenues, and Kings Highway.
All the lanes at the intersection are straight or right turn lanes and all the left turn lanes are now left turn only.
Craig Allebach, town coordinator, said this was done to avoid potential head-on crashes, and to line up lanes properly so traffic can go straight and not make a jog in the intersection.
Wolkins asked for an update on the CR 250E project where the town is paying for repairing the sinking soil under the road.
Wolkins said he felt the contractor, not the town should pay for the work since the soil borings were not done correctly by the contractor the first time.
Allebach said he is still working with legal counsel on the issue.
The council held a public hearing for its 2012 budget and will approve the budget at its next meeting.
The 2012 general fund is being proposed at $1,271,610.
The 2012 total budget is $3,131,750.
Motor vehicle highway fund is at $699,640.
Local road and street fund is at $110,000.
Park and recreation fund is at $36,500.
Economic Development Income Tax fund is at $800,000.
Riverboat fund is at $95,000.
Rainy day fund is at $119,000.
Local law enforcement education is at $2,500.
Winona Lake redevelopment district fund is at $200,000.
Cumulative capital development fund is at $130,000.
In other business, the council approved having Mutual Federal to provide banking services for the town.
The council reviewed four other quotes.
The council also reviewed a town donation form for those who donate to the town.
The council will approve the donation form at its next meeting.
The town did not previously require those who make donations to fill out the form.
Councilman Randy Swanson reminded the council that routine tracking and accounting procedures for donations are designed to keep the donor’s identity out of the public eye, unless such donor wishes to participate in some form of public recognition of the donation.
Town attorney Jim Walmer, with the help of councilman Randy Swanson, put together a town of Winona Lake private donation policy and procedure form.
The purpose of the policy is to provide a record of consistent procedures for receiving and accounting of private donations to the town.
The policy states record keeping and accounting for the donations shall include the following information in accord with the clerk treasurer’s accounting procedures for the donation account.
The donation must include the name of the donor, date of donation, amount of donation, dollar amount, description of property donated, and department or town project to which the donation may be directed by the donor.
The policy must be documented by way of a numbered receipt given to the donor and signed by the department head and or clerk-treasurer.
Donations other than cash or check such as property must be brought to the attention of the town council at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
The town council must be involved in decisions regarding the acceptance of the donation, and the ultimate disposition of the donation.
The policy also covers anonymity of donors, and states access to the records of the donation account shall be limited to the clerk treasurer and town council members unless the donor wants its identity to be made public.
If the donor or a donor’s family member wishes to have a degree of anonymity beyond the procedures or a request of no name on a recorded receipt or donation account the requests must be made in writing by the donor.
The anonymous donation must be brought to the attention of the town council by the clerk-treasurer and council president.
The council must make a determination as to whether to accept the donation, and or any specific donor direction which may be requested for the use of such donated funds.
Councilwoman Joy Lohse commended the town, Dr. Dane Miller, Grace College, and sponsors for bringing former first lady Laura Bush to Winona Lake to speak.
Lohse also said the Winona Lake Community Dinner is Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium and those who attend can preview the Festival of Trees. The cost is $15 per person to attend the dinner. People can call town hall at 574-267-5783 for reservations. Festival of Trees is Nov. 18-20 at Rodeheaver Auditorium and volunteers are needed and should call Tracie Hodson at 574-372-3503.
Upcoming events include the Winona Lake Fire Department Chili Cook Off at the WLFD on Oct. 23 at 4 p.m., the YMCA 5K Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. at the YMCA, and trick-or-treat Oct. 31 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
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