Winona Lake Resident Asks Town Council About Channel Dredging
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WINONA LAKE - Town resident Duane Allen questioned the town council during Tuesday's meeting regarding plans to dredge the channel.
He said he was not able to navigate from his rented pier to the lake without difficulty and had ruined two propellers in the process.
The town rents the piers along the channel.
Board president Rolly Ortega said the plan commission is taking a look at the problem and advised Allen that a seawall is planned for the east side of the channel as part of the greenway project.
"The south side is the only entrance because low bridges on the north often make it impassable," Allen said.
Town coordinator Craig Allebach said the last dredging was in 1996 and the town paid for part of the cost. Winona Restoration picked up the bulk of the bill.
Engineer Larry Long said the issue comes up every five years. "The Department of Natural Resources is either not interested in addressing such problems or not able to fund them," he said. "The 'Horseshoe' channel needs dredging, too."
Ortega thanked Allen for bringing up the issue and assured him the town was aware of the problem.
Chestnut Street turned out nice, commented resident Jim LeMasters.
He asked about the road salting, if there was a program in place.
Public works superintendent Pete O'Connell said certain places are salted first - curves, hills and intersections of streets and alleys.
"Park Avenue, King's Highway and the Packerton Road curves always get done," he said. "We only had one truck before, now we have two." He said there is a list prioritizing streets.
Ortega asked that the clerk's office have a copy of the list so employees can respond to questions about when their street will be done.
In other business, the council:
• Signed an ordinance adopting a zoning map as recommended by the plan commission
• Approved an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $250,000 for remediation of the former Gatke dump on Wooster Road. The grant requires a $40,000 match by the town.
• Heard from Long regarding the near completion of two major road projects. He said just a few more items need to be addressed on Chestnut Street, Faunn and Lake Town Circle.
Long also said street lighting is completed along Prestwick and Muirfield in the Stonehenge residential subdivision. However one lamp stays on 24 hours a day.
• Condolences were sent to town lawyer Jim Walmer, whose mother-in-law died recently.
• Roger Gelbaugh was approved as fire chief, replacing Mike Cox. Gelbaugh has served on the fire department for 32 years. He was chief for 10 years, from 1991 to 2001.
• Heard from Allebach regarding the proposed CR 250E road work. He said the project has reverted back to the "original designs." And the Indiana Department of Transportation has approved variances on certain items, such as installation of new base for the road and a drainage system. A public meeting is scheduled in the next month to provide information about the project.
He said the town must purchase an acre of ground to establish wetlands because approximately one-fourth acre will be disturbed during the construction.
• Heard from board member Jeff Carroll regarding Pete O'Connell's rate of pay when he conducts water testing. Carroll said the pay scale is $25 per hour, not $25 per day as reported. O'Connell will conduct tests for Grace Village Retirement Center until a GVRC employee is certified.
• Set the next meeting for Dec. 23 at 7 a.m., a change from the second Tuesday of the month. Town offices will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 in observation of Christmas.
• Noted the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Christmas Pops Concert is Sunday at 2 p.m. in Rodeheaver Auditorium, and a Senior Services Volunteer Recognition and Fun Night is set for Dec.18 beginning at 4 p.m. in the senior center. A free meal will be served. For more information, call April Baxter, 268-2132.
Town board members are Rolly Ortega, Craig Snow, David Delp, Jeff Carroll and Jerry Clevenger. [[In-content Ad]]
WINONA LAKE - Town resident Duane Allen questioned the town council during Tuesday's meeting regarding plans to dredge the channel.
He said he was not able to navigate from his rented pier to the lake without difficulty and had ruined two propellers in the process.
The town rents the piers along the channel.
Board president Rolly Ortega said the plan commission is taking a look at the problem and advised Allen that a seawall is planned for the east side of the channel as part of the greenway project.
"The south side is the only entrance because low bridges on the north often make it impassable," Allen said.
Town coordinator Craig Allebach said the last dredging was in 1996 and the town paid for part of the cost. Winona Restoration picked up the bulk of the bill.
Engineer Larry Long said the issue comes up every five years. "The Department of Natural Resources is either not interested in addressing such problems or not able to fund them," he said. "The 'Horseshoe' channel needs dredging, too."
Ortega thanked Allen for bringing up the issue and assured him the town was aware of the problem.
Chestnut Street turned out nice, commented resident Jim LeMasters.
He asked about the road salting, if there was a program in place.
Public works superintendent Pete O'Connell said certain places are salted first - curves, hills and intersections of streets and alleys.
"Park Avenue, King's Highway and the Packerton Road curves always get done," he said. "We only had one truck before, now we have two." He said there is a list prioritizing streets.
Ortega asked that the clerk's office have a copy of the list so employees can respond to questions about when their street will be done.
In other business, the council:
• Signed an ordinance adopting a zoning map as recommended by the plan commission
• Approved an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $250,000 for remediation of the former Gatke dump on Wooster Road. The grant requires a $40,000 match by the town.
• Heard from Long regarding the near completion of two major road projects. He said just a few more items need to be addressed on Chestnut Street, Faunn and Lake Town Circle.
Long also said street lighting is completed along Prestwick and Muirfield in the Stonehenge residential subdivision. However one lamp stays on 24 hours a day.
• Condolences were sent to town lawyer Jim Walmer, whose mother-in-law died recently.
• Roger Gelbaugh was approved as fire chief, replacing Mike Cox. Gelbaugh has served on the fire department for 32 years. He was chief for 10 years, from 1991 to 2001.
• Heard from Allebach regarding the proposed CR 250E road work. He said the project has reverted back to the "original designs." And the Indiana Department of Transportation has approved variances on certain items, such as installation of new base for the road and a drainage system. A public meeting is scheduled in the next month to provide information about the project.
He said the town must purchase an acre of ground to establish wetlands because approximately one-fourth acre will be disturbed during the construction.
• Heard from board member Jeff Carroll regarding Pete O'Connell's rate of pay when he conducts water testing. Carroll said the pay scale is $25 per hour, not $25 per day as reported. O'Connell will conduct tests for Grace Village Retirement Center until a GVRC employee is certified.
• Set the next meeting for Dec. 23 at 7 a.m., a change from the second Tuesday of the month. Town offices will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 in observation of Christmas.
• Noted the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Christmas Pops Concert is Sunday at 2 p.m. in Rodeheaver Auditorium, and a Senior Services Volunteer Recognition and Fun Night is set for Dec.18 beginning at 4 p.m. in the senior center. A free meal will be served. For more information, call April Baxter, 268-2132.
Town board members are Rolly Ortega, Craig Snow, David Delp, Jeff Carroll and Jerry Clevenger. [[In-content Ad]]