Winona Council Approves Funds For Roundabout Project
May 18, 2022 at 12:45 a.m.
Winona Council Approves Funds For Roundabout Project
By Jackie Gorski-
Allebach informed the Winona Lake Town Council of that during the Council’s meeting Tuesday.
NIPSCO still has a lot of work to do on Argonne Road. They still have to put in an 8-inch gas line, working from the west side of Argonne to the east side, “but when they pull out Thursday, they say they’re going to be open,” he said.
However, after the line is put in, construction will not be done at the intersection of Argonne Road, Park Avenue, Winona Avenue and Kings Highway.
As the town was doing some tentative planning for the roundabout to go in at the intersection, construction is expected begin after July 4, he said. After July 4, there will be a five-month period of construction for the roundabout with the construction company coming back in the spring to finish construction.
In other business, the Council held a hearing for an additional appropriation of $42,515.72.
Allebach said the appropriation for the town’s 20% portion of funding for the roundabout was to go from the American Rescue Plan Act fund to the streets fund. The price for the project in January was 150% higher than what the estimates were, so the Council had to rebid the project in April. At that point, costs were 115% higher than estimates were, but Allebach said the bid was awardable.
The bid was awarded to Phend & Brown for $2,989,989.
Allebach said the town’s part went up almost $80,000. He said the Indiana Department of Transportation is paying for 80% of the project and their portion went up about $80,000 as well.
Allebach said the roundabout project will be paid with ARPA and streets funds, so it will not have an effect on taxes. He said that’s why the Council needed to do the additional appropriation, so they could move the funds from one fund to another and spend it.
The Council approved the appropriation of $42,515.72. The total cost of the town’s portion of the roundabout project is $597,977.80. The Council approved a motion to write a check to INDOT for the town’s 20% of the project.
The Council approved the appropriation, as well
Also, the Council:
• Learned from Allebach about a buy-a-brick campaign for the Winona Lake ice skating rink. Bricks can be bought at https://millersunsetpavilion.com.
If $50,000 is raised, the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority will donate $50,000 toward construction of the Miller Sunset Pavilion.
• Heard from John Lantz, president of the Animal Welfare League Board of Directors. Lantz thanked the town for its support of the AWL.
He also shared some of the projects the AWL was doing, including doing a Shelter Buddy Literacy Program, where area students can go in to the AWL and read to shelter pets.
Currently, there are 82 dogs at the shelter, not including 11 at trial homes, and 143 cats at the AWL.
• Learned the Invoice Cloud went live Monday.
Allebach said as Winona Lake residents pay for different services, whether it be wastewater or other bills, there is a new interface online on the town’s website. Allebach said the button to pay online is the same as it was previously. Allebach said the new interface will provide better service to residents. He said a few people have used the new interface already.
• Recognized Boy Scout Troop 715 who attended the meeting as the first part of the citizenship of the nation badge. Scout Andrew Ybarra led the prayer and Scout Nicolas Balbuenna-Kline led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Allebach informed the Winona Lake Town Council of that during the Council’s meeting Tuesday.
NIPSCO still has a lot of work to do on Argonne Road. They still have to put in an 8-inch gas line, working from the west side of Argonne to the east side, “but when they pull out Thursday, they say they’re going to be open,” he said.
However, after the line is put in, construction will not be done at the intersection of Argonne Road, Park Avenue, Winona Avenue and Kings Highway.
As the town was doing some tentative planning for the roundabout to go in at the intersection, construction is expected begin after July 4, he said. After July 4, there will be a five-month period of construction for the roundabout with the construction company coming back in the spring to finish construction.
In other business, the Council held a hearing for an additional appropriation of $42,515.72.
Allebach said the appropriation for the town’s 20% portion of funding for the roundabout was to go from the American Rescue Plan Act fund to the streets fund. The price for the project in January was 150% higher than what the estimates were, so the Council had to rebid the project in April. At that point, costs were 115% higher than estimates were, but Allebach said the bid was awardable.
The bid was awarded to Phend & Brown for $2,989,989.
Allebach said the town’s part went up almost $80,000. He said the Indiana Department of Transportation is paying for 80% of the project and their portion went up about $80,000 as well.
Allebach said the roundabout project will be paid with ARPA and streets funds, so it will not have an effect on taxes. He said that’s why the Council needed to do the additional appropriation, so they could move the funds from one fund to another and spend it.
The Council approved the appropriation of $42,515.72. The total cost of the town’s portion of the roundabout project is $597,977.80. The Council approved a motion to write a check to INDOT for the town’s 20% of the project.
The Council approved the appropriation, as well
Also, the Council:
• Learned from Allebach about a buy-a-brick campaign for the Winona Lake ice skating rink. Bricks can be bought at https://millersunsetpavilion.com.
If $50,000 is raised, the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority will donate $50,000 toward construction of the Miller Sunset Pavilion.
• Heard from John Lantz, president of the Animal Welfare League Board of Directors. Lantz thanked the town for its support of the AWL.
He also shared some of the projects the AWL was doing, including doing a Shelter Buddy Literacy Program, where area students can go in to the AWL and read to shelter pets.
Currently, there are 82 dogs at the shelter, not including 11 at trial homes, and 143 cats at the AWL.
• Learned the Invoice Cloud went live Monday.
Allebach said as Winona Lake residents pay for different services, whether it be wastewater or other bills, there is a new interface online on the town’s website. Allebach said the button to pay online is the same as it was previously. Allebach said the new interface will provide better service to residents. He said a few people have used the new interface already.
• Recognized Boy Scout Troop 715 who attended the meeting as the first part of the citizenship of the nation badge. Scout Andrew Ybarra led the prayer and Scout Nicolas Balbuenna-Kline led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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