Duncan Steps Down From Winona Lake Council
November 16, 2022 at 11:21 p.m.
Duncan Steps Down From Winona Lake Council
By Leah Sander-
The Winona Lake Town Council recognized Duncan at its meeting on Tuesday, his last with the Council.
His resignation is effective Nov. 30. Duncan, the current Council vice president, is required to step down after winning election to the District 5 seat on the Warsaw Community Schools Board. Indiana law prohibits anyone from serving in two elected positions at the same time.
"Education's been my life. I'm pretty excited about that opportunity," said Duncan, a former teacher and principal. "I've just sincerely fully enjoyed this time (on the Council) and I'm going to miss these meetings and this board, so I appreciate the opportunity that I've had."
Town Manager Craig Allebach also read from Duncan's resignation letter.
"I hope to remain involved with the town," said Duncan in the letter.
Kosciusko County Republicans will choose a replacement through the caucus process. No details about the caucus have been announced yet.
The caucus will happen no later than 30 days after Duncan's resignation date, Ragan said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, town officials presented Duncan with a plaque with a wood cutout of the town of Winona Lake.
The Council also heard complaints from residents who live on the hill above Miller Sunset Pavilion.
They were upset about the noise that occurred from rock music that was played during a private birthday party on Saturday at the pavilion, located along Park Avenue.
The town owns the pavilion.
"We're well aware of what happened obviously, as a Council," said Council President Rick Swaim in response to one complaint. "We're certainly concerned. We want to be good neighbors with the pavilion. We want to do the right thing and all the actions that we can take to make that work, we're going to make work."
Allebach agreed with Swaim, adding that the town would "look at volume of sound, look at how we can maybe absorb some of the sound, but it's kind of growing pains for us, it's something we never did and ... maybe even looking at the quality of the music and, of course, the loudness."
"We're going to do what we can to try to mitigate things," he said.
The Council also approved salaries for 2023.
The Council president will receive $4,696 annually and members will receive $3,939. Park board members will receive $446.
The following employees' salaries were also approved: Town clerk-treasurer, $2,550.46 biweekly; town marshal, $2,918.99 biweekly base salary plus an additional sum related to his years of service to the town; chief deputy town marshal, $2,513.99 biweekly plus an additional compensation; patrolmen, $2,351.41, plus additional compensation for the title of sergeant; and town manager, $3,412.45 biweekly base plus provisions from a contract.
Also approved were the biweekly base salary for chief deputy clerk, $2,258.59; and the biweekly base hourly rate for utility clerk, $24.22; office clerk/utility clerk, $23.48; park/senior center director, $24.62; building commissioner, $30.93; town grounds/maintenance, $18.91; assistant/victim advocate, $16.07; and janitorial, $20.
In other business, the Council:
• Heard that kids would once again be able to write Letters to Santa from Monday, Nov. 21 to Monday, Dec. 5. Letters must be received by 4 p.m. on Dec. 5.
They should be sent to Santa Claus, C/O Town of Winona Lake, Winona Lake Limitless Park, 1590 Park Ave., P.O. Box 338, Winona Lake, IN 46590. They also can be dropped off at the red North Pole mailbox outside town hall from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
People should make sure a return address is included on the letters. Forms for the letters may be found outside of town hall or the parks office starting on Nov. 21, with information on the forms also available at Winona Lake Limitless Park's Facebook page. If people don't wish to use the forms, they can still write letters using the forms' information.
• Learned that KringleFest is 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
Heard that Christmas in the Village is set for Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Winona Heritage Room, 901 Park Ave. For more information and to buy tickets, go to classicartsprograms.com/tickets.
• Appointed JT Jacobson to the Winona Lake Park Board.
• Approved Kevin Gelbaugh to serve as Winona Lake fire chief for another three years.
• Learned that leaf pickup should be finished next week.
• Announced the Council's next meeting is 6 p.m. Dec. 20 at the town hall.
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The Winona Lake Town Council recognized Duncan at its meeting on Tuesday, his last with the Council.
His resignation is effective Nov. 30. Duncan, the current Council vice president, is required to step down after winning election to the District 5 seat on the Warsaw Community Schools Board. Indiana law prohibits anyone from serving in two elected positions at the same time.
"Education's been my life. I'm pretty excited about that opportunity," said Duncan, a former teacher and principal. "I've just sincerely fully enjoyed this time (on the Council) and I'm going to miss these meetings and this board, so I appreciate the opportunity that I've had."
Town Manager Craig Allebach also read from Duncan's resignation letter.
"I hope to remain involved with the town," said Duncan in the letter.
Kosciusko County Republicans will choose a replacement through the caucus process. No details about the caucus have been announced yet.
The caucus will happen no later than 30 days after Duncan's resignation date, Ragan said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, town officials presented Duncan with a plaque with a wood cutout of the town of Winona Lake.
The Council also heard complaints from residents who live on the hill above Miller Sunset Pavilion.
They were upset about the noise that occurred from rock music that was played during a private birthday party on Saturday at the pavilion, located along Park Avenue.
The town owns the pavilion.
"We're well aware of what happened obviously, as a Council," said Council President Rick Swaim in response to one complaint. "We're certainly concerned. We want to be good neighbors with the pavilion. We want to do the right thing and all the actions that we can take to make that work, we're going to make work."
Allebach agreed with Swaim, adding that the town would "look at volume of sound, look at how we can maybe absorb some of the sound, but it's kind of growing pains for us, it's something we never did and ... maybe even looking at the quality of the music and, of course, the loudness."
"We're going to do what we can to try to mitigate things," he said.
The Council also approved salaries for 2023.
The Council president will receive $4,696 annually and members will receive $3,939. Park board members will receive $446.
The following employees' salaries were also approved: Town clerk-treasurer, $2,550.46 biweekly; town marshal, $2,918.99 biweekly base salary plus an additional sum related to his years of service to the town; chief deputy town marshal, $2,513.99 biweekly plus an additional compensation; patrolmen, $2,351.41, plus additional compensation for the title of sergeant; and town manager, $3,412.45 biweekly base plus provisions from a contract.
Also approved were the biweekly base salary for chief deputy clerk, $2,258.59; and the biweekly base hourly rate for utility clerk, $24.22; office clerk/utility clerk, $23.48; park/senior center director, $24.62; building commissioner, $30.93; town grounds/maintenance, $18.91; assistant/victim advocate, $16.07; and janitorial, $20.
In other business, the Council:
• Heard that kids would once again be able to write Letters to Santa from Monday, Nov. 21 to Monday, Dec. 5. Letters must be received by 4 p.m. on Dec. 5.
They should be sent to Santa Claus, C/O Town of Winona Lake, Winona Lake Limitless Park, 1590 Park Ave., P.O. Box 338, Winona Lake, IN 46590. They also can be dropped off at the red North Pole mailbox outside town hall from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
People should make sure a return address is included on the letters. Forms for the letters may be found outside of town hall or the parks office starting on Nov. 21, with information on the forms also available at Winona Lake Limitless Park's Facebook page. If people don't wish to use the forms, they can still write letters using the forms' information.
• Learned that KringleFest is 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
Heard that Christmas in the Village is set for Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Winona Heritage Room, 901 Park Ave. For more information and to buy tickets, go to classicartsprograms.com/tickets.
• Appointed JT Jacobson to the Winona Lake Park Board.
• Approved Kevin Gelbaugh to serve as Winona Lake fire chief for another three years.
• Learned that leaf pickup should be finished next week.
• Announced the Council's next meeting is 6 p.m. Dec. 20 at the town hall.
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