Winona Lake Council Addresses Communication Problems
April 19, 2023 at 2:47 a.m.
Winona Lake Council Addresses Communication Problems
By Leah Sander-
Discussed were concerns council members and department heads had about getting information from Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Laurie Renier’s office, with them looking at 2022 and 2023 financial information.
Winona Lake Parks Department Director Holly Hummitch said she was concerned about financial reports being delayed due to wanting to plan for the park’s imminent summer season and hiring staff, etc.
She noted she needed to know information so work could be done on Winona Lake Limitless Park’s SplashPad, which is to open soon for the year.
Renier was to work on getting the information to her.
Winona Lake Police Chief Joe Hawn said he wanted to pay for some police car lights out of last year’s budget at the end of 2022. That bill didn’t end up getting paid last year, even though it was marked for 2022, with Renier citing that it was due to a transitory period at the end of the year.
Former Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks spoke up, noting additional appropriations could be made to cover the lights as well as an expense Hummitch had.
Town council member Jim Lancaster asked what department heads needed from Renier’s office each month.
Hawn mentioned it would be appropriations reports, which he’d gotten in the past, but hadn’t more recently.
Lancaster noted if everyone could be on the same page about what they wanted from Renier’s office, it could be distributed to everyone at once.
Town council member Ashley McGinnis said it would help if reports could come to people earlier, with Teena Pence, who works as one of Renier’s deputy clerks, noting that she’s working on a rotation schedule.
At the end of the meeting when the public was welcome to comment, Jim LeMasters spoke.
He noted he’s worked in government for a while, currently working for Warsaw Community Schools. LeMasters suggested council members could take some training so they could better educate themselves about the budget instead of having to ask so many questions.
With the council still wishing to review financial claims for the month, they agreed to have a special meeting at 5 p.m. Friday at Town Hall to approve them.
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Discussed were concerns council members and department heads had about getting information from Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Laurie Renier’s office, with them looking at 2022 and 2023 financial information.
Winona Lake Parks Department Director Holly Hummitch said she was concerned about financial reports being delayed due to wanting to plan for the park’s imminent summer season and hiring staff, etc.
She noted she needed to know information so work could be done on Winona Lake Limitless Park’s SplashPad, which is to open soon for the year.
Renier was to work on getting the information to her.
Winona Lake Police Chief Joe Hawn said he wanted to pay for some police car lights out of last year’s budget at the end of 2022. That bill didn’t end up getting paid last year, even though it was marked for 2022, with Renier citing that it was due to a transitory period at the end of the year.
Former Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks spoke up, noting additional appropriations could be made to cover the lights as well as an expense Hummitch had.
Town council member Jim Lancaster asked what department heads needed from Renier’s office each month.
Hawn mentioned it would be appropriations reports, which he’d gotten in the past, but hadn’t more recently.
Lancaster noted if everyone could be on the same page about what they wanted from Renier’s office, it could be distributed to everyone at once.
Town council member Ashley McGinnis said it would help if reports could come to people earlier, with Teena Pence, who works as one of Renier’s deputy clerks, noting that she’s working on a rotation schedule.
At the end of the meeting when the public was welcome to comment, Jim LeMasters spoke.
He noted he’s worked in government for a while, currently working for Warsaw Community Schools. LeMasters suggested council members could take some training so they could better educate themselves about the budget instead of having to ask so many questions.
With the council still wishing to review financial claims for the month, they agreed to have a special meeting at 5 p.m. Friday at Town Hall to approve them.
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