WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Park Board will recommend to the town council the park board president, Kristie Maiers, to be a representative on the Miller Sunset Pavilion Committee.
The park board discussed the park board representation to the committee Monday after the town council tabled the committee membership July 2 after a disagreement on who should serve on it from the Winona Lake Park Board. At the July 2 meeting, Council President Jim Lancaster recommended Park Board member Megan Smith to be the board’s representative to the committee.
Councilwoman Ashley McGinnis brought up the wording of who would be on the committee, saying it was worded as the Park Board president or their representative. She thought a representative would be appointed if the park board president couldn’t be on the committee.
Monday, Park Board Vice President Travis Trump made a motion the park board president serve as a representative to the committee. At the board president’s discretion, the president can select a delegate if they so choose.
“This motion would be the process of procedure we would use as a park board going forward,” Trump said.
Smith abstained from the vote. In a letter she read after the vote, she said, “As a previously nominated person, I am abstaining from an Winona Lake Pavilion decisions in relation to its representation on the Miller Sunset Pavilion managing/oversight committee. My name was put forward for committee membership by (Lancaster) at a special meeting of the Winona Lake Town Council on July 2. At this time, I was not aware of the language describing the makeup of the MSP committee, nor the expectation by numerous individuals that the park board president would fill this seat. Because of this conflict, I am not comfortable voting on this matter.
“I support whatever decision the park board makes regarding its recommendation. I also support the town council’s right to decide on the makeup of the MSP committee. While I am willing to serve on the committee, I trust that any member of the Winona Lake Park Board would be a positive addition and will bring value to the role, including the current park board president.”
In other business, the board approved:
• A contract extension with Premium Services for the Limitless Park upgrade project.
Maiers said with the unexpected death of the company’s foreman and issues the park is having with the water table, “we are not going to hit the substantial completion date of Sept. 30.”
With federal grant money, the park board had to talk with engineers JPR and Premium. It was decided the contract could be extended to either Oct. 15 or Oct. 30. Maiers said the board had to vote on the contract extension. Maiers recommended the board choose Oct. 15 as the substantial completion date. If any issues come up in the meantime, then the date of Oct. 30 could be used. An update on the park project will be provided at the August meeting.
• A pause on the sidewalk extension from the senior center to the greenway project.
Maiers said the previous foreman gave a verbal quote for the job and the actual proposed number came in over $6,700 the verbal quote. Maiers said they are back at the negotiating table because they cannot afford $15,900 for the project.