NORTH WEBSTER — A Halloween parade was proposed by North Webster Town Councilwoman Lisa Strombeck for Oct. 19, with a rain date of Oct. 27.
This event will be followed by the now annual Witches Paddle.
The parade and moving forward with the trails were among topics discussed Tuesday by the council.
Strombeck stated she saw on Facebook someone requesting the parade, which was said to have been held years ago. While she did not remember one, she made the proposal to have the parade, which received favorable approval from other council members.
The parade is planned for 1 p.m. starting at the park, going down Huntington Street to Ind. 13, to Washington Street, then Dixie Drive back to the park. The River coffee truck will be present with cider and possible other items such as pumpkin doughnuts. North Webster Police Department officer David May will be checking with Greg Church, town marshal, to see if there are any issues.
The parade will be in addition to the town's official trick-or-treat night, which was not discussed.
Papers Signed
Town Council President Dan Thystrup announced he signed documents with the Indiana Department of Transportation last week on the sidewalk/bike trail in town.
The project will begin at the bridge on the south edge of town and go to the stoplight on the north edge. At this point, he is awaiting the go ahead letter.
“We've already picked the engineering company and we've made contact with the local charities,” he said. Those charities contacted are those who promised financial support toward the project. “We're extremely close for it to happen.”
While he was asked the width of the sidewalk/trail, Thystrup noted it has been changed several times by INDOT and he is letting them decide as they are the ones paying for most of the project.
During new business, the town was asked by Cori Hume, executive director of the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau, to install at least two Clearly Kosciusko signs in the community. The goal is to have these signs in every town in the county to promote the rebranding of the KCCVB.
Mike Noe, utilities superintendent, will check with INDOT to see if the signs can be added to existing signs at the north and south ends of town. “If they turn us down, we'll find another place,” he said.
The council additionally approved to give the North Webster-Tippecanoe Chamber of Commerce the $5,000 it budgeted for beautification. Scott Kuhn, representing the chamber, noted some of the funds would be used to repair and replace benches around town.
While he requested some of the funds be used to replace the nativity scene, Jack Birch, town attorney, urged the council to not specify what the funds be used for so it would not “open a can of worms you don't want to open.”
Additionally, the council heard from Kristin Rude, general manager of Kosciusko Area Bus Services (KABS). Rude explained the KABS program and left information with town officials to help get the word out.
A request was made by Jacob Yahne, representing the Webster Lake Conservation Association. Yahne asked the council to consider budgeting funds in the future to assist with dredging of three areas of Webster Lake, and to assist with cleaning of streets and storm drains to keep sediment from entering the lake.
The areas proposed to be dredged in the future were a small channel on the northwest corner of the lake, Fisherman's Cove area, with the third and largest area being around the park including where the Dixie boat is docked and around the corner. The three projects are a total of 7.368 acres.
Yahne noted the amount of sediment in those areas has increased over the years where in some areas the water is only 2-feet deep. He noted even pontoon boats docking at the restaurant are getting bogged down in mud.
The plan of WLCA is to apply for Lake and River Enhancement Grants for $100,000 per project, knowing that the largest project would have to be divided into several smaller projects.
“We're looking at 382 cubic yards being removed,” Yahne stated.
The projects would not start until 2026 at the earliest.
He estimated the projects would cost $478,000, which would be spread over a number of years. On the other three smaller projects the “hat” would be passed and the projects done according to the funds available.
Noe stated the streets are swept twice a year and the town no longer uses sand on the roads during the winter. Additionally, the storm drains are cleaned once a year.
Yahne touched on the three other projects being undertaken by the WLCA: treating phosphorous in the lake, obtaining sewer for the east side of the lake and the litigation with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources over the dam.
While no vote was taken, Thystrup noted “the lake is what we're all about here,” indicating his thoughts are the town would be interested in partnering with WLCA on the dredging.
The next meeting of the town council will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 15, in the North Webster Community Center.