Winona Council Approves For MACOG To Do Engineering, Site Designs For EV Charging Stations
January 21, 2025 at 9:59 p.m.
WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council approved an agreement with Michiana Area Council of Governments to do preliminary engineering and site designs for electric vehicle charging stations.
Town Manager Craig Allebach said the town started talks with MACOG roughly two years ago about electric vehicle charging stations. MACOG was successful in their grant application for the stations.
The agreement with MACOG approved Tuesday was to have MACOG do preliminary engineering and site designs so the charging stations can be implemented.
Allebach said the grant for the EV charging stations is an 80/20 match and MACOG will provide some match money. The town of Winona Lake will also have to provide some match money as well.
The four charging stations would go outside of Town Hall before people turn onto Park Avenue. Allebach said he thought four stations was the minimum MACOG would like to see. He also stated there is a five-year commitment for the charging stations.
Councilman Barry Andrew asked how everything would work in regards to the charging stations during the winter when the traffic flow to Winona Lake is reduced. He also asked about the financial commitment from the town.
Allebach said the charging stations will be fee-based supported and there are different ways the fees can be set up.
Andrew asked if there was data from Warsaw on how successful the city’s charging stations have been. Allebach said he didn’t have information from Warsaw, but knows the stations are used quite a bit.
Andrew said he’d like more data on the long-term effects of the charging stations. He also had concerns about the long-term financial commitment for the town.
The council approved the agreement 3-1-1. Councilmen Jason Zaugg, Jim Lancaster and Austin Reynolds voted for the agreement. Andrew voted against it. Council President Ashley McGinnis abstained.
Earlier in the meeting, the council approved a contract with Grace Solutions to provide media and marketing services for the town.
Allebach said the town has been in discussions with Grace Solutions to provide a more robust platform for media and marketing for the town. It initially started as discussions on how to improve marketing for the Miller Sunset Pavilion.
Allebach, McGinnis and Reynolds met with representatives from Grace Solutions and Grace Solutions gave a presentation.
Grace Solutions later gave the town a proposal of services. Allebach said some of the services Grace Solutions will provide includes platform management, where they will provide five posts a week and a minimum of two stories a week across different social media sites, including Facebook and Instagram.
Grace Solutions will also look at marketing for different events, including using targeted email lists to help drive people to Winona Lake. Grace Solutions will also create monthly email campaigns to get information out to residents. Grace Solutions will also do some design work, whether that be flyers, post cards, etc.
McGinnis said there has been talk for a while about starting a newsletter, so getting one started is exciting.
Allebach said one goal is to merge town media.
Allebach said the total marketing package cost is $2,895 per month. The agreement has a 60-day opt-out if either side is not satisfied.
Park Director Holly Hummitch asked if town employees will still have access to the police and park departments pages to make posts of their own. McGinnis said yes and just because Grace Solution is making posts on behalf of the town, doesn’t mean town representatives can’t also do it.
In other business, the council:
• Heard The Pajama Party Sale in the Village at Winona is from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Managing Director for the Village at Winona Nick Hauck said every shop that is participating in the event will have a different sale. Some of the shops have stipulations people have to dress in appropriate pajamas. The sales decrease as the day goes on. Hauck said some shops, but not all, will have sales as high as 50% at the beginning of the day.
An updated list of participating shops will be listed at villageatwinona.com/events/pajama-party-sale/ later on in the week.
Wine About the Winter in the Village is 2 to 6 p.m. Feb. 22.
• Tabled a decision on new appropriations for 2024.
• Voted for McGinnis to be council president and Reynolds to be vice president for 2025.
• Approved a dress code policy for employees at the Miller Sunset Pavilion.
WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council approved an agreement with Michiana Area Council of Governments to do preliminary engineering and site designs for electric vehicle charging stations.
Town Manager Craig Allebach said the town started talks with MACOG roughly two years ago about electric vehicle charging stations. MACOG was successful in their grant application for the stations.
The agreement with MACOG approved Tuesday was to have MACOG do preliminary engineering and site designs so the charging stations can be implemented.
Allebach said the grant for the EV charging stations is an 80/20 match and MACOG will provide some match money. The town of Winona Lake will also have to provide some match money as well.
The four charging stations would go outside of Town Hall before people turn onto Park Avenue. Allebach said he thought four stations was the minimum MACOG would like to see. He also stated there is a five-year commitment for the charging stations.
Councilman Barry Andrew asked how everything would work in regards to the charging stations during the winter when the traffic flow to Winona Lake is reduced. He also asked about the financial commitment from the town.
Allebach said the charging stations will be fee-based supported and there are different ways the fees can be set up.
Andrew asked if there was data from Warsaw on how successful the city’s charging stations have been. Allebach said he didn’t have information from Warsaw, but knows the stations are used quite a bit.
Andrew said he’d like more data on the long-term effects of the charging stations. He also had concerns about the long-term financial commitment for the town.
The council approved the agreement 3-1-1. Councilmen Jason Zaugg, Jim Lancaster and Austin Reynolds voted for the agreement. Andrew voted against it. Council President Ashley McGinnis abstained.
Earlier in the meeting, the council approved a contract with Grace Solutions to provide media and marketing services for the town.
Allebach said the town has been in discussions with Grace Solutions to provide a more robust platform for media and marketing for the town. It initially started as discussions on how to improve marketing for the Miller Sunset Pavilion.
Allebach, McGinnis and Reynolds met with representatives from Grace Solutions and Grace Solutions gave a presentation.
Grace Solutions later gave the town a proposal of services. Allebach said some of the services Grace Solutions will provide includes platform management, where they will provide five posts a week and a minimum of two stories a week across different social media sites, including Facebook and Instagram.
Grace Solutions will also look at marketing for different events, including using targeted email lists to help drive people to Winona Lake. Grace Solutions will also create monthly email campaigns to get information out to residents. Grace Solutions will also do some design work, whether that be flyers, post cards, etc.
McGinnis said there has been talk for a while about starting a newsletter, so getting one started is exciting.
Allebach said one goal is to merge town media.
Allebach said the total marketing package cost is $2,895 per month. The agreement has a 60-day opt-out if either side is not satisfied.
Park Director Holly Hummitch asked if town employees will still have access to the police and park departments pages to make posts of their own. McGinnis said yes and just because Grace Solution is making posts on behalf of the town, doesn’t mean town representatives can’t also do it.
In other business, the council:
• Heard The Pajama Party Sale in the Village at Winona is from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Managing Director for the Village at Winona Nick Hauck said every shop that is participating in the event will have a different sale. Some of the shops have stipulations people have to dress in appropriate pajamas. The sales decrease as the day goes on. Hauck said some shops, but not all, will have sales as high as 50% at the beginning of the day.
An updated list of participating shops will be listed at villageatwinona.com/events/pajama-party-sale/ later on in the week.
Wine About the Winter in the Village is 2 to 6 p.m. Feb. 22.
• Tabled a decision on new appropriations for 2024.
• Voted for McGinnis to be council president and Reynolds to be vice president for 2025.
• Approved a dress code policy for employees at the Miller Sunset Pavilion.