Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Former town council member Edna Gamble attended the town council meeting Tuesday, saying not having the street employees as employees of the town marked the end of an era.
Gamble, who served on the council for eight years, said she was very much aware of the work Bart Jones, street superintendent, and the street department have done over the years.
"They installed lift stations, manholes and sewer lines," she said. "They installed the wet well when no one else wanted to tackle it. The town owes them a debt of gratitude."
During the Nov. 13 town council meeting, a $260,950 contract with Severn Trent to provide public works services to the town was approved.
Town employees will become Severn Trent employees Jan. 1. Severn Trent project manager Tom Miller, former Syracuse public service director, will be in charge of day-to-day operations for the street, wastewater and park departments.
At the Nov. 13 meeting councilman Rolly Ortega said this is a way to make services better, to improve management and maintenance. He said the employees will gain in benefits.
Gamble said while she was on the council she was the street department liaison for three years.
"It was rather hurtful when I found out someone else was going to take over. Some of you are not out there on the job. ... Maybe I got too close to them," she said. "I just needed to come in and thank them."
Gamble also asked when the Economic Development Income Tax money, $260,000, will arrive and how it will be spent.
Clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks said an ordinance was approved listing 10 capital projects and that half the money was received in June and the other half is expected this month.
At the Oct. 23 council meeting $400,000 in EDIT funds was designated for use as part of a $1.1 million contribution to the new Warsaw wastewater treatment facility.
Gamble also expressed her concern about an increase of $7 in the sewage rate because of infrastructure improvements to Chestnut Street.
She said an environmental study report sent by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management indicated these figures.
"I can assure you that the improvement projects will not increase the sewage rates," Hicks said. She told Gamble the money for the projects had already been set aside and the clerk's office never received the paperwork from IDEM for review.
Winona Lake's sewage rates were raised from $31 to $34, effective Jan. 1, at the Nov. 27 council meeting, another action to support the Warsaw sewage facility.
In other business the council:
• Approved two ordinances. One allows money to be transferred from the general fund appropriation accounts and from the motor vehicle highway fund appropriation accounts.
The second ordinance allowed $4,500 in general fund money to pay for salaries; $9,000 to go toward grounds and equipment; and $3,171 for various salary-related items and computer support for one week of 2001 wages, paid in 2002. The ordinance also moved $4,025 in the MVHF for one week of 2001 wages paid in 2002.
• Denied a request by Jerry Smith to reduce a sewage bill by $465.
• Heard from town marshal Malcolm Gilbert that a $4,475 grant to the town from the Governor's Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana was approved.
• Appointed Dave Pacheco to the park board, replacing Veisa Staton, who has moved from town.
• Four bids were opened Dec. 18 regarding community center construction.
The base bids and bidders were: $245,000, Easterday Construction, Culver; $236,800, Hoeppner Construction, Fort Wayne; 266,800, D&C Construction, South Whitley; and $298,950, CDR Construction.
The bid will be awarded at the next council meeting.
Town council members are: Jeff Carroll, Jerry Clevenger, Craig Snow and Rolly Ortega. David Delp was absent. The next town council meeting is Jan. 8 at 6 p.m.
