Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Lisa LeMasters was recognized at Tuesday's town council meeting for her service to Winona Lake as the 1997 recipient of the Bill Reneker Memorial Community Service Award.
Secretary of the Winona Lake Housing Authority and a member of the board of directors for the Winona Lake Historical Society, LeMasters is better known in the town as the "flower lady," Judy Reneker said Tuesday.
LeMasters has designed and planted flower gardens in many areas of the town, Reneker said. "When residents and visitors enjoy the beauty of Winona Lake, from its historical architecture to its lovely flower gardens, they can thank the willing hands of ... Lisa LeMasters," she said.
The annual Reneker Award winner is recommended by the town council and approved by Judy Reneker.
The town council also heard from a citizen who requested a solution to the high traffic speeds on Kings Highway. He asked the council to put up a "children playing" sign to warn motorists to slow down.
The council directed town marshal Malcolm Gilbert to patrol more frequently and monitor speeding drivers on Kings Highway.
Sewer issues again dominated the town council meeting, with the council still not resolving its sewer charges issue with the city of Warsaw.
Town attorney Jim Walmer said the original sewage treatment agreement between Warsaw and Winona Lake specified that charges were to be based only on treatment costs. The new agreement, Walmer said, treats Winona Lake the same as any other industrial customer.
The town pays Warsaw $26,000 per month for sewage treatment, he said. "You have an obligation to pay the rates they charge," he said.
However, the council decided to reopen discussions with Warsaw over the sewage contract, and voted not to pay a charge of $7,300 for a new water meter and a miscellaneous charge of $1,400.
The council also agreed to attempt to correct a problem in a sewer line that is causing sewage backup into the basement of Tim Poynter's house on 11th Street. Poynter said there have been five occurrences of backup at his house since he moved there in 1994.
The council agreed to clean the sewer line every other week until a permanent solution is found, and to video the line to see what is causing the problem.
The council did not agree to pay Poynter's claim for $845 in expenses, including carpet cleaning and plumbing, saying they wanted more information on the cause of the problem.
Wilcoxson said he would keep the claim on the council's agenda until it is addressed.
The council also authorized giving the town's housing authority $30,000 so the HA can qualify for a $300,000 grant from the state for housing rehabilitation.
The HA recently used up a $200,000 grant on rehab of 16 to 18 houses in Winona Lake.
Winona Lake's town council will meet next at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 24 in the community building.
