Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Dave Wolkins asked for some clarification on the King's Highway street project Tuesday at the town council meeting.
"What's the problem?" he asked. "It it the town's number one priority and how much is it going to cost?"
He added that several citizens had come to him with concerns.
Council president Jerry Clevenger said the street is the main thoroughfare through town and improvements have been on the board's to-do list for a few years.
"The major problem is poor drainage on School Street. We've received numerous complaints about water pooling there," Clevenger said. School Street will have new storm and sanitary sewer lines as well as new curbs and gutters.
The King's Highway project begins at School Street and stops at the south line of Freedom Lane. Twenty-one decorative street lights also will be installed. The project has been awarded to Niblock Excavating for $394,000.
Town engineer Larry Long said the road needs repaired. and will be widened to include a left-hand turn lane from Wooster to Publisher's Drive.
"The stop at the school and the fire station needs shortening," Long said. "You can't make eye contact with the other driver when they sit so far away."
Town attorney Jim Walmer said the Winona Lake Lions Club's lawsuit filed against the town has been settled in mediation.
The organization will have free use of the senior center for scout troop meetings for 10 years. The club's building will be removed. The property will be vacated, excepting 10 feet along the canal. The vacated property will go to adjacent property owners Jim and Lisa LeMasters.
The Lions Club filed suit in July 2003 claiming that in 1958, Winona Lake disclaimed any interest in the property and agreed to allow the Lions Club to construct the Boy Scout cabin within the unimproved easement. The cabin was complete in December 1958.
The club used the cabin and paid related taxes.
In 2000 the LeMasters asked the property be vacated. The request was denied.
In July 2001 a club representative asked that the "no parking" sign on Canal Street be switched to the residential side of Canal Street.
The club rented the cabin to other organizations. At that time town coordinator Craig Allebach said he talked to town marshal Malcolm Gilbert and the police department had no problem with people parking on both sides of the street during a meeting or event.
Tuesday council member Jeff Carroll said free use of the senior center had been offered to the club months ago. The lawsuit has cost the town several thousand dollars.
The board also:
• Heard from Long the specifications for repairs to Park Ave., from the Billy Sunday Museum to Cherry Street's south right-of-way are ready for bid advertisement.
• Reviewed bituminous material bids for various items from Niblock and Phend and Brown. The bids were taken under advisement.
• Tabled a subdivision preliminary plat for Autumn Hills.
• Reviewed town events as: tonight and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., MasterWorks symphony performance in Rodeheaver Auditorium; Sunday, 4 p.m., Kosciusko County 4-H and Community Fair parade; Monday, 2 p.m., WRSW radio talk show with Retha Hicks; July 26, 1:30 p.m. auditions for "Rumpelstiltskin" by the Missoula Children's Theatre at the senior center; July 30 at 7 p.m. and July 31 at 3 p.m. "Rumpelstiltskin" in Rodeheaver Auditorium.
Board members are: Jerry Clevenger, John Boal, Jeff Carroll, David Delp and Rolly Ortega.
