Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Street work on Winona Lake's island hit a snag recently when part of Canal Street turned out to be too high to pave.
According to town engineer Larry Long, if the street section is paved as it is now, there would not be an appropriate amount of gravel under the asphalt. "In my opinion, the right thing to do now is to take the stone and fabric out and put it down where it's supposed to be," Long said at the Tuesday morning town council meeting.
The council voted unanimously to replace the street, at an estimated cost of approximately $4,600. The town will pay for materials and Smith Excavating, the contractor for the job, will contribute the labor.
Councilman Randy Ruppel asked Long why the 350-foot section of Canal Street was done incorrectly to begin with. "Where does the fault lie?" he said.
Long and Steve Smith, owner of Smith Excavating, said the job was checked periodically and the measurements for the excavation were accurate. They speculated that heavy truck traffic on the island during construction may have had an effect.
Smith asked the council to restrict the movement of cement trucks, and Long said truck drivers also were asked to reduce their loads.
Long said the job should take about three days to complete.
Other work on the island is moving ahead, with curbs done on Court and Canal streets, and sidewalks on those streets scheduled to be started next. Final street grading and laying asphalt should begin shortly after the July 4 weekend.
Streets in other parts of Winona Lake are causing a different kind of problem. Resident Anthony Avallone told the council that cars have run onto his property on Fourth Street three times in the past year.
Avallone said his four children could have been playing in the yard where the cars landed, and he is afraid for their safety. The problem usually happens when a driver takes the curve on Chestnut Street too fast, he said.
He asked for a stop sign, cement barricade or guard rail.
Town council president Brent Wilcoxson and town marshal Malcolm Gilbert will meet with Avallone and his neighbors at 5 p.m. Tuesday to develop a list of priorities and to determine their preferences on handling the situation.
In other business, the council:
• Directed Retha Hicks, the town's clerk-treasurer, to establish a committee to decide where to relocate the recycling bins.
• Approved a letter by Gilbert reminding town residents to keep yards and lawns mowed to control insects and to improve visibility.
• Approved Jim McCleary as the architect for a preliminary study and design on the Quonset hut as town offices, contingent on McCleary's fee.
• Appointed a committee to study the town's sewer system and identify where stormwater infiltration is occurring, including the most significant problem areas.
The council will meet next at 6 p.m. July 8 in the community building.
