Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Clerk Treasurer Retha Hicks today announced the appointment of members to the Winona Lake Greenway Art Commission.
The group will address and monitor projects along sections of the anticipated recreational trail.
Hicks, Rob Gast, Brent Wilcoxson, Jennifer Ortega, Polly Minear and Nicole Moore were named to the group with council member Joy Lohse assigned as liaison.
The newly assigned group met early this month, focusing on developing funding and sub-themes for the Greenway project.
Town Supervisor Craig Allebach said rights of way had been submitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation, and an estimated letting for the project would occur within the next three months.
"At the latest, we're on for May," Allebach said. "At the earliest, things could begin in April or hopefully March."
Allebach also met with the Lake City Greenway Committee and said the organization felt the present ordinance on signage regulations properly covered the council's previous concerns regarding Greenway advertising.
Along with the Greenway project, the town also is researching improvements for CR 250E, an Argonne Road beautification project, a dredging of the town's canal and the restructure of Wooster Road for the projected Grace College Orthopedic Center.
"We've got so many projects out there right now that we don't know the true cost of," Hicks said. "There's a lot of issues out there right now."
The town's council, plan commission and redevelopment commission is to meet tonight to discuss these issues during a public works session at town hall. Overall goals and a master plan for the town will be discussed.
In other issues, Hicks announced 35 cents will be the new tax rate for the town. The rate increased slightly from last year, rising from $0.3536 to $0.3575.
"I do feel that the town has worked hard to keep our tax rate low," Hicks said.
Upcoming events were announced, with President Rolly Ortega reporting a March 12 Second Sunday Concert Series will take place at Rodeheaver Auditorium at 7;30 p.m. WRSW's radio show "Talk of the Town" also will air March 20 at 2 p.m., with councilman David Delp as a guest.
Present members for today's meeting were Ortega, Lohse, Delp, Jeff Carroll and Jerry Clevenger.
The next council meeting is March 14 at 6 p.m.
