WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council approved a change order for the Wooster Road Pumping Station improvements during Tuesday morning’s meeting.
The contract price is $256,406, and the contractor is Haskings Underground Inc.
The project includes moving the pumping station approximately 207 feet southeast; adding 121 feet of gravity sanitary sewer; and deleting one four-foot diameter sanitary sewer.
Grace College requested modification of the pumping station due to a future building project and the impact the pumping station would have on the project.
The council also approved a $119,900 change order for the wastewater collection system supervisory control and data acquisition.
The council approved Christmas bonuses for town employees of $275 for Paul Schmitt, Malcolm Gilbert, Joe Bumbaugh, Mike Foster, Ellen Swaim, Kimberly Kotzenmoyer, Dick Leaf, Craig Allebach, Retha Hicks and Holly Hummitch. A $137.50 Christmas bonus was approved for John Leeper.
The council approved distributing turkeys to the Winona Lake Fire Department employees for Christmas.
The council renewed its health insurance plan with Anthem for town employees.
The council reviewed and tabled an ordinance fixing the salaries of certain employees for the town, including the town council president, town council, town marshal and park board.
The council also tabled approving a resolution to fix salaries for town employees, including Ellen Swaim, accounts payable; Kimberly Kotzenmoyer, payroll/utility clerk; Holly Hummitch, data input and park and senior activities director; and Dick Leaf, building commissioner.
Allebach will review the numbers for the council to consider 1 to 2.5 percent salary increases for the salaried and hourly employees.
The council approved keeping the town’s wastewater rate at $36 per month for next year.
Allebach said leaf pickup is going on in the town until the end of the month, and leaves must be placed in bags beginning Dec. 1.
Allebach informed the council that the town has received a grant for $54,000 for Safe Routes to School.
The funding will be for a partnership between the town, Winona Lake Police Department and Jefferson Elementary School to implement safe routes to school curriculum and training.
Allebach also informed the council that the town has closed on the Arnolt Property that has been donated to the town. He said it will be demolished by the end of this year. The property is at 301 Fifth St., Winona Lake.
Town Marshal Paul Schmitt requested the town talk to the new incoming council about the idea of a roundabout in the town for the Winona Avenue, Argonne Road, Kings Highway and Park Avenue intersection.
Jerry Nelson, Winona Lake resident, said he wanted the town to talk to Warsaw about taking down the Gatke property on Argonne Road.
Allebach said he will talk to the city about the issue.
A Holiday Open House in the Village At Winona is Dec. 3, and KringleFest at Rodeheaver Auditorium is Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
