WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council approved the 2013 budget Tuesday night.
The 2013 budget is $2.52 million, down from a 2012 budget of $2.54 million.
Councilman John Boal made the motion to approve the budget, seconded by Councilman Greg Winn.
The budget shows a .0057 percent reduction. It also includes a 3 percent employee salary increase, with the exception of no increase for the town coordinator and a 5 percent reduction in salary for the clerk-treasurer.
A resolution will be submitted for council approval on Oct. 23 to transfer $103,000 from the rainy day fund to the motor vehicle highway fund for revenue support of the MVH fund in 2013.
The council also approved an $18,167 quote from Ranger Materials for Southtown Streets sealing of the roads that are cracking.
The council also approved a supplemental agreement for phase four of the Greenway.
The town will be constructing an extension off of the current Heritage Trail that had been funded by Indiana Department of Transportation for this project a few years ago.
As time has gone on the town had the need for additional funding and it received $120,250 for the Greenway extension, according to Craig Allebach, town coordinator.
In other business, Larry Long, town engineer, provided updates on the town’s street projects.
Long said Prestwick Streets are on schedule for repair and 45 percent of the concrete streets have been removed and storm drains have been installed. The streets are scheduled to be paved by November.
Long said the Wooster Road pump station has problem with debris getting in the lines. Long and Pete O’Connell, street superintendent, will look at the issue.
Long said sewer line work under the Park Avenue bridge has been completed.
Also during the meeting, Jim Walmer, town attorney, said 16 of 29 properties still have not paid trash fees.
The property owners will be contacted and the town will look over its trash ordinance for enforcement on the issue.
Upcoming events are a Remnant Trust exhibition on Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a Winona Lake and Warsaw Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan public meeting at the Winona Lake Senior Center Oct. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m.; and the YMCA 5K Oct. 27 at 9 a.m.
Other events are a Metzger Outdoors event on the Mountain Bike Trails Oct. 27 from noon to 9 p.m.; a Community Conversation at the Orthopaedic Capital Center Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to noon; and trick-or-treat Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
