Winona Council Approves 2013 Salaries, Christmas Bonuses
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council approved 2013 salaries during its meeting Tuesday. The council approved a 3 percent salary increase for town employees with the exception of council, coordinator and clerk treasurer. The 2013 Winona Lake total budget is $4,756,197, a 1.7 percent or $81,248 decrease from the 2012 budget. Town Coordinator Craig Allebach’s 2013 salary will remain unchanged from 2012 at $2,518.73 bi-weekly. Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Kent Adams’ 2013 salary also will be unchanged from 2012. Adams will make $2,074.22 bi-weekly. Adams is voluntarily donating 5 percent of his salary back to the town. There is a reduction of 13 weekly hours in two staff positions in the clerk treasurer’s offices. This results in a less than .5 percent net overall compensation increase in total 2013 payrolls for the town. The 2013 bi-weekly salaries for other town employees are $2,005.85 for Paul Schmitt, town marshal; and $1,735.58 for deputy marshals Joe Bumbaugh, Mike Foster, Malcolm Gilbert and John Leeper. Hourly salaries will be $23.71 for Gene Seiman, building commissioner; $17.47 each for Cindy Nolton, chief deputy clerk; Ellen Swaim, deputy clerk and Kim Kotzenmoyer, utility clerk; and $16.08 for Holly Hummitch, parks department and senior activities director. Town Council bi-annual salaries will remain unchanged for 2013. Randy Swanson, council president, will receive $2,235; and council members John Boal, Philip Hood, Bruce Shaffner and Greg Winn will receive $1,875 bi-annually. The council approved a Christmas bonus resolution of $275 each for 12 town employees. The council also approved a health insurance policy for the town. The town currently pays 70 percent in monthly premiums, with employees paying 30 percent. With the new health insurance policy, the town will pay 75 percent of the monthly insurance premium and employees 25 percent. Gary Herbruck, Coordinated Benefit Design president, attended Tuesday’s meeting to present the insurance plan. The town currently pays $4,964.60 a month and will now pay $5,528.13 a month for health insurance. Town employees currently pay $2,127.68 a month, and will now pay $1,842.71 a month for insurance. Jerry Nelson, Winona Lake resident, thanked the Winona Lake Police Department for providing traffic control at Jefferson Elementary School during school hours. The council approved an agreement between the parks department and Wayne Township for the township to pay the parks department $12,000 in 2013 for park services the town provides. Greg Winn, councilman, informed the council he has had problems in his district, Ward 4, with Thursday’s newspapers piling up in residents’ driveways. He said the residents are either out of town for an extended period of time or are not picking up the free midweek newspapers. Winn said he contacted the Times-Union about the issue. The council advised Winn to again contact the publication regarding the issue. Pete O’Connell, street superintendent, informed the council that the Wooster Road and Prestwick construction projects have been completed. Schmitt reported the town’s new police car is in and being used. A Holiday Open House will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Winona Lake. A Christmas tree lighting will be Saturday in the parking lot near Eagle Creek Farms Inc. The tree lighting will begin at 5:30 p.m. There will be live Christmas music, free hot chocolate, apple cider and Christmas cookies. The tree lighting will begin at 6:15 p.m. There also will be a collection box for item donations for the Bautista family, who lost their home to fire in October. Kringle Fest will be at Rodeheaver Auditorium Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival features live reindeer, train rides, crafts, entertainment and a holiday shoppe. Pictures with Santa also will be available.
