Winona Council Approves F.D. Use Of Donated Property
Posted
JENNIFER PERYAM-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Fire Department will be allowed to use a property that has been donated to the town for training purposes. The council approved the request from the fire department during Tuesday morning’s council meeting. The donated property is at 301 Fifth St. The council, at its May 10 meeting, previously approved the town selling the property contingent on the purchaser demolishing it. “The fire department will be allowed to utilize the home for training as long as there is not structural damage,” said Craig Allebach, town coordinator. Training exercises, such as taking down doors at the property, will be allowed, but fire will not be involved in the training. Also during the meeting, the council reviewed the verbiage in the current employee policy handbook and determined that it was insufficient to answer the travel requests all of the town employees. Current town employees are covered under the handbooks guidelines but the town coordinator, clerk-treasurer and council members were not specifically addressed in the current format. New guidelines will require the town coordinator, clerk- treasurer and/or council members to submit requests in writing using a requisition form and by submitting the request to the town council prior to attending any conventions, seminars or out-of-town meetings. Work is still being done on the exact wording of the document, but the council hopes to approve and implement the new policy at their next meeting in June. The council also heard an update on a community garden proposal. Council president Sue Gooding met with Dr. Ronald Manahan, Grace College president, and Winona Lake residents David Phelps and John Elliott last week to discuss a community garden proposal. Phelps had brought fourth the proposal for a community garden in the town at previous council meetings. Gooding said Manahan provided two possible sites for the community garden including behind Grace College by Fairlane Mobile Home off of Presidential Drive, and behind Beyer Music Hall on Grace College campus. The town will review the proposals. In other business, the council unanimously approved continuing its contract with Warsaw for sewage treatment, and the town not building a sewage treatment plant. Randy Swanson, councilman, provided an update on the town’s wastewater utility and operational cost information. He said to correct the negative cash flow for the utility, the council can elect to increase the monthly user fee or reduce expenses under the town’s control. The council will continue to discuss the issue at a future meeting. Gooding made the motion for the town to not build its own sewage treatment plant, and Swanson seconded the motion. Council members Joy Lohse, Bruce Shaffner and Terry Howie also voted in favor of the town not building its own sewage treatment plant. Jerry Nelson, Winona Lake resident, asked if the town had plans for making sure its tornado sirens are up to speed. Allebach said Mitch Titus, Winona Lake fire chief, brought in a quote for a tornado siren for the town that was approximately $26,000. Allebach has met with Grace College to see if the college would want to partner with the town to purchase the tornado siren and he has not received feedback. Upcoming events include Race For Trace Monday at 9 a.m. at Winona Lake Park; The annual Art Fair in the Village At Winona June 4 and 5; Optimist Triathlon June 26 at 8 a.m.; and MasterWorks Festival June 19-July 16.
