WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Town Council discussed during Tuesday's meeting repairing deteriorating streets in Prestwick Subdivision.
Town engineer Larry Long presented an engineering report to the council on the streets.The council approved for Long to conduct soil-boring sampling in Prestwick Subdivision at its June meeting.
Long said he conducted soil borings at eight streets throughout the study site on the north side of Pierceton Road in Prestwick Subdivision.
The study found soils under St. Andrews Street northwest of the pond contained five feet of unacceptable soils. Soils under St. Andrews Street northeast of the pond contained 2-1/2 feet of unacceptable soils. Soils under an isolated area of Prestwick Street southwest of the pond contained 12 feet of unacceptable soil levels.
He also said the study found the concrete pavement's individual slabs are moving vertically and horizontally, causing the contraction construction joints to enlarge.
The streets' storm drainage system also was found to be inadequate and does not meet current street standards, Long said.
Long said the subdivision was platted Nov. 24, 1987, and the streets were constructed shortly thereafter.
In 2001, the town invested $10,440 and sealed the concrete joints with asphalt joint sealer.
Long said most of the joint sealant material has deteriorated, and is not effectively sealing the cracks between the concrete and pavement sections.
He recommended the existing pavement be removed and replaced with an asphalt pavement and concrete curb and gutters.
Long said he projected the street repairs would cost more than $1.6 million, and bids need to be sought if the council approves the street repairs. There are 1-1/2 miles of street that need to be repaired.
Long said if the town doesn't fix the road properly, there will be continued maintenance and the concrete will continue to deteriorate. If the option is decided by the council to not fully replace the street, the cracked pavement and sections and all joints should be replaced, he said.
Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks said the town currently has $250,000 the town could put toward the project.
Council President Dave Delp said he supported repairing the streets.
"We accepted the subdivision as a town and we need to maintain its streets like all other streets in Winona Lake," Delp said.
Delp suggested the town look into a bond issue to finance the project.
Councilman Jerry Clevenger, a Prestwick Subdivision resident, also agreed street repairs were necessary.
"I would like to get the problem taken care of," Clevenger said.
The town will continue to discuss the issue at its next meeting.
Also during the meeting, the council:
n Approved an ordinance between the town and the Winona clerk-treasurer's office to allow residents to pay the office by credit card and debit card for items more than $15.
n Approved a $10,000 agreement between the town and Wayne Township Parks and Recreation for the town's park and recreation services.
n Approved a $20,525 agreement between the town and Wayne Township for the town's fire services for 2008.
n Tabled approving an ordinance that would allow the town to sell liquor beyond beer and wine in the town. Liqour sales currently are allowed at Stonehenge.
The council will talk to Town Attorney Jim Walmer about whether the ordinance would allow a liqour store to be allowed in the town if a business owner ever wanted to put a liqour store in the town.
The ordinance would still require business owners to petition to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission to attain a liqour license.
Upcoming Winona Lake events include Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches Equip 2007 conference July 29 through Aug. 3 at the Orthopaedic Capital Center; Grand Indiana Auto Tour Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Billy Sunday Day Aug. 4; and an Antique Car Festival Aug. 18.
