WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake residents will pay $4 less this year for sewage payments.
During Tuesday night's Winona Lake Town Council meeting, the council approved reducing residents' sewer rates from $44 a month to $40 a month.
The new rate went into effect Jan. 1, and sewer payment booklets were mailed out Tuesday, according to Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks.The council also re-elected Terry Howie to serve as president and Jim Lancaster to serve as vice president for 2010.
Council members Randy Swanson, Sue Gooding and Lancaster voted in favor of Howie being re-elected as president.
"We have a couple of major issues carrying over from last year to this year such as the Stonehenge project and wastewater treatment issues," Swanson said. "To enhance continuity from last year to this year and to make sure these get carried forward as smoothly as we hope, I'd like to nominate Howie to again serve as council president."
However, the vote was not unanimous for Howie to be re-elected as president.
Councilwoman Joy Lohse recommended Lancaster to serve as president, but for lack of a second on the recommendation, the vote died.
"Jim has excellent organizational management skills, great visioning capability and he understands the importance of creating project timelines," Lohse said.
Lohse said the council has been criticized this year for not keeping projects on task.
"I think Jim knows how to keep projects on task, and I say this without being disrespectful to any other council members," Lohse said.
The council also approved reappointing Leo Boyer to a four-year term to serve on the Winona Lake Economic Development Corp.
The council approved a contract between the town and Larry Long, Larry Long & Associates, for Long to again serve as the town's engineer for 2010.
In other business, the council approved a tree ordinance that establishes a tree commission. The purpose of the ordinance is to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, maintenance and tree removal.
It is the duty of the five- person commission to study, investigate, counsel and develop a written plan for the care, replacement and maintenance of trees, shrubs and foliage in the town's parks, along streets and in other public areas within the town.
Also during the meeting, Swanson said he was approached by a constituent questioning what the street department's policy was on snow removal.
Public Works Director Pete O'Connell said snow is plowed randomly, but main travel arteries are plowed as a priority.
Areas such as Park Avenue, Kings Highway, Pierceton, Packerton and Wooster Roads are plowed first. CR250E and Packerton Road also are plowed. After those streets and roads are plowed, other streets in the town are plowed.
Lancaster asked if the town has an ordinance on sidewalk snow removal. He said a constituent called him who does not have immediate parking in front of their residence and was wondering what they could and couldn't shovel.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach said he is not aware of the town currently having an ordinance for businesses and residents being required to remove snow from sidewalks.
"We want residents to be aware that snow should not be shoveled into the street, instead it should be shoveled into their yard," O'Connell said.
Gooding said she doesn't like the idea of writing a snow removal ordinance, but would like to encourage residents to shovel their sidewalks.
"We have school children and college students walking to school and are inviting people to come into our town to run and walk, and it would be nice to have residents shovel their sidewalks," Gooding said.
Also during the meeting, Winona Lake resident John Elliott suggested the council consider installing a drive-up mailbox in the town so residents do not have to get out of their car each time they mail letters.
The town currently has a mailbox located in front of the post office that faces away from the street.
Winona Lake resident Jerry Nelson suggested installing a drive-up mailbox by the Lake City Bank ATM in front of the Boathouse Restaurant.
Howie said the town will look into the issue.
Gooding suggested the town look into clearing an area for ice skating in the town on the west side of the Winona Lake canal.
