Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - The Town Council gave it's final approval of the 2000 spending plan, Tuesday, and the estimated tax rate again came in under the council target rate.
"If I had to guess, I'd say the rate will be in the $2.54-$2.65 (per $100 of assessed value) range," said Brent Wilcoxson, council president. "I want to commended the department heads and this council for working so hard on keeping the tax rate as low as possible."
The 2000 budget calls for a general fund appropriations of $795,459; motor vehicle and highway fund appropriations of $559,855; local roads and streets fund appropriations of $67,000; local law enforcement fund appropriation of $2,500; and a cumulative capital fund of $110,000.
The tax rate is based upon a total assessed value of $27,006,890.
In other business, the council approved the plan commission recommendations regarding sexually-oriented businesses and tattoo parlors, handicapped parking eligibility and maximum allowable garage stalls from three to five.
Sexually-oriented business es and tattoo parlors will be limited to commercial and industrial zoning classifications and prohibited from within a minimum of 400 feet from a residential, school, church or day care use.
The council adopted the state eligibility requirements for handicapped parking eligibility and increased the maximum allowable garage spaces from three to five.
The council also approved the completion of the following street repairs:
• Roy and Huffman streets - $92,000.
• Fort Wayne Street - $18,000.
The council adopted a new personnel policy requiring all town employees taking a sick day to return to work with a doctor's slip, verifying their illness.
Finally, Town Attorney Jim Walmer informed the board the town and Police Chief Malcolm Gilbert have been removed from the Gerald (Bicycle Bandit) Womacs lawsuit.
