Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - A blazing request by the Winona Lake Fire Department to charge for emergency responses was temporarily quenched at the town council meeting Tuesday.
The all-volunteer department has been considering a charge to respond to emergencies at a cost of $250 per vehicle and $150 per hour.
Voluntary fire departments can ask for response charges. They are customarily paid by homeowners insurance, if the insurance company has such a clause in their policies.
Councilman Jerry Clevenger was concerned about mutual aid agreements with other fire departments, like Warsaw, and how such charges would be applied to people in other towns.
Councilman Craig Snow said he would "rather not be part of a town that charges" citizens for fire protection they already pay for and thought funds for the department's needs should be budgeted instead.
Councilman Rolly Ortega, serving as president of the board in the absence of Jeff Carroll, suggested further discussion with the fire department.
The item was tabled.
The board agreed to pay Bob Murphy of R.P. Murphy and Associates a discounted rate for administering the most recent housing grant.
Awarded $300,000, only $103,608 was spent on rehabilitation.
The Murphy and Associates-generated contract did not give firm numbers, according to town attorney Jim Walmer, except that administration costs were not to exceed $15,000.
The council objected to the $14,947 claim for program delivery. Only 42 percent of available funds was used.
The council agreed to pay 42 percent of the program delivery charges and, with other set fees, paid Murphy $24,013.
Town engineer Larry Long recommended Nibloc be awarded the bulk asphalt bid for hot mix asphalt at $26.50 per ton, or $30.50 when applied.
The asphalt will be applied for summer street repair projects.
The council chose Phend and Brown to supply their cold mix asphalt.
The final bidder was Ranger Materials.
Long suggested that the mix design be certified and that samples be tested before the work begins.
"Since they're new we need to be certain we're getting quality materials," Long said.
He recommended council representatives meet with Nibloc personnel to discuss expectations and Ortega agreed.
"We need to be more pro-active in everything and say what we expect and when we're unhappy," he said.
Notice to proceed on the College Avenue reconstruction project was signed. The work will begin immediately and will be completed by June 10, according to the contract. Work on the street will extend from Ninth Street south to 13th Street and will include curbs and gutters, storm drains and street lights.
City manager Craig Allebach said the field survey is complete on CR 250E and has been forwarded to Bonar and Associates for engineering design.
In other business the board:
• Heard that the fire department accepted a 1977 Dodge 5-1/2 ton truck from the Department of Natural Resources, which includes a pump.
The council accepted the donation with advice to the fire department not to accept items without the council's approval again.
• Noted that Lakeland Christian Academy will hold an open house March 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. The school's Web site is www.cougars.com.
• Said town council members and town employees are invited to attend the Reneker Dinner at 6:30 p.m. in Westminster Hall. The date has been changed from May 15 to May 22.
