WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Town Council tabled a policy this morning for ride alongs with the town's police department employees.
Town Marshal Paul Schmitt said the police department's rider rules and regulations policy for its procedure manual has not been updated in a few years. He said the department has interns and officers in training who ride along with officers.
The proposed policy states no unlawful act will be allowed to be committed while riding with the department. The rider must stay in the patrol car at all times until there is an emergency.
The rider must learn the use of the radio, but radio use is prohibited by the rider unless the officer in in need of assistance and is unable to call for assistance.
Other rules include the rider must get permission from the officer to ride in the vehicle, no alcoholic beverages can be present on rider's breath or in rider's blood, proper attire must be worn, and an officer or police chief can discontinue a ride along at any time.
The council voted to table approving the policy to allow council members to review the policy and will discuss it at its Jan. 8 meeting.
Town Council President Dave Delp said this morning's meeting was councilmen Jerry Clevenger and Rolly Ortega's last meeting. They have served on the council for the past eight years and will be replaced by James Lancaster and Terry Howie at the council's Jan. 8 meeting.
Clevenger reflected on accomplishments he has been a part of over the past eight years while serving on the council. Some of the accomplishments include establishing the way the town meetings are run, the town hiring a town coordinator, the completion of the Lake City Greenway Heritage Trail and the completion of the sewer rehabilitation project.
"I have always tried to make choices that would benefit the town and enjoyed finding solutions to problems in my eight years of service on the council," Clevenger said.
Ortega said he will miss serving on the council. He thanked the town employees, council and residents for their contributions to the town and said he has enjoyed serving on the council.
Delp said the councilmen will be greatly missed.
"Jerry and Rolly have made major contributions to the town and I am sure the new councilmen will carry on with the same traditions," Delp said.
Town Clerk Retha Hicks said Winona Lake residents can now make sewer service payments online on the town's Web site at www.winonalake.net
Trash pick-up will be delayed by one day next week due to the New Year's holiday.
Winona Lake residents will pay an additional $5 a month beginning Tuesday for garbage pick-up services. The council approved the ordinance at its Nov. 27 meeting that applies to Winona Lake residents who live in homes, apartments and condominiums.
An upcoming event in the town is a workshop for community leaders titled "A Framework for Understanding Poverty." The workshop will be Jan. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Orthopedic Capital Center in Winona Lake.
