Winona Eyes Parking Issue, Reviews Letter From Stone Camp Residents
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday continued discussion on creating additional parking in the town.
The council, at its April 13 meeting, previously approved town engineer Larry Long to conduct a land survey for the possibility of creating additional parking on the west side of Park Avenue, south of Wyland Avenue in Winona Lake, commonly referred to as Cherry Creek.The proposed parking would be used for Winona Lake Senior Center visitors as well as Greenway Trail visitors.
Chad Hudson, 1605 Park Avenue, Winona Lake, attended the council's April 13 meeting and Tuesday's meeting to express concerns with additional parking being created across from his home.
Concerns were with the parking lot being an eyesore, the parking lot creating flooding and drainage issues and taking away from park use.
During Tuesday's meeting, Councilwoman Sue Gooding suggested making Columbia and Union streets in Winona Lake one way and use the one lane on Columbia Street for diagonal parking.
"I'd hate to see us lose any grassy park area by creating parking because once you lose it, it is hard to get it back," Gooding said.
The town tabled the parking decision and will have town engineer Larry Long look at the possibility of creating diagonal parking on Columbia Street. Long was absent during Tuesday's meeting.
In other business, Gooding, a Stone Camp resident, presented a letter Tuesday signed by 17 Cherry Creek Homeowner's Association members.
The letter stated the residents request the ever-more-frequent 5K walk and run traffic be deferred from being routed through Stone Camp Trail.
The letter states Stone Camp Trail is a private road. The letter also states the residents are not opposed to an occasional use of the street for races, but request permission be sought from the homeowner's association to allow bicycle and running traffic to be routed through their neighborhood.
"We are not in the race management business, we can provide facilities and even permits, but I think you are right that we are getting overwhelmed that we need to say these are the routes and if anything deviates from the route it needs to be approved," said Town Coordinator Craig Allebach.
Also during the meeting, Pete O'Connell, public works director, informed the council that he has called companies for quotes to plant trees in the town and informed them he would like to have quotes by Friday. As soon as he has quotes he will e-mail them to the council before the next meeting.
Paul Schmitt, town marshal, said Winona Lake Police Department officers received a refresher course in first aid recently.
Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks said 4-H members will help work in front of the town hall's flower garden this year.
Hicks also said the town is in the process of updating its employee personnel handbook. Council President Terry Howie requested Hicks e-mail the current handbook to council members to have them review it so they will know what changes are made.
Howie said Warsaw and Winona Lake officials will meet Thursday to discuss the town's sewer rate.
Howie also informed the council that recycling in the town doubled from 2008 to 2009 with an increase in recycling from 230 tons to 460 tons. Howie thanked the town residents for their recycling efforts.
Upcoming events in the town include: The Fat & Skinny Tire Festival, Friday and Saturday, Village At Winona; Grace College commencement May 8; The Village At Winona Arts Walk, May 14; Run For Fun 5K, May 15, 8 a.m.; and the trail runs on the Mountain Bike Trails, May 22.
