Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Fire department personnel were given the go-ahead during Tuesday's town council meeting to apply for a Federal Emergency Management Agency $150,000 grant toward rehabilitation of fire truck No. 53.
A $15,000 cash match is required for the application, and Winona Lake clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks said the department's capital projects budget had the money. Plans were to have $130,000 in that account by 2005 specifically for rehabilitation of the vehicle.
The board approved a Miller Pipeline change order indicating an $18,000 decrease. The company finished its portion of the sanitary sewer line rehabilitation project Monday.
The board also approved a payment of $23,604 to G&G Excavating, which also is working on the infrastructure job.
Town manager Craig Allebach recommended release of $5,000, to Hoeppner Construction for work on the Senior Center. He said issues regarding the flooring have been resolved.
In other business, the council:
• Tabled a request by Hicks to add New Year's Eve day and Veteran's Day to the paid holiday list. Town employees have 10 paid holidays now.
Board member Jeff Carroll asked for a breakdown of costs to pay eight people for the additional days.
• Moved the next two regular meetings to April 15 at 7 p.m. and April 29 at 7 a.m. A public hearing was set for April 22 at 6 p.m. regarding road work on CR 250E.
• Approved a $9,800 payment for emergency sewer line work on Fifth and Sixth streets, which included six hookups.
• Approved payment of $135 to a resident for a sewer line blockage removal. The resident called the town and called a private contractor, paying the latter's bill. Public works superintendent Pete O'Connell indicated the town was responsible for the problem.
• Heard construction of the greenway has been put on hold until the fall. The first phase, along Park Avenue to the town park, should be completed this year.
• Asked that leaves, twigs and other debris from spring yard cleanups be bagged instead of raked to the curb.
• Heard a request by town marshal Malcolm Gilbert to make Bibler Avenue a no-parking zone. Residents there complain they are not receiving their mail, which is delivered by a post office employee from a vehicle. Cars park along the street, often blocking the curbside mailboxes, Gilbert said.
Councilman Jerry Clevenger suggested the no-parking be limited to certain hours because people may still have guests who park along the street.
Gilbert said he would check into the hours of mail delivery.
• Heard a list of upcoming events as: Friday at 6 p.m. - Community Appreciation Dinner in the Senior Center; April 12, 7:30 p.m. - Lakeland Community Concert with violinist Linda Wang at Rodeheaver Auditorium; April 13 at 3 p.m. the Grace College Festival Chorus will perform in Rodeheaver; April 17 at 7:30 p.m. the Grace Community Orchestra will present its spring concert; and April 26 at 3:30 p.m. Ralph Carmichael and his orchestra perform at Rodeheaver on the same day Grace College will hold a Community Appreciation Concert at 7:30 p.m.
Council members are David Delp, Craig Snow, Jeff Carroll, Jerry Clevenger and Rolly Ortega.
