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WINONA LAKE - Parking and traffic on the island were a focus of discussion at Tuesday's town council meeting.
Tawnya Momeyer, Winona Lake resident, received permission from the council to park her two vehicles in the "no parking" area on Esplanade.
Momeyer lives on Esplanade and is having some construction done to her home. The construction has caused her to lose the use of her driveway, and she asked permission to park her vehicles in front of her home until construction is completed, approximately in June.
The street connects Auditorium Blvd. and Administration Blvd. on the west end of the island. The street is narrow and has two-hour parking from 7 a.m to 7 p.m.
Momeyer also raised concerns about the speed limit around the curve on Esplanade.
She said she has four children who often play outside, and she is concerned for their safety.
Gilbert said he has personally patrolled the area and staked out the curve for approximately two consecutive hours. He said the speed limit has already been lowered to 20 mph.
Street superintendent Bart Jones said he would look into the situation. Jones said the current speed limit around the curve could be lowered to 15 mph.
Dick Taylor spoke to council members requesting vacation of an alley between Court Circle and Court Street.
"This was brought up before," Retha Hicks, clerk treasurer, said. "[But] it was never officially brought up to the Town Council."
Town attorney Jim Walmer said the legal process for vacating an alley would include a petition to the town council.
Taylor said his neighbors wanted to check with the council before starting the legal process.
Jones said neighbors use the alley as a driveway.
Hicks said the request was brought up because the neighbors want to pave the alleyway which is currently gravel.
"I've been stoning the alleyway for years and taking care of it," Taylor said. "They (the neighbors) have no intentions from keeping people that live there from using it."
Taylor also said they just want to fix up the alley up so it's not such a hazard getting in and out.
No formal decision was made by the council.
In other business:
• Council members approved the updated employee handbook.
• Gilbert updated the council on the happenings of the Winona Lake Police Department.
Officers Mike Albert, Terry Howie, Dan Hall and Gilbert attended a class that focused on evidence collection, including DNA collection and a database for DNA samples.
Gilbert also reported that Officer Tim Miller will graduate from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy on March 24.
"This will put us back to full force just as spring arrives," Gilbert said. "This is when, historically, our activity picks up."
Gilbert also said Officer Brian Tack is currently attending the Kosciusko County Reserve Academy.
The 12-week instructional course is designed to train reserve officers for the Winona Lake area.
• Council members briefly discussed ways to use the EDIT funds.
Council president Jerry Clevenger said the town needs to get "the biggest bang for our buck" and use the funds "to better our community."
The tax is to be used for infrastructure improvements. The council will continue to discuss possibilities for EDIT funds in future meetings.
Members of the Winona Lake Town Council are: Jeff Carroll, David Delp, Jerry Clevenger, Craig Snow and Rolly Ortega.
