WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council heard a 2014 budget calendar report during its meeting Tuesday night. Clerk-Treasurer Kent Adams presented the budget calendar report and said the state Department of Local Government Finance field hearing for the budget is July 25, which he and the treasurer’s office staff will attend. The council will have a budget study session August 13 at 6 p.m. at town hall. The council will vote on approving the budget to be advertised in the Times-Union during its Aug. 20 meeting at 6 p.m. at town hall. The proposed budget will appear in the Times-Union on Sept. 5 and again on Sept. 12. A public hearing on the budget will be Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. at town hall. Budget adoption will be at the Oct. 15 council meeting at 6 p.m. The last date for adoption of the 2014 budget is November 1. In other business, Town Coordinator Craig Allebach informed the council the town has received two $5,000 grants from Kosciusko County Community Foundation and Kosciusko County REMC Roundup for a Limitless Park the town is working on raising funds for. The council approved making a $5,231.52 payment to Stanley Steamer for sewer backup in a residence’s basement. The payment will cover the cleanup charge for the sewer backup. Jerry Nelson, Winona Lake resident, asked if the town’s tornado siren speakers have been fixed. The town’s one siren, which dates back to 1942, only had two of its eight speakers in operation. Allebach said the speakers have been repaired and are operable and the sirens will be tested in October and April. Winona Lake Fire Chief Mitch Titus said he would like to be notified when streets are closed in the town so fire and emergency personnel can respond to emergencies. He said Auditorium Boulevard was closed this past weekend for an event in the town and the fire department was not notified. Allebach said he will discuss with Ryan Burgher, Village At Winona managing director, about making sure the town is notified when streets are closed for events. Town Attorney Jim Walmer said merchants could be liable if streets are blocked and there was an emergency that fire and emergency personnel could not get there because streets were closed. Town Marshal Paul Schmitt said event permits come across his desk, but he did not see a permit for the event this past weekend when Auditorium Boulevard was closed. Town Engineer Larry Long provided an update on the Prestwick Street reconstruction project. Long said the contractor has installed new storm drains on Prestwick Street and is working on repairing the streets. The project will be completed by the third week in August. John Elliott, Winona Lake resident, asked what is happening to Pierceton Road by Christ’s Covenant Church. Allebach said there is a collapsed culvert, and the town is working to repair it. The county will partner with the town to pay for materials to fix the culvert and the town will provide the labor to replace the culvert. Elliott also said CR 250 is in terrible condition and wondered if the town is working on getting restitution for the damage the contractor did to the road. Allebach said Walmer is reviewing the issue and will get back to the council on the process to reimburse the town for the damage to the road. Upcoming events include Winona Lake Homes tours Aug. 10; Warsaw Community Schools first day Aug. 13; Northern Indiana Antique Car Show in the Village Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Grace College Welcome Weekend Aug. 17 and 18; and Grace College classes begin Aug. 19.
