Winona Hears Input On Donated Property, Tables Decision
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Town Council heard four proposals Tuesday night for a property that has been donated to the town.
The town unanimously approved tabling a decision on the use for the donated 301 Fifth St. property, and further discussing the issue at its April 12 council meeting.
No decision will be made on the property until the public meeting, according to council president Sue Gooding.
The town council at its Nov. 23 meeting, approved accepting the property that was donated by Michael Arnolt and covering the taxes on the property, covering the utilities for 90 days, and paying legal fees and any other costs associated with the town accepting the property.
Four Winona Lake residents shared their proposals for the property Tuesday.
Larry Overstreet, father-in-law of Jay Widman, 104 15th St., spoke on behalf of Widman's plans for the property. Widman did not attend Tuesday's meeting.
Widman's idea is to purchase the home at 301 5th St. and maintain its residential zoning. He also proposes to improve the outside of the home with a new roof, installing a new kitchen and bath, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling and selling the house.
Gooding read a letter from Lori Harman, Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County executive director, requesting the home be donated to the organization.
Selected families are sold a home at construction cost with a zero percent interest mortgage. The letter states although the organization cannot utilize the home for a partner family, the future sale of the property could generate capital for the organization's services.
Steve Silveus, 2406 E. Winona Ave., proposed to move his existing home to the 301 Fifth St. location.
"It would be an ideal property to move our existing structure. We would take down the Fifth Street existing structure and our solution would create a much larger tax base for the town," Silveus said.
David Phelps, 207 5th St., presented his proposal for a community vegetable garden at the fifth street property. Phelps previously presented the proposal at the council's Feb. 8 meeting.
He shared a petition Tuesday that had 150 signatures in support of the garden.
The idea would be to take down the existing structure to create the vegetable garden that could be used by everyone in the town that does not have a place to grow vegetables.
He shared letters of support for the garden from Jefferson Elementary School, Grace Village, Grace College, Jefferson Elementary School, Grace Brethren International Missions, and Cerulean Restaurant.
Phelps said trees on the current property would be removed to provide sunshine for the growing season. Sponsors would pay for water for the next two years until the garden sustains itself.
"We've reached out to the community to see if they have a need and use for a community garden and they do," Phelps said.
Phelps wants to keep the property on the tax roles with the help of corporate sponsors.
Council president Terry Howie said he had concerns with the amount of non-taxable properties there are in Winona Lake, and said properties need to be kept on the tax role, but said he was not opposed to a community garden.
"This past year we lost more of our properties to non-taxable organizations which means my property taxes go up, your property taxes go up," Howie said.
Gooding said the town needs to decide if it will keep or sell the property.
Councilman Bruce Shaffner said he thought all the proposals were well presented and from a council perspective the town has discussions on the property to work on.
"This will be a tough decision for us to make. I'd like to see all four proposals have a way of happening because they all bring unique opportunities to this community," Shaffner said.
"Sitting in our seats here we are trying to make sure the funds are managed properly for everyone's benefit and tax rates don't go up higher and try to manage the funds we do have to work with."
In other business, the council approved the town opening bids for the sale of Fire Truck No. 153 and will open bids at its April 12 meeting.
Town Engineer Larry Long said he will begin video work on sewers in Stonehenge Addition the week after next.
The council appointed Bill Zimmer to Plan Commission; Jennifer Tandy to serve as school board representative on park board, Laura Elmore on Housing Authority, Leo Boyer on Economic Development Commission; John Elliott and Alan Alderfer as new members to Red Commission; and David Phelps, Lindsay Silveus, Kristie Wolkins, Terry White, and Pam Hester to the Publicity Committee.
Upcoming events in the town include business after hours at Grace Village Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m.; and NCCAA Womens' Basketball Championship March 17-19 at the Orthopaedic Capital Center.
