WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council held a public hearing for the 2014 budget during its meeting Tuesday. The official adoption of the budget will be Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. at town hall, and the last day for adoption of the budget, tax levy, and tax rate is Nov. 1. The council previously held a special meeting Aug. 13 to review 2014 budget proposals. The 2014 budget is proposed at $2,519,925. This represents a decrease of $4,795 from the 2013 budget. The 2014 budget proposals include rainy day, $119,000; general fund, $1,315,725; local road and street, $132,500; motor vehicle highway, $723,000; park, $49,700; cumulative capital development, $130,000; and redevelopment general fund, $50,000. The proposed 2014 budget includes a 3 percent employee wage increase. The clerk-treasurer will not receive a pay increase and will stay at the same level since 2012. In other business the council approved requests for Craig Allebach, town coordinator, to travel to Indianapolis Friday for a Limitless Park conference, and Oct. 6 to 8 to Indianapolis for an Indiana Association of Cities and Towns conference. Larry Long, town engineer, provided an update on the Prestwick Street road reconstruction project and said the final surface asphalt was completed Tuesday. Town Attorney Jim Walmer said he is working on getting a soil report for the CR 250E project where there have been issues with the road sinking. Pete O’Connell, street superintendent, said barricades have been put up on on Chestnut Street and Sunday Lane to caution drivers of holes in the street while they are being repaired, and sidewalks will be installed and the holes will be filled. Winona Happenings include a Walk To End Alzheimer’s at Winona Lake Park Oct. 5 at 10:30 a.m. and a fall festival and British Car Show in the Village Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
