Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - "Hold the line on employees and wages," was the message to department supervisors Tuesday as the town council issued guidelines for the 2000 budget.
"We'd like to see no more than a 4 percent wage increase, no new employees and continue to maximize our road and street funds," said Brent Wilcoxson, council president.
The council will begin discussing the town's 2000 budget in earnest next month and will rely on the recommendations of the supervisors.
In other business, the council introduced a resolution to be the issuing authority for $6.1 million in bonds for Grace College. The college will be wholly responsible for the debt, with the city only authorizing the bonds.
The funds will be used to complete renovation projects already under way at the college, the construction of a new residence hall. $2.5 million will be used to refinance a previous bond issue at a lower interest rate.
The council also approved an additional appropriation of $518,540. According to clerk- treasurer Retha Hicks, $8,540 is for personal services, $30,000 is for other services, and $480,000 is for capital outlays involving the construction on the new city building and the new fire department tanker.
Edna Gamble abstained in the vote.
The council approved change orders on the new town building totalling $1,854 and involving the removal of an old shower base from a doorway and the addition of an attic ventilation fan.
