WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday night approved a resolution for staggered terms for council members. This will go on the 2015 ballot and be effective Jan. 1, 2016, if approved by the council this year. If approved, the three-year terms for council members elected for Districts 3 and 5 will become four-year terms. The four-year terms for the council members for Districts 1, 2 and 4 will remain four-year terms, beginning at noon on Jan. 1, following the municipal election in which the person elected for those positions on the 2019 election will be elected for four year terms at each general election. The council also approved a salaries ordinance for 2015. All town employees excluding the clerk-treasurer, park board and town council members will receive a 3 percent salary increase. Terry Howie, councilman, voted against the 3 percent salary increase, saying he felt there should not be an increase when there are people living on fixed incomes and Social Security is only receiving a 1.7 percent increase. The town marshal salary will be increased by 3 percent to $2,128.01 bi-weekly; town council president, $3,750 annually; clerk-treasurer, $2,074.22 bi-weekly; and park board, $330 annually. The council also approved a resolution for the chief deputy clerk going from hourly to salaried at $1,490 bi-weekly; utility clerk, $18.53 hourly; deputy clerk, $18.53 hourly; park and senior center director, $17.62 hourly; and building commissioner, $25.15 hourly. Also during the meeting, Doug Koher, Roy Street resident, requested the manhole covers on Kings Highway be raised. Craig Allebach, town coordinator, said the town will look into the issue. Upcoming events include a Sights and Sounds of the Big Apple Fall Concert at Rodeheaver Auditorium Friday at 7:30 p.m.; and an I’m Thankful Pancake Breakfast to benefit the limitless park Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m. The events on Dec. 6 are Holiday Festival in Winona Lake from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; tree lighting at Park Avenue and Administration Boulevard at 5:30 p.m.; and KringleFest at Rodeheaver Auditorium from 2 to 5 p.m. with live reindeer, train rides, crafts, entertainment, holiday shoppe, Village at Winona Shops and pictures with Santa.
