Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Town Marshal Malcolm Gilbert stirred up a pack of questions Tuesday when he requested an ordinance to license dogs.
He explained a $2-per-year fee would be used to create a data base of town canines and allow the police department to notify owners of loose animals in a more timely manner. The ordinance calls for a $50 fee for violations.
In response to town councilman Rolly Ortega's question, the marshal said he gets complaints about running dogs once or twice a month and it usually takes two or three days to locate the owner.
Dogs are to be leashed if they are off the owner's property.
Councilman Jerry Clevenger said he just didn't know if he wanted to put citizens through an annual $2 fee.
"It's hard to remember to come in every year," he said.
Town coordinator Craig Allebach said a form could be sent out with the sewage bill and a form could be prepared online.
There also was a question about whether registering the dogs in Wayne Township would include the town and Gilbert said no, they are separate
Gilbert said when the county animal control officer isn't available on Wednesday or Sunday and is often at the other end of the county.
"They might not get here until the next day to pick up a dog," he said. "And I can never catch them."
The ordinance was tabled until outstanding questions could be answered.
Public works superintendent Pete O'Connell held an invoice in the amount of $100 from Weed Sewer Service to Desmond Conlan, 1100 College Ave., regarding service rendered New Year's Eve.
Conlan appeared before the board Jan. 14 saying he called the company to have his sanitary sewer line cleared. At the time he was informed that he and a neighbor were still hooked up to an "old" line that ran under a newer pipe. The old line proved to be the clogged one, which Weed also cleared. The old line does not appear on any maps.
O'Connell said Conlan is requesting the town pay for the service since the town's line was plugged. O'Connell said he has paid $300 for Weed's services that night.
The council agreed to pay $75 of Conlan's bill because he didn't call the town first.
"If he had contacted us first we'd have cleared it (the line) with no cost to the homeowner," O'Connell said.
"The first call to make is to Winona Lake," Allebach said. "We should call private contractors and let them know that. We've gone 50-50 on several bills recently.
Jeff Carroll suggested someone always make an effort to call property owners back after being dispatched, just to let them know they were on their way.
Allebach said he would meet with several senior citizens in the center Wednesday at 10 a.m. to discuss activities to be held in the senior center building.
The center must be open daily to meet the requirements of the state grant.
There was discussion about hiring someone to coordinate activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Allebach said some Grace College students are interested in helping out as part of their community service requirements.
In other business, the board:
• Hired Rebecca "Joye" Andrew as park activity director upon the park board's recommendation, at $9.50 per hour. She begins employment Feb. 1.
• Released $10,948.34 to Hoeppner Construction of Fort Wayne for work at the senior center. The company earned the project Jan. 9, 2002, with a bid of $236,800. Over the last year, unplanned work on the flooring increased the project by more than $59,000 over the initial estimate. The town still retains $5,000.
• Heard reserve deputy officer Ryan Andrew submitted his resignation, effective yesterday, to take a full-time job as an officer in Georgia.
• Approved a contract with Larry Long and Associates for engineering services. The contract reflects a 3 percent increase in engineering work and a 4 percent increase in drafting and administration costs over last year.
• Heard the community appreciation dinner will be March 28 in the senior center.
The next council meeting is Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. Council members are Craig Snow, Jeff Carroll, Jerry Clevenger and Rolly Ortega. David Delp was absent.
