Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake will see a 3.7 percent increase in its budget for 2007.
The Winona Town Council approved its budget for 2007 at a meeting Tuesday.
The council held a public hearing for the budget at its Sept. 12 meeting. The council approved a petition at the meeting to appeal for a $3,600 increase to the maximum levy. The increase will help cover an increase in the general fund for a police vehicle and an increase in assessed valuation.
Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks was absent during Tuesday's meeting.
Town Council President Rolly Ortega presented the council with budget totals at the meeting.
The budget total for 2007 is proposed at $2,655,878.
The central services budget for 2006 was $690,357 and in 2007 is estimated at $736,005. Central services is proposed to receive a 6.6 percent increase for gas, electric and insurance.
The police department budget for 2006 is $237,490 and is estimated at $259,975 for 2007. The police department is proposed to receive a 9.5 percent increase for a new vehicle.
The fire department budget for 2006 is $53,550 and in 2007 is estimated at $53,880. The fire department will receive a 0.6 percent increase.
The public sewage works 2006 budget is $929,315 and is estimated at $946,243 for 2007. Public sewage works is proposed to receive a 1.8 percent increase.
The 2006 budget for motor vehicle highway is $624,095 and is estimated at $633,575 for 2007. Motor Vehicle Highway is estimated to receive a 1.5 percent increase
The 2006 budget for law enforcement continuing education will remain the same in 2007 at $2,500.
The 2006 parks and recreation budget is $23,900 and will see a 0.8 percent decrease in 2007 to $23,700.
The council also approved an $8,351 payment to CBF Sales Inc., Fort Wayne, for replacing three wastewater pumps at the main lift station in Winona Lake. The council approved a $2,000 payment to Weed Septic Tank Service Inc., Warsaw, for labor costs for installation of the pumps.
Street Superintendent Pete O'Connell said the town will replace the three pumps over a three-year period.
"The pumps we are replacing were 15 years old and it would have been more expensive to rebuild the pumps," O'Connell said.
Council member Dave Delp informed the council that he and council member Jeff Carroll met with Mayor Ernie Wiggins and two other city council members Friday to discuss sewage rates in Winona Lake. Delp said they will have more meetings soon.
A resident of 208 N. Union Drive attended the meeting and voiced her concerns with the possibility of her street address changing and road being closed off to accommodate the Greenway project.
The resident said they had been in contact with Town Coordinator Craig Allebach regarding the issue, and the resident also is requesting street lights be installed by the resident's property once the path is completed.
Council members Joy Lohse and David Delp agreed to look at the resident's property to assess how the street falls in line with the path that will be installed for the project.
"I can't visualize the street being closed off and we don't want to deny any access of getting in and out of your house," Lohse said.
Ortega informed the council on upcoming events in Winona Lake. The Fall Festival in the Village at Winona and the Arthritis Foundation Walk at the Winona Lake Park will be held Oct. 7, and the Second Sunday Series concert will be held Oct. 8 at Rodeheaver Auditorium.
Lohse informed the council that the Winona Lake Community Dinner will be held Nov. 17 at Rodeheaver Auditorium.
Town council members are Ortega, Jeff Carroll, Jerry Clevenger, Dave Delp and Joy Lohse.
