WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday approved a change order to repair portions of CR 250E that are cracking.
Gary Randle, Bonar Group, spoke about the change order.
He said the $162,239.53 change order is to fix CR 250E that is progressively cracking south of the railroad tracks and north of the intersection of Wooster Road.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the CR 250E project was held in September 2008. The project included reconstruction of CR 250E from U.S. 30 to Pierceton Road including a new storm drainage system, curbs and gutters.The town began to notice cracking in the road two to three months after the ribbon cutting ceremony, according to Town Coordinator Craig Allebach.
He said the change order will allow Bonar Group to reinforce and stabilize the area that is still settling by the railroad tracks.
The change order will be financed through an Indiana Department of Transportation Grant that will pay 80 percent of the change order. The town will pay 20 percent of the amount, according to Allebach.
He said Bonar Group is working with permit companies to see what fixes are available to repair the road.
Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks said the town has the funds to cover its amount.
"The road stabilization was done to prevent the movement of the road in a settling motion and what we are getting now is a sluffing motion from the outsides of the ditch," Randle said.
He said the road is cracking in the middle and the road curves are settling off.
He said stabilization work also was performed on the east side of the road and the majority of the settling has started on the west side of the road where work wasn't performed.
Randal said there will be more work to be completed in the spring and Bonar Group has been monitoring the area throughout the winter.
"I know it is a concern to everyone and it is a concern to us," Randal said.
Randle said they are constantly in contact with Indiana Department of Transportation about the project and nothing can be done without their authority.
"We are doing everything we can to make this road problem stop," Randal said.
He said the road may have maintenance over its lifetime.
Brent Wilcoxson, managing director for the Village At Winona, thanked the Winona Lake Fire Department for their response to a fire call in the town.
Wilcoxson said he talked to Dick Kemper, Kosciusko County surveyor, about trying to get rid of tree debris that are in dams in Cherry Creek.
Wilcoxson said it is a county-owned ditch.
"The more of that we can get out of the creek the better," Wilcoxson said.
Hicks said she conducted a monthly sewer delinquency notice study to determine the costs to the town for preparing sewer bills on a monthly basis.
Hicks said it costs the town $3,912.98 a year for supplies to send out the monthly sewage delinquency notices including postage, forms, and envelopes, and labor. Software costs are $600 and training costs are $720 for a one-time fee.
Hicks said the town currently mails out delinquent sewage bills annually.
The council tabled approving whether or not the delinquent sewer bills should be sent out annually, monthly or quarterly.
In other business, the council approved a resolution for Dathan Reed who was sworn in as a reserve officer for Winona Lake at the town's Feb. 10 meeting.
Allebach said he will meet with Steve Grill this week to discuss grants for the Billy Sunday Visitors Museum through the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Winona Lake Plan Commission will meet April 14 at 4:30 p.m. for a follow-up meeting with Robert McCormick, project leader for the planning and power project at Purdue University-West LaFayette.
McCormick made a presentation at the council's Feb. 10 meeting on protecting water and environmental resources.
Council member Joy Lohse said the Winona Lake dam will be raised May 1 to refill.
Upcoming events in the town include the Second Sunday Series concert at Rodeheaver Auditorium March 8 at 7:30 p.m. and the NCCAA Women's Basketball National Championship at Grace College Orthopedic Capital Center March 12 to 14.
The Chocolate March will be in the Village at Winona March 7, 14, 21, and 28; and Winona Lake Clean-Up Day in conjunction with the Winona Lake Preservation Association is April 25 from 10 a.m. to noon.
To volunteer for the clean-up day call Winona Lake Preservation Association President Chris Cummins at 574-268-4400.
