WINONA LAKE- Winona Lake Town Council approved purchasing equipment for its new fire truck and placing a legal ad for donated property during its meeting Tuesday.
The council heard a request from Kevin Bell, Winona Lake Fire Dept. assistant chief, to purchase additional equipment for the new fire truck the town purchased last year.
The council approved the town purchasing airpack holders, roll out trays, and tool boards for the interior of the fire truck from LTM Auto Truck and Trailer, Pontiac, Mich., for $6,987.
In other business, the council approved placing a legal ad in the newspaper to discuss whether or not to sell the Arnolt property, 301 Fifth St., that has been donated to the town. The issue will be discussed at the council's April 12 meeting.
The council also approved a time extension request from Michael Arnolt, who donated the property to the town, for an additional 30 days to allow Arnolt access to the property to clean out his personal property.
The town also approved extending paying utilities on the home for another month.
Also during the meeting, councilwoman Joy Lohse said she called Indiana Department of Environment Management to follow up on her concern of dead water fowl she discovered in the lake that she reported at a prior council meeting two months ago.
Lohse said the water foul carcasses are gone now, and storm drains were looked at.
There was found to be 115 acres of storm drain water that flows between Argonne Road to Maple Street and comes in the lake from the storm drain that is on Winona Avenue.
Lohse said she approached IDEM who suggested for ongoing water quality improvement their be public education, and she said she has spoken with the street department on putting no dumping decals on all of the storm water drains that go into Winona Lake.
Lohse also presented a request for the town to participate in a Hands Across Kosciusko County project through the Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce. The council approved sponsoring a seat in the shape of a hand to be placed in the town.
The council also reviewed an agreement concerning operation and management of the Stonehenge Pumping Station. Town attorney Jim Walmer will review the agreement and wording and it will be discussed at the council's April 12 meeting.
Councilman Terry Howie said he received a request from a Winona Lake family to have their special needs son have a hot dog cart and sell the food at Winona Lake Park with supervision.
Howie informed the council he told the family it would be a good idea to discuss the suggestion with Village At Winona Shop owners.
Walmer said non-profit groups are not required to have a permit to sell food from a cart in the town, and he said he will look into the request from the family.
Upcoming events in the town include World Compassion Network 5K at Winona Lake Park Saturday at 10 a.m.
Events on April 16 include a Winona Lake Fire Department pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m.; and town clean up day partnering with Winona Lake Preservation Association. Participants are advised to meet at the Winona Lake Fire Department at 9 a.m.
Other events are an Easter egg hunt at Winona Lake Park April 16 at 10 a.m., and the Winona Lake Preservation Association Annual meeting April 21 at 7 p.m.
