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WINONA LAKE - The Winona Lake Town Council authorized a $300,000 grant application for the Winona Lake Housing Authority today and rejected a grant application request for composting machinery.
R. P. Murphy, grant consultant, said the $300,000 grant will be used to rehabilitate substandard housing. The funds are made available to homeowners through low-interest loans. The town's local match will be $30,000 and will come from monies repaid from previous loans.
"We will have the $30,000 - or most of it - on hand should we get the grant," said Council President Brent Wilcoxson.
The council turned down a $113,000 grant application request for a chipper and grinder to be used in producing compost.
The chipper and grinder would cost $226,000; the town would be obligated to spend $113,000.
"In my opinion, I don't think we need to spend $113,000 for making compost," Wilcoxson said. "We'll just let the tree limbs decompose naturally."
In other business, the council approved a five mph reduction of the speed limit for the island to a maximum of 20 miles per hour.
The council approved a new ordinance establishing a $35 disconnect and reconnect fee for the town's sewer system. Under the ordinance any property owner not receiving a permit to disconnect or reconnect to the sewer system will be subject to a $50 per day fine.
The council also approved an ordinance prohibiting alcohol on park property and prohibiting smoking in park buildings.
