WINONA LAKE- Winona Lake Town Council approved a 1.75 percent salary increase for 2012 for the town marshal, four deputy marshals, and town employees Tuesday night.
However, the town coordinator and clerk-treasurer will not receive a pay increase.
Council president Sue Gooding made the motion for the salary increases, seconded by councilman Bruce Shaffner.
Council members Joy Lohse, Randy Swanson, and Terry Howie also voted in favor of the increases.
The 1.75 percent increases also apply to the accounts payable clerk, payroll utility clerk, data input clerk, park and activities director, and building commissioner.
The council also approved travel requests for newly elected officials to travel to Indianapolis on Jan. 9-11.
The travel requests cover travel, food, gas, and lodging expenses for newly elected officials.
The travel requests were for newly-elected clerk-treasurer Kent Adams, and council members John Boal, Greg Winn, and Philip Hood and deputy-clerk Cindy Nolton.
Nolton is currently serving as the county’s chief deputy treasurer.
However, Lohse abstained from the vote for the travel requests.
She said she felt uncomfortable approving a travel request because she did not know Nolton, and that she was being hired as the town’s deputy-clerk.
She did not know Nolton’s job description, and did not know that Adams had intentions to have Nolton trained and hired.
Gooding said the town has received Nolton’s resume, and she is qualified.
Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks said she has received verbal notification from Ellen Swaim, accounts payable clerk, that she plans to resign Dec. 31.
Swaim was not at the meeting, but confirmed this morning she will be leaving to move on. She served 14 years as the wastewater billing clerk, and three years as accounts payable clerk.
In other business, the council approved Winona Fire Department purchasing $10,500 in bunker gear, and $15,000 for airpacks for the department.
The council approved purchasing a $41,600 sewer jet machine from Brown Equipment, Fort Wayne.
David Phelps, Winona Lake resident, informed the council that the 301 Fifth St. property that has been donated to the town was torn down Tuesday.
He plans on using the property for a community garden. The council approved three requests from Phelps for the brick patio at the site to be inspected to use as a community area, a fire pit at the site to be inspected, and requested to leave a two-car driveway at the property.
Also during the meeting Art Bushen, CE National, said he had concerns with the placement of a sewer box for the Wooster Road Lift Station at Presidential Drive and Wooster Road.
He said he was concerned with the appearance of the sewer box, and suggested there be landscaping around the box.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach and town attorney Jim Walmer will work with Bushen on the issue.
The council approved Al Disbro continuing to serve on Winona Lake Economic Development Commission.
The council also approved an agreement between Kosciusko County and Winona Lake.
The agreement is for the county to work with Winona Lake’s law enforcement agency to provide computer equipment and software to continue to provide data access for law enforcement vehicles.
During the meeting, Jerry Nelson, Winona Lake resident, thanked the town for their work on Kringlefest, a holiday festival in the town.
Mallory Hepler, Village At Winona managing director, said the event helped business in the village.
A Frigid 5K will be Jan. 1 that begins at the YMCA at 1 p.m. and will go through Winona Lake.
Town offices will be closed on Dec. 23, 26, and 30, and Jan. 2.
