WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday night approved a motion for the town engineer to complete a topographical survey for additional parking.
The vote was unanimous with council members Sue Gooding, Terry Howie and Jim Lancaster voting in favor of the survey.
Council members Joy Lohse and Randy Swanson were absent.The study will allow town engineer Larry Long to conduct a land survey for the possibility of creating additional parking on the west side of Park Avenue, south of Wyland Avenue in Winona Lake, commonly referred to as Cherry Creek.
The proposed parking would be used for Winona Lake Senior Center visitors as well as Greenway Trail visitors.
The town previously considered sites for parking including expanding the parking lot across from the town hall, creating a parking lot on Roy Street at the south end of the Greenway and creating additional parking on the east end of Boys City Drive where there is currently a parking lot.
Chad Hudson, 1605 Park Avenue, Winona Lake, expressed concerns with the proposed Cherry Creek parking lot being located across from his home.
He said he had concerns with the parking lot being an eyesore, the lot creating drainage and flooding issues, and also was concerned the lot would take away from park use for people to play horseshoes and fly kites.
The town also approved a $73,984 contract with Niblock Excavating for 12 street paving projects in the town.
Streets that will be paved include First Street from Chestnut Avenue to Kings Highway, Fifth Street from Chestnut Avenue to College Avenue, Sixth Street from Chestnut Avenue to College Avenue, and College Avenue from 7th Street to 9th Street.
Other streets include Park Avenue from 7th Street to 79 feet south of the Wyland Ditch bridge, Fort Wayne Street from Park Avenue to East Canal Street, East Canal Street from Fort Wayne Street to Cerulean Restaurant, 12th Street from East Canal Street to Park Avenue, 12th Street from East Canal Street to Park Avenue, 12th Street and Park Avenue intersection and on the Greenway Trail near the 911 monument behind town hall.
Long also informed the council there is a current situation with a storm drain pipeline along the north side of Eola Drive that transports storm water from Grace Village and discharges to an open drainage swale which discharges to a culvert under Arbor Lane.
The open drainage swale functions properly to transport water, but a resident is concerned with the build-up of leaves in the rip-rap that lines swale.
Long said proposed improvements would include removing rip rap and filling the drainage swale.
The project also would relay 40 feet of 12-inch storm drain and place 200 feet of new 12-inch storm drain and two new inlets. The costs would be $9,000.
In other business, the town rejected two trash bids and will reopen bids and review them at its next meeting.
Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks said the bids were rejected because the proper paperwork was not submitted by the bidders.
The town also approved a Winona Lake Police Department off-duty work policy. The policy establishes rules for a person who hires an off-duty officer and states the hiree must have $1 million liability insurance for the off-duty officer as the primary insurer.
Howie asked for an update on the Stonehenge Golfcourse project.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach said he met with a representative from the golfcourse March 23. Allebach and the representative discussed easements to drainage of the pump station that is owned by the golfcourse.
Allebach said the town needs to get easements for the drainage pipes at the golfcourse.
The easements would allow the town to do maintenance on the drain pipes and allow the town to be on the property owned by the golf course.
Upcoming events in the town Saturday include a pancake breakfast fundraiser at the Winona Lake Fire Station from 8 to 11 a.m., town clean up day from 9 a.m. to noon, Symphony of the Lakes Brahm's Requiem at Rodeheaver Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.. Other events include: Warsaw Police Department's Victim Services run and walk at Winona Lake Park April 24 at 9 a.m., Fat & Skinny Tire Festival May 1 and 2, and trail runs on the mountain bike trails May 22.
