Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Street projects were discussed Tuesday by town council members and town engineer Larry Long.
Long said the plans to reconfigure King's Highway are nearly complete. He expects to have bid specifications at the 7 a.m. May 25 meeting.
Long recommended the King's Highway project released for bids first and then Park Avenue from the Wyland Ditch bridge to Cherry Creek.
Long said the bridge at Wyland Ditch could be funded from the county cumulative bridge fund as early as next year.
The design work would be a collaboration between Long's associates and another company, he said.
Soil borings and complete piling will have to be part of the construction.
The greenway path will cross the bridge, but widening the bridge to install sidewalks would be at the town's cost.
Councilman David Delp said he would be happy if the bridge is at least wide enough for two cars to pass.
Although reconstruction on CR 250E was approved by the Indiana Department of Transportation in 2000, negotiations for rights of way are ongoing. The wetlands mitigation also is still pending, according to town manager Craig Allebach. The railroad company hasn't responded with a design yet either.
Bonar and Associates Engineers has been working with the town on the project. The price for the work has gone up in the last four years, too.
The board also:
• Heard from Alyssa Beam, owner of house at 1110 W. Canal St. Beam said she plans to make repairs and work on the yard this summer.
She attended the meeting at the request of building commissioner Dick Leaf.
Leaf said the out-of-town owner of 200 Chestnut St., who has been remodeling the house for 10 years, will finish the work this summer.
• Heard that funds for a town hall emergency generator might be available through the county Emergency Management Office and that the fire station's generator has not been installed.
• Approved a request by Colleen Heffron, 305 Boys City Drive, to vacate an alley between lots 72 and 73 on the east and 165 and 166 on the west, in the fifth amendment plat of Winona Park. Heffron's house on lot 166 was burned and she plans to tear it down and build a new home.
• Approved an ordinance to charge a $26 recording fee for property vacations. Board president Jerry Clevenger said some of the granted vacations are not being recorded.
• Wrote off two outstanding wastewater bills: $185.42 to accommodate Jason Timmerman's bankruptcy and $1,251.20 at 800 Park Ave., property seized by the town in June. Clerk Retha Hicks said, "We failed to stop the sewer and don't want to charge ourselves."
• Heard events in town include May 15 and 16, Spring Sailboat Regatta; May 17 at 2 p.m., WRSW radio program with David Delp; May 21, 6:15 p.m., Hymn Sing at Westminster Hall, sponsored by Grace College (dinner is at 5:15 p.m., reservations are requested); May 24, Grace Golf Classic at Stonehenge Golf Club; May 5 and 6, Village at Winona Art Fair; June 13, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Billy Sunday Festival; June 20 to July 18, MasterWorks Festival.
Council members are Jerry Clevenger, John Boal, Jeff Carroll, David Delp and Rolly Ortega.
