WINONA LAKE- Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday night approved hiring John Leeper as a patrolman with the Winona Lake Police Department to replace Brad Kellar who is resigning. Kellar notified Town Marshal Paul Schmitt that he would be resigning from the Winona Lake Police Dept. effective July 9. Leeper has been a reserve officer for Winona Lake since 2005, and has proven he is qualified for this full-time position, Schmitt said during Tuesday night’s meeting. The council also heard a presentation from Adam Hurley, representative from J & K Communication, Columbia City, for proposals to replace a tornado siren that is at the Winona Lake Fire Dept. on Kings Highway. The issue with the current siren is that half of the speakers are working, said Craig Allebach, town coordinator. Hurley said the cost estimate for one siren is approximately $28,000. Town councilman Terry Howie asked Hurley where Hurley thought priorities were for additional tornado sirens that would cover the whole town. Hurley said the first priority would be replacing the current siren at the fire station, and also consider tornado sirens at the Winona Lake Park area, by Lakeland Christian Academy, and at the south end of town. Hurley said the siren sound would reach approximately one mile in radius. Town councilman Bruce Shaffner suggested the council could look into one or two sirens while considering difficult economic times, and work its way into purchasing additional sirens as needed. Council president Sue Gooding suggested the town consider looking into a text message alert system that would provide weather warnings for residents. In other business, the council approved purchasing two flow meters to monitor sewer lines in the town. The council also approved the town purchasing a Scada System to monitor the town’s wastewater lift station. The council reviewed the town’s travel policy for town employees. Previously at its May 24 meeting the council reviewed the verbiage in the current employee policy handbook and determined that it was insufficient to answer the travel requests of all the town employees. Current town employees are covered under the handbooks guideline but the town coordinator, clerk-treasurer and council members were not specifically addressed in the current format. Proposed guidelines will require the town coordinator, clerk-treasurer, and/or council members to submit requests in writing using a requisition form and by submitting the request to the town council prior to attending any conventions, seminars, or out-of-town meetings. The council will continue to review the proposal. Holly Hummitch, parks director, provided an update on the town’s summer activities. She said there have been 107 children registered for summer programs. Upcoming events in the town include MasterWorks Festival Saturday-July 16; Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Triathlon at Winona Lake Park July 25 at 8 a.m.; Firecracker 5K at Winona Lake July 2 at 8 a.m.; Winona Lake Great 4th of July Celebration July 2 with food vendors, a car and tractor show, and inflatable games; fireworks over Winona Lake July 2 at dusk; MasterWorks Outdoor Pops Concert July 2; and Village At Winona Arts Walk July 8 from 5 to 8 p.m.
