WINONA LAKE- Winona Lake town officials are seeking use proposals for a property that has been donated to the town.
Winona Lake Town Council discussed the property at its meeting Tuesday morning.
The property is at 301 Fifth St., Winona Lake, and the town approved at it Nov. 23 meeting accepting the property that was donated by Michael Arnolt.
The council at its November meeting approved covering the taxes on the property, covering the utilities for 90 days, and paying legal fees and any other costs associated with the town accepting the property.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach said he has heard from neighbors of the Arnolt property who have expressed interest in purchasing the Arnolt property collectively.
Some neighbors are concerned it would be turned into a rental property and lower their property values, Allebach said.
Allebach said it could be put into a proposal that it would be a single family dwelling, not a rental and put restrictions taking into consideration the neighbors concerns and ideas if that is what the council decides.
"I think the council needs to see what they would like to see for the property after receiving proposals," Allebach said.
The two-bedroom home with a bathroom, kitchen and living room would need its roof repaired and need an exterior paint job, Allebach said.
Allebach said people interested in purchasing the property and who have a detailed plan of what they would like to do with the property should contact him at 574-269-5112 or e-mail cjallebach@gmail.com
"We may not have a clue of someone's great idea until we see it and then we could start putting that into a plan," said council president Sue Gooding.
Allebach agreed it would be beneficial to have direction from the community on the use for the property and the town could respond to the proposals.
Councilwoman Joy Lohse said it would be a good idea not to limit the use for the property to a non-rental, and would give the community an opportunity to share their ideas on the property.
Councilman Terry Howie said he has spoken with two people who said they would be interested in improving the property.
In other business on second reading the council approved sewer rates for Winona Lake residents going from $40 a month to $36 a month.
The council previously approved the rate at its Jan. 11 meeting.
The council also approved a $9,517 contract between the town and ProForm Pipe Lining Co. Inc., Mishawaka, for sewer video testing for Muirfield and Prestwick subdivision in Stonehenge Addition.
The council also approved Winona Lake Street Department employees cleaning the sewers to prepare for the video testing.
The sewer video taping is to prepare for the paving of Stonehenge Addition Streets and fix the infiltration in the sewer line, according to Larry Long, town engineer. Long said the video taping of the sewers should be done in 30 days.
Howie asked how long it would take for the town to do the sewer cleaning.
Pete O'Connell, public works director, said he would be able to get street employees out this month to clean the sewer to prepare for the sewer videotaping.
Howie said his concern is that the town has talked for years about the Stonehenge Streets repairs, and he was concerned that the town would have to come back later and dig up the streets if the sewer project was not done correctly the first time.
"I want to get ahead of the game and have the steps in order and not have to go back and dig up streets to fix sewer lines," Howie said.
Long said he agreed and if the video testing of the sewer line is done prior to the street repairs the town will have a better idea of the sewer condition.
Also during the meeting the council approved re-appointing Patty Boyer to serve on the Winona Lake Park Board.
Council member Bruce Shaffner thanked the street department for its snow removal work.
Allebach informed the council that Winona Lake will celebrate its Centennial in 2013 and encouraged the council to start thinking about contacting volunteers and planning.
Upcoming events in the town include a Village Pajama Party sale Saturday from 7 to 10 a.m.
Congressman Marlin Stutzman will visit the Winona Lake office for an open house that is open to the public Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. People who want to attend are advised to call 574-269-1940.
