Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Town council members of Winona Lake Tuesday discussed possible modifications to an ordinance regarding garage sale regulations.
In the current ordinance, three garage sales per year are allowed to all Winona Lake residents as long as a $5 city permit is paid for each event. Any individual disregarding this procedure will be subject to a $250 fine for every hour of illegal garage sale activity.
"I'm totally against the $5 fee," Winona Lake Fire Department chief Roger Gelbaugh said. "We're punishing the whole community because of one location, and I don't think that's right."
Councilman Rolly Ortega questioned why the permits were necessary and asked if the permit fees could be removed from the ordinance.
The council then asked the public for opinions and suggestions on the matter.
"I think this whole situation is a little bit silly," resident Chris Volkers said. " It's sad that I can't let my kid open a lemonade stand without being punished for it."
Others supported the ordinance, saying the fine sizes were necessary to encourage observance of the law.
"I've come to the decision that laws are created because people are ignorant," resident Jim LeMasters said. "People need to be penalized just to make them stop doing the same thing over and over again."
After discussion, the council voted to table the ordinance and revisit the dollar amounts of permits fees and fines.
In other matters, members voted to approve an ordinance regarding the regulation of massage parlors in Winona Lake. The ordinance presented at the meeting was based on an ordinance Warsaw city officials recently passed in July.
"This situation is something we want to stay ahead of the curb on," councilman Jeff Carroll said. "We are passing this law now so we don't have difficulties in the future."
The board also:
• Heard reports from town supervisor Craig Allebach regarding the removal of dead trees near roadways to prevent traffic hazards.
• Accepted a bid from Phend and Brown Inc. for maintenance work to place new asphalt along town roads. The contract totals $49,051 and will resurface nine roads with the largest cost being a section of Widaman Street.
Council members present for the meeting were Carrol, Ortega, Jerry Clevenger and Joy Lohse. Dave Delp was absent.
