Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Residents who use the Christ's Covenant Church lift station will have to pay a fee.
The Winona Lake Town Council approved a request Tuesday to assume ownership of the lift station and property on Pierceton Road owned by Christ's Covenant Church.
The church paid to have the lift station installed in order to tap onto the town's sewer system.
From now on, the town will maintain the lift station.
The agreement also requires compensation to the church if residents tap onto the system in the future and use the lift station.
Council member Jerry Clevenger made a motion to approve the ownership. Council member Joy Lohse seconded the motion.
Rolly Ortega, town council president, said the lift station was built for residents who tap into the Winona Lake sewer line.
Larry Long, Winona Lake town engineer, will do a study on compensation costs and determine a set rate for usage costs for Winona Lake.
Craig Allebach, town coordinator, gave a report on upcoming street projects.
He informed the council that a meeting for the Greenway Project was held Monday with the project contractor.
Allebach said the construction is projected to begin Sept. 1 and be completed Dec. 1.
He said Wooster Road was surveyed Monday and work on the road should begin the first or second week of September and be completed by the end of November.
Ortega informed the board that he, council members Dave Delp and Joy Lohse and Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks attended the Warsaw City Council meeting Monday. They voiced their concerns with the proposed sewer rate increases for Winona Lake during the meeting.
Ortega presented a letter to the city council with his concerns about increasing sewer rates.
Under the proposed sewer rates, Winona Lake residents would see a 60-percent increase in their sewer rates, while Warsaw would receive a 10-percent increase.
Ortega said Winona Lake residents currently pay $35 a month for sewer services, and with the proposed increase would pay $50 a month.
The city council tabled approving the sewer rate increase.
Hicks suggested the council meet with rate consultants and city council members to discuss the rate increase.
"We need to agree on the calculations of the base charge so we have a template to go by so sewer rates don't increase every year," Hicks said.
Also during the meeting, Ortega gave an update on upcoming events in Winona Lake. The Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Sept. 3. "The Art of Caring" Charity Art Auction will be at the Village at Winona Sept. 14, Sailboat Regatta will be Sept. 16, and Light the Night will be Sept. 21. Registration for Light the Night will be held at 5 p.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium and the walk will be held at 7 p.m.
