Since Winona Lake Town Council’s meeting in August, the council has submitted its proposed 2015 budget to Kosciusko County Council and advertised it for two consecutive weeks.

At the Sept. 17 council meeting, a public hearing on the budget was held. Council and public alike seemed to have no objection to the proposed 2015 budget as it was advertised, and the proposed budget will likely be adopted at a meeting on Oct. 21.

“We don’t expect any further reduction in the budget,” stated Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Kent Adams. The proposed 2015 budget is $55,150 less than last year’s budget, a 2.19 percent decrease from 2014.

The council reported that it has nearly resolved a greenway expansion issue at Robson Road. According to the council, at some time in the past, the area of land along Robson Road was somehow deeded to the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission.

The deed is in the process of being turned over to the town of Winona Lake. Town Attorney James Walmer reported the KCRC has already taken care of the paperwork on its end. The council passed resolution 2014-9-1 last night that will allow the town to assume ownership of the land.

Also during the meeting, Town Manager Craig Allebach reported that the town has been unsatisfied with its current information technology service provider. “We sought quotes from other IT providers,” said Allebach. “We’re recommending the town go with Redwood Information Technology.”

The IT company, based in Winona Lake, will be linking Winona Lake Town Hall to its fiber network and providing internet and VOIP services, for a relatively comparable cost to what Winona Lake is currently paying for similar services.

An addendum was added to the proposed contract that would also add the WInona Lake Fire Department to Redwood IT’s services. Should the town and Redwood reach an agreement on services for WLFD – which seems likely – council president Bruce Shaffner is authorized to sign off on the contract.

Additionally, the council approved A&Z Engineering to to supervise construction on the planned greenway project. The town also approved a list of services and charges regarding weed and ranked vegetation (overgrown lawns).

The services and rates are as follows:

Truck:                    $50 per hour
Truck Mileage:       $0.56 per mileRiding Mower:        $30 per hour
Push Mower:          $15 per hour
Weed Eater:            $20 per hour
Personnel:              $30 per hour