From left are Robert Swanson, Peter Christos and Craig Allebach.

WINONA LAKE — The Winona Lake Town Council on Tuesday, Sept. 20, held a public hearing for the 2017 budget.

Kent Adams, clerk-treasurer, explained the budget has increased 2.9 percent this year, however, it actually comes out at about one percent because of extra wheel tax proceeds the budget will receive. The budget is totaled at $3,354,021.

During the public hearing, one individual in the crowd expressed concern about the budget the 2016 budget being frozen and asked how the council planned to prevent that situation from recurring again.

Adams replied the budget is based largely on estimates because there is no other way to do it.

“It’s an 18 month process,” said Adams. He stated they only have estimates of how much they will receive from taxes, making it difficult to know exactly how much they will actually receive.

The adoption meeting date for the budget is set for Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Town coordinaor, Craig Allebach, announced he has been working with the planning commission to edit the town’s zoning ordinance document. He stated the document is 50 years old and needs some cleaning up.

The changes Allebach and the planning commission are proposing are as follows:

• Lower housing from six to four members of unrelated persons in a single family,
• No car ports will be allowed in front yards,
• No canvas covered structures will be allowed to be used as garages, or storage sheds,
• Wood burning boilers are not to be used in garages or sheds,
• When housing unrelated persons in a rental, it will be required each vehicle beyond two, associated with the rental, have available car space.
• Clotheslines will not be permitted in front yards.

The planning commission passed all the additions to the ordinance, with the exception of the two vehicle restraint with rentals ordinance was tabled.

Allebach informed the board the planning commission will continue to work on the adjustments and then let the council decide if they want to adopt or change any of the additions.

“At this point, this is just an FYI,” said councilman Peter Christos to clarify.

Tom Miller, street superintendent, told the board his crew had spent three days working in the Murfield housing addition working in,  “Less than favorite conditions.”

Miller mentioned he had discovered a clogged drain on Winona Avenue which adds to the flooding issues with the road. Miller stated he would be looking into fixing the issue.

The council approved a two night stay for Allebach to attend the Indiana Association of Towns and Cities Oct. 4-6.

Larry Long, town engineer, gave the board updates the the Murfield subdivision. The crew is 60 days ahead of schedule. He mentioned they just placed final surface asphalt and would be going back to spray weeds. He stated the crews were finishing wrapping up work.

Allebach said the basketball court construction is complete and the tennis court construction should be completed within the next few days.

The next Winona Lake Town Council will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the Winona Lake Town Hall.