WINONA LAKE — The town council approved the 2020 budget and a proposal for the eastern expansion of the Winona Heritage Trail, Tuesday, Oct. 15.

The adopted budget remains the same as the proposed budget that was approved at the Sept. 17 meeting. The budget saw an overall tax rate decrease of 4.6 percent.

Town Coordinator Craig Allebach presented a proposal that would expand the Winona Heritage around Christ Covenant Church, ending near Stonehenge. The project is called Winona Heritage Trail East, according to Allebach.

The project is expected to cost $2.4 million and will be constructed in stages.

“We’ll do what we can when we can,” said Allebach.

The first phase is the section extending from Miller Athletic Complex on the Grace College campus to the soon-to-be constructed playground at Christ Covenant Church.

The plans are at the end of the formative stages. Allebach anticipates the construction to start as soon as next spring.

The council approved a request to advertise for future public works projects. The projects will be partially funded with the $192,000 granted to the town via the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Community Crossings Initiative. The funds will go toward milling and repaving of roads in Winona Lake. 

Road projects scheduled to be completed with the funds include filling of manholes on Kings Highway and improvements to Stratford Drive. Work is expected to begin in the spring. The estimated total for the road projects is $268,684.

Other business included:

• The town council approved renewing the Inter-Local Agreement. This allows the Winona Lake Police Department to continue their agreement with the Kosciusko County Commissioners to maintain computers in police vehicles at $1,000 per unit.
• The council approved a request by the Parks Department to purchase a seesaw that is accessible to children at all levels of physical ability.
• Winona Lake Police Chief Joe Hawn said the department is nearing the end of preparations for the incoming K9 unit. The department is in the process of constructing a shelter for the K9 and readying the K9 unit vehicle.
• Public Works Director Tom Miller said that the town recently sprayed for the EEE virus within the past few weeks.
• Town Attorney Adam Turner expects the annexation of Stonehenge to be completed at the end of the month.