Smoking, Skateboarding Top Winona Lake Concerns
In previous Winona Lake Town Council meetings, recommendations for ordinances regarding skateboards and smoking have been raised. Both ordinances were discussed at length at the council’s May 20 meeting.
The skateboard ordinance was originally recommended by Winona Lake Police Chief of Police Paul Schmitt at the April town council meeting, citing concern for the safety of skateboarders in the Village at Winona. Schmitt stated that some skateboarders are speeding down steep hills and sometimes failing to yield to stop signs.
At last night’s meeting, town attorney James Walmer presented a draft of an ordinance prohibiting the use of skateboards and longboards on Ninth Street between College Avenue and Park Avenue, Twelfth Street between College Avenue and East Canal Street, Chestnut Street between Thirteenth Street and Union Drive and Park Avenue between Winona Avenue and Twelfth Street.
Had the ordinance been approved, violation of the proposed ordinance would result in a fine of $50 plus “reasonable attorney’s fees” up to $2,500. Also, the skateboard would be impounded until the fine was paid.
“We want to keep the cars and the skateboards separate,” said Schmitt. “We want to keep these people safe.”
A group of six young people attended the May meeting to oppose the ordinance. Tyler Paseka addressed the council, representing the group.
Paseka felt that boarders should be allowed to use the roads and be subjected to the same traffic laws as automobiles and bicycles. He also explained to the council how longboards are ridden and stopped and how he and his peers use the streets and trails in Winona Lake.
“Activities like this is what makes this community fun,” said new council member Peter Christos. “I don’t think anyone is looking to eliminate this.”
“We don’t want to take away your fun,” councilman Bruce Shaffner told Paseka. “We want it to be safe for you all.”
Ultimately, councilman Greg Winn motioned to draft an ordinance that would subject skateboards, non-motorized scooters, roller blades and roller skates to the same laws as motor vehicles. The motion passed 3-2.
Schmitt felt that skateboards still being allowed on the streets would be problematic. Paseka found the proposed ordinance agreeable.
Also during the May meeting, Dan Gray, director of the Kosciusko County Tobacco Free Coalition, came before the council to recommend a non-smoking ordinance in Winona Lake. The ordinance was originally brought up in regards to smoking in and around the parks.
“As you promote [the Limitless Park] and the environment here, let people know that its also a healthy environment,” said Gray. “This is a positive step for this council to consider.”
Winona Lake Park Board President Shelby Beam, Lisa Harmon of the Health and Wellness Committee and several Winona Lake Limitless Park Committee members expressed their support for the ordinance. As the discussion continued, recommendations to extend the ordinance to the greenway trails and other recreational areas, such as baseball fields, were offered up.
Also, electronic cigarettes and vaporizer pens (devices that have become quite popular recently and are even sold in the Village at Winona) were brought up in the discussion. Though these devices do not contain tobacco, nor do they produce smoke, Gray recommended e-cigs be included in the ordinance. Gray went on to recommend that the ban on tobacco and e-cigs be extended to all town property.
Ultimately, the motion for the ordinance was tabled. Councilman Winn and several other council members were in support of banning tobacco and e-cigs in Winona Lake’s parks, trails and recreational facilities. However, the council as a whole seemed to think this was a unique situation that required more research and discussion.