WINONA LAKE — Winona Lake residents were a bit riled up in the Tuesday, April 19, town council meeting.

When Winona Lake Town Council President Bruce Shaffner opened up “Floor topics” the first person to take the floor was Herbert Teeter, of Winona Lake. Teeter told the council that he wanted to rent a canal space that was adjacent to his son’s property.

He had an ordinance which read, “A person holding a canal space rental agreement that expired on Dec. 31 of the year preceding the ordinance from which this article derived (2004) shall have the right to renew with the payment of the agreement, together with the payment of the agreement fee for the canal space to the office of the clerk-treasurer of the the town of Winona Lake, on or before the end of the first business day in April.”

Teeter told the council the previous renter had not re-rented the space and since it was “A ways past the first of the month” he should be able to rent it. Teeter stated he received a letter in the mail saying he had to wait until May 1, for the previous renter to rent the canal space again or relinquish it.

Teeter insisted on a “up or down vote” of his ability to rent the space that night or at least, hold the space until the matter was cleared up. The council told Teeter they would have to look at the ordinance, talk to the clerk-treasurer and the town attorney, but they couldn’t make a decision on the spot. They did agree to suspend rental of the canal space until the next meeting.

After Teeter was finished another resident brought up the “parking problem” in the Village, amid clapping coming from the back of the town hall meeting room. The resident told the council she couldn’t have anyone visit her at her home because there is no place to park. She said there’s not even a place to park her own car because these “strangers” have parked along the road in front of her house. She told the council, “I’m handicapped, I don’t want to put a handicap sign up, this is ridiculous.”

The woman told the council Winona Lake residents should be able to park in front of their own homes. “I’m right next door to Cerulean, can you imagine what that is to park? You really shouldn’t be taking our streets and our privileges away.”

Residents had a general complaint saying they felt they were being treated like second class citizens and Winona Lake was more about the tourists.

“Winona Happenings”

• 11 a.m. Friday, April 22, Limitless Park community build prep.
• 6 p.m. Friday, April 22, family movie night at Winona Heritage Room.
• 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 22, higher learning tour with Lacrae at Grace College’s Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
• 8 a.m. Saturday, April 23, Limitless Park community build.
• 7-10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 30, Winona Lake Methodist Church Pancake Breakfast.
• 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30, Parasol Parade Walk at Winona Lake Park.
• 9 a.m. Saturday, May 7, Joe’s Kids Splatter Dash at Winona Lake Park.
• 9 a.m. Saturday, May 7, Grace Commencement at OCC.

In other business:

• The refuse and recycling bid was awarded to Advanced Disposal.
• The Muirfield Reconstruction bid was awarded to Beer & Slabaugh.
• Winona Lake tennis courts resurfacing bid was awarded to Phend & Brown.