From left are outgoing Board President Bruce Shaffner, Board Member Tecy Banta and outgoing Town Attorney Jim Walmer.

WINONA LAKE — The town of Winona Lake will enter 2019 with two new faces at the table of each month’s meeting of the board of trustees. The regular gathering Tuesday evening, Dec. 18, was the final board meeting for Board President Bruce Shaffner and for Town Attorney Jim Walmer.

Shaffner served for eight years on the board and did not run for re-election in November. His position was won by unopposed candidate Jim Lancaster. Walmer is being replaced by Adam Turner.

During the meeting, the board approved agreements between the town and Town Engineer Aaron Carl, as well as Turner, who takes over as town counsel at the beginning of next year.

Shaffner took a few moments at the end of the monthly meeting to thank the various departments that make up the town’s government and infrastructure. He added that living and serving in Winona Lake is not something to be taken for granted.

“I think when you look at everything, we are extremely blessed,” he said.

In other business, Town Coordinator Craig Allebach told the board that the town’s wastewater rate will not increase in 2019.

“We had done an analysis of our rate and based on the current circumstances that we’re under, we feel that a rate increase is not warranted at this time,” said Allebach. “We always evaluate every year and after we ran the numbers, what we have will go out here soon and the rates will stay the same for Winona Lake residents for 2019.” Trash pickup will remain the same price as well, Allebach said.

The board also approved a request by Police Chief Joe Hawn to lease two new vehicles in 2019. Hawn said by leasing the vehicles instead of buying them, the town would save money.

“Over time, you’re actually going to save, over seven years, $8,700 by doing the lease program,” Hawn said.