Jim Zachary (L) is sworn in as a Winona Lake Town Council Member by Town Attorney Adam Turner Monday, Jan. 6. Town Manager Craig Allebach and Council President Rick Swaim look on. InkFreeNews photo by Kory Stoneburner-Betts.

WINONA LAKE — The town council approved a wastewater rate increase and swore in a new council member at a special meeting, Monday evening, Jan. 6.

The council approved an increase in the wastewater rate from $47 to $56, a flat rate per month for residential use. The issue of an increase was first addressed at the Nov. 19 council meeting. The hearing was tabled at the Dec. 17 meeting until Jan. 6.

The rate increase is the first in a decade, said Town Manager Craig Allebach.

According to Dean Rogers of accounting firm Baker Tilly, a rate study was conducted on Winona Lake’s wastewater processes in the fall of last year. As a result of the study, Baker Tilly recommended a rate increase in part to ensure the timely maintenance of the wastewater infrastructure. The firm identified several of the town’s 11 lift stations will require some form of maintenance upgrades within the next five years. Several lift stations mentioned are located at Stonehenge and on the Island along Winona Lake.

The cost of maintenance upgrades to the lift stations was projected to be $555,000 over the next four to five years, according to Rogers. The increase would ensure the town stays ahead of the maintain projects at the lift stations.

The increase also ensures the town maintains its $388,000 windfall fund for monthly operating expenses. The rate study by Baker Tilly recommended the town maintains at least two months’ worth of operating expenditures in the windfall fund. The fund would give the town three months of operating expenditures should it be needed, according to council member Jim Lancaster.

While the 19% increase may seem steep, the rate hike is lower than what other towns are seeing, according to Rogers.

Many towns wait until utilities are in dire need of repair and make up the costs by making larger rate increases. “Sometimes at 30% or even 100%,” said Rogers.

He credited the town council for staying ahead of the curve regarding repairs and maintenance on the wastewater infrastructure.

According to council member Rick Swaim, the rate may decrease some in the future depending on operating costs dictated in part by the town’s service population.

In other matters, the council witnessed the swearing-in of its newest member. Jim Zachary who was elected in the fall, outing council member Tecy Banta. Zachary will serve Ward One for a four-year term.

Other business included:

• The council named Rick Swaim as council president. Denny Duncan was named vice president. Heather James remains as the council member for Ward Four.
• The council approved the feasibility study for the Winona Heritage Trail East Expansion project. The project would see an expansion of the trail from Roy Street, ultimately ending at Eisenhower Elementary. The study will be conducted by A to Z Environmental Services for $14,750. Much of the cost will be covered by a grant from the K21 Health Foundation, according to Allebach.