Leah Thill with the Michiana Area Council of Governments speaks at the Kosciusko County Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, May 9, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Electric vehicle charging spots could be placed near Winona Lake Town Hall.

Michiana Area Council of Governments’ Leah Thill referenced that when she came before the Kosciusko County Commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday, May 9.

She asked for their endorsement of a letter of support for a grant MACOG is assisting with on behalf of its membership area: Kosciusko County, Elkhart County, Marshall County and St. Joseph County. The grant, through the U.S. Department of Transportation if received, would help fund part of the cost for EV charging spots in those counties.

Commissioners agreed to the endorsement.

Winona Lake Town Manager Craig Allebach confirmed the town had very recently communicated with MACOG about the grant. He said the town would only probably consider putting the spots in if it received grant money.

Per the grant rules, Winona Lake may seek corporate or foundation funds to cover its portion of the grant match, with Allebach stating that entity hasn’t been finalized yet.

Preliminarily, the town would have four spots located in what is now a grassy spot by Park Avenue, where one turns onto Fort Wayne Street to get to town hall. That particular area should be renovated into parking under a plan the town is already working on.

The general parking plan revamp is being overseen by the Winona Lake Park Board as that land belongs to the parks department.

In other business, commissioners:

• Allowed the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office to purchase five Dodge Durangos for $208,220 using budgeted funds.
• Appointed Richard Dan to the Lakeland Regional Sewer District Board to fill out Parke Smith’s term. Smith resigned due to soon moving out of the area.
• Appointed Warsaw Police Department Capt. Brad Kellar and Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Brian Mayo to replace WPD Capt. Joel Beam and WWFT’s Joel Shilling respectively on the county’s public safety communications tech committee.

Commissioners’ next meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom.