At the Winona Lake Town Council meeting on Tuesday, June 20, are from left: Council President Rick Swaim, Vice President Heather James and Members Jim Lancaster, Austin Reynolds and Ashley McGinnis. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — Concerns on legal fees, costs for Miller Sunset Pavilion and extending Heritage Trail were discussed at the Winona Lake Town Council’s meeting on Tuesday, June 20.

The legal costs refer to Town Clerk-Treasurer Laurie Renier’s hiring of attorney Jack Birch to represent her earlier this year. The fees, which total $3,410, were listed as an expense on the town’s monthly claims for approval.

“Laurie, I think it’s our concern that this was not budgeted for legal services for the clerk-treasurer’s office and our questioning the validity of paying that claim through the town,” said Town Council President Rick Swaim, speaking for himself and other council members.

Renier maintained her ability to have legal counsel through the town because of her role as clerk-treasurer.

The council decided to table approval of fees to allow Town Attorney Adam Turner, who wasn’t present at the meeting, to give guidance on the matter.

Pavilion Costs

Members of the public also questioned the amount spent on operations for the Miller Sunset Pavilion.

Following a public hearing, the council approved an additional appropriation for up to $450,000 for the rest of the year to pay for “personnel services, supplies, other charges and basically for the operations of the Miller Sunset Pavilion,” explained Town Manager Craig Allebach.

Allebach stated in a response to a question from audience member Jerry Nelson the money paying for the expenses will be from funds coming in to the pavilion through rental fees, etc.

He later said monies being paid in to the pavilion so far totaled $150,000.

Allebach told Nelson during the meeting other funds could be used “to make up for the difference because we don’t think it’s going to be a money-making operation for a little while.” He did say those extra funds didn’t need to necessarily make the amount go all the way to $450,000, but that was the amount leaders wanted to have if possible.

Those extra monies could come out of taxpayer funds, said Allebach, including from those in the rainy day fund.

In response to a question from another audience member, Allebach said the town was continuing to seek out grants for the pavilion.

Audience member Barry Andrew asked how leaders came up with the $450,000 amount. Allebach said financial advisors based those off budgets at other facilities in Fort Wayne, Mishawaka and South Bend, though he “personally” found the number to be “high.”

Related, Allebach said bricks emblazoned with people’s names or business names which were part of a fundraising campaign for the pavilion should be placed in the walk leading up to the building soon.

Heritage Trail

The council also tabled an agreement with Global Paving to extend Heritage Trail east from Lakeland Christian Academy to Raccoon Run.

Allebach noted the town awarded a bid to the company in 2021, but extension work was delayed due to a water line being installed in the area. The company will probably charge the town a higher price than its original amount of $328,000 though due to costs going up over the years, said Allebach, and if the price goes too high, the town would probably want to rebid the work.

An audience member expressed safety concerns over the proposed extension not connecting to the area of Christ’s Covenant Church and CR 250E to the rest of the trail as she feared kids would try to cross into traffic from one to the other.

Allebach said the plan is to fully connect the trail, but some property owners near Christ’s Covenant Church and CR 250E are refusing to give the town an easement for the work. If those people don’t ever consent, the town will try to connect the trail through a different route.

With several of its members wanting to look into the matter further, the council opted to table it.

Summer Events

The council also heard about numerous upcoming and rescheduled events in town.

Live music at the gazebo in The Village at Winona near Port Winona Wine and Market and Social Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop is 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays through August. People should bring chairs.

Winona Lake Limitless Park’s inflatable event originally set for Friday, June 23, is being moved to July due to setup for the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club’s triathlon occurring Friday and other factors.

The triathlon starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 24, at WLLP. People should be wary the area will be congested, said Allebach.

The town’s Fourth of July events are on Friday, June 30, and Saturday, July 1. The flotilla is 8 p.m. June 30, and is more of a casual evening cruise this year, with people able to enter by gathering at Winona Lake Limitless Park.

My Team Triumph has a Firecracker 5K which starts at 9 a.m. July 1 with people able to register and learn more at https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/IN/WinonaLake/myTEAMTRIUMPH5K.

Winona Lake’s parade starts at 5 p.m. July 1, with registration and lineup at 4:15 p.m. From 5-9 p.m., there will be food and craft vendors, face painting and more at WLLP.

The Wagon Wheel Symphony of the Lakes’ Salute to America concert starts at 8 p.m. July 1 at Miller Sunset Pavilion. Fireworks start at 10 p.m. that day over Winona Lake, with people able to listen to special coordinated music on 107.3 WRSW.

A Bonfire Bash for teens in WLLP is 8-10 p.m. Friday, July 14.

Touch-a-Truck in the Village is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 15.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a transfer of $452,000 to the town’s rainy day fund. That was done due to Baker Tilly financial advisors suggesting the town have more money in that account.

The council’s next meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, at Winona Lake Town Hall.