Taking the oath of office Tuesday during the Winona Lake Town Council meeting from left are Council members Austin Reynolds, Ashley McGinnis and Barry Andrew and Clerk-Treasurer Heather James. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WINONA LAKE — A software issue is being blamed for Winona Lake residents not having received their sewer and trash bills yet for the month.

Resident Jerry Nelson told the Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday, Jan. 23, he had not received his sewer and trash bills yet and they’re usually due by the 28th.

“I’m wondering when we might get those sewer and trash bills mailed out or delivered. I’m happy to go and pick them up,” he said.

Clerk-Treasurer Heather James responded, “We are working with our software system to get those out. They’ve identified something incorrect in our system, so we’re working with them to get that corrected because we normally have them out by this time and we would like to get them out as soon as possible.”

Nelson asked if there will be a delay in the late charges for the bills then. James said there won’t be any late charges for them.

“I have been telling people that rates are going to be the same, so if you’d like to make your payment, if you’d like to bring that in, we can get your receipt for that, but we’re not going to assess late fees because the error is on our end for not getting those out,” James said.

Town Manager Craig Allebach said information on the bills was posted on the town’s website Monday. He reiterated that none of the rates have increased so people can continue to pay what they have been paying.

In other business:

• Town attorney Adam Turner gave the oath of office to Council members Austin Reynolds, Ashley McGinnis and Barry Andrew and Clerk-Treasurer Heather James. They were uncontested in the November election and had to be sworn in to start their four-year terms.

• By vote of 3-2, the council elected Jim Lancaster as president and Reynolds as vice president.

Voting in favor of Lancaster and Reynolds were Councilmen Lancaster, Rick Swaim and Reynolds. McGinnis and Andrew voted for McGinnis as president and Reynolds as vice president.

• The council approved an engagement letter with Baker Tilly for internal controls for an amount not to exceed $15,000.

• The council approved Town Manager Craig Allebach’s request to apply for a grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for a tornado siren. The grant application is due in March and won’t be awarded until May. The estimated cost of the siren is $30,036 and the grant may pay for a significant amount of that, but Allebach said they’re also working on supplemental grants for it. The current tornado siren is not in working order.

They also approved a commitment letter to the Indiana Department of Transportation from the town of Winona Lake stating that the town will participate in the increase of the widening of the bridge on Packerton Road, as Allebach requested.

The county highway department is widening and replacing the bridge in 2027, but the town wants to participate in just the pedestrian part of the bridge project.

“It’s estimated that just that will run around $400,000,” Allebach said. With an 80/20 matching grant from INDOT, the town’s share will run around $80,000 in 2027.

The bridge widening is about 8 feet on each side, but Allebach said he wanted to make sure they had a connection on each side.

• Park Director Holly Hummitch reported the Valentine’s Card Contest is ongoing. Kids from 3 to 12 can turn in homemade Valentine’s cards for the contest through Feb. 7. Then Police Chief Joe Hawn and his staff will vote on those cards, with a little ceremony at 5 p.m. Feb. 12 for the winners. Afterward, all the cards will be distributed to law enforcement. Further information can be found on the park’s and Winona Lake Police Department’s Facebook pages, as well as the town’s website.

• Village at Winona Managing Director Nick Hauck said the Pajama Party Sale in the Village is this Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. All the Village shops have different sales. More information can be found online at villageatwinona.com/events/.

“Wear your pajamas and get the discount accordingly,” he said. “Safe for work pajamas.”

• The council approved for McGinnis to serve on the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District; and the members of the Winona Lake Redevelopment Commission to include Bruce Shaffner, Dennis Daniels and Alan Alderfer.

Two more appointments to the Redevelopment Commission are needed after two people, including Al Disbro, decided not to continue serving on the commission. Allebach said those two members could include two council members.

The members of the Art Commission also were approved, including Jan and Michael Ludwig, Terry White, Disbro, Retha Hicks and Swaim.

• The council approved surveys to be put up on the ice rink at the ice rink. Signs with QR Codes will be posted at the ice rink for people’s feedback.