WINONA LAKE — The Winona Lake Redevelopment Commission heard a proposal for a project to help beautify Winona Avenue, west of McKinley Street, as it leads into Winona Lake. The project would go in on the railroad side of Winona Avenue.

Winona Lake resident Jewell Pahl presented the project after speaking to residents of North Shore and Harbor Shore condominium. While residents agreed on desiring the beautification project, Pahl could not get residents to say they would be willing to cover the total cost of the project. “That’s why we’re coming to you,” stated Pahl.

The presented project would have residents of the two condominiums and new townhouses pay 10 percent of the project cost, as well as help with upkeep. Pahl explained, “We the residents will maintain everything…keep it watered, keep it going and get it off the ground.”

“My only concern is when the current residents of the townhouses move out, do we have green thumbs moving in?” asked commissioner John Elliot.

Pahl assured Elliot that they won’t be losing resident support anytime soon, but recognized the concern. The board talked of adding the upkeep into housing contracts, though the issue was relatively ignored.

“I just really passionately feel that this would really be an attractive entrance into Winona Lake. There isn’t a nice looking way to get into Winona Lake,” said Pahl.

Lakeside Landscape, the proposed landscaping company, is already contracted to do the landscaping for the new townhouses on Winona Avenue, meaning their equipment will already be on-site and could simply be moved across the road for the project.

The board approved the project and will be seeking a second bid, but the bid is merely to make sure the town is getting the best price. The current price the town will be paying is $22,176.90. “I think it’s pretty competitive the way it is,” said Craig Allebach.

In other business:

• Winona Lake will be getting an 80/20 match of funds for the Winona Avenue/Kings Highway roundabout that will be going in. Money was awarded for preliminary engineering and land acquisition. Federal match will be $1.3 million of the $1.679 million total cost.
• Nick Hauck, managing director of the Village at Winona, was approved 50 percent of the costs of dead tree removal. The project cost a total of $38,345.