At the Winona Lake Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, are from left: Town Manager Craig Allebach, Town Council President Rick Swaim, Town Council Vice President Heather James and Town Council Members Jim Lancaster and Austin Reynolds. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — The Winona Lake Town Council has OK’d moving forward with a conceptional design agreement for a potential town center facility.

At its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, the council approved the measure with design firm Anderson + Bohlander.

“As part of the 2019 comprehensive plan that we went through called Imagine 2030, there was discussion about what the front entrance to (the) Raccoon Run (housing development) might look like,” said Town Manager Craig Allebach. “There’s an area that as you enter Raccoon Run subdivision that we talked about maybe doing something out there.”

He mentioned it could include a pool or park. Town Council President Rick Swaim noted it would be beneficial as it would provide amenities on the east side of town.

In response to a question from Town Council Member Ashley McGinnis, Allebach said that neighborhood associations would be involved in planning.

The town will pay Anderson + Bohlander $21,420 out of EDIT or residential tax increment financing funds.

New Roundabout 

The council also approved paying A&Z Engineering $120,000 more for work on the town’s new roundabout at Winona Avenue, Kings Highway, Argonne Road and Park Avenue on the edge of Warsaw and Winona Lake.

As the town is working with the Indiana Department of Transportation to complete the roundabout, INDOT will pay back 80% of the $120,000 to the town.

Allebach noted the extra cost was due to construction costs having gone up over time and additional time to complete the roundabout.

Related the council also heard that a survey is up regarding the design for a sculpture in the center of the roundabout. Residents may visit https://surveyking.com/w/roundaboutfeedback until Friday, Feb. 24, to give feedback regarding the proposed design for the 20-by-20-foot aluminum and steel art piece. It includes a lily pad design meant to symbolize Winona Lake.

Town Events

The council also heard about various upcoming town events.

A free community pancake breakfast is 7-10 a.m. Thursday, March 9, at the Winona Lake Community Center. Kids Market is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at Grace College’s Gordon Health and Wellness Center.

Grace will host the National Christian College Athletic Association basketball championships at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center on Wednesday, March 15, through Saturday, March 18. The Winona Lake Limitless Park Department is to once again have a leprechaun trap contest in March with more details to be shared soon via social media.

At 11 a.m. Monday, March 20, the town is having a cereal box domino run at Jefferson Elementary School. People can donate cereal by dropping it off in boxes at Jefferson and town offices, with the cereal boxes being set up in a row at the school to be knocked over.

The cereal will then be donated to Combined Community Services.

Lastly, the World Compassion Network will have a 5K starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 25, at WLLP.

In other business, the council:

• Approved hiring Lisa Sands and Cindy “CJ” Justice to work in the clerk-treasurer’s office at $24.22 an hour.
• Appointed Brian Peterson to the Winona Lake Board of Zoning Appeals.
• OK’d setting a special meeting at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Winona Lake Town Hall to approve claims.
• Approved purchasing a new Chevy Tahoe for the Winona Lake Police Department out of budgeted funds at a cost of $43,930.
• Approved purchasing carts to store equipment for the town’s ice rink for $10,589.

The council’s next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, at town hall.

This drawing depicts the potential design for a sculpture to be placed in the center of Winona Lake’s new roundabout. Residents may take an online survey regarding the design through Friday, Feb. 24. Photo provided.