Pictured listening to Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Heather James (not pictured) are Council members from left Austin Reynolds, Ashley McGinnis, Barry Andrew and newcomer Jason Zaugg. Also not pictured is Council President Jim Lancaster. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WINONA LAKE — Several items related to the Miller Sunset Pavilion Ice Rink were approved by the Winona Lake Town Council at its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 22.

The council also heard about upcoming park events and other matters.

The ice rink opens Nov. 9, according to Town Manager Craig Allebach, a couple weeks earlier than last year.

Resolution 2024-10-2 changes the wages for ice rink attendant and technician/supervisor. Council President Jim Lancaster said the resolution changes the wages for those positions to a range from $10 to $14 per hour.

“These are the positions that work in the skate shop or supervise the skate shop,” he said. “And then the supervision range for the position is going to be from $16 to $20 per hour.”

The council approved the resolution.

Councilwoman Ashley McGinnis presented on the ice maintenance service contract.

She said at the council’s last meeting, they decided to enter into a contract with Ice Games 88 to provide ice maintenance at the ice rink for this season. They will be installing the rink, maintaining it throughout the season and removing it at the end of the season for an amount not to exceed $50,000.

The council approved the service contract.

McGinnis also presented some items from the Miller Sunset Pavilion Committee, starting with the finalized budget for the pavilion fund, which is the homerule fund, with the goal of it being self-funded. The council approved the submitted budget.

She then presented a job description to be posted to hire an ice rink technician/supervisor. She said they are planning to hire ice rink attendants so they need someone to supervise them. The council approved the job description and to post it.

McGinnis reminded the council at the last meeting they also approved the job description for ice rink attendant and to post for hire. She said they received over 100 applications for that, as of last Friday. The committee went through those at their meeting Tuesday and requested that the council give Allebach the authority to move forward with interviewing the applicants and hire up to six of them.

“I would just say that time is of the essence,” Allebach said, with the ice rink opening being just a couple weeks away.

The council approved a motion giving Allebach the authority to hire up to six ice rink attendants.

The council also approved a sponsorship pledge for the Zamboni from Lake City Bank at $25,000. The bank’s advertising will be on the Zamboni for the next five years.

The last Saturday for the farmers market is this Saturday, Oct. 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Allebach said.

There will be a Winter Market at Park sporadically over the next four months, and the council approved the agreement for that Tuesday. The agreement will be for the vendors at the market.

Allebach said the dates for the winter market will be Nov. 9, 23; Dec. 7, 21; Jan. 4, 18; Feb. 1, 15; and March 1 and 15.

Winona Lake Park Director Holly Hummitch reported on Trick or Treat on the Trails, which is 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. There will be two entrance points so participants can enter at either Chestnut Street or the Kings Highway Miller Field entrance. Over 35 vendors will be all along the greenway.

Then from 5-7 p.m. at the park, plans are for a bonfire, s’mores, showing of “The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” on the big screen and “just a good time,” she said.
Hummitch reported she received a $50 donation for KringleFest and a $500 donation for Trick or Treat on the Trails, which the council accepted.

She then told the council she created a sponsorship packet in hopes of generating sponsors and revenue for 2025 events.

“The idea is to send them this sponsor letter with a brochure and the sponsorship form, and then they’ll have access to go online for more in-depth detail for those events and donor levels. But I’d like to get it out as soon as possible with your approval,” Hummitch explained.

The council approved the sponsorship package.

Lastly, Hummitch reported, Tuesday was the substantial completion date for the park project. There are a couple last-minute punch list items to be completed, but “we’re almost there,” she said, generating applause.

The regular trick-or-treat times and date is 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31.

Nick Hauck, The Village at Winona managing director, added The Village has two happenings in November. Nov. 2 is the Christmas Shopping Extravaganza, and the tree lighting is Nov. 16. All the information is available on the website at https://villageatwinona.com/events/.

In other business, the council approved:

• The ordinance adopting the 2025 budget as presented at the public hearing two weeks ago.

• The Boyce Mail agreement, which the council discussed at their prior meeting. Clerk-Treasurer Heather James said it will help get bills out and collect late fees in a more timely manner, as well as help residents better with any outstanding balances they may have. It’s a one-year agreement and some details are to be finalized.

• An amendment to the school resource officer agreement with Lakeland Christian Academy, as requested by Town Marshal Joe Hawn.

• For Hawn to apply for two grants from the Kosciusko Coalition on Drug Education. One grant will be for $6,218.31 for DARE materials and the other will be for $3,951.40 for two tasers.