From left are Allie Titus, Mallory Bowers, Jody Titus and Kevin Gelbaugh.

WINONA LAKE — The Winona Lake Town Council held a presentation to honor Mitch Titus, the town’s fire chief who died May 5 as a result of a workplace accident a few days earlier.

The family of Titus was presented with a gold-plated ceremony ax that bore an inscription honoring Titus’ years of service with the Winona Lake Fire Department.

“Mitch was dedicated to his task as a firefighter,” said the Winona Lake Town Council President Rick Swaim.

Town Coordinator Craig Allebach announced that a scholarship, overseen by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, would be set up in Titus’ name. “This will happen in the very near future,” Allebach said. “A lot goes into play as you set up a scholarship fund.” Allebach said plans to create the scholarship were made with the cooperation of Titus’ family and the town’s fire department. “Thank you Jody for the sacrifices you and your family have made while Mitch was out protecting our community.”

In other business, the board heard a presentation from Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO Alan Tio, who gave the town a sketch of his organization’s main goals. The board agreed to provide KEDCO with $27,500 in financial support for the town’s population, which Tio said makes up 6.5 percent of the county’s population.

In other business:

• The board approved the purchase of a new lawn tractor for the street department at a cost of $16,000.
• The board agreed to extend its trash hauling contract with Advanced Disposal for one year. Allebach told the board that the company had been improving its service, but that past lapses in customer service made him hesitate to enter into a longer contract at this time.
• The board heard from Second Assistant Fire Chief Mike Raymer who said the fire department would be selecting a new fire chief July 2.
• Heard a presentation from Allebach on events currently planned for the town, including the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Triathlon June 22 at 8 a.m.; the Winona Lake Flotilla on June 28 at 8 p.m.; Winona Lake Great Fourth of July Celebration on June 29; the Concert at Tabernacle Park at 8 p.m. on June 29, fireworks at 10 p.m. on June 29 and Touch A Truck in the Village at Winona on July 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.