The Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday adopted the 2021 budget and announced some upcoming events.
The 2021 budget is the same as this year, Town Clerk-Treasurer Kent Adams said, as it was simply a carryover from 2020. The total budget is $5,079,852, with $100,000 in the rainy day fund and $1,324,367 in the general fund. The entire breakdown of the budget can be found on Winona Lake’s website.
Also Tuesday, Town Manager Craig Allebach announced there will be a 5K Hearts from Home run at noon Oct. 31 at Winona Lake Park, followed by trick-or-treating hours from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
On Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., a Christmas Shopping Extravaganza will take place with local businesses in The Village at Winona. Winona Lake Town Marshal Joe Hawn said his department will be patrolling the streets on Halloween during trick-or-treat hours.
Hawn also reported that a speed board sign that was recently stolen was found underneath a tree by a homeowner who went out to mow and returned it to Winona Lake Police Dept. The suspects who stole the sign have been apprehended, Hawn said, and the insurance company is going after them to reimburse the town’s insurance claim for the sign replacement.
Town engineer Aaron Carl gave an update on major projects he’s working on, including looking at a layout to put a right turn lane in at Argonne Road and Park Avenue at King’s Highway. Ice rink work planning is also underway with boundary and design work, he said.
Street Superintendent Tom Miller said his crew has been doing a lot of work on the gravity line on Park Avenue and found a lot of dirt, grease and other debris in the line. The line is one of the oldest in town, Miller said, and suggested the town line it to help eliminate the amount of dirt that is getting in. His department also has kept busy picking up brush and leaves.
The next Winona Lake Town Council meeting is 6 p.m. Nov. 17 at Town Hall.