Town council voices concerns about downing trees
The Winamac Town Council voiced their concerns about town employees cutting down trees in town.
On June 15, electric department superintendent Doug Shorter said several trees in the town have been cut down including several ash trees damaged by the emerald ash borer.
The town has been working with Heim’s Tree Services to remove the trees.
“We went through with Jeff [Heims] and looked at all the dead ashes that are a hazard in the park where the Power Show and the fair will be,” Shorter said. “He thinks that he can just drop them for us and we can clean them up, load them and get them out of there.”
A dead oak was also removed from the fairgrounds area.
Council president Ken McFarland said he is concerned with the safety of the town employees and equipment that is being used to take down the trees.
“I don’t want to see our equipment ruined. Sooner or later something is going to fall on one of our trucks,” said McFarland. “Also the liability of our insurance.”
Shorter said Heims is removing the trees. Town employees are just cleaning up.
Town manager Brad Zellers also said the Northern Indiana Power From the Past Inc. has asked for the middle sections of the ash trees to use in the saw mill for the show.
Council members questioned if the trees could be used because of the emerald ash borers. Shorter said those who asked for the trees are supposed to be researching if the trees can be transported.
In other business:
• Dave Bennett updated the council on the progress of the Safe Routes to School and Winamac Parkway. He said it would have been done now had it not been for the rain. Councilmen Tom Murray and Dan Vanaman both voiced their dislike of the path. They both believed the path to be straight and not curving. Bennett said that the path curves so that other amenities can be added such as picnic shelters. He said if a straight path were built, the town would not have been awarded the grant. “I think it is a waste of the right-of-way,” Vanaman said. Bennett said there is already an interest from the community to build shelters and benches. A motion was made for the committee to continue to plan ahead with the project such as the benches, shelters and any planting of trees or plants. The committee would ensure they have the council’s approval first, according to Bennett. It was approved.
• The town received two bids regarding an electric project that will upgrade the system west of town. A bid of $104,950 was approved. The project is scheduled to begin in August and be completed by the end of October.
• The council was presented a list of bids for materials that would be used in the project. A recommendation to accept the bid of $51,174.49 was made. The recommendation was approved.
• Minutes of the May 11 regular meeting were approved.
• Vouchers in the amount of $1,029,130.21 were approved.
• Police chief Mike Buchanan said he has spoken with the parks department and his department is willing to lock the park restrooms at night. Murray said the idea sounds like a good one.
• Zellers said a handful of individuals have volunteered to be part of the Greenspace of Winamac committee. New members include Judy Heater, Don Darda and Judy Poor. There are a couple more members needed.
• Resolution 01-2015 to appoint a new commissioner, Brad Zellers, to the Indiana Municipal Power Agency Board was approved. Councilman Richard Denney abstained.
• Ordinance 03-2015 to change the name of Winamac Greenspace to Greenspace of Winamac was approved.
• Ordinance 04-2015 regarding enacting and adopting a supplement to the code of ordinances with a change to a letter to the title page was approved.
• Copies of the new code of ordinance books were given to the council to review. The codes will be online soon, according to Zellers.
• Councilwoman Judy Heater said the YMCA would like to put a permanent sign on the property that the town leases to them. The current lease states that the lease can be terminated in 30 days, causing a concern to spend money on a sign. A motion was made for Zellers and the town attorney to look into the matter further.
• There was also a discussion about filling in the town pool due to safety concerns. Zellers said holes would need to be made in the concrete so the rainwater can drain. Sand could then fill the pool. Murray suggested making it a sand volleyball area.
• Heater asked permission to block off the street around the depot parking lot on Aug. 8. The council did not oppose the suggestion.