Winamac Council votes to establish park board

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Published: Friday, 29 April 2016 21:41

WINAMAC - The Winamac Town Council voted to establish a park and recreation board during a special session Thursday evening (April 28).

Some board members, however, continued to express unease over the creation of the new board, especially in ceding some of their authority to another entity.

The council held a first reading on a new ordinance to establish a park and recreation board at its April meeting earlier this month.

Reorganizing the current park board to meet state code will open up opportunities for grant funding that isn't currently available to the community, and could prove helpful for the town’s swimming pool rebuilding project, as well as other park and recreation programs.

The council has been considering the parks and recreation proposal for many months. Town attorney Justin Schramm explained that 85-90 percent of what was written in the new ordinance was taken from the Indiana Code.

In agreeing to the new ordinance, the council decided all four park board members will be appointed by the town council. They decided not to give representation to the Pulaski County Public Library Board or the Eastern Pulaski Community School board.

Council member Dan Vanaman said he believes the town swimming pool should remain under the town council’s control. He voted against the park board ordinance.

Schramm expects the park board appointment process to take a couple months.

Town Manager Brad Zellers and council member Judy Heater expressed enthusiasm for the park board and the opportunities for the community it can provide.

In related discussion, the council debated how to proceed with the $150,000 donation to the pool project. Clerk-Treasurer Melanie Berger questioned the need to place the monies in the fund set aside for the project at the Community Foundation of Pulaski County. Berger pointed out the money is currently earning interest in the Economic Development Income Tax Fund. Council president Kenneth McFarland observed that keeping the money where it is would ensure the town keeps control of it, should the project fall through. Winamac officials will meet with representatives from the Community Foundation before finalizing plans for the town’s donation to the pool project.

Also at the meeting, the council reviewed the 2016 municipal utility reports with consultant Umbaugh & Associates.