Warmer weather will mean the start of a number of road improvements and sidewalk repairs in some of the older subdivisions, Winfield officials said Tuesday.
Those improvements and repairs will be paid for, in part, through a recently awarded $1.5 million matching Indiana Department of Transportation grant, Town Manager Nick Bellar said.
The money will be used to fund various road improvements, sidewalk repairs, curbing and striping primarily in Trees, Meadows, Doubletree West and Country Meadows, he said.
Work is expected to start in the next few months, he said.
The request, originally for $2.5 million, was submitted after engineers, town staff and residential input identified the areas needing improvements.
“This grant is important for helping the town tackle some of the historic roadway issues and we’re happy to see this money coming back to Winfield,” Town Council President Zack Beaver said.
In other business, the Town Council approved an amendment to the town’s residential monthly garbage fee, changing it from $19.05 to $23.
Town Councilman Tim Clayton said the new fee, which will be charged to residential customers, will be effective April 1 and is part of a contractual agreement with Republic Services, the town’s garbage/recycling carrier.
Additionally, the town’s police department should be moving into its new quarters shortly, town officials said.
Public Works Director Tony Clark said the former Peoples Bank, 10688 Randolph St., which underwent extensive remodeling, has been cleaned and is move-in ready.
The bank, which closed on Dec. 31, 2022, will be used as the town’s new police department.
The Town Council earlier last year awarded contracts totaling $141,550 to repurpose the building.
The new police department is across the street and directly west of the Winfield Government Center, which presently houses the police department as well as township and town offices.
The building will become the town’s police department, with all of its officers moving out of the present headquarters in the government center.
The council previously agreed to lease the 1,864-square-foot building from owners Winfield Development 1 LLC at an initial monthly rate of $4,830, Bellar said.
In related news, interviews for the new town marshal have been completed, and the person selected should be announced at the next Town Council meeting in April, Clayton said.
Former Town Marshal Dan Ball, who was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 16, resigned from his position in late January following negotiations with the town.
The circumstances that led to Ball being disciplined by the town and his eventual departure have not been made public.
Beaver, who served as the town council’s public safety liaison, has declined to give details, citing a need to keep personnel matters confidential.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
