Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council approved hiring Adam Lohn as the new town manager.
Current Town Manager Pam Howard resigned in March, effective May 22. In Howard’s resignation letter, she cited her living about an hour away and the commute as the reason. She will be the town manager in Hamilton.
Town Council President Ashley McGinnis said the council was sad about Howard leaving.
“She’s been great while she’s been here, and we’ve very much appreciated all that you’ve done and brought to light in your time here. It’s been great having you here,” McGinnis said.
After being approved as the new town manager, Lohn was asked to introduce himself.
McGinnis said Lohn has been working in the clerk-treasurer’s office for about six months, so he already has some insights into the town.
Lohn thanked the council for trusting him with the town manager position.
He said he’s a retired military officer with 23 years in the Air Force. He retired working from the federal government for a couple years as a senior project manager and decided he’d rather work in local government.
He’s married with two children and lives on the north side of Lake Tippecanoe.
“Family is here from here on my father’s side. All my family’s here spread across the lakes here in the county. And very, very glad to be here and I’ve really enjoyed Winona Lake. I’m looking forward to what we have coming up on the horizon,” he said.
In other business, the council:
• Heard Girlfriends’ Weekend at The Village will be Friday and Saturday. The first Farmers Market at the Miller Sunset Pavilion of the season will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The Fat & Skinny Tire Fest will be May 15-17.
• Tabled a decision on a utility dispute for 1219 Bibler Ave., owned by Joe and Lynette Hawn.
• Approved the Multi Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• Approved a proclamation presented by Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kosciusko Executive Director Erin Rowland Jones declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month.
• Approved a Welcome to Winona Lake sign design. The council will discuss how many signs they want and the cost.
• Received a replica of the award Kosciusko County received from the Indiana Chamber of the Year Award when it named the county the 2025 Yamaha Community of the Year.
Suzie Light, on behalf of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO Peggy Simmons, said for the first time in history, the award was given to a county instead of a city or town. The award “belongs to all of us. It belongs to business owners who took risks to educators, shaping our workforce, to local leaders who make bold decisions, to volunteers who quietly serve behind the scenes, and to every resident who chooses every single day to call Kosciusko County home to make it better.”
Light said a replica of the award will be given to all 14 communities in the county.
• Approved setting up the police donation fund. Clerk-Treasurer Heather James said the State Board of Accounts identified some funds that were not officially approved to be set up by the council and the police donation fund was one. She said the fund has been used for several years.
• Approved a 2024 Community Crossings Matching Grant change order for Niblock for $38,562.99. Howard said Canal Street was not done during the street paving done in 2024 because the street was not listed as owned by the town.
• Approved a quote from Sweetwater for $15,824.40 for new recording equipment to record town meetings.
• Approved the purchase of a 2010 VacTruck not to exceed $100,000. Howard estimated the purchase of the VacTruck would be about $85,000.
The council also approved trading in a trailer with the purchase of the VacTruck.
• Tabled a decision to get ADA-compliant doors for the front doors of Town Hall, as well as well as two service doors at the fire department and some garage doors.
