As voting time nears, I want to encourage Winona Lake citizens to be aware of one example of our state representative Dave Wolkins attending to the concerns of the citizens of Winona Lake. I feel he played a big part in our sewer/trash fees going from $49 per month to $45 per month in January, 2010. For years, our clerk/treasurer, Retha Hicks, has encouraged rate hikes, assuring the council members it was necessary. When questioned why, she would talk about how we needed to keep a sufficient amount in reserve for an emergency sewer situation. Whenever I asked how much was in that account, the figure was not available at that time. The last time the Council voted to up the sewer rate, I believe in a December, 2008, meeting, I remember Mrs. Hicks did report an amount. It was around $600,000. This is in the minutes of whatever meeting it was but I cannot find the 2008 minutes on the Web site at this time.
Anyway, Dave Wolkins miraculously appeared at the meetings in 2009 when discussion was happening about whether to try to work with Warsaw on sewer rates or have Winona Lake build a plant of its own. The question of how much of our sewer money we paid was being held in reserve was brought up again. At this time, the sewer money held in reserve for an emergency was presented as more like one and a half million dollars. Why don't you come to a meeting and ask how much is being held in reserve and see what answer you get? Our clerk/treasurer should be able to report a specific amount just like our checking account and savings account have specific balances on any specific day.
I compliment our Town Council for studying the matter and deciding to vote to decrease the sewer monthly rate four dollars per month. To me, this means each residence (every apartment and home) in Winona Lake had already paid $72 more than was necessary in 2008 and 2009 combined. The Town Council had to know when they voted for the decrease that people would be aware they had been paying too much but the Council had the guts to do it anyway.
Dave Wolkins presents his phone number, address, e-mail and other forms of communication to any one who wants to connect with him. I only came to know him because he was our representative and I had questions. He has personally responded to unusual queries for help from many people I know. For instance, I once saw him in the lake working hours all by himself to remove an underwater dangerous sharp object from an elderly couple's lake area where they swim. Mr. Wolkins responds to the frustrations of the people he represents not only at the state level but one-on-one, even if he has never met you before. Besides being an upfront voice for all of us he cares about our individual issues. I hope you will vote to keep Dave Wolkins as our state representative.
