WINONA LAKE — The lake in Winona has taken a drastic overhaul over the last few decades, and the revenue it generate suggests it’s looking pretty good. Lilly Center for Lake and Streams Director Dr. Nate Bosch informed the Winona Lake board of all that has been accomplished over the last hundred of years Tuesday night, Nov. 21, at the town hall meeting. He ending the presentation by asking the board to approve $5,000 for operating support in 2018.

Bosch reported that Winona Lake generates $1.9 million in tax revenue with 70 percent of it coming from secondary homes, meaning houses used as summer housing or for vacations. With only 30 percent coming from residents of Winona Lake, Bosch emphasized the importance of the lake’s upkeep. Lakes and Streams appraise all of lake properties in Winona to be valued at a total of $136 million.

However, Bosch informed the board that the lake faces a large problem with nutrients, defining it as the top problem in Winona Lake. He informed the board that “algae and weeds were constantly in competition with each other.” While Lakes and Streams attempts to reduce the weeds around the lake, algae begins to gain ground, consuming the nutrients left behind by the weeds. The nutrients being consumed by the algae and weeds has begun to force the air out of the water, depleting the air in the depths of the lake and chasing out a variety of fish. “The air in the water only goes about 15 feet down instead of the complete 80 feet. The fish can’t find water cold enough with air and are forced out,” explained Bosch.

The funds would help maintain the operating costs of Lakes and Streams including the biweekly checks performed on rivers to help maintain the lakes. It would also help conduct side projects such as the recently clearing logjams in Tippecanoe river which helped reduce flood in various lakes in the county.

The presentation required no action from the board and will be looked over by the board members and voted at a later day. Bosch did note however that he was aware the 2018 budget had been set and knew there might be problems with the request due to that.

In other news:

• The board approved three ordinances adjusting salaries of city employees and Christmas bonuses.
• The committee approved to advertise for the sale of unused city owned property to sell.
• Winona will host its Christmas Tree Lighting in the Village from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 25.