Winamac Town Council approves park board members

Winamac Town Council members have decided who will see the future of town parks as they have approved the members of the newly created park board. 
At a special meeting on Tuesday, the council approved four members to the park board. The members of the board included two Republicans and Democrats, as per state requirements. 
The council was given a list of names of who was interested in being a park board member. Instead of discussing each of the individuals, the council opted to make nominations. 
The first potential board member to be approved was town manager Brad Zellers. Zellers, a Republican, can be a member of the board because he is not an elected official. The approval of Zellers was unanimous. 
The second nomination was Chris Schramm as the second Republican on the park board. No discussion was held but when the nomination was approved it was opposed by councilwoman Judy Heater and councilman Jim Watkins.   
The first Democrat to be approved was Courtney Poor. His nomination was approved unanimously. 
Three nominations were made regarding the second Democrat. Those names included John Simmermaker, Sherry O’Conner and Jon Chapman. The nomination of Simmermaker and O’Conner died for a lack of a second. Chapman’s nomination was seconded and he was approved as the second Democrat with opposition from Heater. 
The members of the board will meet once a month and will be sworn in. 
Zellers said a five-year master plan will need to be completed or updated as one of the first board duties. The survey is used for grants. 
Zellers and Berger gave a quick update of what they learned while talking with members of the Monticello Parks Board. They said the Monticello Parks Board does use an advisory committee. 
The park board will also meet with the town council to give updates on what is happening. 
The board then approved the terms of the park board members. Zellers will serve a four-year term and Poor will serve a three-year term. Schramm will serve a two-year term and Jon Chapman will serve a one-year term. The terms will stagger. 
There was also a question of whether Zellers would be a liaison between the park and the town. Town attorney Justin Schramm said the council can appoint any number of advisory board members. The park board could also approve an advisory board.