Details Remain in Milford SRO Deal
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
Council indicated in May they would like to contribute $10,000 toward placing an officer in the elementary and middle school from Aug. 13 to Dec. 20, but must wait for attorneys to review the agreement first.
Town attorney Jay Rigdon said Monday that in preparing a contract with Wawasee Community School Corp. attorney David Cates, the issue came up of whether the officer will be considered an employee of Milford while working in the school.
“This is only my thinking, but if someone were robbing a bank in town, you would want the SRO to run in and stop it, and he would need to be a town employee,” Rigdon remarked.
On the other hand, if the town has no interest in compelling the SRO to do anything while at the school, a contract might not be necessary at all. The town might still want to spell out in its policies that its officers can work as an SRO, he added, also noting that the town can contribute taxpayer money in the second case as long as council deems it a security issue.
Town Marshal Rich Miotto said he expected the partnership with the school to be a “gentleman’s agreement,” where the officer would work there on his own time and Miotto would handle scheduling.
Council members agreed, with Bob Cockburn remarking, “My thinking is, it will always be (the officer’s) time, not our time.”
Rigdon said he will try to reach an agreement with Cates in time to place the officer in August.
Alicia Ley, a Milford resident who at the meeting presented a petition with 110 signatures in support of a fulltime SRO, asked if council intended this to be a permanent solution.
Council President Doug Ruch responded that the intention, at this time, was to cover the school till Christmas break.
Also during the meeting, council had its first look at a 2014 budget of $1,719,066.50, which is $8,329.50 larger than the current budget.
The proposed budget includes a 2.4 percent increase in the general fund, totaling $727,942.50, and a total increase of 36 percent in some funds but a decrease of 27 percent in others. Most budget items are not projected to increase.
Town Clerk-Treasuer Joellen Free said she will meet with a representative of the Department of Local Government Finance July 14 to start the budget adoption process.
Council also agreed to sign a one-year renewable lease with Maple Net Wireless allowing the Elkhart company to install a small satellite dish on the town water tower, for which they will pay the town $250 a month. The relay will allow Milford Family Physicians to access the IU Health remote network.
And town Fire Chief Todd Haines reported that his department has had problems finding addresses on some runs and asked residents to make sure their address number is visible from the street. He said green reflective address signs are available at the fire department for $15.
He also said the department has been doing a lot of improvements at the fire station, such as a planned electronic sign that can announce upcoming activities, and said the station will be open for tours during the officers meeting Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
Council indicated in May they would like to contribute $10,000 toward placing an officer in the elementary and middle school from Aug. 13 to Dec. 20, but must wait for attorneys to review the agreement first.
Town attorney Jay Rigdon said Monday that in preparing a contract with Wawasee Community School Corp. attorney David Cates, the issue came up of whether the officer will be considered an employee of Milford while working in the school.
“This is only my thinking, but if someone were robbing a bank in town, you would want the SRO to run in and stop it, and he would need to be a town employee,” Rigdon remarked.
On the other hand, if the town has no interest in compelling the SRO to do anything while at the school, a contract might not be necessary at all. The town might still want to spell out in its policies that its officers can work as an SRO, he added, also noting that the town can contribute taxpayer money in the second case as long as council deems it a security issue.
Town Marshal Rich Miotto said he expected the partnership with the school to be a “gentleman’s agreement,” where the officer would work there on his own time and Miotto would handle scheduling.
Council members agreed, with Bob Cockburn remarking, “My thinking is, it will always be (the officer’s) time, not our time.”
Rigdon said he will try to reach an agreement with Cates in time to place the officer in August.
Alicia Ley, a Milford resident who at the meeting presented a petition with 110 signatures in support of a fulltime SRO, asked if council intended this to be a permanent solution.
Council President Doug Ruch responded that the intention, at this time, was to cover the school till Christmas break.
Also during the meeting, council had its first look at a 2014 budget of $1,719,066.50, which is $8,329.50 larger than the current budget.
The proposed budget includes a 2.4 percent increase in the general fund, totaling $727,942.50, and a total increase of 36 percent in some funds but a decrease of 27 percent in others. Most budget items are not projected to increase.
Town Clerk-Treasuer Joellen Free said she will meet with a representative of the Department of Local Government Finance July 14 to start the budget adoption process.
Council also agreed to sign a one-year renewable lease with Maple Net Wireless allowing the Elkhart company to install a small satellite dish on the town water tower, for which they will pay the town $250 a month. The relay will allow Milford Family Physicians to access the IU Health remote network.
And town Fire Chief Todd Haines reported that his department has had problems finding addresses on some runs and asked residents to make sure their address number is visible from the street. He said green reflective address signs are available at the fire department for $15.
He also said the department has been doing a lot of improvements at the fire station, such as a planned electronic sign that can announce upcoming activities, and said the station will be open for tours during the officers meeting Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
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