MILFORD - With hopes of beginning the project as early as possible, the Milford Town Council began the bonding process Monday for the new wastewater treatment plant.

Jerimi J. Ullom, of Barnes & Thornburg, presented the town council with two ordinances.

The first ordinance restates the prior bond ordinance that was approved in June 2003. Since then, the scope of the project has changed, including the year of the bonding and the cost. It also sets a maximum parameter cost of $2.6 million for all costs.

A public notice will be made of the town seeking bonds so financial corporations can bid on them.

Ullom said they wanted the council to approve the bond ordinance Monday so the 20-day waiting period is over as soon as possible.

Town attorney Jay Rigdon said of the cost that it's always easier to borrow more than the predicted cost will be than to go back and try to borrow more later.

The first ordinance was approved.

The second ordinance Ullom introduced was to introduce an amendment to the town code regarding changes in the sewer and water rates and charges. A public hearing on the matter will be held at the March 8 town council regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the town hall.

Steve Carter, of H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, said the increases are necessary to pay for the annual costs of bonding for the new facilities and maintenance costs of the facilities.

The council approved to have the hearing on the rate increase and the ordinance at the March 8 meeting.

Rigdon also said the ordinance will allow the town to change its bimonthly billing to monthly if they choose to do so in the future.

Three other ordinances also were approved by the town council that were unrelated to the wastewater treatment plant.

The first ordinance provides for the town to give landowners a 10-day notice to clean up their property and remove rank vegetation. Previously, the town ordinance provided only five days but state code requires at least 10 days' notice.

The second ordinance includes an entire chapter of regulations to fall under the town's violation bureau.

The last ordinance approved removes the town's license fees for cats and dogs because the township trustee already does that.

In other business, the town council:

• Approved Howard Hostetler, Robert Hamilton, Lou Lovell and Keith Hardy to serve on the park advisory board.

• Heard applications are being taken for lifeguards. Applications are available at the town clerk's office in the town hall.

• Presented a plaque to Milford Police Chief Deputy Lou Mediano who is retiring. His last day is Feb. 29. An open house for the Milford officer will be held March 13 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Syracuse Community Center.

Applications for a new full-time Milford officer are being accepted until Thursday.

• Heard from utilities superintendent Dallas Winchester that "the guys have been doing a wonderful job on snow removal."

Members of the Milford Town Council are chairman Douglas Ruch, Gary T. Hurd and Robert C. Cockburn. They meet at 7 p.m. in the town hall on the second Monday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]