Milford Saves $500,000 On Wastewater Improvement Plan
September 13, 2016 at 7:01 p.m.
By JUDE STRIEBY-RASKA-
Ryan Brauen, project manager from Wessler Engineering, presented an amended plan for the Milford wastewater improvements. Originally, the amount laid out for the improvements was $1.2 million. Wessler was able to bring that quote down to $540,000.
A motion was passed to enter into an agreement with Wessler to do permitting, construction administration, requests for materials and bidding and design work for the project, for a total not to exceed $90,000.
A representative of Norfolk Southern Railroad met with the Milford Town Council to discuss options for street closures over the railroad downtown. He addressed the outstanding offer to the city for $19,500 for voluntary closure of Emeline Street and said INDOT would be willing to donate $20,000 for the closure as well. In his address he mentioned that, according to the FRA’s database, Emeline Street is the fourth most dangerous railroad crossing in Kosciusko County, whereas First Street is ranked at 105th.
Vice President Doug Ruch asked that Norfolk Southern bring an outline of the steps on the procedures needed to go through to give a good idea of both options and cost. Those options include closing Emeline, closing First Street, closing Fourth Street and using those gates and lights, and leaving all intersections open but making them safer.
Jim Clevanger, with Dixon Engineering, informed the council about options for painting the water tower. Clevanger suggested the town will eventually need to “bite the bullet” and remove the paint from the Milford water tower in order to repaint the tower, since the structure can no longer take any more overcoats. He said that first priority is putting a cathodic protection system on the inside of the tower, as well as putting on an overflow flap gate.
He offered his services in order to arrange the construction and bidding for the project in 2017. Ruch offered a motion to enter into an engineering contract with Dixon Engineering for the specification and upgrades to the water tower for a cost not to exceed $20,000. The motion was passed.
In the treasurer's report, the town budget was presented to the council by Town Clerk Joellen Free. The 2017 budget is $1,644,461, up 5 percent from 2015. Voting on the 2017 budget will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 6.
Free also updated the council on the progress of a grant for playground equipment. In the last month, $3,500 was donated for the equipment, which was matched by Phend and Brown Inc. This meant the town had reached its goal, a total that was part of a grant application with the K21 Foundation. The Foundation has awarded a $40,000 grant toward the town playground.
Free noted that orders for the new equipment were put in Sunday. Depending on weather, the new equipment may be installed as early as this fall. Council President Dan Cochran and Ruch commended Free for her efforts in this endeavor.
Other motions passed during the meeting were to pay for travel and customary expenses of town employees at several meetings; to spend $4,500 for roofing for the community building; to carry money over to 2017 for metal roofing on the utility building; to make a necessary change order to the South Main Street water project for $1,401.25; and to have Milford Halloween trick-or-treating from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
The utilities and street department announced its fall cleanup will be Sept. 29 and 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Oct. 1 from 8 to 11 a.m. All items must be taken up to the utilities building at 600 N. Main St. Items not accepted are TVs, computers, tires still on the rim, hazardous waste and anything that contains Freon.
In the police report, it was noted that 18 vehicles have been tagged in the last month, and all vehicles not in compliance are scheduled to be towed today. Also discussed were ways to get the demolition and cleanup of several trailers in the area expedited.
Finally, a request was made to purchase 3000 rounds of practice ammunition. The motion was passed for purchase of ammo not to exceed $1,004.34.
Ryan Brauen, project manager from Wessler Engineering, presented an amended plan for the Milford wastewater improvements. Originally, the amount laid out for the improvements was $1.2 million. Wessler was able to bring that quote down to $540,000.
A motion was passed to enter into an agreement with Wessler to do permitting, construction administration, requests for materials and bidding and design work for the project, for a total not to exceed $90,000.
A representative of Norfolk Southern Railroad met with the Milford Town Council to discuss options for street closures over the railroad downtown. He addressed the outstanding offer to the city for $19,500 for voluntary closure of Emeline Street and said INDOT would be willing to donate $20,000 for the closure as well. In his address he mentioned that, according to the FRA’s database, Emeline Street is the fourth most dangerous railroad crossing in Kosciusko County, whereas First Street is ranked at 105th.
Vice President Doug Ruch asked that Norfolk Southern bring an outline of the steps on the procedures needed to go through to give a good idea of both options and cost. Those options include closing Emeline, closing First Street, closing Fourth Street and using those gates and lights, and leaving all intersections open but making them safer.
Jim Clevanger, with Dixon Engineering, informed the council about options for painting the water tower. Clevanger suggested the town will eventually need to “bite the bullet” and remove the paint from the Milford water tower in order to repaint the tower, since the structure can no longer take any more overcoats. He said that first priority is putting a cathodic protection system on the inside of the tower, as well as putting on an overflow flap gate.
He offered his services in order to arrange the construction and bidding for the project in 2017. Ruch offered a motion to enter into an engineering contract with Dixon Engineering for the specification and upgrades to the water tower for a cost not to exceed $20,000. The motion was passed.
In the treasurer's report, the town budget was presented to the council by Town Clerk Joellen Free. The 2017 budget is $1,644,461, up 5 percent from 2015. Voting on the 2017 budget will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 6.
Free also updated the council on the progress of a grant for playground equipment. In the last month, $3,500 was donated for the equipment, which was matched by Phend and Brown Inc. This meant the town had reached its goal, a total that was part of a grant application with the K21 Foundation. The Foundation has awarded a $40,000 grant toward the town playground.
Free noted that orders for the new equipment were put in Sunday. Depending on weather, the new equipment may be installed as early as this fall. Council President Dan Cochran and Ruch commended Free for her efforts in this endeavor.
Other motions passed during the meeting were to pay for travel and customary expenses of town employees at several meetings; to spend $4,500 for roofing for the community building; to carry money over to 2017 for metal roofing on the utility building; to make a necessary change order to the South Main Street water project for $1,401.25; and to have Milford Halloween trick-or-treating from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
The utilities and street department announced its fall cleanup will be Sept. 29 and 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Oct. 1 from 8 to 11 a.m. All items must be taken up to the utilities building at 600 N. Main St. Items not accepted are TVs, computers, tires still on the rim, hazardous waste and anything that contains Freon.
In the police report, it was noted that 18 vehicles have been tagged in the last month, and all vehicles not in compliance are scheduled to be towed today. Also discussed were ways to get the demolition and cleanup of several trailers in the area expedited.
Finally, a request was made to purchase 3000 rounds of practice ammunition. The motion was passed for purchase of ammo not to exceed $1,004.34.
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