COVID-19 Pandemic Creates Need For Updates In Milford
July 15, 2020 at 1:55 a.m.
COVID-19 Pandemic Creates Need For Updates In Milford
By Denise Federow-
Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall shared with the council at Monday’s meeting that she just had to do the 2019 audit with the State Board of Accounts virtually and it was a bit of a challenge.
“I think it would be a good use of our CARES (Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security) Act money to purchase a TV for the meeting room with more and more meetings and things becoming virtual. I think there’ll be a lot of uses,” she said.
She told the council she asked MicroByte for a quote for a 65-inch and 75-inch TV. She said with the CARES Act, you make the purchase first and then get reimbursed so there is a chance they’ll deny it and they’ll have to take the funds from elsewhere.
Council members thought the 65-inch would be sufficient for the size of the room and approved the purchase for $1,773.10.
Gall also shared a proposal for a new telephone system – an upgrade to a new voice over IP system. She had them add a conference room phone, too.
“In case we’d have to have another emergency meeting on a conference call,” she said.
She told the council she asked the representative from Community Fiber Network, a division of New Paris Telephone, to price an additional wireless conference phone that department heads could take to their offices if necessary.
“One of the benefits of the wireless is if we had to shut down the town hall as long as town hall has internet and where you’re located has internet, it can ring there as if it were in my office,” she said.
The cost including the wireless conference phone would be $3,209. After a short discussion by council members they felt the extra $319.12 for the conference phone was worth it and would likely be used after COVID-19. Gall said she’d also submit that cost under the CARES Act. Council President Doug Ruch asked if it wasn’t reimbursed, would she spread it out amongst the departments and she said she could, or could use County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) or some other funds. The council approved moving forward with the new phone system and the wireless conference phone.
In a related matter, the council passed two COVID-19-related ordinances. One of the ordinances establishes a fund for the CARES Act funds, which is a requirement. The other ordinance establishes a fund for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance COVID Grant Fund for the same purpose, to receive and track the funds expended. She said the FEMA funds can only be used for Personal Protection Equipment and is a 75/25 match. Gall said the shield they installed in the clerk’s office as well as masks and hand sanitizer purchased could be reimbursed through this fund.
Ruch said, “Tricia you’ve done a wonderful job of seeking out this type of funding that’s out there.”
Town Marshal Derek Krieder wanted to publicly encourage residents that if they see something suspicious, they should call. He said they’ve been hearing about possible criminal behavior a couple of weeks after the fact.
“If you see something that doesn’t look quite right, let us know. We’re here to help. You’re not going to be bothering us; that’s our job,” he said.
Krieder also received approval to add Dallas Rice as a police reserve officer.
Gall also brought a proposal for a trail feasibility study. She said they received a quote of $10,000 to $12,000 for three different options. They were told it might be less if they could narrow it down to one idea, and she and the park superintendent had a favorite and it was also one that the council thought would work best. It would start on First Street next to the railroad tracks on the east side of the tracks, go along Bear Creek to Camp Mack Road to the park.
This option appears to be less intrusive, minimizing the impact on property owners and is more scenic. Gall said the feasibility study can be used to assist in getting grants, which she said could be up to $800,000. She said even though the federal grants are out to 2026 for that amount of money, it’s worth waiting for.
The council approved getting the quote for one option to be brought to the next meeting.
In other business, the council:
• Passed an ordinance for capital assets policy and at one point they need to be reported.
• Approved joining a class action suit against Purdue Pharma.
• Approved items for the new 2020 truck just received, including rust protection, seat covers, floor mats and cab steps at a total cost of $1,535 from Ziebart. The work will likely be down over a week in August.
• Approved rebuilding chemical pumps and replacing sensors, etc. from Living Waters, Monrovia, at a cost of $2,025.
• Approved water and wastewater employees attending the IRWA boot camp in Miami County at a cost of $70 per person.
• Received a quote on insurance for the next year and it was a 13% increase instead of the expected 20%. Council suggested getting comparable quotes and checking with employees to see how it’s working before the next meeting.
• Heard from resident Jay Urbin that he wasn’t happy about receiving his water bill with an increase of 1,000 gallons and said he would’ve preferred better communication.
• Announced the town is seeking an additional lifeguard this summer. Any teen who is a certified lifeguard should fill out an application at town hall.
Latest News
E-Editions
Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall shared with the council at Monday’s meeting that she just had to do the 2019 audit with the State Board of Accounts virtually and it was a bit of a challenge.
“I think it would be a good use of our CARES (Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security) Act money to purchase a TV for the meeting room with more and more meetings and things becoming virtual. I think there’ll be a lot of uses,” she said.
She told the council she asked MicroByte for a quote for a 65-inch and 75-inch TV. She said with the CARES Act, you make the purchase first and then get reimbursed so there is a chance they’ll deny it and they’ll have to take the funds from elsewhere.
Council members thought the 65-inch would be sufficient for the size of the room and approved the purchase for $1,773.10.
Gall also shared a proposal for a new telephone system – an upgrade to a new voice over IP system. She had them add a conference room phone, too.
“In case we’d have to have another emergency meeting on a conference call,” she said.
She told the council she asked the representative from Community Fiber Network, a division of New Paris Telephone, to price an additional wireless conference phone that department heads could take to their offices if necessary.
“One of the benefits of the wireless is if we had to shut down the town hall as long as town hall has internet and where you’re located has internet, it can ring there as if it were in my office,” she said.
The cost including the wireless conference phone would be $3,209. After a short discussion by council members they felt the extra $319.12 for the conference phone was worth it and would likely be used after COVID-19. Gall said she’d also submit that cost under the CARES Act. Council President Doug Ruch asked if it wasn’t reimbursed, would she spread it out amongst the departments and she said she could, or could use County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) or some other funds. The council approved moving forward with the new phone system and the wireless conference phone.
In a related matter, the council passed two COVID-19-related ordinances. One of the ordinances establishes a fund for the CARES Act funds, which is a requirement. The other ordinance establishes a fund for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance COVID Grant Fund for the same purpose, to receive and track the funds expended. She said the FEMA funds can only be used for Personal Protection Equipment and is a 75/25 match. Gall said the shield they installed in the clerk’s office as well as masks and hand sanitizer purchased could be reimbursed through this fund.
Ruch said, “Tricia you’ve done a wonderful job of seeking out this type of funding that’s out there.”
Town Marshal Derek Krieder wanted to publicly encourage residents that if they see something suspicious, they should call. He said they’ve been hearing about possible criminal behavior a couple of weeks after the fact.
“If you see something that doesn’t look quite right, let us know. We’re here to help. You’re not going to be bothering us; that’s our job,” he said.
Krieder also received approval to add Dallas Rice as a police reserve officer.
Gall also brought a proposal for a trail feasibility study. She said they received a quote of $10,000 to $12,000 for three different options. They were told it might be less if they could narrow it down to one idea, and she and the park superintendent had a favorite and it was also one that the council thought would work best. It would start on First Street next to the railroad tracks on the east side of the tracks, go along Bear Creek to Camp Mack Road to the park.
This option appears to be less intrusive, minimizing the impact on property owners and is more scenic. Gall said the feasibility study can be used to assist in getting grants, which she said could be up to $800,000. She said even though the federal grants are out to 2026 for that amount of money, it’s worth waiting for.
The council approved getting the quote for one option to be brought to the next meeting.
In other business, the council:
• Passed an ordinance for capital assets policy and at one point they need to be reported.
• Approved joining a class action suit against Purdue Pharma.
• Approved items for the new 2020 truck just received, including rust protection, seat covers, floor mats and cab steps at a total cost of $1,535 from Ziebart. The work will likely be down over a week in August.
• Approved rebuilding chemical pumps and replacing sensors, etc. from Living Waters, Monrovia, at a cost of $2,025.
• Approved water and wastewater employees attending the IRWA boot camp in Miami County at a cost of $70 per person.
• Received a quote on insurance for the next year and it was a 13% increase instead of the expected 20%. Council suggested getting comparable quotes and checking with employees to see how it’s working before the next meeting.
• Heard from resident Jay Urbin that he wasn’t happy about receiving his water bill with an increase of 1,000 gallons and said he would’ve preferred better communication.
• Announced the town is seeking an additional lifeguard this summer. Any teen who is a certified lifeguard should fill out an application at town hall.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092