Milford Water & Wastewater Rates To Increase
February 16, 2022 at 1:39 a.m.
By Denise Fedorow-
A public hearing was held for both rate increases prior to taking that action.
Resident Jay Urbin asked what the increase would be. Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall said it would be $7.56 a month for the average user, which is considered to be 4,000 gallons.
Urbin said, “I understand you have to raise rates but you just can’t keep raising rates because the water department’s coming in the red. Something has to give - you can’t keep coming back every two years saying you need another $10. You didn’t do it right the first time.”
Gall told Urbin the last water rate increase was in 2015.
Councilman Kenneth Long said, “We don’t just arbitrarily raise rates. We had a rate study done and based on the study, this is what we need to keep providing services. We don’t do it lightly - I don’t like it either - but how many months have we had this discussion with you?”
Council President Doug Ruch said that in his time on the Council, “This is the most detailed and defined rate study we’ve had done at a lesser cost in the past. We don’t like rate increases but we’re in a position where we have to do it to continue providing services.”
Long said they didn’t approve the highest recommended rate increase and were only increasing what is needed. He said they can’t say they won’t be back in two years. “Our job is to continue providing basic services,” he said.
Urbin said the Council was doing a great job and Long said he appreciated Urbin coming and expressing his opinions. The Council later approved the rate increase ordinance.
A public hearing also was held on the wastewater rate increase ordinance. Gall said the amount of the increase will be $8.10 a month for the average user of 4,000 gallons. Gall said they have flat rate for users and the increase would be the same percentage, making the flat rates $60 for in town users and $69 for out-of-town users.
There was no comment from the public and the Council approved the ordinance.
Town Marshal Derek Kreider asked approval to purchase three laptops for police cruisers - two would be replacements and one for a new police cruiser. He had three quotes and informed the council he’d also received a grant for $1,500 to go toward the laptops.
One quote would be to purchase the laptops directly from Dell and have the town build the computers for $1,991.13 each including the grant money; purchase the Dell computers from Micro Byte at a cost of $2,147 each; or purchasing Lenovo from Master Mind Computers at a cost of $1,264 each.
Kreider said he was told the Lenovo was comparable to Dell and may have better availability but only has a four-year warranty versus a five-year with Dell.
Gall said she’d prefer that all town computers be the same since she performs basic IT services and the rest of the town’s computers are Dells.
After some discussion, the Council approved purchasing the laptops through Dell and having the town build the computers.
Kreider also asked about changing uniforms to what he called a western-style uniform. He said deputy Travis Bays has been wearing that uniform and has received mostly positive feedback from the public with comments that they feel he’s more approachable.
Kreider said, “I’m not a big fan of the Class B uniforms - they’re too military. This uniform looks like we’re public servants and it’s good for the public image, especially in the current climate.”
He said it would bring back a little nostalgia and the main benefit is that it cost less than the current uniform, which needs to be special ordered and tailored.
One negative comment Bays received was that “This is not Montana, it’s Indiana.”
Ruch had a few questions and asked if 100% of the force was on board. Kreider responded all but one officer, who said he’d refuse to wear it, but he is not a full-time officer. Kreider said as town marshal he and the chief deputy would continue to wear their current Class A uniforms.
Gall said the purchase of the new style uniform would be a taxable benefit for the employees.
Long said, “I don’t see it as a negative if it makes officers more approachable and there’s only one detractor on the force.”
The Council approved changing the standard operating procedures to allow the western-style uniforms and voted to re-evaluate in a year.
Streets, Water and Park Superintendent Steve Marquart brought up that the house at 410 E. Catherine St. was supposed to be demolished by Feb. 15. He obtained four quotes but there were questions about the scope of work to be provided by the lowest quote so the Council asked Marquart to get more information and they’d make a decision at the Feb. 28 special meeting.
Marquart received approval to pay for an order of 40 tons of road salt from Morton at a cost of $3,776.40. He needed to place the order because the salt was running low and he said he hasn’t received an indication of when the salt would be delivered.
He received approval to pay $1,037.50 to B.L. Anderson for updating the communication system and chlorine system.
Marquart also asked for and received approval to increase the budgeted clothing allowance from $300 to $400 and they’re allowed to purchase pants as part of the clothing allowance.
The Council approved purchasing laptops for the three Council members. Long said instead of having all the paper files they receive each month, they’d be able to convert to digital files. He recommended purchasing Dell laptops with Office Pro from Micro Byte for $1,480 each.
Town attorney Jay Rigdon said having laptops specifically for town business would also be a benefit in case there was ever litigation as they could turn over their town laptops and not have to turn over personal computers. He said that was unlikely, but they’d be protected if that were to happen.
There was also discussion about a computer use ordinance and Gall said they could work on that. They could also save files to a cloud-based system and assign each Council member a town email.
In other business, the Council:
• Approved a resolution for the Waubee Lake Park interlocal agreement between the town, Van Buren Township and Kosciusko County for maintenance and to purchase equipment. The town’s cost is $750.
• Approved an ordinance transferring funds from the bond fund to the bond repayment fund.
• Renewed the REACH alert agreement at a cost of $1,300 a year. The system is used to alert residents to storms, boil orders, special notices and events. Residents need to sign up to be alerted.
• Heard there is a plan to hold Milford Mayfest May 28.
• Approved an information-sharing agreement between the town, the county area plan commission, Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management System regarding the flood program.
• Approved crediting a resident who was receiving estimated water bills until they could get a working meter. After receiving a metered bill for several months Gall averaged monthly usage and determined a credit of $147.13 was warranted.
• Approved paying dues for clerk treasurer’s membership in IMPACT at $50 a year and ILMCT the Indiana League of Municipal Clerk Treasurers at a cost of $189 for herself and another employee in the clerk’s department.
• Approved allowing Cub Scouts use of the community building on April 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. and waiving fees.
• Approved charging late fees again.
A public hearing was held for both rate increases prior to taking that action.
Resident Jay Urbin asked what the increase would be. Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall said it would be $7.56 a month for the average user, which is considered to be 4,000 gallons.
Urbin said, “I understand you have to raise rates but you just can’t keep raising rates because the water department’s coming in the red. Something has to give - you can’t keep coming back every two years saying you need another $10. You didn’t do it right the first time.”
Gall told Urbin the last water rate increase was in 2015.
Councilman Kenneth Long said, “We don’t just arbitrarily raise rates. We had a rate study done and based on the study, this is what we need to keep providing services. We don’t do it lightly - I don’t like it either - but how many months have we had this discussion with you?”
Council President Doug Ruch said that in his time on the Council, “This is the most detailed and defined rate study we’ve had done at a lesser cost in the past. We don’t like rate increases but we’re in a position where we have to do it to continue providing services.”
Long said they didn’t approve the highest recommended rate increase and were only increasing what is needed. He said they can’t say they won’t be back in two years. “Our job is to continue providing basic services,” he said.
Urbin said the Council was doing a great job and Long said he appreciated Urbin coming and expressing his opinions. The Council later approved the rate increase ordinance.
A public hearing also was held on the wastewater rate increase ordinance. Gall said the amount of the increase will be $8.10 a month for the average user of 4,000 gallons. Gall said they have flat rate for users and the increase would be the same percentage, making the flat rates $60 for in town users and $69 for out-of-town users.
There was no comment from the public and the Council approved the ordinance.
Town Marshal Derek Kreider asked approval to purchase three laptops for police cruisers - two would be replacements and one for a new police cruiser. He had three quotes and informed the council he’d also received a grant for $1,500 to go toward the laptops.
One quote would be to purchase the laptops directly from Dell and have the town build the computers for $1,991.13 each including the grant money; purchase the Dell computers from Micro Byte at a cost of $2,147 each; or purchasing Lenovo from Master Mind Computers at a cost of $1,264 each.
Kreider said he was told the Lenovo was comparable to Dell and may have better availability but only has a four-year warranty versus a five-year with Dell.
Gall said she’d prefer that all town computers be the same since she performs basic IT services and the rest of the town’s computers are Dells.
After some discussion, the Council approved purchasing the laptops through Dell and having the town build the computers.
Kreider also asked about changing uniforms to what he called a western-style uniform. He said deputy Travis Bays has been wearing that uniform and has received mostly positive feedback from the public with comments that they feel he’s more approachable.
Kreider said, “I’m not a big fan of the Class B uniforms - they’re too military. This uniform looks like we’re public servants and it’s good for the public image, especially in the current climate.”
He said it would bring back a little nostalgia and the main benefit is that it cost less than the current uniform, which needs to be special ordered and tailored.
One negative comment Bays received was that “This is not Montana, it’s Indiana.”
Ruch had a few questions and asked if 100% of the force was on board. Kreider responded all but one officer, who said he’d refuse to wear it, but he is not a full-time officer. Kreider said as town marshal he and the chief deputy would continue to wear their current Class A uniforms.
Gall said the purchase of the new style uniform would be a taxable benefit for the employees.
Long said, “I don’t see it as a negative if it makes officers more approachable and there’s only one detractor on the force.”
The Council approved changing the standard operating procedures to allow the western-style uniforms and voted to re-evaluate in a year.
Streets, Water and Park Superintendent Steve Marquart brought up that the house at 410 E. Catherine St. was supposed to be demolished by Feb. 15. He obtained four quotes but there were questions about the scope of work to be provided by the lowest quote so the Council asked Marquart to get more information and they’d make a decision at the Feb. 28 special meeting.
Marquart received approval to pay for an order of 40 tons of road salt from Morton at a cost of $3,776.40. He needed to place the order because the salt was running low and he said he hasn’t received an indication of when the salt would be delivered.
He received approval to pay $1,037.50 to B.L. Anderson for updating the communication system and chlorine system.
Marquart also asked for and received approval to increase the budgeted clothing allowance from $300 to $400 and they’re allowed to purchase pants as part of the clothing allowance.
The Council approved purchasing laptops for the three Council members. Long said instead of having all the paper files they receive each month, they’d be able to convert to digital files. He recommended purchasing Dell laptops with Office Pro from Micro Byte for $1,480 each.
Town attorney Jay Rigdon said having laptops specifically for town business would also be a benefit in case there was ever litigation as they could turn over their town laptops and not have to turn over personal computers. He said that was unlikely, but they’d be protected if that were to happen.
There was also discussion about a computer use ordinance and Gall said they could work on that. They could also save files to a cloud-based system and assign each Council member a town email.
In other business, the Council:
• Approved a resolution for the Waubee Lake Park interlocal agreement between the town, Van Buren Township and Kosciusko County for maintenance and to purchase equipment. The town’s cost is $750.
• Approved an ordinance transferring funds from the bond fund to the bond repayment fund.
• Renewed the REACH alert agreement at a cost of $1,300 a year. The system is used to alert residents to storms, boil orders, special notices and events. Residents need to sign up to be alerted.
• Heard there is a plan to hold Milford Mayfest May 28.
• Approved an information-sharing agreement between the town, the county area plan commission, Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management System regarding the flood program.
• Approved crediting a resident who was receiving estimated water bills until they could get a working meter. After receiving a metered bill for several months Gall averaged monthly usage and determined a credit of $147.13 was warranted.
• Approved paying dues for clerk treasurer’s membership in IMPACT at $50 a year and ILMCT the Indiana League of Municipal Clerk Treasurers at a cost of $189 for herself and another employee in the clerk’s department.
• Approved allowing Cub Scouts use of the community building on April 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. and waiving fees.
• Approved charging late fees again.
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