Public Hearing Held At Milford Council On OCRA Grant
June 14, 2022 at 11:49 p.m.
By Denise Fedorow-
James Turnwald, executive director of the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), explained the town received the grant on May 19 in the “maximum allowable amount of $90,000.” He said the grant requires a 10% match — or $10,000 that the town will take from its County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) funds.
He explained to the public that the goal and objectives of the grant is to help the town address the needs of economic development, public facilities including utilities and housing. The grant will help with the planning of town utilities and will provide a “robust study of utilities — water, wastewater and storm” to determine the needs, what needs improving and then make a plan.
He said in March MACOG and town employees went door to door conducting a utilities survey and received responses from 98 households. Last summer, MACOG conducted an income survey — a requirement to be eligible for the grant. The town needed to show the grant would benefit at least 51% of low-moderate income households and in Milford 61.7%, or $55,530, of the grant will be used to benefit low-moderate income individuals.
He asked if there were any questions and only received one — a gentleman asked about the timeline to use the grant. Turnwald responded that the next step is to send out requests for qualifications to engineering firms.
In a related matter, the Council approved hiring MACOG for professional grant administration services.
Turnwald explained MACOG provides many services for free but because “OCRA grants require significant grant administration,” they have to charge a fee. He said several employees are certified in grant administration and having a certified grant administrator is a requirement. Turnwald said they’re providing the service for a reduced rate of $7,000.
Katie Clark, senior project manager and landscape architect for Taylor, Siefker, Williams Design Group in Indianapolis, was present and explained her work with FORWARD Kosciusko to develop a new comprehensive plan for the county.
She said the last comprehensive plan the county did was in 1996. She said they felt it was “very important that all communities have a voice” and the goal was at the end each community — some that had never had a comprehensive plan before — would have a master plan drafted, reviewed and ready to be adopted.
She said they “spent about a year listening” to the public in a series of meetings to help the county and each community come up with a master plan.
The Council then passed a resolution adopting the comprehensive plan. Council President Doug Ruch asked if it was OK to pass it despite there being a couple of language corrections. Town attorney Jay Rigdon said it was and Councilman Ken Long pointed out that the comprehensive plan is non-binding and is more of a guideline so it can be changed even after adopting it.
Tammy Cotton of LITE (Living in Transition Effectively) Kosciusko and supporters were present in case there were further questions of them before their Board of Zoning Appeals hearing Wednesday morning.
They are planning on starting a transitional rehabilitation home for five or six women in the parsonage of the former United Methodist Church.
Ruch asked if there were any changes to their plans and Cotton said there weren’t. Then there was a lengthy discussion of “what ifs” their plan ceased to work and what could or couldn’t be done on the property.
Rigdon assured him that the BZA approves the use of a property. As long as it was used to house and rehabilitate five to six people, it was fine, but if it were to be used for any other purpose it would require going back to the BZA for a special exception.
Long said, “Personally I think it’s something that’s needs to happen. I think it is a good use of both buildings.”
He said Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall could send his comments to the BZA and she said she’d send them later that night.
In other business, the Council:
* Approved reimbursing utility superintendents and others who need special licensing for the amount paid for their current licenses and agreed to pay those costs moving forward.
*?Heard Phend and Brown will be working on this year’s Community Crossing project starting July 11.
* Approved the purchase of a salt spreader from W. A. Jones — the lowest of three quotes received — at $9,567.
* Approved a change of streets in the 50-50 sidewalk match program. They also approved having M E Simmons calibrating the large meters at the wheelhouse at their convenience at a cost of $1,150.
* Approved having Commonwealth Engineers sit in on meetings regarding new meters to assist with their decision making at a cost not to exceed $4,000.
Ruch said, “As much as I hate to spend $4,000 on engineers, I do think it will go a long way to help us choose the right ones.”
• Approved an ordinance posting two to three parking spaces by the fire station as no parking so the fire trucks and safely get in and out.
• Approved the use of a couple of parking spaces for the Milford Food Truck event as one of the vendors will need to leave early.
• Heard the clerk’s office will be closed July 4 for the holiday.
• Set budget workshop dates for July 18 and July 19 at 6 p.m.
• Set an executive session for Monday to interview three candidates for the police department.
• Approved paying hydrant fees at the old rate.
• Heard Food Truck Friday Event is being held this Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. in conjunction with an art-infused event. The public is invited to get some food and explore their inner artist.
The public is being asked to be alert as street paving is beginning in town this week.
James Turnwald, executive director of the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), explained the town received the grant on May 19 in the “maximum allowable amount of $90,000.” He said the grant requires a 10% match — or $10,000 that the town will take from its County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) funds.
He explained to the public that the goal and objectives of the grant is to help the town address the needs of economic development, public facilities including utilities and housing. The grant will help with the planning of town utilities and will provide a “robust study of utilities — water, wastewater and storm” to determine the needs, what needs improving and then make a plan.
He said in March MACOG and town employees went door to door conducting a utilities survey and received responses from 98 households. Last summer, MACOG conducted an income survey — a requirement to be eligible for the grant. The town needed to show the grant would benefit at least 51% of low-moderate income households and in Milford 61.7%, or $55,530, of the grant will be used to benefit low-moderate income individuals.
He asked if there were any questions and only received one — a gentleman asked about the timeline to use the grant. Turnwald responded that the next step is to send out requests for qualifications to engineering firms.
In a related matter, the Council approved hiring MACOG for professional grant administration services.
Turnwald explained MACOG provides many services for free but because “OCRA grants require significant grant administration,” they have to charge a fee. He said several employees are certified in grant administration and having a certified grant administrator is a requirement. Turnwald said they’re providing the service for a reduced rate of $7,000.
Katie Clark, senior project manager and landscape architect for Taylor, Siefker, Williams Design Group in Indianapolis, was present and explained her work with FORWARD Kosciusko to develop a new comprehensive plan for the county.
She said the last comprehensive plan the county did was in 1996. She said they felt it was “very important that all communities have a voice” and the goal was at the end each community — some that had never had a comprehensive plan before — would have a master plan drafted, reviewed and ready to be adopted.
She said they “spent about a year listening” to the public in a series of meetings to help the county and each community come up with a master plan.
The Council then passed a resolution adopting the comprehensive plan. Council President Doug Ruch asked if it was OK to pass it despite there being a couple of language corrections. Town attorney Jay Rigdon said it was and Councilman Ken Long pointed out that the comprehensive plan is non-binding and is more of a guideline so it can be changed even after adopting it.
Tammy Cotton of LITE (Living in Transition Effectively) Kosciusko and supporters were present in case there were further questions of them before their Board of Zoning Appeals hearing Wednesday morning.
They are planning on starting a transitional rehabilitation home for five or six women in the parsonage of the former United Methodist Church.
Ruch asked if there were any changes to their plans and Cotton said there weren’t. Then there was a lengthy discussion of “what ifs” their plan ceased to work and what could or couldn’t be done on the property.
Rigdon assured him that the BZA approves the use of a property. As long as it was used to house and rehabilitate five to six people, it was fine, but if it were to be used for any other purpose it would require going back to the BZA for a special exception.
Long said, “Personally I think it’s something that’s needs to happen. I think it is a good use of both buildings.”
He said Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall could send his comments to the BZA and she said she’d send them later that night.
In other business, the Council:
* Approved reimbursing utility superintendents and others who need special licensing for the amount paid for their current licenses and agreed to pay those costs moving forward.
*?Heard Phend and Brown will be working on this year’s Community Crossing project starting July 11.
* Approved the purchase of a salt spreader from W. A. Jones — the lowest of three quotes received — at $9,567.
* Approved a change of streets in the 50-50 sidewalk match program. They also approved having M E Simmons calibrating the large meters at the wheelhouse at their convenience at a cost of $1,150.
* Approved having Commonwealth Engineers sit in on meetings regarding new meters to assist with their decision making at a cost not to exceed $4,000.
Ruch said, “As much as I hate to spend $4,000 on engineers, I do think it will go a long way to help us choose the right ones.”
• Approved an ordinance posting two to three parking spaces by the fire station as no parking so the fire trucks and safely get in and out.
• Approved the use of a couple of parking spaces for the Milford Food Truck event as one of the vendors will need to leave early.
• Heard the clerk’s office will be closed July 4 for the holiday.
• Set budget workshop dates for July 18 and July 19 at 6 p.m.
• Set an executive session for Monday to interview three candidates for the police department.
• Approved paying hydrant fees at the old rate.
• Heard Food Truck Friday Event is being held this Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. in conjunction with an art-infused event. The public is invited to get some food and explore their inner artist.
The public is being asked to be alert as street paving is beginning in town this week.
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