Housing Issues Top Milford Agenda
January 11, 2023 at 1:51 a.m.
Housing Issues Top Milford Agenda
By Denise Fedorow-
Rigdon brought to the Council’s attention that in the matter of the Ron Davidhizer litigation, the court denied Davidhizer’s motion to lift the judgment to demolish the properties at 605 Kenwood and 105 N. Maple. He said Davidhizer’s attorney submitted a counter offer to secure a bond of $10,000 for each of the two properties and he’ll continue to renovate them and have them ready to rent in three month’s time. If at the end of three months it’s not ready, the town could keep the $20,000.
Rigdon pointed out if they do accept this offer and he doesn’t do the work, they’d have the money upfront to pay for the demolition work. Rigdon also said if they don’t accept the counter offer, Davidhizer does have 30 days to appeal.
Councilman Ken Long said, “For the benefit of the town — we’ve been dealing with this since before I came on the Council — it’s time to get this done.”
At that point, Davidhizer made his presence known and said his properties are not structurally unsound and have good roofs and good furnaces.
“To tear them down is a bad idea. You’d lose housing and lose tax revenues. I’m putting my money where my mouth is. You already have a shortage of housing, this makes it worse,” he said.
Roman Troyer, of Troyer Construction, was with Davidhizer and said the work needed — drywall and windows — was mostly cosmetic and asked who declared the homes unsound.
Rigdon said, “We’re not going to go over the history of the case.”
Council President Doug Ruch said, “We’re in the 11th hour now and we’re going to make a decision.”
The Council unanimously approved moving forward with demolition of the two properties.
Greg Fitzloff, with Kosciusko County Economic Development Corporation, and Dan Brown, of Milford Redevelopment Commission, came to the Council asking for a recommendation for the North East Residential Housing Project to the Area Plan Commission.
Fitzloff said this has been a three-year journey but progress has been made. Tim Saylor is the engineer for the project and Miller Brothers has been chosen as the developer.
He said, “This is a $15-$16 million economic development project that’s significant not only because of housing but also because of the investment in the town.”
Fitzloff said this is KEDCO’s first housing project in their housing initiative. “Our major goal is more workforce housing so everyone benefits,” he said.
President of the Redevelopment Commission Dan Brown said the project, which includes 50 houses, went before the Area Plan Commission last week and they had some concerns. One was the layout of the development, which he said looked like the letter B with a single entrance, and the single entrance was a cause for concern. So they’ve redesigned it so it is more like a letter U with two entrances.
He said they’ve also requested deceleration lanes but Brown didn’t think it was needed because the development is in town. He said he thinks there was some confusion about whether it was a town project or a county project but the 21 acres have been annexed.
Brown said the Area Plan Commission would want the town’s input so he was asking the Council to send a favorable recommendation to the Area Plan Commission, based on the Redevelopment Commission’s recommendation.
The Council voted to accept the recommendation of the Redevelopment Commission, to send a favorable recommendation to Area Plan Commission and also send a recommendation that there’s sufficient water and sewer capacity.
Long said the Area Plan Commission raised some questions about traffic and he said traffic will be cut in half after work on CR 1350 is complete.
In other business, the Council:
• Passed a resolution stating the American Rescue Plan Act funds will be used as revenue replacement so the Council can use it at its discretion.
• Passed an ordinance approving an amendment to the appointments ordinance adding John Beer as new Redevelopment Commission member and new Board of Zoning Appeals member, effective Jan. 9
• Approved purchasing tires for the town’s fire truck from ATR Tire & Repair at a cost of $1,871.22 for six tires plus additional costs for valves and other charges.
• Approved the purchase of a promotional tent for the police department at a cost not to exceed $2,400.
• Held election of officers same as last year with Ruch as president and Long as vice president.
• Approved pursuing interest in purchasing a 2016 Dodge Ram from the city of Woodburn.
• Approved preventive maintenance on the street sweeper at a cost of $6,349 and also approved an additional $5,000 in case more work is needed.
• Approved ordering flowers for downtown at a cost not to exceed $1500.
• Approved committing 25% in matching funds to Community Crossing grant if successful
• Approved Peerless Midwest clean meter at a cost of $2,380.
• Approved renewing cellular router service with D L Anderson at a cost of $1,200
• Approved new furnace at 600 N. Main at a cost of $2,960 from Foyle Plumbing.
• Authorized Utility Superintendent Steve Marquart to send letters to residents who haven’t responded to multiple attempts to change meter.
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Rigdon brought to the Council’s attention that in the matter of the Ron Davidhizer litigation, the court denied Davidhizer’s motion to lift the judgment to demolish the properties at 605 Kenwood and 105 N. Maple. He said Davidhizer’s attorney submitted a counter offer to secure a bond of $10,000 for each of the two properties and he’ll continue to renovate them and have them ready to rent in three month’s time. If at the end of three months it’s not ready, the town could keep the $20,000.
Rigdon pointed out if they do accept this offer and he doesn’t do the work, they’d have the money upfront to pay for the demolition work. Rigdon also said if they don’t accept the counter offer, Davidhizer does have 30 days to appeal.
Councilman Ken Long said, “For the benefit of the town — we’ve been dealing with this since before I came on the Council — it’s time to get this done.”
At that point, Davidhizer made his presence known and said his properties are not structurally unsound and have good roofs and good furnaces.
“To tear them down is a bad idea. You’d lose housing and lose tax revenues. I’m putting my money where my mouth is. You already have a shortage of housing, this makes it worse,” he said.
Roman Troyer, of Troyer Construction, was with Davidhizer and said the work needed — drywall and windows — was mostly cosmetic and asked who declared the homes unsound.
Rigdon said, “We’re not going to go over the history of the case.”
Council President Doug Ruch said, “We’re in the 11th hour now and we’re going to make a decision.”
The Council unanimously approved moving forward with demolition of the two properties.
Greg Fitzloff, with Kosciusko County Economic Development Corporation, and Dan Brown, of Milford Redevelopment Commission, came to the Council asking for a recommendation for the North East Residential Housing Project to the Area Plan Commission.
Fitzloff said this has been a three-year journey but progress has been made. Tim Saylor is the engineer for the project and Miller Brothers has been chosen as the developer.
He said, “This is a $15-$16 million economic development project that’s significant not only because of housing but also because of the investment in the town.”
Fitzloff said this is KEDCO’s first housing project in their housing initiative. “Our major goal is more workforce housing so everyone benefits,” he said.
President of the Redevelopment Commission Dan Brown said the project, which includes 50 houses, went before the Area Plan Commission last week and they had some concerns. One was the layout of the development, which he said looked like the letter B with a single entrance, and the single entrance was a cause for concern. So they’ve redesigned it so it is more like a letter U with two entrances.
He said they’ve also requested deceleration lanes but Brown didn’t think it was needed because the development is in town. He said he thinks there was some confusion about whether it was a town project or a county project but the 21 acres have been annexed.
Brown said the Area Plan Commission would want the town’s input so he was asking the Council to send a favorable recommendation to the Area Plan Commission, based on the Redevelopment Commission’s recommendation.
The Council voted to accept the recommendation of the Redevelopment Commission, to send a favorable recommendation to Area Plan Commission and also send a recommendation that there’s sufficient water and sewer capacity.
Long said the Area Plan Commission raised some questions about traffic and he said traffic will be cut in half after work on CR 1350 is complete.
In other business, the Council:
• Passed a resolution stating the American Rescue Plan Act funds will be used as revenue replacement so the Council can use it at its discretion.
• Passed an ordinance approving an amendment to the appointments ordinance adding John Beer as new Redevelopment Commission member and new Board of Zoning Appeals member, effective Jan. 9
• Approved purchasing tires for the town’s fire truck from ATR Tire & Repair at a cost of $1,871.22 for six tires plus additional costs for valves and other charges.
• Approved the purchase of a promotional tent for the police department at a cost not to exceed $2,400.
• Held election of officers same as last year with Ruch as president and Long as vice president.
• Approved pursuing interest in purchasing a 2016 Dodge Ram from the city of Woodburn.
• Approved preventive maintenance on the street sweeper at a cost of $6,349 and also approved an additional $5,000 in case more work is needed.
• Approved ordering flowers for downtown at a cost not to exceed $1500.
• Approved committing 25% in matching funds to Community Crossing grant if successful
• Approved Peerless Midwest clean meter at a cost of $2,380.
• Approved renewing cellular router service with D L Anderson at a cost of $1,200
• Approved new furnace at 600 N. Main at a cost of $2,960 from Foyle Plumbing.
• Authorized Utility Superintendent Steve Marquart to send letters to residents who haven’t responded to multiple attempts to change meter.
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