Town Of Milford Receives Good News On State Grant
June 13, 2023 at 8:54 p.m.
Town Of Milford Receives Good News On State Grant
By Denise Fedorow-
Roe said the Kosciusko County commissioners and council met and they decided to give 100% of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money to the three participating towns instead of splitting it between the county and the towns. The grant will be split between Milford, Pierceton and Mentone. However, they won’t know the amount yet because Pierceton and Mentone have to do an income survey and if one of the towns doesn’t qualify, the money would be split between the other two.
“There are still a few pieces to work out, but the great news is more money is coming to Milford than expected and because Milford is already staged to move forward with a CDBG project, this is super good news for Milford,” Roe said.
Donnie Ritsema, senior planner with Michiana Area Council of Government (MACOG), also was present and is working with Roe on Milford’s projects. He said the town’s low to moderate income population was about 51% so they are automatically eligible to apply for the grants. Two top priority projects previously identified by town officials is replacing the water meters and doing a downtown master plan.
Ritsema said the water meters would be considered a construction grant project and the 30% of American Rescue Plan Act funds the town needed to commit to be a part of the program could be used for that. He said the downtown master plan would be a planning grant and those would be done in June 2024.
Ritsema asked for and received approval from the council for him and Roe to start the application process for the CDBG.
Clerk-treasurer Tricia Gall later informed the council that the town received additional funds from the state - $17,568 in local income tax receipts and $29,501 in county option income tax receipts.
Brian Haines, Milford Fire Department, brought five quotes from two companies for tornado sirens to the council. After much discussion whether to go with one siren or two, the council decided to table the issue until they have more information on the cost of getting electricity to the poles if they go with two sirens.
In other fire department news, Councilman Ken Long brought up the rescue truck the town wants to sell and said Plain Township Fire wants to rent the truck for two months. After much deliberation, they decided on an amount of $100 a week for the rental agreement. Long said the weekly rental agreement benefits both parties.
The town received one bid for the 2023 Street Resurfacing Community Crossing Matching Grant program. The bid was from Phend & Brown for $241,311.50. Gall said that was lower than the estimate of $273,568.28. The bid stated they would start after July 5 and be completed by Oct. 30. The council accepted the bid pending any issue upon review.
Street, Water and Park Superintendent Steve Marquart reported they added 1.214 miles to the town’s street inventory for a total of 13.259 miles.
The council approved adding two sidewalks to be replaced at a cost of $1,570. They also approved the purchase of a new wire welder from Purity at a cost of $2,346.54, which includes a spool of wire and tank.
Marquart informed the council there will be a dry inspection of the water tower June 20 and they will be draining it on the 19th. He explained the process they’ll be going through with filing and testing and said it should be back online within a week.
The council heard a contractor hit a water service line at North Park and since it wasn’t listed correctly on the locate, the town is responsible for paying that. The council discussed why this happened but ultimately agreed to pay the $2,871.
They also approved the annual renewal of Master Meter Software Program at a cost of $1,750.
In other business, the council:
• Approved the police applying for a grant that would pay 100% of the cost of a drone, $18,270.99, which could also be used by the fire and street departments.
• Advised residents not to put lawn clippings into the street as it clogs the storm drains and is hazardous to motorists.
• Heard town offices are closed July 4.
• Adopted a utility payment application policy.
• Approved $4,980 cost to Keystone for payments.
• Approved paying $8,449 for fire department insurance.
• Approved the clerk attending the Indiana League of Municipal Clerk Treasurers and State Board of Accounts the end of June.
• Set budget meeting dates of July 25 and July 27.
• Approved the list of utility credits due to glitches with the water meters.
• Denied a request by a retired employee to be paid for unused sick leave as the town’s policy has no provision for doing so.
• Heard the First Food Truck Friday will be held in downtown Milford this Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. New food trucks will join returning favorites.
Touch a Truck will be part of this event. Milford Police Department will be offering children’s ID’s and Marshall Derek Kreider suggests parents get the ID prior to face painting.
Roe said the Kosciusko County commissioners and council met and they decided to give 100% of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money to the three participating towns instead of splitting it between the county and the towns. The grant will be split between Milford, Pierceton and Mentone. However, they won’t know the amount yet because Pierceton and Mentone have to do an income survey and if one of the towns doesn’t qualify, the money would be split between the other two.
“There are still a few pieces to work out, but the great news is more money is coming to Milford than expected and because Milford is already staged to move forward with a CDBG project, this is super good news for Milford,” Roe said.
Donnie Ritsema, senior planner with Michiana Area Council of Government (MACOG), also was present and is working with Roe on Milford’s projects. He said the town’s low to moderate income population was about 51% so they are automatically eligible to apply for the grants. Two top priority projects previously identified by town officials is replacing the water meters and doing a downtown master plan.
Ritsema said the water meters would be considered a construction grant project and the 30% of American Rescue Plan Act funds the town needed to commit to be a part of the program could be used for that. He said the downtown master plan would be a planning grant and those would be done in June 2024.
Ritsema asked for and received approval from the council for him and Roe to start the application process for the CDBG.
Clerk-treasurer Tricia Gall later informed the council that the town received additional funds from the state - $17,568 in local income tax receipts and $29,501 in county option income tax receipts.
Brian Haines, Milford Fire Department, brought five quotes from two companies for tornado sirens to the council. After much discussion whether to go with one siren or two, the council decided to table the issue until they have more information on the cost of getting electricity to the poles if they go with two sirens.
In other fire department news, Councilman Ken Long brought up the rescue truck the town wants to sell and said Plain Township Fire wants to rent the truck for two months. After much deliberation, they decided on an amount of $100 a week for the rental agreement. Long said the weekly rental agreement benefits both parties.
The town received one bid for the 2023 Street Resurfacing Community Crossing Matching Grant program. The bid was from Phend & Brown for $241,311.50. Gall said that was lower than the estimate of $273,568.28. The bid stated they would start after July 5 and be completed by Oct. 30. The council accepted the bid pending any issue upon review.
Street, Water and Park Superintendent Steve Marquart reported they added 1.214 miles to the town’s street inventory for a total of 13.259 miles.
The council approved adding two sidewalks to be replaced at a cost of $1,570. They also approved the purchase of a new wire welder from Purity at a cost of $2,346.54, which includes a spool of wire and tank.
Marquart informed the council there will be a dry inspection of the water tower June 20 and they will be draining it on the 19th. He explained the process they’ll be going through with filing and testing and said it should be back online within a week.
The council heard a contractor hit a water service line at North Park and since it wasn’t listed correctly on the locate, the town is responsible for paying that. The council discussed why this happened but ultimately agreed to pay the $2,871.
They also approved the annual renewal of Master Meter Software Program at a cost of $1,750.
In other business, the council:
• Approved the police applying for a grant that would pay 100% of the cost of a drone, $18,270.99, which could also be used by the fire and street departments.
• Advised residents not to put lawn clippings into the street as it clogs the storm drains and is hazardous to motorists.
• Heard town offices are closed July 4.
• Adopted a utility payment application policy.
• Approved $4,980 cost to Keystone for payments.
• Approved paying $8,449 for fire department insurance.
• Approved the clerk attending the Indiana League of Municipal Clerk Treasurers and State Board of Accounts the end of June.
• Set budget meeting dates of July 25 and July 27.
• Approved the list of utility credits due to glitches with the water meters.
• Denied a request by a retired employee to be paid for unused sick leave as the town’s policy has no provision for doing so.
• Heard the First Food Truck Friday will be held in downtown Milford this Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. New food trucks will join returning favorites.
Touch a Truck will be part of this event. Milford Police Department will be offering children’s ID’s and Marshall Derek Kreider suggests parents get the ID prior to face painting.
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