MILFORD - It was moved down the agenda a bit, but a public hearing was held at the Milford Town Council meeting Monday for the Office of Community Rural Affairs (OCRA) planning grant application.
Olivia Nix, from Michiana Area Council of Government (MACOG) was present and explained she was assisting the town with its Community Development Grant Application. She explained the goals and objectives of the grant are to help communities with economic development, public facilities and housing. She said it’s also to assist with COVID economy recovery and is a roadmap to revitalize the local economy.
Nix said if any individuals or businesses in town have issues with economic downturns from COVID, they should share that with town employees, and they’d make it part of the application.
Nix said the town is seeking $50,000 with a $10,000 local match, which will be sourced by the town’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. In order to qualify, they have to meet three national objectives, including having a percentage of low-moderate income households and 54.3% of the funds or $29,865 needs to be used to benefit low-moderate income levels. Nix said this project will not result in displacement of any individual or business. The money will go toward funding a study — not actual construction. Following the application, they would negotiate with firms to do the study and the public would be involved.
Clerk-treasurer Tricia Gall said this is part of the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) grant they received two years ago, “So as long as we meet the qualifications and make the application, we’ll get the money.”
She said they put together a committee comprised of herself, Council President Doug Ruch, Ron Baumgartner, Angie Deak and Scott Gingerich and they sent out requests for qualifications for different contractors.
Nix said a steering committee of diverse stakeholders will have continued involvement. No one from the public had questions or comments and the hearing was closed.
Ryan LaReau, of Commonwealth, was present and spoke about the grant the town received back in February to be used for meter replacement and said the next step was an engineering agreement for designing a bid package and going out to bid. The board approved an agreement with Commonwealth for that work for $20,000.
Gall said they submitted a waiver on environmental and if they don’t get it, they won’t need Commonwealth’s services. LaReau said that was fine. “We’re ready to go whenever you need us.”
He said that the contractor would furnish and install the meters and he thought it shouldn’t take more than three months to install them.
The board approved the agreement.
Additionally, two other agreements were approved with Commonwealth — one for the wastewater department for $3,000 to prepare paperwork for an easement needed when they eliminate a lift station and go to a gravity sewer.
Lastly, an agreement for the water department to complete the lead copper rule was approved at a cost not to exceed $5,000.
The board approved several items for utilities. In wastewater, Superintendent Mark Brubaker said he received two quotes on the Turkey Creek lift stations —to upgrade or to eliminate it — from SiteWorx and Beer & Slabaugh. SiteWorx quoted $25,424 to eliminate the lift station and put in a gravity sewer. Beer & Slabaugh quoted $64,700 for the work.
Brubaker said he talked to Ryan LaReau, who recommended taking out the lift station. LaReau confirmed that for the board saying, “Anytime you can get rid of it you should.”
The board approved SiteWorx eliminating the Turkey Creek lift station. They also approved upgrades to two smaller lift stations for $17,900 from Indiana Pump Works.
In stormwater, Steven Marquart reminded residents not to put yard waste in the street because it blocks storm drains and creates a hazard. He also told the board some residents in North Park have not yet removed the obstructions for them to get in to clear the storm drain and are in “fining mode” at this point. He’ll call Matt Sandy at Kosciusko County Area Plan Department.
In the water department, Marquart received two quotes for injecting chlorine in the well. Mr. Rooter quoted $16,502.68 and Foyle Plumbing & Heating quoted $2,447.94. The board approved the low quote from Foyle.
For the street department, he reported that they had a successful spring cleaning with 163 visits, 10 30-yard dumpsters of rubbish and two 30-yard dumpsters of metal, as well as 84 tires. “I think it was our biggest ever,” Marquart said.
The board approved having Dan the Tree Man trim trees in the alleys so the trash trucks can get through at a cost of $5,000. They also approved the purchase of eight new trash cans for downtown from MaxR at a cost of $9,996.
There was a lot of discussion about park issues. Marquart received three quotes to remove nine dangerous trees from the park and parking lot and also to do trimming. He said the trees posed a danger to the public. Quotes were from Wicked Willow, $18,450, Taylor Specialties at a cost of $20,700 and Dan the Tree Man $15,000.
Dan the Tree Man also offered an option to spread the work out, something Ken Long didn’t want to consider. There was a lot of discussion because Marquart only budgeted $10,000 for the work so they had to determine where the rest of the money would come from.
Gall said there were options, but they’d be cutting it real close. Board member James Smiley eventually made the motion to approve Dan the Tree Man at a cost of $15,000 and Long opposed, but the motion passed.
The other item that created a lot of discussion was plumbing work needed at the park restrooms and concession stand. Marquart said lines were cracking and brittle and they need to replace wash tubs and sinks at the concession stand. He had two quotes — one from Foyle Plumbing for $3,378.15 for parts and labor and one from Mr. Rooter, who said he would donate his labor and estimated parts would be approximately $2,800. Eventually, the board decided to get all the work done by Mr. Rooter.
In other business, the board:
• Approved CTB’s tax abatement compliance forms — one for CTB — the 10th year of a 10-year abatement and for their new conference center — the second year of a 10-year tax abatement for both personal and real property.
• Joe Shetler of the Milford Food Bank attended to see if the town had any objections about the variances they’re requesting from BZA for new building and dock. The board had questions but no objections. Shetler invited them to attend an unveiling of their new site on May 22 at 3 p.m.
• Approved Tracey Burke’s request to have music at Waubee Lake for their poker kayak run on June 8 from 1-4 p.m. and to hang a banner on the pavilion to advertise the event, which is held to raise funds for fireworks.
• Heard the clerk’s office will be closed on Memorial Day May 27.
• Approved paying the CivicPlus invoice for $1,200 for the town’s municipal code system.
• Approved writing a letter in approval of Milford Lion’s gambling license so they can hold the gun raffle in town at the community center. Smiley abstained.
• Heard plans are coming together for this year’s Milford Fest on May 25 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Barbara Zimmerman from Milford Lions reminded residents that they can expect road restrictions and parking restrictions as rides start arriving. There will also be a garage sale map so there’s a $3 fee to be on the map and the deadline is May 20 at noon in the clerk’s office. The fire department will be selling rib eye sandwiches from 11 a.m. to sold out.