MILFORD – Milford firefighters and police, along with a Lutheran EMS Kosciusko paramedic, were honored Monday for their lifesaving efforts for a town resident. Millie Bartley, clinical division chief for the ambulance service, recognized during the Milford town council meeting everyone involved in a cardiac arrest call Oct. 26, including police, 11 firefighters and EMS staff. The subject of the emergency, resident Don Miller, also was there Monday to thank the men for coming to his aid. Also Monday, council passed a water rate increase of an average of $11 monthly, voting to implement the full hike all at once next year. Councilman Dan Cochran motioned for the full increase, remarking that Milford will still have the third-lowest rates in the area and that the collections fund in the water budget stand at only $6,622 now – which will be wiped out when the bills are paid this month. “We’ve been going from negative to zero, negative to zero – how are we supposed to fix anything?” Cochran said. He and Councilman Bob Cockburn voted for the increase while Doug Ruch voted no. Cochran and Ruch had each attempted to pass an increase last month, when Cockburn was absent. Cochran had motioned to start immediately and Ruch to phase it in over time, but neither seconded the other’s motion so no vote was held. And council passed Monday a $650-per-employee pay increase next year, on their third attempt to find a number they agreed on. Cockburn moved for evenly dividing the total of a 3 percent raise among all employees and Cochran to give a 1.5 percent raise, a lower amount since the town is covering an insurance increase next year, he said, but neither motion was seconded. Ruch then moved to give each employee $650 across the board, which he said is close to a 1.5 percent increase but which doesn’t factor in the insurance increase. “To the employees I know that isn’t great, but on the other side of the coin, insurance killed us this year,” Ruch said, adding that while the raise works out to an extra 29 cents an hour, the insurance hike costs the town an extra 90 cents an hour. The town had estimated a 3 percent salary increase when it submitted its budget to the state. In other business, council: • Voted to accept a set of plans for the North Park subdivision, which was revised based on discussion at November’s meeting. Kevin McDermit, an engineer with Lougheed and Associates, Fort Wayne, said he incorporated requirements from council expressed at the meeting, such as depth of cover for water pipes. After an hour of talk on what is needed sewer-wise for the town to continue to grow, Cochran moved to accept the plans based on the incorporated changes. Ruch abstained from the vote, having insisted the plans include things like a lift station and check valves. The plans, developed so Ideal Suburban Homes can finish the last nine lots in the subdivision, will go next to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for review. • Approved up to $2,100 for two of the Milford Police Department’s four reserve officers to attend officer academy and for custom-fitted bulletproof vests for the two; and the purchase of backup weapons for the four full-time officers at a cost of $378 each, at the request of Marshal Rich Miotto. • Tried to determine whether or not Utilities Manager Randy Veach could encumber $58,692 from this year’s budget for street paving next year. Clerk-Treasurer Joellen Free said the single cost estimate and description of the project he presented don’t meet state requirements for carrying an appropriation of funds over, so no action was taken. Council also recognized Veach for being named Small System Operator of the Year by the Indiana Rural Water Association.
