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MILFORD - Bids for the North Main Street sewer - storm drain separation project in Milford were accepted by the town council Monday.
Milford utilities commissioner Dallas Winchester said the engineering firm of Jones & Henry recommended the project contract be awarded to Brooks Construction, Goshen, for a cost of $217,049. They were the lowest bid. The work is slated to begin in early March.
Winchester also recommended the Joe Dock Construction Co., Warsaw, bid be accepted for 13 water services that tie in with the Main Street project. Cost is approximately $7,300. The other bid, not accepted, was more than $13,000.
As for the painting and coating of the water tower, Winchester said Dixon Engineering recommended the bid be given to George Kountopus Painting Co., Lincoln Park, Mich., for $34,250.
All the recommendations were approved by the council. The council then also approved an administrators of overseers contract for Dixon Engineering for the project at a cost not to exceed $5,349.
Winchester said work on the water tower will begin around July 1 and Aug. 1. The tower will be out of service for approximately two weeks while the painting is going on.
In other business the council:
• Approved Winchester's request to purchase a 1998 backhoe from McDonald Machinery for $36,500.
They also approved purchase of a 2001 Chevy Impala for the Milford Police Department for approximately $14,000, including trade-in, from McCormack Motors. Town Marshal Dave Hobbs and councilman Bob Phillips wanted to purchase a Ford, while councilmen John Lehman and Douglas Ruch preferred the Chevy.
• Heard from Todd Haines, Milford Fire Department fire chief, the K21 Foundation will purchase one Thermal Imaging System for each of the fire departments in the county. The units are valued at approximately $14,000 each. Milford's will be delivered at the end of March.
"This will be an excellent, big asset to the department as well as the community," said Haines.
Council president John Lehman agreed. He said it "sounds like a big asset to the fire department."
The K21 Foundation board decided to provide a Thermal Imaging System to every fire department in the county after one of the fire departments applied for a grant from the foundation for one, Haines said. After investigating the piece of equipment, the foundation decided to provide one for every department. A few departments in the county already have one.
• Clerk-treasurer Charlotte Siegfried announced the members of the park board. They are president Marion Acton, Dr. Robert Cockburn, Pam Lehman, Kevin Shell and Jean Treesh.
John Lehman said the town is still looking for a park caretaker.
Siegfried also announced Mediacom Cable was adding new channels and raising their rates.
• Winchester said someone is needed to organize MilfordFest, which is the Saturday before Memorial Day.
He also said, "Our fund raiser box for the community building is there" in the building. The facility is supported through donations, fund raisers and rental fees.
Lehman said the community building utility funds are covered.
Members of the Milford Town Council are president John Lehman, Douglas Ruch and Bob Phillips. They meet at 7 p.m. in the town hall on the second Tuesday of every month.
