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MILFORD - Without any public remonstrance, the Milford Town Council unanimously adopted the new wastewater rates ordinance Monday.
The increase in rates will help pay for the town's new wastewater treatment plant and maintenance.
Jay Rigdon, town attorney, told the board the new wastewater rates ordinance was introduced last month. Rates proposed are based on a study completed over a couple of periods of time by H.J. Umbaugh & Associates. The new rates will be running about average for towns of Milford's size.
H.J. Umbaugh & Associates and Barnes & Thornburg have worked hard to keep the project costs down, Rigdon said.
Asked by councilman Robert Cockburn if he was satisfied with the rate ordinance, utilities superintendent Dallas Winchester said, "(I'm) satisfied with what they presented."
The town council will hold a special meeting on the wastewater treatment plant March 29 at 6 p.m.
Later, Winchester told the board that after discussion with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, three deductions on the plant will be made to save the town more money.
"We're making some trade-offs to have a better facility, always hoping for some savings," he said.
In other business, the Milford Town Council:
• Discussed the job descriptions of building commissioner Joe Shetler and building inspector Harry Doty.
Shetler had planned to inspect the old video store at 105 Emmeline St., but Rigdon said Doty is supposed to do the inspection and Shetler should not.
Councilman Douglas Ruch said the inspector and commissioner will be invited to the April meeting to explain their roles to them. Also, councilman Gary Hurd said that by April's council meeting, he'd like to see a complaint form available so there will be a "paper trail" when a person makes a complaint to the building inspector regarding properties.
• Approved a new well at the street department for a cost not to exceed $2,200.
• Approved Trenton Shively as the new Milford reserve deputy marshal and Shane Bucher as the new full-time deputy marshal.
• Approved the contract for Waubee Lake Park caretakers Tim and Eilene McGee.
• Heard the Milford fire department is conducting a fund-raiser through Midwest Portraits Co. All proceeds will help pay for an emergency generator for the fire station.
Milford Town Council are Douglas Ruch, Robert Cockburn and Gary Hurd. Their regular meeting is at 7 p.m. in the Milford town hall on the second Monday of every month.
