MILFORD – Town council voted Monday to replace water lines on First Street before any more problem spots show up in winter. The lines have broken twice in recent months and are likely to break again, town officials noted, requiring more difficult and costly fixes once frost sets in. “If we let it go and it breaks in January, there are going to be some inconvenienced people, not to mention (town utility workers),” remarked Councilman Bob Cockburn. The next fix could cost $5,000 to $6,000 and the town would eventually have to replace the lines on top of that cost, council members observed. Utilities Superintendent Randy Veach, who said the lines “might last 10 years or they might last 10 minutes,” gathered quotes for new line installation. He said Beer and Slabaugh could do the work for about $13,000 and parts would cost another $10,000, minus $600 worth of parts the town has on hand. Narrow margins in the water fund mean the $23,000 will have to come from the Rainy Day fund, which Clerk-Treasurer Joellen Free estimated has about $30,000. She also noted the fund has not been used yet this year. Council also voted to give $384.20 in water bill credit to Leading Edge Fabrication LLC, which experienced theft of about 1,500 gallons in two days last month, more than doubling their normal bill. They have since put locks on all their faucets.
