Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD - Interviews for Milford Police Department reserve officers were held last week, and six were chosen.
According to town marshal Dave Hobbs, all six of the applicants have fulfilled the necessary qualifications.
As for the interview process, town councilman Bob Phillips agreed it went well. "I was impressed with the group that Dave brought in here with no exception."
All six were approved by the town council Monday but only five of the reserves were sworn in Monday. The sixth reserve officer was unable to attend the meeting and will be sworn in later.
The new Milford reserve officers are Mike Foster, James Marshall, Shane Bucher, Thomas Waikel, Jose Carrillo and Jessica Monarch.
Also in police business, Hobbs asked the council to approve an ordinance or contract for all the town's reserve officers that would require them to reimburse the town for their reserve clothing if they quit before the first two years are over.
Other people are not going to wear some pieces of clothing that have been worn previously, Hobbs said. And with the turnover problem the town's had with reserve officers, it's getting to be expensive for the town. For the minimum clothing for the first year alone, he said, it costs the town $800.
By making the reserves reimburse the town for clothing if they don't stay for at least two years, Hobbs said, it may encourage the reserves to stay on longer with the town.
Phillips said he thought two years is a good idea. "We're providing them with a pretty good training ground, I think, and if they can stick around, we can strike a deal."
Town attorney Jay Rigdon will present the council with an ordinance regarding reserve clothing reimbursement at the next town council meeting.
In other business, the council:
• Approved Barnes & Thornburgh to serve as the town's bond counsel for the wastewater treatment plant project. The estimated cost for the bond counsel is $14,000 to $18,000, but the counsel still must review and approve a contract.
• Approved $1,100 for Kosciusko Development Inc. in their 2003 budget, a $100 increase from 2002.
• Accepted a bid on a street sweeper from Brown Equipment Co., Fort Wayne, with trade-in for $24,950.
• Todd Haines, fire department, reported the department had nine runs in June: three structure fires, three alarms, one trash fire and two accidents.
He advised that because of the dry weather, people should not burn anything in their yards.
• Discussed whether or not Waubee Lake needs a fence. Councilman Douglas Ruch said he wants one but it ought to beautify the park, not just be an ordinary chain-link or white picket fence. The board agreed the park advisory board should continue looking into the idea of having a fence at the park.
• Agreed to budget $258,000 in 2003 for a new fire truck. Town clerk-treasurer Charlotte Siegfried said just because the town budgets the money doesn't mean they have to spend it.
• Ruch said he talked with county administrator Ron Robinson on whether or not Phend & Brown will have to change their address if they are annexed into Milford. According to Robinson, Ruch said they will not, at least for now.
Members of the Milford Town Council are president John Lehman, Douglas Ruch and Robert Phillips. They meet at 7 p.m. in the town hall on the second Monday of every month.
No Injuries In Monday House Fire
Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union
