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MILFORD - Some of the requirements for a town or city to annex land include that one-eighth must adjoin the existing town; a legal description of the area to be annexed must be provided; and there must be a public hearing for the sole purpose of discussing the annexation.
Monday, Milford Town Council attorney Jay Rigdon told the council about the procedure for annexation. The council is considering annexing land in the area of the North Park Subdivision.
No firm description of land to be annexed has been established.
Rigdon also said property owners can petition to have their land annexed. For that to occur, half of the owners of the land must be a part of the petition, or owners of 70 percent of the assessed valuation of the property to be annexed can petition.
Remonstrators to any annexation can object during the process or in court.
Providing services such as sewer and water to annexed property was also discussed.
Town council president John Lehman and his wife own the North Park Subdivision. Lehman said he would abstain from any voting on annexing that area.
Councilman Douglas Ruch said, "I feel, from Milford's point of view, annexing will help promote the type of growth we want there."
For the August meeting, utilities commissioner Dallas Winchester said he will compile information regarding benefits of the annexation versus cost for property owners.
Further discussion on the annexation was tabled to the August meeting. The town council invited anyone with concerns or opinions on the matter to attend the meeting.
In other business:
• Randy Vutech, Kosciusko Development Inc. chairman, requested a $1,000 donation from Milford for KDI.
Lehman asked if KDI gets any prospects for development for the northern part of Kosciusko County.
"That's a good question," said Vutech. "I can't answer that."
Ruch said during the last couple of years "it appears KDI hasn't been as active with putting us on leads." He also said a manufacturer north of the town expanded and KDI didn't assist the company with the expansion.
Vutech said KDI should have assisted the manufacturer and he will bring the issue up at the next KDI board meeting.
"When you read the Warsaw paper," said Lehman, "you always hear KDI helping that vicinity but not up here."
The council approved the $1,000 request.
• Milford resident Alan Coy said he would like to see a fire truck stationed on the east side of the railroad tracks. The town has two fire trucks, he said, and putting one on the other side of the tracks may help if there's a derailment.
"I just think it's a good idea," said Coy. "I think we're cotton-pickin' lucky we haven't had any problems so far."
Lehman said the issue was discussed several years ago.
"I know when we talked about it eight years ago, it wasn't a concern for the fire department," said councilman Bob Phillips.
"I know a lot of towns have the same problems," said Lehman, "Syracuse, Leesburg."
• Ruch reported the EMS is still in need of daytime drivers and is looking for applications for EMTs.
• The council accepted a bid from Super Seal, Warsaw, for asphalt paving of the town's three parking lots for $1,019.70.
• Winchester reported the fall cleanup will be Sept. 20-22.
Members of the Milford Town Council are president John Lehman, Douglas Ruch and Bob Phillips. They meet at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month in the town hall.
