Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD -ÊJones & Henry Engineering Firm was selected by the Milford Town Council Monday by a vote of 2 to 1 to serve as the engineers for the town's Wastewater Facility replacement project.
Opposing Jones & Henry as the engineering firm was councilman Douglas Ruch.
The cost for the project, including engineering fees, is estimated at $852,000.
Ruch said the council reviewed all three bids extensively.
Councilman Robert Phillips said Jones & Henry were the cheapest bidders. He made the motion to approve them as the town's engineering firms and council president John Lehman second the motion.
No motions were necessary Monday for the information town attorney Jay Rigdon presented regarding the annexation of five properties.
Rigdon said it is just for the council to review until the next meeting.
The information included a proposed timetable for the project; a proposed fiscal plan for the annexation, including a map outlining the proposed area to be annexed; proposed resolutions adopting the fiscal plan; and ordinances adopting the the plan.
The fiscal plan states what services the town currently offers to its residents, when the new residents in the annexation area will get the services and what expenses will be involved in providing those services.
The fiscal plan will have to be adopted at the same time the ordinance for the annexation is presented. A hearing would then be held at least 60 days after the ordinance is presented. After the hearing, the council can give their final approval of the ordinance at least 30 days but no more than 60 days afterwards.
Remonstrators then would have 90 days, Rigdon said.
The areas the council is looking to annex includes North Park subdivision sections one and two, Phend & Brown's property and Darrell Krugman's property.
Rigdon reminded the council that council president John Lehman cannot vote on the proposed annexation because he owns property that is part of the annexation. He also confirmed councilman Douglas Ruch's statement that the town won't receive tax dollars from the annexed property until 2004.
In another matter for the town attorney, town marshal Dave Hobbs said the town has a problem with the noise from truck brakes on Ind. 15. He asked Rigdon if the town's noise ordinance is good enough to help the town stop the problem.
Unfortunately, Rigdon said, it is not and the town probably needs to draft a new ordinance to address the noise of brakes from trucks. Ruch told Rigdon to go ahead and prepare one for the town council's next meeting in April.
Hobbs also told the council the town's police force has lost three reserves and three more are needed. Anyone interested in being a reserve officer for the town can stop in the police department Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and get an application.
Applicants need to be at least 21 years old, have a high school diploma, a valid driver's license and be in good physical health.
In other business, the council:
• Reviewed bids from Stafford Solid Waste and Sweetheimer for the town's trash pickup.
For trash pickup for 513 residential homes, the EMS, the street department and seasonal pickup for the park, Stafford bid $2,550 per month for 2002-03; $2,675 per month for 2003-04; and $2,835 per month for 2004-05.
Sweetheimer bid $2,700.42 per month for the first year and a 3 percent increase every year thereafter.
"They're both so close," said Lehman.
The council gave utilities superintendent Dallas Winchester the information to review and make a recommendation at April's meeting.
Lehman said, "We'll make a motion on that after we hear the pros and cons (of both bids)."
• Heard Milfordfest will be June 29 but Winchester said the parade will still be on Memorial Day. Entries for the parade are being accepted and the Milford Area Development will have a chicken barbecue after the parade.
• Received Marion Acton's resignation from the park board.
• Approved participating in the "Click It or Ticket" program.
• Heard the Wellhead Protection Planning Committee will meet Wednesday at 4 p.m.
• Approved a resolution delineating 3,000 feet around the town's wells as protected.
• Approved not more than $1,200 to be spent for a utility fork attachment for a skid loader.
• Approved two men from the utilities department to attend the Indiana Rural Water Association Meeting April 22-24.
Members of the Milford Town Council are president John Lehman, vice president Douglas Ruch and Bob Phillips. They meet at 7 p.m. in the town hall on the second Monday of every month.
