Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD - Kosciusko Development Inc. is $1,200 richer today, thanks to the Milford Town Council.
The council approved a $1,200 donation to KDI after KDI economic development director Kim Nance made a presentation Monday night.
Nance told the council KDI's current focus is on attracting and retaining business in Kosiusko County.
She said adjacent counties are aggressively seeking to lure business and industry, offering free land, free training and tax abatements.
"It's important that we work to keep the growth here in our county," Nance said.
She also said KDI offers environmental, human resource, training and manufacturing assistance to small businesses.
Nance asked the council for a donation of $1,100. The council responded by offering $1,200.
Brian Tucker, of Milford Insurance, questioned the council regarding the recent decision to give the town's insurance business to an agent from Pierceton.
Tucker previously had the town's health insurance business.
Board president Doug Ruch said the board looked at the cost and the product and made what they thought was the best decision.
Tucker pointed out that the new insurance will cost the town $332 per month more than his quote for virtually the same coverage.
"As a local taxpayer," Tucker said, "I just didn't think that was a very efficient use of tax dollars."
The board also heard a complaint from Milford resident Maria Lozano regarding horses kept at her neighbor's house.
She said the town should invoke the nuisance ordinance because of the smell and flies.
Council members Gary Hurd and Robert Cockburn said they had inspected the property.
It was the consensus of the council that the problem is not severe enough to warrant a nuisance designation and fines.
Town attorney Jay Rigdon advised Lozano that she could seek a civil remedy against her neighbor.
Lozano also presented a petition from her neighbors regarding a sidewalk in front of their properties south of Milford on Old Ind. 15.
There is no sidewalk there and the neighbors believe it is a safety concern.
The council said the neighbors would be welcome to enter the town's sidewalk program, in which property owners pay for the concrete and the town provides the forms and labor.
In other business, the council:
• Established an account to accept proceeds from the state's riverboat fund.
• Approved $1,060 to upgrade the remote transmitter used to activate the town's tornado warning system.
• Heard a report from street superintendent Dallas Winchester. He said the city is near the end of the list of names on the sidewalk program. He encouraged other residents to get on the list if they are interested.
• Approved Winchester's request to stay overnight in Greenwood to attend a pesticide testing conference.
• Set the publishing date for the town's pre-adoption budget hearing for 7 a.m. Aug. 30.
• Set the next town council meeting for 7 p.m. Aug. 9.
