MILFORD - The Milford Town Council spent the better part of their meeting Thursday listening to public input regarding two separate business proposals.
First to address the council was Bruce Korenstra, of Castle/Better Way Products, New Paris.Better Way Products was started in 1982 and produces parts for the RV industry. The company manufactures its products out of fiberglass using the open-mold and closed-mold methods. It employs just more than 200 workers in a 70,000-square-foot facility.
Korenstra and his brother, Roger, are majority owners of Better Way and serve on its board of directors. Korenstra, along with other family members, recently acquired another company known as Castle. This is a relatively new business and currently employees 30 workers. It is currently located in the Lippert Building, Milford.
Castle will use a closed-mold method in an estimated two-thirds of its manufacturing. This method traps more of the emissions created by the styrene, which is what fiberglass is derived from.
Styrene is a product of petroleum and natural gas. The most noticeable feature of the manufacturing process involving styrene is the odor created. Even though the smell is caused by 2 parts per billion of the chemical, it's still very discernable.
According to Korenstra, the Milford facility will ventilate through the roof and wall, which will put emissions further into the air, creating less odor. The company's New Paris facility ventilates through the wall only.
Korenstra's purpose in going before the council was to seek a letter of endorsement from the town so that the facility can obtain an air permit for its emissions.
"One thing that we'd like to point out is that Castle/Better Way will create almost immediately 40 to 60 jobs," said Korenstra. "We're not asking for any equipment abatement. We expect to stand on our own two feet. The company and the employees will support the community through taxes and the use of Milford businesses and services.
"I'd also like to propose having community meetings. Maybe, initially, we could have this monthly right out at the plant. If it needs to go quarterly, we will. But I'd like to invite the public to a meeting on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the plant. I'd like to give people a tour of the place as well as an update on obtaining the permit. The bottom line is that we really want to be a good neighbor."
The council approved Korenstra's request for a letter stating that the town endorses Castle/Better Way becoming a part of the business community.
The other business proposal before the council was presented by attorney Steve Snyder representing the Northern Lakes Investment group. This company owns 250 acres of land that they are interested in developing as an industrial park. This is the land that was last proposed as a site for an ethanol refinery.
"This is a very attractive piece of real estate from the standpoint of industry," said Snyder. "If it becomes part of Milford, it will have utilities available. Secondly, it has reasonable good access to State Route 15 and access to the railroad."
To accomplish this would require a rezoning of the property to an industrial reclassification under the Kosciusko County Zoning Ordinance. That could be done with an application to the County Plan Commission, or it could be done at a later date after a proposed annexation would be approved and the parcel would become part of the town of Milford. Then the town would have the say as to whether or not that zoning classification would be adopted.
The Northern Lakes group wants a letter of support for rezoning the land for industrial reclassification.
Snyder was asked what types of businesses would be allowed into the proposed industrial site. Being in an agricultural district, the site would have some use limitations that could only be circumvented by the County Plan Commission. According to Snyder, the intent is to make industrial land available.
The council did approve a letter of support be presented to Northern Lakes Investment to take before the County Plan Commission to petition for rezoning. Annexation then would become an option for the town.
The council approved a water emergency ordinance. This gives the council, in the advent of a water shortage emergency, the authority to limit individual household usage to 150 for the duration of the emergency.
The property owned by Charles L. Poe, 310 E. Williams St., was found to be no longer in compliance with town codes. The mobile home on the site was only to be temporary during construction of another structure. Since no work has been completed by the deadline granted by the council, and certain other conditions have not been met, the council agreed to allow town attorney Jay Rigdon to begin the necessary process needed to remove the mobile home.
In other business:
n Utilities Superintendent Dallas Winchester said the Catherine Street project is complete and sidewalks will be finished in the spring. He also said there is a great need for a place to dump all the leaves the town has picked up. The council agreed to offer to pay $10 per load to anyone who has enough space and will agree to take them. Total cost of this project is not to exceed $1,000.
n Halloween is scheduled for Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m.
n The next council meeting has been moved to Nov. 8 because of the Veterans Day observance on Nov. 12.
Milford Town Council Members are Gary Hurd, Robert Cockburn and Douglas Ruch.
