Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD - At the end of Main Street in Milford is a situation causing frustration for several neighbors.
Karen Rogers, one of the neighbors, told the Milford Town Council Monday that a dog next door to her is chained outside constantly. It's not usually watered or fed.
However, when she approached town marshal Dave Hobbs about the matter, she said, he told her as long as the dog had its shots, that was all that is required. The dog, part wolf, howls constantly, she told the council several times. She said she realizes dogs will howl when trains go by on the tracks, but this dog howls constantly.
"I just feel like there's got to be more responsibility to being a pet owner than having a dog on a chain," she said. The dog doesn't even belong to the people in the house but to a person staying with them, she said. It "never gets any attention," she said, and "I just feel like it's abused."
Neighbors several doors down also are kept awake by the dog's howling.
Jay Rigdon, town attorney, said off-hand, he didn't see anything in the town's ordinances to cover it. However, he said, it doesn't mean the dog isn't a public nuisance and that the neighbors couldn't get an attorney to have something done. If the town can't help her with her problem, he said, maybe something could be done privately.
"What is annoying is the howling," said Rogers. She said she reported the possible abuse to the animal control authorities but did not say what action, if any, was taken by the authorities.
Rigdon said he will check the town's ordinances further and see if there is anything that qualifies to help Rogers and the neighbors with the dog problem.
In other business:
• The council approved to advertise for bids for a new fire truck.
• The council approved the town's insurance for 2003 as presented by Brian Tucker, Milford Insurance Center. The town will save approximately 30 percent on the new insurance.
• The council heard a report from Pam Lehman, park advisory board, that instead of fencing at Waubee Lake Park, the board wants to replace the old pavilion. The town board was agreeable to the project and all involved hope to get a service club in the town involved with the project.
• The council approved an expenditure of $1,000 for the removal of five trees at the park's boat dock and $250 for the trees' stumps to be ground.
• The council approved to encumber $2,000 for next year's budget from this year's budget for limestone out at the park.
• The council approved a bid from Foil Plumbing for $1,508.11 for the replacement and installation of a furnace at the street department building on North Main Street.
• Kent Sawyer, Milford EMS, reported the EMS 2003 board members are Karen Rogers, vice president; Sawyer, president; Sonya Tinkey, secretary; Deb Mast, treasurer; George Rogers, maintenance; and Scott Brown, public relations.
• Todd Haines, Milford Fire Department, reported the department's 2003 board includes Troy Haines, fire chief; Shane Bucher, first assistant chief; Todd Haines, second assistant chief; Jon Hare, secretary; Rodney Bray, treasurer; and Sam Baumgartner, training officer.
• The council approved the advertisement for bids for selling a street department tra1ctor.
• The council approved the end-of-year meeting for noon Dec. 30.
• Charlotte Siegfried, town clerk-treasurer, announced her office will be closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1 for the holidays.
• The council approved meeting on the second Monday of every month in 2003.
Members of the Milford Town Council are John Lehman, Douglas Ruch and Robert Phillips.
