Milford Holds Budget Hearing Before Town Council Meeting
Milford Holds Budget Hearing Before Town Council Meeting
Posted
Mark Howe-mhowe@timesuniononline.com
Milford Holds Budget Hearing Before Town Council MeetingMILFORD – Joellen Free, Milford’s town clerk-treasurer, spent around 30 minutes explaining how different services are financed during a budget hearing Monday night.
The hearing preceeded the council’s monthly meeting at Milford Town Hall.
Free explained that some funds, such as the casino/riverboat fund, come from the state, and Milford simply receives its share. Other items, such as employee salaries and benefits, are financed by local property tax.
Free also said the town does a good job of setting aside money for future projects, such as an upcoming purchase of a fire truck. She said the trucks are on a 20-year rotation, meaning the trucks are replaced every two decades.
The town has about $4.1 million set aside for unexpected expenses. Council President Doug Ruch explained that, “while no one would ever want it to happen, if Milford were to be hit by a tornado, we would need money to fund some services on an emergency basis, restoring utilities, clearing streets, things like that.
“Yes, we do have insurance, but it won’t cover everything.”
Free said that when the current council came into office, the surplus was $2.7 million, so the current council has added $1.4 million to that fund.
“We’re always looking for ways to stretch the dollar,” Free said. “We’re always looking for grants and other ways to finance projects so the town’s taxpayers don’t have to foot the whole burden for everything.”
During the regular council meeting, Ryan Brauen, of Wessler Engineering, gave the council an update on the wastewater treatment plant renovation project. He said that everything for the most part was going well. The project is about two-thirds complete, but there were a few issues with components not arriving in a timely manner, which is setting the inspection schedules back some. Brauen said the company was working through it and ultimately the renovations should be complete by the Jan. 1 deadline.
Tricia Gall, of the Milford Lions, asked the council for use of the town’s community building on Oct. 23. The MilfordFest Organizing Committee wants to hold a forum for the community at 6:30 p.m. Gall asked the council to waive the user fee for the meeting. The council approved the measure, pending availability of the building that night.
Ruch gave the fire report, and he reminded citizens that there is a leaf pick-up every year and that burning leaves in the town limits is prohibited.
The department’s annual chicken barbecue will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 7. Ruch said advance tickets were available from any firefighter, and advance orders will be held until 2 p.m.
Town Marshal Travis Marsh said calls to Waubee Park are down thanks in part to surveillance cameras installed earlier this year.
Marsh asked the council to approve a purchase for rifle, shotgun and pistol ammunition for training at a cost not to exceed $1,000. The money had been budgeted and the council approved the request.
He said his officers have been testing various body and dash-mounted cameras. Marsh said one system tested came with a $47,500 price tag. “We’re gonna keep looking,” Marsh said.
The council also approved Marsh’s request to send school resource officer Derek Kreider to a seminar in Valparaiso Oct. 8-12. The seminar will cost $495 plus mileage, lodging and a meal per diem.
Streets and Utilities Supervisor Steve Marquart said fall clean-up is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27 and 28, and from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 29. Non-toxic items will be accepted at the town’s facility at 600 N. Main St. Marquart said people need to pull in and town personnel will unload items.
He also said the bins will be available only to residents in the town limits, not everybody with a Milford mailing address.
Marquart said he is seeking a state grant for paving projects on Old Ind. 15 between Syracuse Street and CR 1300N, Main Street from Section Street to CR 1150N, on West Street from Fourth to Emeline streets. He said that with the grant the town would pay 25 percent of the $253,041.40 price tag. The grant would be awarded in November, with bidding in December and the work done next spring.
In his parks report, Marquart said ropes in the swimming area at Waubee Lake Park would be taken out for the season this week, and the concession/restroom building would be winterized soon. He added he plans to leave the pier in the lake as long as possible.
The council approved the purchase of a dozen water meters for $2,100. Marquart had asked for two dozen, but said the town would have 18 meters to switch out with faulty meters or for new home construction. Marquart said there are several meters out for warranty work.
Wastewater Supervisor Mark Brubaker said recent Indiana Department of Environmental Management inspections of area life stations went well for the most part, but some adjustments are needed.
In her report, Free asked the council to approve a request from Tri-Fold Holding LLC to use an existing sign at 301 N. Higbee St. for its business. Tri-Fold is a financial company that recently purchased the former Higbee Street Healthcare building, at the corner with West Sixth Street. The council approved the request.
The council also approved Free and clerk-elect Gall to a seminar on Oct. 18 in Middlebury. The clerk’s office will be closed that day.
Free said there’s been a lot of complaints about trash pick-up since the contractor, Sweetheimer Trash Removal, of Pierceton, went to 96-gallon containers that can be picked up by a machine. Previously, residents were limited to six large trash bags per week, and the new containers will hold six bags, but residents are concerned that the containers won’t hold all their trash.
Marquart said residents can make use of recycling containers located on the south side of town on Ind. 15, and can also make arrangements for a second container with Sweetheimer.
The cost of trash service is included with the payment of property taxes in the town limits, and Marquart added the town will not pay for a second container.
At the end of the meeting, resident David Hernandez expressed concern he was being discriminated against because cars in need of repair were towed from his home before anyone else. He said he had been ill and the cars were tagged while he was in the hospital.
After the meeting, Hernandez and Marsh sat down in Marsh’s office to show the junk car ordinance was enforced elsewhere and discuss how he can get his cars back.
The next council meeting is 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at the town hall, 121 S. Main St.
