MILFORD - Milford Town Council started their first meeting for the new year with election of officers.
Robert Cockburn will serve as president, with Gary Hurd as vice president.
Before starting on other agenda items, Town Marshal Rich Miotto asked everyone present to observe a moment of silence for the shooting victims in Arizona.
Dan Brown, Milford Economic Redevelopment Commission, gave a presentation about the organization's plans for the area, and to announce who their officers are for 2011.
Brown will serve as president, Chuck Bird is vice president, Charlotte Siegfried will serve as secretary and Keith Hardy is a member.
The one area of particular interest to the group is the parcel of land just north of town that could be offered for voluntary annexation of the owners, the Beer family. Brown asked for a favorable consideration to a proposal for voluntary annexation of a portion of the land, and for the creation of another Tax Increment Finance district. Brown then introduced George Robertson of the Kosciusko County Development Corp.
"The site that we've had the most interest in, I think because of its size, is the Beer property," Robertson said. "It's a long way from being ready for companies, though. The property owners are moving forward with certain things such as archeological and environmental evaluations, and I know you've had discussions about water and sewer lines to the site. That all ties into annexation.
"We're meeting Thursday with the county redevelopment commission to begin a study looking into extending CR 1300N over to Ind. 15. Getting all this done for the creation of a TIF is what we call making the project '...right before shovel ready'. And, we can do this with minimal tax dollars and minimal investment by the property owner."
Robertson also said that having a rail line adjacent to the land is also a major factor in its desirability and makes the site a focus for KEDCo.
The council approved the Milford Economic Redevelopment Commission, with assistance from town attorney Jay Rigdon, to develop and present a proposal before the county.
Miotto approached the council for a pay increase for Lt. Tim Miller.
In May 2009, Miller was promoted to his new rank, but the appropriate pay increase was not put in place at that time. The council approved a $500 increase Monday, making Miller's salary $40,087.52.
In other police business, Miotto stated that beginning today, handgun registration can now be done online at www.aries.in.gov/Firearms/Permit.aspx
However, not all counties in the state are part of the program, and background checks and fingerprinting will still be done at local police stations.
The council approved the following expenses for the utilities department: $5,100 for a new sewer jet pump, to be purchased from the village of Eau Clair, Mich.; $31,599 for new generators from Kemp Electric; $617.25 for a pump; and $2,953.75 for an underground locator.
Utilities department personnel Randy Veach and Steve Marquart were approved to attend the American Water Works Association workshop/convention in Indianapolis Feb. 22-24.
Ordinance 2011-2, setting appointments for town officials, and Ordinance 2011-3, authorizing a transfer of funds, were approved. The year's first ordinance, 2011-1, setting salaries, was tabled until next month so details concerning months expense stipends could be worked out.
The town entered into new contracts for 2011 with the fire department and with the Multi-Township EMS service.
The accounts payable voucher register was approved with one addition.
Milford council members are Cockburn, Douglas Ruch and Hurd.
