Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD -ÊWith no remonstrators present, the Milford Town Council approved two ordinances Monday to increase water and wastewater rates for the town.
The water rate will increase approximately 15 percent and wastewater will increase 7.5 percent.
In addition, the council approved an additional appropriation of $21,050; $18,050 will help pay for the salary and benefits of a new police officer and $3,000 will go toward maintenance and repair work for the park department.
In other business:
• Attorneys representing neighbors Harry Doty and Maria Lozanos told the council the two neighbors want to vacate an alley, which is near Turkey Creek Drive. The attorneys asked for the council's input before they began the formal procedure of vacating the road.
Utilities commissioner Dallas Winchester said he could see some future use for the alley for utilities.
Councilman Bob Phillips said vacating the alley wouldn't be a problem if the town could maintain some easement rights, which town attorney Jay Rigdon said the town could do.
"I've never been out to look at it personally," said council president John Lehman. He said he would like to look at the property before any decision is made.
No decision was made Monday night, however, as the attorneys were seeking only an advisory opinion.
Rigdon said if towns have no purpose for an alley, the general consensus is usually to get rid of them.
• Bids were accepted for the town's John Deere mower. The highest bid was by Darrell Hicks, who bid $2,710. Other bids ranged from $1,601 to $2,505.
• Councilman Douglas Ruch reported the town's new tornado siren is in place. One piece of circuitry is needed to be hooked up and then the siren should be operational.
He also reported a CPR class will be offered in October by the EMS. The EMS also is seeking a $20,000 grant from the K21 Foundation for new defibrillators.
• Kenneth Pearson was approved as a new reserve deputy for the Milford police department.
• Town marshal Dave Hobbs said that with school beginning Aug. 23, the police department will be running radar in school zones. Vehicles should slow down and observe all school signs. "We will be enforcing those," he said.
• Winchester reported the water tower painting is finished and the systems for the tower are up and running.
He also said fall cleanup is Sept. 20-21 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A request by Winchester for a maximum of $4,200 for a minimum of eight trash receptacles for downtown Milford was approved.
The council approved $7,011 for Winchester to purchase an assembly for a wastewater pump from R.A. Mueller Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Clerk-treasurer Charlotte Siegfried reported the town's fire rating was reduced from an eight to a six. Winchester said with the new rating, all people in Milford should contact their insurance company for possible savings on their insurance.
• The town council will meet at noon Aug. 27 for a public hearing on the 2002 budget.
A pre-adoption budget hearing will be Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. The regular meeting will follow at 7 p.m.
Members of the town council are president John Lehman, Douglas Ruch and Bob Phillips. They meet on the second Monday of every month in the town hall.
