MILFORD – Town Councilman Doug Ruch expressed concern during a budget hearing at the regular meeting Monday that another town may have the money Milford was forced to cut. Council held a public hearing for the 2016 budget, a total of $1.58 million that represents a loss of about $100,000 from the current allotment. Much of that was taken from the general fund, which dropped from $707,000 to $661,000, and motor vehicle highway, a drop from $337,000 to $269,000. Ruch said he wondered why the town was required to cut by a significant amount but the county was not. “Hypothetically – not all of our funding comes from the county, but a certain percentage does – so my concern is, somebody else has our money,” he remarked. “If they tell us to cut, cut, cut, then somebody else gets, gets, gets.” Council also addressed concerns with Lutheran EMS Kosciusko’s response time to Milford, after hearing that the wait was sometimes as long as 20 minutes despite the service having an ambulance stationed in town. That ambulance is the one often used to transport patients out of the area because it has the lowest call volume, Police Chief Rich Miotto said, but that results in ambulances from neighboring towns sometimes responding to Milford quicker. During one serious accident recently, he noted, “Nappanee got there first. It should have been Milford.” Ruch suggested drafting a letter expressing this concern to Lutheran EMS and “have them come and explain themselves,” and the other councilmen agreed. Council also discussed but took no action on the issue of renters skipping out on their utility bills, leaving property owners stuck with them. The town has on occasion let up to four months pass before shutting off services for nonpayment, meaning the bills for property owners only get higher, but the clerk’s office is now trying to be more timely with shutoffs, council heard. In other business Monday, council: • Heard an update from Ken Brower, town-contracted building inspector, on more than a dozen properties that will be sent notices to repair or remove identified problems. Most will be given 30 to 60 days to comply. • Heard an update on the town study from the Troyer Group, including rough cost estimates ranging from $600,000 to $5.5 million depending on whether they decide to renovate or build new to house town services. The group will present next month on the estimated amount of land needed for a joint police-fire building, so the town can begin considering locations, as well as information on funding. • Voted to contract with Sweetheimer Trash Removal to provide bins for spring cleanup. At $400 each the bins are $50 more expensive than usual, but they will accept everything except wet paint and tires. Cleanup is Sept. 24, 25 and a half-day the 26th. • Heard from Miotto that the department received $3,417 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance toward the purchase of ballistic vests. He also presented a complaint form, modeled after the one used by Michigan State Police, that will be available in town hall, though he noted he’s never had any specific complaints about any officers. • Approved the purchase of new tires for the utility department’s one-ton truck at $930, and the donation of $400 from the boat launch fund to the Waubee Lake Association for fish restocking. • Set town trick-or-treat hours for Oct. 31 from 4 to 6 p.m.
