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MILFORD - A public hearing was held on the proposed $2.4 million budget at the start of Monday’s Milford Town Council meeting.
While there were a number of people present at the meeting, no one spoke for or against the budget. Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall said the budget was posted on the door of the community building and also online (at www.budgetnotice.in.gov). She said they were asking for a 4% increase to the levy, the maximum amount allowed. She said the maximum estimated funds to be raised (including appeals and levies exempt from the maximum levy limitations) amount is $875,618.
The total budget is $2,423,303 — including $1,028,483 in the general fund, $50,000 local roads and streets, and $349,370 in the motor vehicle highway fund. The cumulative capital development fund amount is $100,000, Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) is $500,000 and Redevelopment Capital fund is $255,450. The advertised estimate tax rate is $1.1634. The proposed budget is a little less than the 2025 budget, which was $2,459,989, and the estimated tax rate was $1.24 per $100 of assessed value.
After the meeting, Gall said, “Most things stayed the same or were cut.” She said there’s a 2% increase in employees’ salaries. The clerk’s budget went up for hydrant fees and projected trash increases. General insurance went up 16%, according to Gall.
The budget will be adopted at the Oct. 14 meeting - a change from the usual second Monday due to the Columbus Day holiday.
Fourth Street Crossing Improvement
Ron Baumgartner and Katie Hurley came to the council regarding the beautification they want to make to the Fourth Street railroad crossing.
Baumgartner said they had 6 tons of soil delivered, three tons for one side and three tons for the other side. He said if they can agree on the plantings, they can move forward.
Hurley said at the last meeting they suggested Rose of Sharon or Burning Bush and was told by Beth Johnson of USI Consulting that both were invasive species, and the council didn’t want to approve invasive species.
Hurley said she spoke to someone in the division of plant entomology in the Department of Natural Resources and he explained that there are two lists of invasive species in Indiana. One is an invasive species list that is an advisory list, but is not prohibited or regulated. The other list has to do with terrestrial plants and aquatic plants, and he said that Rose of Sharon is not on either list and Burning Bush is listed as high risk, but is not prohibited or regulated.
“Neither are on a list that says you can’t or shouldn’t plant them,” Hurley said.
Councilman Ken Long asked if Johnson sent them a list of native plants and Hurley said she did, “but none of them were very attractive for what we’re trying to do — we’re trying to beautify an area.”
Long said he was still a no on Rose of Sharon because they spread like crazy. He said he wished he could’ve seen some of the native species’ options.
The council was less concerned about the Burning Bush, but Councilman Jim Smiley expressed concern about labor after the year Baumgartner turns maintenance over to the town.
Baumgartner and Hurley said they have Burning Bushes and they usually just require a once-a-year trimming. They would plant 10 bushes with Day Lillies in front of them. Council President Doug Ruche thought they could handle maintenance of 10 bushes once a year. Long liked that Day Lilies would be good for pollinators like bees. The council gave their blessing for the planting of the Burning Bushes and Day Lillies.
Waubee Lake Association
Members of the Waubee Lake Association were present, and they brought a proposal to paint the concession stand. They offered to provide the labor if the town would pay for the paint for the concession stand.
Dennise Leismer said she received an estimate of about $75 a gallon for mid-range paint and she figured they’d need three gallons for the exterior walls, 2 gallons for the interior walls, which would be white, and 1 gallon for trim for a total of $450.
Utility, Parks and Streets Superintendent Steven Marquart said the town has an account with a Sherwin Williams paint store and would most likely get a discount. Leismer said of the paint choices of shades of blues, “We wanted something that looked lake-y and that would stand out.”
After several attempts at a motion, Smiley made a motion to allow up to $600 including all paint and supplies for the Waubee Lake Association to paint the concession stand.
Other public comments came from Christa and Robert Leclitner, 410 W. Section St., who spoke to the council about poor water pressure and rust in the water.
Long said, “That’s why we’re making the investment and spending the money on building a water treatment plant, the water that’s coming out of the ground is full of iron.”
Marquart said he’d contact them to set up an appointment to check it out and flush their lines.
The new library director, Karl Stutzman, came to check out the meeting and said he “hoped to work with them to continue making Milford a nice town with nice people.”
Pay Application Approved
Ryan LaReau, of Commonwealth Engineers, was present seeking approval for a pay application on the water treatment plant Division A and water main replacement Division B projects. He updated the council, saying Division A should start Oct. 6 with Division B starting mid-late October. He said the pay application was for Division A and included items like insurance, bonding and other costs in the amount of $16,938.50 to R Yoder Construction.
Smiley asked if it was part of the original agreement amount or if it was extra. LaReau said it was part of the original agreement, and they should expect to receive monthly pay applications. The board approved the pay application.
Department Reports
Town Marshal Thomas Waikel said residents were asking about speed limit signs in North Park subdivision, stating that the speed is 20 mph and he said Gall asked town attorney Jay Rigdon to prepare an ordinance. He said they needed one or two on Jeremy and one on Eastfield. He also informed the council that the lighted speed enforcement signs have a lot of useful information like number of cars traveling the road, etc.
Long said he and Smiley attended the graduation ceremony from the police academy of two of Milford’s police officers. He shared that 159 graduated and most were under 30 years of age. He said the ceremony was very moving to him and he wanted to thank the officers. They had a hard job and were often underappreciated.
For the Wastewater Department, Marquart suggested planting wildflowers at the old sewer ponds. He said it would look beautiful and also help the pollinators. The council liked that idea.
He reported that things are slowing down for the parks department, but they would keep the pier out there until most of the boats are removed — probably until mid-late October. He said the signs were removed from the concession stand and they would power wash the building so they volunteers could paint.
Clerk-Treasurer Report
Gall had several items, including getting the council’s approval to move forward on plans to make town hall more secure and inviting. She gave the council three options but said she preferred expanding a lobby area with a service window where customers could pay their bills. If they need to connect with the town marshal or Marquart, they could wait in the lobby where there would be chairs for them.
She said currently the entrance into the clerk’s office is not very big and people in wheelchairs and others really struggle navigating inside. She said they’d take out a wall where the deputy clerk’s desk is and remove the very large counter that would no longer be necessary to give the clerks more room in the office.
Long asked the public that were still present what they thought, and they liked the idea of having a comfortable lobby. The council gave their blessing for her to pursue developing plans and getting several quotes from contractors.
The council also approved having her pursue other funding options for the trail project.
In other business, the council:
• Approved purchasing new scale chlorine cylinders from Living Waters at a cost of $4,865 installed.
• Approved paying EverPar $1,749.91 for radiator hoses.
• Heard the daycare roof work should start Oct. 1.
• Approved paying Peerless Midwest $7,120 to treat well #4. Marquart said treating the wells helps calm down the rust issue.
• Approved ordinance 2025-10 establishing a fund for the residential TIF district. A residential TIF was established last year for Eastfield, but they never set up a fund.
• Approved remaining with Anthem for medical insurance. There’s a 3% increase making the monthly cost $14,365.97.
• Approved utility adjustments totaling $2,007.26.
Upcoming Events
• Fall clean-up for residents living in town only will be from Sept. 25-27.
• Chicken barbecue fundraiser for the fire department will be Sunday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $8.
• Hydrant flushing is on Oct. 8. Residents may notice temporary discoloration in their water.
