Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD -ÊThe Milford Town Council has waited six months for a report on two substandard properties; their patience is growing thin.
The board will give the current inspector and building commissioner until the next meeting to file a report on the properties or the board will have them replaced.
"Before we get rid of what we have, I think we need to find someone who wants it," said board member Gary Hurd. "We need something in writing by the next meeting, either a report or their resignations."
Harry Doty is the inspector and Joe Shetler serves as commissioner. Both were asked by the board nearly six months ago to check on two properties in the town, one on Emaline Street and one on West Street.Ê
Both properties have received multiple complaints from townspeople and the board believes both are unsafe, even to pedestrians.
The board stopped short of removing Doty and Shetler at the meeting as they were advised by town attorney Jay Rigdon that they could replace them immediately if they had someone else in place.
Hurd recommended the current inspector and commissioner be given one more opportunity. "If they're interested in the position they have, then let's give them a chance," he said.
The board also discussed the parking problem the town has on Sundays near Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. They have received several complaints of parishioners parking on private property and blocking hydrants. Warning tickets have been issued, but many townspeople reported that they were thrown away and ignored.
The board chose to have an officer patrol the area on Main Street around the church and instruct people not to park in front of hydrants or private property.
"We need to have an officer there to patrol the area and ask people to move or write tickets. The fire hydrant thing bothers me," Hurd said.
Thing are progressing at the new wastewater treatment plant as water commissioner Dallas Winchester reported that the plant will be operational soon. "We should be up and running soon," Winchester said, stopping short of setting a hard and fast date for the operation of the plant.
At a previous meeting, Winchester had reported some trouble with the plant and the process and the board asked him to comment on where they are now.
"Things have been slow, but you don't want to point the finger at anybody," he said. "I haven't been happy with them (contractors) for a long time, but it's going to be a great facility."
To get the plant fully operational, the board had to accept two bids for work still to be completed - one bid for electrical and another for concrete work.
The Milford Town Council meets the second Tuesday of every month.
