Milford Council At A Stalemate On Water Rate Hike
MILFORD – Milford’s Town Council missed President Bob Cockburn at the Monday, Nov. 9, meeting. Cockburn, whose wife was in the hospital, may have been able to break a deadlock between members Dan Cochran and Doug Ruch.
At issue was the best way to implement a raise in the town’s water rate. The council unanimously agreed to the raise in August to cost the average user $11 per month, but Cochran’s motion to raise the rate immediately was denied a second by Ruch. Ruch’s motion, to implement the raise slowly during three years was, likewise, denied a second by Cochran.
During public comments, Milford resident Mike Minnick expressed his displeasure with the rate hike, citing stagnant Social Security payments and a recent NIPSCO letter also announcing raises. But his assertion the town’s water service was “a joke” met with Cochran’s rejoinder that “We can’t fix it if we don’t have the money.”
“You’ve got to take care of infrastructure,” Cochran argued. “We’ve had the lowest water rates in the entire area for some time.”
The council tabled the rate increase until December’s meeting.
Another apparent stalemate came in a discussion with Kevin Biggs of Ideal Suburban Homes. Biggs is hoping to move forward with the final stage of the North Park development in Milford consisting of nine homes.
But Utilities Superintendent Randy Veach and the town of Milford require proposed sewer lines to have a minimum of 36 inches of cover to avoid electric and gas lines. Current plans have the sewer pipe at 30 inches. The town would also like a lift station constructed to avoid sewer laterals cutting across property owners’ lots.
Biggs, whose father began the development in 2003, made it clear the construction of a lift station would render the development financially unfeasible. “It pushes the lot cost to where it exceeds market value,” he explained.
So far, Kevin McDermott, Lockheed and Associates engineer designing the system, has presented two proposals for the sewage lines. If the third is rejected by the town, the North Park development most likely will end nine houses short of its goal.
In other business:
- Moving forward with its commitment to removing unsafe buildings in town, the council passed a motion to name Tom Bulger building commissioner. Bulger will oversee hearings, many dealing with the removal of buildings deemed unsafe by Ken Brower, Milford’s building inspector. Bulger will work closely with Town Attorney Jay Rigdon.
- Brower reported of the notices issued so far, there are two buildings “we’re able to remove.”
According to Cochran, a building at 310 N. Higbee St. is “coming down as we speak.” - During utilities reports, a motion was passed to allow the expenditure of $31,500 for a study on phosphorous removal by Wessler Engineering. The engineering data study is in response to new regulations passed by the state. Milford must have a plan in place by Aug. 1, 2016.
- The council also passed a motion to allow “customary expenses” for continuing education training for utilities employees.
Another motion was passed to renew the town’s health plan for its employees. The renewal means an additional $1,000 per month. - The council tabled a vote on town employee raises.
- During police reports, a motion was passed to renew interlocal data services for $500.