MILFORD — Milford Town Council discussed the emergency preparedness of its utilities at its monthly public meeting Monday, May, 9.

In of the absence of utilities superintendent Randy Veach, the council questioned Steve Marquart and Mark Brubaker at length about past failures of the notification system, alerting utilities personnel of power failures.

According to council president, Dan Cochran, a supervisory circuit was not functioning properly. During a cold snap last winter, thousands of gallons of water were lost during a power outage with personnel only discovering the problem later during a routine check. Power outages also affect the clarifiers, which prevent solid waste from reentering the environment.

Marquart said the night time notification system hasn’t worked properly “since I’ve worked here,” about 15 years. He added the atmospheric monitor at the well house goes back to 1984.

Attempts to get utilities back-up systems up to date are a crucial part of the emergency preparedness plan the town has been working on for the last year, overseen by Milford Police Lt. Travis Marsh, also currently acting as town marshal in Rich Miotto’s absence.

Cochran also suggested an on-site meeting between the fire and water departments to ensure both departments’ familiarity with the systems and develop a plan for dealing with emergencies such as chlorine leaks, which are highly dangerous and require self-contained breathing apparatuses.

The council passed a motion to enter into a preventative maintenance agreement with Everpar to service generators at the lifts, well head, wastewater plant and fire department at a cost of $2,855.

Milford Lions Club member, Patricia Gall, presented the council with Milford Fest updates. Signs will be posted the Monday before the festival to inform residents of the time and location of street closings.

Gall also stressed the importance of participation in the event. Forms for the cutie contest and talent shows are available at town hall and the Milford Public Library. Vendor applications are also available at those locations and on the Milford town website: www.milford-indiana.org. Those interested in being included on the town-wide garage sale map may also do so at town hall.

Relations between the Lions and the town clerk’s office have been strained by the town’s decision to have free calendar handouts for which they will offer advertising space. Calendars have also been used by the Lions as a fundraising tool, and tempers flared at a recent Lions Club meeting about what was seen as unnecessary competition until the topic was tabled, according to Gall.

Council member Doug Ruch commented he’d received calls from “probably 90 percent of the Lions Club” about the calendars.

Deputy clerk Shana Maust defended the town’s calendar, saying, “Not everybody gets the Lions calendar.”

Other agenda items at the May 9 meeting were as follows:

• Representatives of the Dekko Foundation will meet with the town May 25 to discuss paying the remaining $20,000 needed to purchase new playground equipment for Waubee Lake Park.

• A resident received assurances the owner of the 107 N. Henry property would receive a warning notice to cut down weeds and vegetation. “I’m tired of looking at it. It’s been four and a half years,” said the neighbor.

• Waubee Lake Park beach still needs lifeguards. The council passed a motion to provide portable toilets in the event a lifeguard is not hired.