Construction on Milford’s wastewater treatment plant is expected to begin as early as March, 2018.

MILFORD — The Milford Town Council held an unusually short and sparsely attended public meeting Monday, Aug. 14, where it heard good and bad news about the upcoming wastewater treatment plant renovation. The good news, according to Ryan Brauen, Wessler Engineering project manager, is the construction permit was received Aug. 9 from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the project is ahead of schedule. The bad news is Wessler’s bill will be $17,500 more than expected.

Brauen informed the council Wessler underestimated the cost of reincorporating a building back into the project. “It sounded simpler than we thought,” he stated. As a result, Wessler’s fee for the design and permitting phase will come to $115,500, which, Brauen added, is about 19 percent of the total construction cost. Typically, he said, such fees run between 20 and 25 percent of the total.

The council voted to approve the amended design fee, which Wessler agreed would be rolled into the cost after the bidding phase and bond sale. “To keep the project going we need to pay it,” said council member Doug Ruch.

The project’s schedule moving forward will depend on the bond sale; however, Brauen tentatively expects bids to be awarded “toward the end of the year.”

When asked about bidding, Brauen described the current climate as “volatile,” but because the schedule gives contractors a wide window of time to complete construction — early March to August 2018 — he hopes bids will fall within the expected range.

Other agenda items are as follows:

Tom Bulger, Milford’s building inspector, completed a list of repairs and invoices needed for all five properties owned by Ron Davidhizar to be brought into compliance. According to Jay Rigdon, town attorney, some repairs such as extermination and sealing of buildings can be performed by the town.

An ordinance letter was also mailed to Milford Meadows Apartments, 602 W. Section St., which had been the subject of complaints from neighbors, said council member Bob Cockburn.

The council approved Bulger’s invoice, allowing up to $75 per inspection.

During police reports, Town Marshal Travis Marsh informed the council new deputy Brandon Shipp was accepted to the academy for training. The council approved Shipp’s salary of $39,000 plus benefits after 90 days.

Marsh also reported the town’s new radar sign would be operational soon, with its first placement being the northbound side of SR 15.

With Milford Elementary in session, there will be increased traffic enforcement of school zones, said Marsh, who urged drivers to be aware of these zones to avoid fines.

With the department’s pistol transition complete, the council voted to allow the sale of surplus firearms to town employees only.

During streets and utilities reports, the council approved an amendment to Superintendent Steven Marquart’s salary.

Marquart informed the council the Milford water tower renovation is complete.

The council also approved the 2017 fall clean-up, which will take place Sept. 21, 22, 23. Town employees will be available to help unload at 600 N. Main St. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 21, 22; 8 to 11:30 a.m., Sept. 23.

Items not accepted include TVs, computers, tires on rims, anything containing freon or other hazardous wastes and wet paint. Paint in cans must be hard and dry.

The council voted to purchase a new effluent pump at a cost of $800.

Finally, Clerk-Treasurer Joellen Free gave the 2018 budget of $1,640,155 a second reading. A public hearing on the budget will be held at the Sept. 11 meeting.