Milford Awarded Community Crossing Grant
MILFORD — Milford Town Council spent much of its Monday, Nov. 12, public meeting dealing with end-of-the-year issues, which included town employees’ 2019 health insurance plan. With the absence of Doug Ruch, council president, members also chose to postpone discussion of wastewater rates.
Street Superintendent Steven Marquart also informed the council of Milford’s inclusion among recipients of Community Crossing grants on a state website. The next morning, he received the official letter indicating the town received $117,643.05, approximately $70,000 less than the amount requested.
Plans for the grant include surfacing and painting on Old SR 15 from Syracuse Street to CR 1300N, South Main Street from Section Street to CR 1150N, West Street from Fourth Street to Catherine Street and West Street from Catherine Street to Emeline Street. However, Marquart said, “We may have to cut some streets out.”
Marquart hopes to have a contract signed before the end of the year, so the $65,000 currently available for the project can be encumbered into 2019 along with the grant funds. The council passed a motion to start accepting bids.
Lisa Frazzetta-Manning of Frazzetta Financial Services presented the council with options for town employees’ health insurance plans. A renewal of the current plan, through Anthem, would mean a 3.99 percent increase. She also presented an alternate option with a lower maximum out-of-pocket cost, $5,200 compared to $5,600 for an individual.
The “rude reality,” Frazzetta-Manning commented, is deductibles have increased and attention has shifted to keeping maximum costs down. Overall, “it’s a good renewal,” she said, especially when compared to others she has seen. One group rate increase was 60 percent.
The council tabled the vote until employees had a chance to review their options.
Also during public input, resident Jay Urbin expressed his frustration the town was able to remove trees along SR 15, but remains unable to remove a dead tree on property owned by Ron Davidhizar threatening neighbors’ property. Statutes make the town responsible for state highways only.
For more than a year, Urbin has tried to have the tree removed. Letters and phone calls from Urbin and the town have yielded nothing. “He told me I can’t tell him what to do to the tree,” Marquart said.
In police reports, Town Marshal Travis Marsh told the council his department has been “swamped” this fall with nine felony investigations currently underway.
The council passed a motion to appropriate $4,399 for new 800 megahertz radios. The unreliability of the current ones, he said is a “safety issue.”
Three new Breathalyzers were also purchased at a cost of $1,275, one of which will go to Milford School to assist the school resource officer in the event of an inebriated parent, visitor or student.
In utilities reports, Marquart said the town’s 2007 dump truck was damaged in an accident at the Lowell’s loading dock, resulting in $3,084 in damages. The council also approved $1944.78 for 12 new tires for two trucks.
Motions passed appropriating $1,450 to fix a service line leak at 404 W. Catherine St., $836.16 for a new picnic table at Waubee Lake Park, $1,378 for a new office computer and $8,800 for a mower.
The Milford employee Christmas party will take place at Lizards Bar and Restaurant in Milford at a cost of $1,512.
The town will likely adopt Kosciusko County Health Department’s trash ordinance, enabling more county assistance in dealing with violators.
Mark Brubaker, wastewater plant manager, reported a walk through of plant renovations will take place Nov. 15 with employees of Wessler Engineering and Mason Engineering, marking the near completion of the project.