Milford Town Clerk Tricia Gall, left, swears in Richard Miotto, former Milford police chief, who rejoins the department on a part-time basis as an investigator. (Photo by David Hazledine)

MILFORD — Milford Town Council responded to recent mass shooting events with the approval of the purchase of 12 active shooter response kits at its monthly public meeting Monday, Aug. 12.

The response kits, requested by Police Chief Derek Kreider during police reports, include ballistic plate carriers capable of stopping high-powered rifle rounds, which hold combat gauze, tourniquets and emergency bandages, carried on the officers’ back, where they are easily accessed from behind in the event they must administer aid.

In addition to the kits, Tim Miller, Milford School resource officer, will receive a new firearm.

Councilmember Ken Long noted the price differences in Kreider’s requests, which Kreider indicated were the result of a rise in prices due to demand. In the weeks after the El Paso and Dayton events, he said, “prices shot through the roof.” The council approved the purchase at a cost of $17,810.

The council also approved $7,404 for the outfitting of a new Dodge Durango, $1,186 more than originally approved. An in-car computer will be installed soon, said Kreider. Additionally, the department has received one light imaging detection and ranging system and two Python radars, the latter of which was purchased with a grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

Milford Town Council named Kenneth Long, center, vice-president, a position which has remained vacant since the resignation of Joellen Free in May. At left is Tricia Gall, town clerk; Milford council member Bob Cockburn is at right. (Photo by David Hazledine)

The meeting also saw two notable personnel decisions. Long, a recent addition to the council, was named vice-president, and Rich Miotto, a former town marshal who retired in 2017, rejoined the police department as a part-time investigator.

Long fills the vice-president position vacated by Joellen Free, who resigned from the council in May 2019.

Miotto was sworn-in by Town Clerk Tricia Gall, following a request by Kreider that the council re-hire the former chief, citing Miotto’s 25 years of experience and knowledge of the community. According to Kreider, Miotto will handle major burglaries and thefts, sexual assaults and other serious crimes.

“It’s a good idea,” observed Long, “He knows the town.”

During the town attorney report, Jay Rigdon informed the council he has not been in contact with Ron Davidhizar regarding condemned properties he owns in Milford. Davidhizar’s attorney, said Rigdon, has chosen to use the court system to “attack the procedures used,” rather than initiate any negotiations with the town.

Rigdon also told the council he could take cases of unpaid parking tickets to the lower courts in the same way a prosecutor does.

In the matter of water bills brought up at the July meeting, Rigdon affirmed landlords could increase deposits based on the number of shutoffs a tenant has accrued.

Also, new legislation permits the town to develop a process for providing services based on creditworthiness; however, the criteria must be the same for tenants and homeowners.

After hearing presentations from both Fort Wayne-based ONI Risk Partners and Warsaw’s Hall & Marose Silveus Insurance Agency, the council voted to continue receiving its coverage from the locally-owned Hall & Marose at a cost of $26,938. However, ONI’s Alex Dickman’s comments about cyber-security did spur Long and the council to request Eric Merley of Hall & Marose to procure the town $1 million in cyber coverage, which was not previously available in Milford’s plan.

During wastewater reports, the council struggled with how to shuffle money from various funds to pay for a much-needed return activated sludge pump with an additional impeller at the treatment plant. The council approved the work at a total of $17,389.

During street reports, the council approved the fall clean-up to take place Sept. 26-28.

The council also approved $17,958 for patching up sections of road remaining unpaved from previous construction.

Another $29,239 was approved to cover work completed by Beer and Slabaugh on water lines and hydrants. Milford Redevelopment agreed to contribute $7,000 for work done in its TIF district.

The spending of $1,469 was approved for yearly inspection of chlorine injectors by Living Waters.

The spending of $7,911 was approved for iron bacteria treatment of wells, which included inspection of a valve leak.

The council also approved signage at Waubee Lake Park specifying three spaces for vehicles with water craft at the boat launch.

Gall also sought the council’s approval for $16,000 in extra amounts to the town budget after bringing Milford’s tax levy to the maximum amount. President Doug Ruch thanked Gall for “looking out for Milford’s best interests.”

The spending of $6,600 was approved for upgrades to Milford’s Keystone budget software.