Milford has been selected as the site for a new Verizon tower, to be constructed at the sewer plant. The town will receive $1,000 each month as part of a five-year contract.

Council members at their Monday meeting noted access concerns at the site have already been addressed prior to approving the contract pending a reading of it by town attorney Jay Rigdon.

Several utility department needs were addressed by the council, including the rebuilding of three 10-year-old pumps at the sewer plant. The pumps run 24/7 and are important to operations at the plant. Utilities Superintendent Randy Veach noted bearings are going out on the pumps and they are leaking water or coolant.

After discussion of placing the pump on a maintenance rotation to alleviate routine costs, council members approved the rebuild of three pumps to not exceed $8,000.

Also approved for the utility department was the purchase of an ammonium probe, not to exceed $535, and E. coli testing equipment to not exceed $600. The E. coli testing equipment will be factored in as a yearly expense from now on.

Both Milford Fire Chief Todd Haines and Town Marshal Rich Miotto publicly thanked individuals, such as Veach, the street department employees, and Joellen Free and Shanna Maust who helped during the Medina fire by directing traffic and bringing coffee and water to emergency personnel.

Council president Robert Cockburn added to that, stating, “I think that’s what makes this town as great as it is, everyone pitches in.”

Council member Dan Cochran asked about the origin of the large barricades used during the fire. Veach thought they had been dropped off by the state. The town currently has nothing like them, but Miotto stated from a safety perspective it would be nice to have some if a similar situation were to occur.

Veach estimated the cost of similar barricades at roughly $360. Cochran stated purchasing similar barricades would be something to look into.

While on the topic of the fire, Miotto noted, as always, the department is looking at what occurred during the incident and what could be improved in a similar situation. It was noted the town hopes to complete drills with Kinder Morgan and Trupointe to prepare for possible emergency situations.

In other town news:

• The town accepted a bid of $5,892.86 from Beyond Landscaping to completely redo the area around the flag poles at Waubee Lake Park, currently in disrepair with rotting timbers. Bid includes reconstructing the current mound; the hope is to make it more maintenance free.

• A bid from Lake City Builders for four new windows at the fire department was approved.

• Milford residents are still being asked leave their water running. Veach noted it will get worse before it gets better with the warm days and cool nights pushing the frost line further down. Residents are also reminded to contact Free at town hall to receive credit on their water bills.

• Town council will be taking the purchase of a biowaste meter and sampler to the Milford Redevelopment Commission to see if they can get funding help.

• The council recognized the yearly abatement report from LMA-HUF Development LLC.

Next town council meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, April 14, at town hall.