Residents Speak Out About Rundown Houses At Meeting
Tom and Brenda Bulger were among a handful of residents who attended the Milford Town Council meeting Monday night in hopes of getting answers about what some see as a disturbing number of abandoned or neglected buildings in their neighborhoods.
The Bulgers share the corner of Fourth and West streets with a neglected house they watched burn in a fire in 1995. Since then, very little has been done with the property, which has a collapsed roof, broken windows and the couple has seen raccoons and possums moving freely within the building.
Town Marshal Rich Miotto presented the council with a report compiled by Officer Travis Marsh documenting 11 houses that may pose hazards to the public. “God forbid a child gets into one of these,” he commented.
Town Attorney Jay Rigdon informed the council the town ordinance gives the town power to impose fines and possibly foreclose “like a mortgage holder” in certain situations.
The council concluded the issue by calling it an “action item,” which will be revisited in coming meetings.
The council also held a swearing-in ceremony for three new reserve officers: Cody Ong, Angie Howard and Bryan Starr. A fourth new reserve officer, Samuel Fowler, was on his honeymoon and will be sworn in by Miotto.
In other police business, the council passed a motion allowing up to $5,000 to outfit the department’s new vehicle.
Town Attorney Jay Rigdon reported the town “won’t be in violation” of FEMA flood plain regulations. He also updated wastewater treatment codes and gave Utilities Superintendent Randy Veach a back flow limitation ordinance.
During public comment, the council heard again from Tim Wall of Troyer Group about the proposed $12,700 town study. The matter was again tabled. Dan Cochran said, “I want to review the study more.” The study will also be reviewed by Milford Redevelopment Commission.
Trisha Gall, Lions Club representative for Milford Fest 2015, presented the council with a number of requests pertaining to the event.
First, the council approved street closings, which will be the same as 2014. For more information see the Main Street column in this week’s The Mail-Journal.
Second, the council passed Garage Sale Ordinance 2015-4, which allows residents to hold garage sales during Milford Fest in addition to the three allowed per year. Gall added residents can pay $3 to be added to a map published in conjunction with the festival.
Next, the council passed a motion to spend $315 for eight portable restrooms. Two will be handicapped accessible.
The council also approved the use of the town’s electricity and the community building, which will be utilized by the Kiwanis Club in the morning and Lions Club in the afternoon.
Utilities Superintendent Randy Veach reported his department will be required to remove phosphorous by 2018. This will mean an additional 30-40 percent solid waste. The town currently pays approximately $4,600 per month to dispose solid waste. Wastewater Operator Mark Brubaker informed the council he would be studying nearby facilities that are already removing phosphorous.
The council also passed a motion allocating $2,187 for an LED lighting upgrade to the community building.
Lastly, member Doug Ruch suggested the council consider annexing part of the North Park neighborhood. The addition would improve Milford’s assessed evaluation in the future, which, Ruch reminded the council, is how the state determines Milford’s funding, which has seen recent cuts.