MILFORD — Kosciusko County Emergency Medical Services representative Scott Sigerfoos was on hand at Milford’s Town Council meeting Monday evening, Oct. 12, to address concerns about slow response times.

Sigerfoos’ presence was in response to a request by the council to appear after Milford citizens reported having to wait too long for an ambulance. At September’s meeting, a citizen described holding an injured man’s head for nearly 20 minutes waiting for assistance. The council had also heard allegations Milford’s truck was too often being utilized for non-emergency transfers.

Sigerfoos admitted September was a “brutal month” and presented a graph showing response times rose from a 5.78 minute average from January to July to a 6.38 average in August and September. In fact, there have been 556 more runs this year than at this time in 2014.

While Sigerfoos denied Milford was ever exclusively used for transfers, he did state the transfer process was changed, which, he said, “had a huge impact last month.” So far, in October, the average response time is 2.7 minutes, with 90 percent of runs arriving in 4.2 minutes. In September, 90 percent of runs arrived within 13.6 minutes with an average of 6.23.

KCEMS is “on the cusp of adding another truck,” Sigerfoos explained, but has found it too expensive to do so.

Other items on the Milford Town Council agenda were as follows:

The council passed a motion authorizing the advertisement of a hearing on the proposed implementation of the water rate hike. The council hopes to implement one raise rather than two or three installments. “You can phase in if necessary,” advised Town Attorney Jay Rigdon. The hearing will take place at the next town council meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 9.

The council also passed a motion approving the 2016 budget.

Ryan Brauen and Aaron Hutton of Wessler Engineers were present to discuss Milford’s wastewater plant permit. The plant is not compliant with new Indiana Department of Environmental Management rules regarding the discharge of phosphorous. The plant discharges about 7 milligrams per liter of phosphorous and needs to get the number down to 1. This will require significant changes Brauen stated will cost “easily $100,000 or more.”

The plant must be in compliance by 2019, with construction starting within 28 months.

Wessler will submit a report within six months to address the phosphorous issue as well as other recommended improvements such as possibly replacing chlorine with ultraviolet light as a disinfectant and using more efficient pumps. Utilities Superintendent Randy Veach hopes to “extend plant life” through such improvements. Wessler’s fee is $31,500.

The council passed a motion to contact a potential candidate for the position of building commissioner. Also, Ken Brower, building inspector, issued 16 letters to the owners of properties in need of improvements.

Lisa Frazetta-Manning of Frazetta Financial Services presented the council with a quote for an alternative employee health plan from Anthem Inc. It differs from the town’s United Health Care plan in that it offers an “imbedded deductible.” Whichever plan the town chooses, it faces an increase of more than 10 percent in costs. The council tabled the decision as member Doug Ruch was absent in expectation of the birth of a grandchild.

In town clerk reports, a motion was passed approving $190 plus mileage for training in Middlebury and Wabash.