Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall, left, and Renda Loetz explain to the Milford Town Council that Wawasee Community School Corporation will have a table at Food Truck Friday, June 21. The school is interested in building a public park area on its land and would like to know what residents want to see. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

By Lilli Dwyer
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall announced the First Food Truck Friday of the year will take place Friday, June 21 at the Milford Town Council’s meeting Monday, June 10. The council approved street closures starting at 2 p.m. that day for the event.

Gall mentioned Wawasee Community School Corporation will have a table at Food Truck Friday for public input on a community park area.

“When they build the new elementary school here in Milford, they will be building over the ball diamonds. So, they are looking at creating a community park area to the northwest of where the school’s located. … They’re looking at putting a ball field there and possibly some other things like pickleball, basketball. … We just want to make sure we get public input as to what people want to see,” said Gall.

Milford Food Bank asked for a variance in order to build a new commercial building at zero feet from the north right of way, 10 feet from the west property line, 10 feet from the south property line and 11 feet from the east right of way. The council ruled they had no objections.

Maple Leaf Farms gave notice to the council that it has applied to the solid waste section of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to modify their current land application permit. Comments regarding the application can be submitted until Friday, June 21. No comments were made at the meeting.

Police Marshal Derek Kreider announced the resignation of officer R.J. Plummer, who will be moving on to the Syracuse Police Department after Friday, June 14. The council approved the hiring of Allie Slone for a full-time officer position starting Sunday, June 16. Slone was sworn in at the April town council meeting and recently graduated from the Kosciusko County Reserve Academy. She will go on to a field training program and attend the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy next year. The council also passed a deputy marshal salary ordinance for Slone’s pay.

In wastewater news, the lift station upgrades discussed at last month’s meeting should be getting underway soon.

In stormwater news, the residents with a fence post through the waterline have received a letter and will inquire to the county about how far from the easement their fence needs to be. The removal [process should start soon, according to Superintendent Steven Marquart.

For the water department, Commonwealth Engineers will soon be sending out mailers to residents asking them to identify their waterlines as part of the lead line identification and replacement process.

Well No. 3 has been pulled for inspection and repair and should be reinstalled within the next week. The repairs are being completed by Peerless-Midwest free of charge.

As for the parks department, tree removal in the park and tree trimming in alleyways has been completed. The department is currently looking into new trees to replace those removed. Lifeguards should be be on duty soon, potentially by the weekend.

Marquart is also going to be talking to the Department of Natural Resources about shoreline erosion on Waubee Lake.

“We have a shoreline erosion problem by the boat ramp. In the 23 or 24 years I’ve worked here, we’ve probably lost about 15 feet of shore,” said Marquart. In the past, aquatic weeds have been used to mitigate erosion, but the department is now interested in placing large rocks on the shoreline.

In street news, Marquart urged residents to keep an eye out for town employees on the streets, as curb and crosswalk painting will be starting soon. He also asked that they leave location flags in the ground as fiber optic cable installation continues around town.

Marquart asked the council for permission to seek schooling for town employee Angela Heltzel for a water treatment and distribution license. The council asked that Marquart do more research on class structure and whether or not the town would need to pay travel time before coming back to the council.

Vice president Ken Long stated there is an approximately $800 to $1,000 cost for the class and $500 for textbooks and class materials. Marquart noted that it will most likely be an online class, negating travel time, and that this schooling had been factored into the yearly budget.

There was no news from the fire department this month.

Gall had some updates from the clerk’s office. Milford is not currently accepting trash service bids, so Sweetheimer Trash Removal has agreed to renew their service for another three months at no additional cost. The current cost is $5,123.36 per month.

The council approved closing the town hall for Independence Day Thursday, July 4.

Lastly, Gall updated the council on the downtown master plan. The plan committee received statements of qualification from six firms who are interested in doing a master study for Milford’s downtown revitalization plan. The committee will ask for approval on their chosen candidate at the next meeting, after which they can accept bids for the cost of the study.

The town will start advertising for bids for water meter replacement and installation on Wednesday, June 12.

The next Milford Town Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, July 8.