MILFORD — At the Sept. 10 meeting of the Milford Town Council, Ryan Brauen of Wessler Engineering informed the council renovations to the town’s wastewater plant are roughly two-thirds complete.

He cited two items impeding progress: The new return activated sludge pumps are clogging frequently; however, Brauen said a new impeller should fix the problem. Also, the Department of Homeland Security has not received all the paperwork it requires to sign off on design of a new building.

Brauen said the project should be completed “before the weather turns.”

In other utilities reports, Streets Superintendent Steven Marquart sent a commitment letter to the Department of Transportation detailing projects Milford hopes to complete using a Community Crossings Matching Grant. They include surfacing and painting on Old SR 15 from Syracuse Street to CR 1300 N, South Main Street from Section Street to CR 1150N, West Street from Fourth Street to Catherine Street and West Street from Catherine Street to Emeline Street.

The project’s total cost would be $253,041.47, with $189,781 paid by the grant, matching a $63,260.37 contribution from Milford. The town will learn if it receives the grant in November.

The council voted to approve the purchase of 12 water meter registers at a cost of $175 per register, half the number Marquart requested.

An extra $400 was approved to replace a service line at 208 N. Henry St. dating to the 1960s, bringing the total project to $900.

CEDIT funds will be used to update a water main on East Street between Catherine and Fourth streets at a cost of $38,310. “We have to do a little at a time,” said Marquart.

An ongoing dispute between a Milford resident and the town about tagged vehicles being towed from his James Street property surfaced again at the end of the meeting.

David Hernandez informed the council two vehicles were towed from his property while he was away due to medical problems, and over the years he has lost six trucks and 10 cars. Hernandez went on to claim he was “being attacked” and that the police “remove mine and no one else’s.” Hernandez also cited racial discrimination on the part of the council going back to the 1970s.

Town Marshal Travis Marsh assured Hernandez the town council had given “no direction” to law enforcement to target his vehicles, which were in clear violation of town ordinances. “That’s not the way our department operates,” he said.

Council President Doug Ruch told Hernandez that, while he could not speak for earlier councils, “race has not entered into any decision we’ve ever made, end of story.”

Following the meeting, Hernandez met with Marsh for further discussion, when he was informed the department tries to work with violators in similar situations.

In another ongoing dispute involving a property currently in violation of the town code, Jay Rigdon, town attorney, informed residents Jay Urbin and Ken Long a dead tree on property owned by Ron Davidhizar could not be removed by the town because it does not meet accepted definitions of “rank vegetation.” According to Urbin the tree is threatening adjacent properties, including his own, as well as power lines. The property is currently accruing fines.