MILFORD — The Monday, Oct. 8, meeting of the Milford Town Council kicked off with the swearing in of two new reserve officers to the Milford Police Department. Scott Anderson and Jon Brito will receive six to eight weeks of training before joining the force in a volunteer capacity. The reserve officers will come in handy, …read more.

MILFORD — Rising costs, higher than expected interest rates and lower than expected receipts are among the factors keeping Milford’s wastewater utilities operating at a projected deficit of nearly $75,000 per year, according to Ross Hagen of Umbaugh and Associates, who presented the findings of a wastewater rate study to the Milford Town Council at its …read more.

MILFORD — Milford Town Clerk Joellen Free gave the first reading of the 2019 budget at the July 9 meeting of the Milford Town Council. The budget of $1,854,188 is an 8 percent increase over 2018, after holding steady for three years. A second reading of the budget will take place at the Aug. 13 meeting, …read more.

MILFORD — Police Chief Travis Marsh presented the Milford Town Council with an overview of law enforcement activity at Waubee Lake Park in 2017 and plans for park security in the future at the council’s monthly public meeting Monday evening, April 9. The report comes after issues were raised during the March meeting about litter, …read more.

MILFORD — A situation of getting the cart before the horse was the case Monday evening, Dec. 11, at Milford Town Council meeting. A small group of Waubee Lake residents, led by Pam Dwyer, came before the council with numerous questions regarding potential sewer being provided by the town to Camp Mack. The discussion took …read more.

MILFORD — At its monthly meeting Monday evening, Nov. 13, the Milford Town Council voted to study the feasibility of providing sanitary service to Camp Alexander Mack at Waubee Lake. Ryan Brauen, an engineer with Wessler Engineering, the company overseeing Milford’s sewer plant upgrades, informed the council he would need data on Milford’s collection system …read more.

MILFORD — Milford Town Council held a special meeting Tuesday evening, Nov. 7, in which it voted to adopt ordinance 2017-10, authorizing the issuance of bonds to fund the federal and state mandated improvements to its wastewater treatment plant. Additionally, the ordinance authorizes the refunding of the 2004 bond issuance, which financed the plant’s construction. …read more.

MILFORD — The Milford Town Council held an unusually short and sparsely attended public meeting Monday, Aug. 14, where it heard good and bad news about the upcoming wastewater treatment plant renovation. The good news, according to Ryan Brauen, Wessler Engineering project manager, is the construction permit was received Aug. 9 from the Indiana Department …read more.

MILFORD — Milford Town Council held a special meeting Monday, June 26, to devise a formula for assessing costs to the town incurred in the foreclosure of properties. Though the formula will apply to all future foreclosures, the meeting was deemed necessary to expedite proceedings on five Milford properties owned by Ron Davidhizar, who has …read more.

MILFORD — Milford Town Council opened its monthly public meeting Monday, June 12, with continued discussion of how to proceed in the matter of unpaid fines on five properties owned by Ron Davidhizar. At the council’s May meeting, Jay Rigdon, town attorney, said the next step was to assess the costs and numbers and turn …read more.

MILFORD — Non-compliance on five properties owned by Ron Davidhizar will now have additional fines assessed, liens placed against the property and foreclosure action taken. The discussion was briefly held Monday evening during the May meeting of the Milford Town Council.

MILFORD — Ryan Brauen, Wessler Engineering, provided Milford Town Council an update on the wastewater treatment plant renovation project Monday evening, May 8, at the council’s May meeting.

MILFORD — Milford Town Council took another swing in its fight to rid the town of abandoned properties at its monthly meeting Monday evening, March 13. Town attorney Jay Rigdon informed the council fines will be levied against six properties in the amount of $2,500 if they are not brought into compliance within 45 days. …read more.

MILFORD — Abandoned houses and wastewater rate hikes were the primary topics of discussion at the Milford Town Council’s first public meeting of 2017. Ordinance 2017-2, which would raise residents wastewater bill by 16.34 percent, will be up for a public hearing and a vote at next month’s meeting 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13. One …read more.

MILFORD — Milford residents can expect a raise in their utility bills of at least $6 per month as early as March 2017, though no final decision has yet been reached by the town council. The increase comes at the recommendation of Umbaugh and Associates, hired last spring to explore options for financing upgrades to …read more.

Milford Town Council held a brief meeting Thursday, Oct. 6, to approve its 2017 budget. Previously, the town had advertised the budget and held a public hearing Sept. 12. A motion was made to pass the budget and the motion carried, with Doug Ruch abstaining. As a volunteer firefighter, Ruch was required to abstain due …read more.

  Milford Town Council again discussed railroad crossings at its monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 12. Derek Sublette of Norfolk Southern Railroad informed the council “the cost of a signal upgrade would be borne by the town.” The council had asked if the railroad might contribute. Sublette repeated the railroad’s offer of $19,500 to help pay …read more.

MILFORD — Milford’s town council meeting held Monday, Aug. 8, at town hall was supposed to include a representative of Norfolk Southern Railroad to field residents questions about the company’s offer to pay the town around $19,000 in exchange for the closure of one of Milford’s crossings, notably the unguarded crossing on Emeline Street. The …read more.

MILFORD — Milford Town Council is currently wrestling with how to bring its ailing utilities into compliance with new regulations by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. A preliminary report, presented at the monthly public meeting June 13, by Ryan Brown of Wessler Engineering, puts the cost of compliance at more than $1,200,000. IDEM’s regulations …read more.

MILFORD — The Milford Town Council voted to accept the resignation of Randy Veach from his position as utilities superintendent at a public town hall meeting, Thursday, May 26. Utilities department employee Steve Marquart will serve as temporary certified operator. In a letter, Veach wrote, “I have been asked by the town council to resign …read more.

MILFORD — Milford Town Council discussed the emergency preparedness of its utilities at its monthly public meeting Monday, May, 9. In of the absence of utilities superintendent Randy Veach, the council questioned Steve Marquart and Mark Brubaker at length about past failures of the notification system, alerting utilities personnel of power failures. According to council …read more.

MILFORD — Milford Town Council wrestled Monday night, April 11, with how to address its money woes, particularly as they relate to utilities which, according to Joellen Free, town treasurer, continues to operate “in the red.” At March’s meeting, Free suggested raising revenue through the reestablishment of cumulative funds to their maximum rate. Cumulative funds …read more.

MILFORD — In a nearly three hour public meeting Monday evening, March 14, Milford Town Council mulled the possibility of reestablishing three cumulative funds to higher rates. The move would mean a raise in taxes for Milford property owners, though just how much remains unclear. During a public hearing, town clerk and treasurer Joellen Free …read more.

MILFORD — Milford Town Council opened its Monday, Feb. 8, public meeting with a reshuffling of its officers. Bob Cockburn, citing the need to pass the presidential duties on after serving two years, nominated Dan Cochran for president, who, in turn, nominated Doug Ruch vice president. Both motions carried without objections. Milford police lieutenant Travis …read more.

MILFORD — The December 2015 ice storm was fresh on the minds of the Milford Town Council at its first meeting of 2016 Monday evening, Jan. 11. Council member Doug Ruch echoed comments made by Milford firefighter Scott Mast during public input concerning the establishment of an emergency shelter at the community building, including a …read more.

MILFORD — Milford Town Council held a year-end meeting Monday, Dec. 28, to pass ordinances on a number of issues, including Ordinance 2015-11, allowing funds from 2015 to be held over for paving projects in 2016. The issue of encumbering funds has proven to be a thorny one for the council, with town clerk Joellen …read more.

MILFORD —Milford Town Council got down to business Monday evening, Dec. 14, in a three hour session that included the passage of a motion to raise water rates by as much as $11 per month effective January 2016 in a two-to-one vote.

MILFORD – Milford’s Town Council missed President Bob Cockburn at the Monday, Nov. 9, meeting. Cockburn, whose wife was in the hospital, may have been able to break a deadlock between members Dan Cochran and Doug Ruch. At issue was the best way to implement a raise in the town’s water rate. The council unanimously …read more.

On Friday, October 30, 2015, Chore-Time celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of its $7.1 million building expansion.

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.

Troyer Group’s Timothy Wall and Michael Reese were again on hand at the Monday evening, Sept. 14, Milford Town Council meeting to present estimated costs for the three proposed plans to renovate Milford’s facilities.

At the Milford Town Council meeting Monday, Aug. 10, Town Marshal Rich Miotto warned residents of recent criminal activities.

Milford Town Council was again visited by Timothy Wall and Michael Reese of Troyer Group at its monthly meeting Monday evening, Aug. 10. The consultants presented overviews of three plans for moving ahead with the town facilities study.

According to John Julien of Umbaugh and Associates, “Cash is king,” and cash is what the town of Milford is lacking when it comes to proper maintenance of its water utilities.
Julien and Ross Hagen, also from Umbaugh, were on hand at the Milford Town Council meeting Monday evening, July 13, to present the water rate study the town commissioned in the spring of 2015.

After making five trips to Milford in the last few months, Timothy Wall of Troyer Group finally got the news he was hoping for. On Monday, June 8, Milford Town Council passed a motion to go ahead with Troyer’s Town Facilities Study. Earlier in the day, Milford Redevelopment Commission voted to pay for half of …read more.

Milford Town Council and Redevelopment Commission will meet Monday, June 8, at Milford Town Hall, 121 S. Main St. Redevelopment commission meeting time is 10 a.m. and the town council convenes at 7 p.m. An item on the agenda of both meetings will be the proposed Milford Town Facilities Study by Troyer Group of South …read more.

Tom and Brenda Bulger attended Monday night’s Milford Town Council meeting in the hopes of finding out what, if anything, can be done about the “eyesore” they’ve been living next to for 20 years. The house at the corner of West and Fourth streets burned in an electrical fire in 1995. For the last five …read more.

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 …read more.

Milford Town Council will meet 7 p.m. Monday, May 11, at town hall, 121 S. Main St., and Council President Bob Cockburn would like to know what the council can do about a number of buildings in Milford that are abandoned, neglected and unsafe. Medina’s Body Repair, SR 15, destroyed in a fire killing two …read more.

  Milford Town Council could vote as soon as May 11 on whether or not to hire Troyer Group of Mishawaka to study town facilities and the possible construction of an emergency first responder station combining fire, police and emergency medical technician personnel. The study would also examine relocation of utilities to the current fire …read more.

Milford Town Council had its monthly meeting Monday evening to discuss a wide range of issues from an overall Milford town study to the hiring of lifeguards and concessionaires at the town park. The public input session first heard from Trisha Gall, Milford Lions Club representative, who informed the council the Lions are accepting donations …read more.

Monday night’s Milford Town Council meeting heard analysis from John Julien of Umbaugh and Associates on the financial condition of utilities and recommendations on how to proceed. According to Julien, 2015 marks the final stage of Milford’s incremental 35 percent sewage rate increase. As a result, the utilities’ sewage budget will be “stronger into 2016,” …read more.

Monday night’s Milford Town Council meeting started with public complaints about billing, plowing and ended with considerations of how to improve public buildings. Steve Morris of Bio Waste brought what he considered to be billing discrepancies to the attention of the council. “You guys are doubling what I should be paying,” he said. He believes …read more.

Milford’s first town council meeting of the year Monday evening began with the election of officers. Doug Ruch nominated Bob Cockburn for president who accepted, though he did state, “I do believe it should be rotated around.” Cockburn’s nomination was unanimously approved. Ruch remains vice-president. All appointments remained the same as 2014 with the exception …read more.

Milford Town Council President Bob Cockburn is looking forward to doing some house cleaning in 2015. “My main concern is cleaning up these old buildings … eyesores that have been uninhabited for years,” he said. A recent example is the Medina’s Body Repair building gutted by a fire last February, which still sits in disrepair, …read more.

During its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, Milford Town Council decided to table any decision to adjust the 2015 pay rates of town employees until their end-of-year meeting, scheduled for 8 a.m. Dec. 30. Council member Doug Ruch made a motion to freeze pay increases at the current levels following Town Clerk Joellen Free’s estimate …read more.

Milford Boy Scout Troop 747 opened the Milford Town Council meeting Monday evening with the Pledge of Allegiance and remained for the duration of a two-hour meeting that addressed water issues, a new method for paying city bills and the health insurance plan for Milford town employees as well as other topics. First on the …read more.

Milford Town Council held a special public hearing Monday evening and passed resolution 2014-8, giving Chore-Time Brock the tax phase-in it needs to begin the expansion of its Milford facility. The expansion to the northeast corner of the building will, according to Chore-Time Operations Manager Jeff Miller, “revolutionize production and assembly.” He also expects the …read more.

During its regular meeting Monday night, Milford Town Council was presented with a proposal by Chore-Time Operations Manager Jeff Miller detailing the company’s plan for a 45,000 square-foot expansion project at its Milford plant (see related article). The proposed expansion would allow Chore-Time increased production space for its ventilation units, it also would improve the …read more.

Prior to its regularly scheduled meeting Monday evening, Milford Town Council held a public hearing on budget reductions for the 2014 budget. The cuts were mandated by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance following the its review of the town’s budget. DLGF directed the council to reduce the budget by $115,000, including $56,000 from …read more.

During its monthly meeting Monday night, Milford Town Council tabled a proposal presented by utilities commissioner Randy Veach to purchase a new Bobcat utility vehicle for his department. Full consideration of the request was delayed until next month’s meeting as a result of mandated town budget cuts scheduled to be discussed and finalized by the …read more.

During Monday night’s regular meeting of the Milford Town Council, town marshal Rich Miotto noted there have been three dog biting incidents in Milford during the last few weeks. He sought the council’s guidance in enforcing the existing town ordinance regarding dangerous animals. It was noted that, according to town ordinance, after a second biting incident …read more.

During an emergency session held on Tuesday night, Milford Town Council approved additional funding to supplement a contract with Beer and Slabaugh that had been previously approved. The Nappanee company was previously contracted to clean the ditch along the east side of Old State Road 15, north of Syracuse Street. The added funding became necessary …read more.

During its monthly meeting Monday, the Milford Town Council unanimously approved purchasing a commemorative plaque to present to the Milford Lions Club in honor of the local service organization’s 70th anniversary. The local service organization received its charter June 20, 1944, and will be formally recognized during next month’s council meeting. Representing the Lions Club, …read more.

In response to a request made on the behalf of the Milford Lions Club, Monday evening Milford Town Council approved a request to close certain streets for the 2014 Milford Fest. Patricia Gall asked the council to close various streets in downtown Milford beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 22. Council member Doug Ruch asked …read more.

Milford Town Council held its monthly session Monday evening at Milford Town Hall. In recognition of April being Month of the Military Child, the council unveiled a plaque recognizing the sacrifices children of servicemen and servicewomen make for the ultimate benefit of the nation. The plaque will be presented to Milford School for display. Two …read more.

By Keith Knepp Staff Writer Two Milford business owners voiced their complaints about early morning downtown parking restrictions during Monday night’s town council meeting. Katie Cockrill of Lizard’s Bar and Grill and Kerry Hartman of the Turf Bar spoke during the public forum portion of the meeting to argue the current restrictions were detrimental because …read more.

Prior to Milford Town Council’s regular meeting Monday, council member Dan Cochran was contacted by Indiana Operation: Military Kids State Team. The team requested the town’s help in the statewide celebration of military youth by locally declaring April the Month of the Military Child. April is recognized nationally as the Month of the Military Child, …read more.

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 …read more.

During the Milford Town Council meeting, Monday, town marshal Rich Miotto proposed the retention of the 2007 squad car. He noted the vehicle is paid off, plus fully equipped, and it could be used by reserve officers to keep miles off the newer squad cars. Miotto stated the plan would be to keep the ’07 …read more.

At its first meeting of the year last night, Milford Town Council elected new officers with Robert Cockburn taking over as president and Doug Ruch now serving as vice president. Additionally, the council approved Ordinance 2014-1 with appointments for the new year. A new appointment for this year is Mike Clark who will be taking …read more.

Prior to the arrival of 2014, Milford Town Council tied up some loose ends during the end of the year meeting Friday, including what to do with savings seen after switching health insurance policies. Council members opted to increase the town’s contribution to employees’ health savings accounts with the savings, in order to counteract the …read more.

Representatives from Frazzetta Financial Services Inc. spoke to the Milford Town Council during its regular meeting Dec. 9 about the health care reform and the town’s current group health insurance, which is with Medical Mutual of Ohio. Anthony Frazzetta, president of Frazzetta Financial Services, stated that Medical Mutual of Ohio is pulling out of Indiana, …read more.

The public hearing in regards to the voluntary annexation of three parcels belonging to CTB — which are located east of PigTek in Milford — went without a hitch. The council received favorable letters from Van Buren Township and the Wawasee Community School Corporation about the annexation. With no further public input, councilman Robert Cockburn …read more.

Utilities Superintendent Randy Veach brought the First Street waterline to the Milford Town Council members attention during its regular meeting Oct. 14, noting that the waterline would need replaced eventually. Veach suggested they could probably complete the work in four to six days in the spring. Concerns were voiced by council members about the winter …read more.

Dan Brown, president of the Milford Redevelopment Development Commission, brought forth a resolution during the Milford Town Council meeting, Sept. 9, that would extend Milford TIF district one by 10 years. Originally, the district, which was established in 1996, was intended to last 20 years, ending in 2016. The new resolution would extend it until …read more.

During Monday night’s Milford Town Council meeting, the question of whether or not the town can use funds allocated to the Redevelopment Commission to fix infrastructure was posed. Town attorney Jay Ridgon said only for the purposes on infrastructure inside tax increment financing districts can the town use those funds. Both the Brock Lift Station …read more.

During Monday night’s meeting of the Milford Town Council, Alicia Ley brought a petition before the council designed to show the town just how many citizens desired a full-time school resource officer for Milford School. Milford town attorney Jay Rigdon informed the council that he has been in discussion with Dave Cates, Wawasee School Corporation …read more.

Milford Town Council began with a special recognition of Indiana State Trooper Kyle Dukes Monday night. State Rep. Rebecca Kubacki commended Dukes on his work in putting together signage on both ends of town recognizing World War II veteran Harry Michael. Dukes spoke briefly to the council about his experiences in putting together memorial services …read more.

After the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, in April Trupointe decided to confront the subject head on to the residents of Milford at Monday night’s Milford Town Council meeting. Brian Manges, director of Safety and Risk Management at Trupointe, declared to the council that the products which caused the explosion will not be used …read more.

While Milford Town Council continues to discuss financing a full-time school resource officer at Milford School (See story), a group of concerned parents have started a petition to show the council there is support for such a petition. Alicia Ley has been circulating the petition and carries it with her to various events where parents …read more.

Among the changes to Milford in the coming months is the opportunity to become more biker-friendly. On Monday morning, the Warsaw and Winona Lake area were informed that they had received a bicycle-friendly community status. Two years ago there were almost no bike routes in the area, according to Fred Helfrich, KCV Cycling Club spokesman, …read more.

Milford residents packed the town hall last night only to hear that the town council would not be supporting a school resource officer just yet. With funding cut from both local governments and school corporations,  money was a big concern as it relates to school resource officers. According to clerk-treasurer Joellen Free, the town could …read more.

Milford is joining the National Take Back Initiative by providing a collection box for prescription medications. Milford Town Council agreed to be part of the federal program by installing a special collection box that residents may use for the safe disposal of no longer used or expired prescription medications. The exact site of the collection …read more.

The Milford Town Council had quite a few important discussions Monday night, beginning with the consideration of a Verizon cell tower to be placed behind the sewer plant. While it is not yet confirmed by Verizon engineers, a representative of Verizon visited the site, and three other potential sites, and told the council last night …read more.

Milford Police Department has undergone some changes in recent weeks. Shawn Castillo has resigned from the force, leaving the station with only one part-time officer. However, Marshal Rich Miotto has been looking for reserve officers and recommended Refugio Ramirez be added to the force as a reserve deputy. Ramirez has been part of the Milford …read more.

During Milford Town Council’s meeting Monday, Bob Cockburn brought up a topic weighing on the minds of many in recent weeks: school safety. “After the incident in Newtown (Connecticut), people are asking what we should do here in Milford,” Cockburn, vice president of the Milford Town Council, explained. “I don’t believe teachers should carry guns, …read more.

Two new ordinances were enacted during Milford Town Council on Monday night and one of those means a water rate increase for residents. A long-standing issue of a potential water rate increase was resolved with the council’s vote. After final adjustments to the Umbaugh and Associates’ rate study were completed, it was determined that a …read more.

Milford Town Council wrapped up the year with a host of quick and decisive actions for the coming year Monday evening. Among the actions are new ordinances, insurance claims and salary raises for city employees. The town council has decided to draft an ordinance regarding safe maintenance of trees in town. The ordinance, drafted by …read more.

Milford Town Council looked into a wastewater study performed by Umbaugh and Associates on Monday night. The study described a nearly $1.2 million debt which the town still has to pay back to bond holders. As the town continues to pay on the debt, along with daily costs and repairs, the net profit for a …read more.

A number of citizens appeared at Milford Town Council for public input regarding water bills Monday. With an abnormally high water bill, former Bio Waste Processing owners Ned and Barb Schueller chose to bring in an expert to assist with the issue. According to Joe Dock, representative and mediator for the Schuellers, the flow meter, …read more.

Four Multi-Township EMS administrators and board members attended a regular meeting of the Milford Town Council Monday night to clear the air over a recent request by MTEMS for a significant increase in the town’s subsidy. Scott Sigerfoos, MTEMS director of operations, told council members that they felt the need to discuss the matter publicly …read more.

The Milford Redevelopment Commission decided Monday to search for an attorney who can lead it through the process of setting up a new Tax Increment Financing district, and to request a bid from a second engineering firm for water, sewer and road development within the project. The district will be located just northeast of the …read more.

A new computer-aided dispatch system being developed by Kosciusko County will have the voluntary participation of the town of Milford. Following a presentation by Milford Deputy Police Officer Travis Marsh, town council members voted unanimously Monday night to sign on to the system. It will replace the current Cisco system Among the advantages laid out …read more.

Milford Town Council claims they are being blackmailed by Multi-Township EMS, but today the MTEMS board of directors addressed the accusations in their own meeting. Scott Sigerfoos, MTEMS director of operations, referred to Milford’s public blasting of the EMS organization in their meeting last month saying the town council is making “a lot of false …read more.

Milford Town Marshal Rich Miotto is concerned with recent events at the Waubee Lake beach and asked the town council to intervene. Miotto told the council Monday night he has received complaints from a Nelson Drive homeowner that swimmers are crossing the corner of the lake late in the evening and jumping off of a …read more.

Members of the Milford Town Council, including Bob Cockburn, didn’t hold back Monday night as they took up discussion about a letter the town received recently from Multi-Township Emergency Medical Service. Much as council members Cockburn, Dan Cochran and Doug Ruch suspected when they debated signing a 2012 contract with MTEMS earlier this year, MTEMS …read more.

Milford residents enjoy some of the lowest water and sewer rates in the region, but that may not be true much longer. A recent audit by the State Board of Accounts resulted in what Milford Town Council President Doug Ruch referred to as “being raked over the coals” about one issue. “When we had our …read more.

Nine employees of the town of Milford will have a new health insurance plan as of July 1. Milford Town Council voted Monday night to accept a plan change proposed by Rick Wagner of Rick Wagner Insurance. The change will nullify a 12 percent increase in the town’s cost for the next fiscal year and …read more.

By JODI MAGALLANES Staff Writer [email protected]  Lack of maintenance at a handful of residential properties occupied the dominant portion of a regular meeting of the Milford Town Council Monday evening. Prior to  an update by building inspector Ken Brower on the state of several questionable residences, council members heard from Joe Graff regarding the designation of …read more.