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MILFORD - There was a packed room at the Milford Town Council meeting Monday night, and the council also had a full agenda.
Ryan LaReau, of Commonwealth Engineers, had a few items for the council’s approval. For Division A of the water filtration plant, he had a pay application for $804,379.47 to R. Yoder Construction. He also had a pay application for Division B, which is the water main and lead service line replacements, for $305,150.45. The council approved paying both pay applications.
LaReau said, “The work is progressing well, we’re on track to utilize all the service line dollars.”
LaReau also had a change order for Division B — adding James Street water main between Fourth and East Catherine streets. He said it currently has a 2-inch galvanized line, and they’re tasked with replacing those lines, but he suggested continuing the 6-inch main and the proposal he received from Selge Construction is $185,895. However, LaReau said to offset that cost they have four pay items that are under quantity now, creating a deduct and bringing the amount of the change order to $98,002.
He said there will also be a final quantity adjustment addition or deductions, and he hoped it would be deduction. He also spoke to the council about contingency funds, saying there’s about $260,000 left but this change order would take a big chunk of it. The council approved the change order.
Utility Superintendent Steven Marquart told the council, “Since we’ve done the looping our (hydrant) flushing this time was phenomenal — we didn’t have the complaints about rust that we usually do, so the things we’ve done has greatly improved.”
Trail Project
Beth Johnson, of USI Consultants, who is working on the trail project from the town to Waubee Lake, said there were some supplemental charges not included in the original agreement due to changes in governmental requirements. She said there were environmental requirements that were not required in 2022 and archeological investigations “but nothing of great significance was found.”
The net increase to the project is $105,000, including trail redesign at $30,000; additional bridge design and plan development, $5,000; Railroad coordinator, $14,000; as well as engineering and archeological studies. The council approved the extra charges.
Johnson also told the board that she heard from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and they approved moving forward with purchase of right of ways.
Chore-Time Brock Expansion
Peggy Simmons, CEO of KEDCO went before the council on behalf of Chore-Time Brock, who was seeking to expand 79,000 square feet and add 10 to 15 new jobs. She said they wanted real estate tax abatement for 10 years at 50% to begin the year after the project is completed.
She said the Redevelopment Commission met that morning and recommended approving it. Leigh-Ann Piasecki, executive administrator for Chore-Time Brock, was present for questions. Councilman Ken Long asked if they were staying within their current footprint and she said they were and had conducted a recent soil survey.
Councilman Jim Smiley asked if the new jobs would be available right away and she said it would be over a period of time. When asked what the timeline was for the project, she said they wanted to break ground right away and said, “It’s a pretty aggressive timeline, we’d like it to be completed by 12-31.”
The council readily approved the tax abatement. Council President Doug Ruch said, ‘We are extremely grateful to have Chore-Time Brock’s world headquarters in Milford.”
Public Comments
Several residents had questions or comments for the council, some regarding the trail project.
Pam Dwyer, who also reported on clean-up projects at the lake park, wanted to know if the fence at the park would have to be moved for the trail. Johnson said she didn’t have the plans in front of her, but she didn’t think so.
Dwyer also asked about the cost and wanted confirmation of where the town’s portion of the funds were coming from — was it $500,000 from LIT (Local Income Tax) and $250,000 from the K21 fund? Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall confirmed that it was true but said she’d also applied for another grant and if the town was granted that, they wouldn’t have to use as much from the LIT fund. Dwyer also asked what was the maximum cap on the grants and Gall explained that INDOT grants by stages and she didn’t have that information in front of her but would get it to Dwyer.
Dwyer also asked what would prevent people from using a section of the trail at CR 1150 N as a turning lane? Johnson said if there’s not a buffer between the trail and the road that they would install curbs. Dwyer said there’s been a lot of comments on social media, some for and some against the trail so she wanted some information.
Another resident said she moved to Milford three years ago and asked if there was any thought to security on the trail like lighting and emergency alerts. Gall responded there were thoughts, but it all takes money so there were no plans for lights for the first construction, although they may be added later if funding becomes available. She said someone offered them call boxes to be installed after the trail is built.
The resident also asked if the plans could be posted on the website and both Gall and Johnson said they didn’t have the final plans yet so they could change, but Gall said she could request a current copy of the plans.
The same resident also inquired about selling eggs in front of her house and town attorney Jay Rigdon looked up the town code and said if it’s considered a permanent business she’d need to go to the Board of Zoning Appeals but otherwise she could obtain a peddler’s license from the town for $35 a year.
Kevin Frentner, owner of Mania Coney Island, said there was a “social media hate group” that was posting negative things about him and his business, and it was hurting his business. He also claimed the fire department and the police department had visited his business and he felt he was being harassed and he was told they were trying to run him out of town. He admitted to responding to some of the comments on social media and apologized for doing so but said he was trying to save his business. He said he was “calling a truce. I want it to stop. It feels like the town is against me.”
Ruch said he understood, but there wasn’t anything the council could do. Frentner said he just “wanted it as a matter of public record.”
Departmental Reports
The council approved several items for departments, including approval to pay an invoice for the police department from Foyle Plumbing in the amount of $1,575.
They also approved having the police department apply for two grants. One grant was from the Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP) in the amount of $25,000 for 2027 instead of the $15,000 they received this year. It is an 80/20 matching grant.
The second grant application is through the Traffic Safety Improvement grant for two speed signs that would be permanently attached to the signs in the school zone and a trailer. This would also be an 80/20 matching grant, but they figured the town’s cost for the two signs and trailer would be $3,500. Gall said they would use Riverboat Funds to pay for the town’s match.
For the utility departments, they approved replacing the RAS (Return Activated Sludge) meters at the wastewater plant from BL Anderson for $2,965. Marquart said it was an Indiana Department of Environmental Management requirement to have and read those meters. They also approved having the water tower dry inspected for $5,500 and Marquart will schedule it in August, closer to the time when the new water filtration plant will be completed.
Marquart reminded utility customers not to flush wipes, even though they say they are flushable, as they do not break down, and they are clogging the sewer main and the pipes and that results in costly repairs and breakdowns that will ultimately cost the user.
In other business:
• Milford Lions Breakfast for Milford Fest on April 18 is from 7-10 a.m. at the Community Building. Whole hog sausage will be sold by half-box and box.
• Spring clean-up is April 23-25.
• A request to write a letter of support for the Wawasee High School Performing Arts Center died for lack of a second as Long had to recuse himself and Smiley was against it.
The council approved:
• Paying Commonwealth Engineers’ invoice of $40,948.15 for the filtration plant and water main projects for work done in February.
• Resolution 2026-4, an interlocal agreement between the town and Van Buren Township for maintenance of the park, in the amount of $750.
• Upgrading to Boyce Cloud service for utility billing and other clerk’s office items for $14,160 annually plus initial costs for training and setup. However, by getting the service now they are receiving an initial credit of $31,145.
• Replacing the flooring at town hall at a cost not to exceed $16,669.42 from Brouwers Carpet and to be paid using CEDIT funds.
