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MILFORD - Ryan LaReau, of Commonwealth Engineers, was present at the Milford Town Council meeting Monday requesting the council approve paying a few pay applications for the water project.
Councilman Ken Long asked him before he began if everything was correct and they were going to have issues like they had last time because items were on site because “that caused a lot of extra work for our clerk’s office,” Long said.
LaReau apologized and said that would not happen again. “Everything is in order with these pay applications,” LaReau assured them. Pay application #6 for Division A, which is the water treatment plant, covers work done in December, concrete prep work, rebar, etc. in the amount of $216,381.50.
He also had two pay applications for Division B — the water main part of the project. The first invoice covers work done in December and includes work done mostly on 6th Street and water main extensions in the amount of $146,667.84.
“They’re ahead of schedule on this one,” LaReau told the council.
He also had a pay application for Division B in the amount of $60,970.86, which included connections to hydrants, etc.
The council approved paying all the pay applications.
LaReau also informed the council that Division B, which is being worked on by Selge Construction, is getting into sewer line work, which involves being on private residents’ properties. When asked he said the contractor is “scheduling the work week to week with the residents.”
Waubee Lake Trail
Milford Council members heard Monday that the Waubee Lake Trail project is moving along but is on a tight deadline. Beth Johnson, with USI Consultants Inc., the consultants on the project, was present and told the council that they are in the right of way purchase stage and said they’ve been working in appraisals for nine properties since September. She said five packets were delivered with offers to purchase and they’re waiting for responses whether those offers are accepted or not. She said they’re still working on getting a packet for Ron Baumgartner’s properties but expect to have that delivered this week.
She said property owners have 30 days to respond whether they accept the offer or not. “If they don’t respond at all, they’ll automatically go to condemnation — we’re on a very tight deadline,” she said.
She said condemnation would be “worst case scenario, but the main concern is the timeline. That’s not to say that negotiations can’t happen after condemnation occurs, but it gets the clock ticking.”
Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall told the council she asked Johnson to come to the meeting because if they do have to go that route, they would need council approval to authorize town attorney Jay Rigdon to proceed and that would likely happen before their next council meeting.
Councilman Jim Smiley asked what condemnation meant. Johnson said it meant the judge decides what the offer will be, not the property owner or the town. Milford resident Scott Mast, who expressed concerns about the trail project at the last meeting, was present with more questions. He said he talked to some of the property owners and they don’t want to sell and asked what happens in that case. Johnson responded that the judge would decide.
Mast asked, “How much is the town on the hook for?”
Johnson replied that it was not yet known as they’re still looking for some funding options. Gall replied that before COVID-19 they figured the town’s cost would be $352,000 and $200,000 of that was from a K21 Health Foundation grant, leaving $142,000. After COVID they figured they had a shortfall of $750,000 and she said they’ve applied for a $400,000 grant and there are other grants available. At the least, they expect they may have to pay $342,000 of the $2.5 million project.
Gall and Johnson said they don’t know the total cost because they don’t know the construction cost as the project doesn’t go out to bid until Jan. 13, 2028. Council President Doug Ruch said they can’t go out to bid until they own the properties.
Johnson added that’s why the timeline is so critical because if it goes beyond that, they are at risk of losing the funding they have been awarded. The council authorized Rigdon to proceed with the condemnation process in the event it becomes necessary before the next council meeting.
Other Public Comments
Also under public comments, Baumgartner brought an example of a pedestrian crossing sign that he hoped the council would approve having painted on the roadway on both sides of the railroad tracks on First Street. He said there are signs on posts a block away and people don’t see them. If needed, he would help supply the paint.
Long asked Utility Superintendent Steven Marquart what the state would have to say about it and did they have a standard sign the town would need to use? They decided to table any decision until they can contact Michiana Area Council of Government for more information.
Utilities Department
Marquart brought several things to the council. He received approval to order perennial wildflower seeds to plant in the four acres in front of the wastewater treatment plant. He presented quotes from several businesses and the lowest was from Miller Country Greenhouse in Milford, which was $2,550. The council approved that purchase and also approved hiring Mark Beer to drill the seeds into the ground at a cost of $1,600.
The council also approved ordering flowers for the downtown from Miller Country Greenhouse at a cost not to exceed $1,600. Marquart said in honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence he chose red, white and blue flowers.
For the water department, he received approval to purchase 12 new meters for homes in Eastfield subdivision for $4,944.36.
The council tabled two items that Marquart brought after lengthy discussions. One was about replacing a leaking radiator for the generator at the sewer plant until they can see it can be rebuilt for less.
They also tabled entering into an agreement with Ashbury to find locates. Marquart said currently he is the only one who can find locates and when the new plant is operational, he will not have time to do it. Ashbury would charge $500 a month for both water and sewer. The council tabled it until the attorney could look at the agreement but indicated they were willing but wanted to wait to start until closer to the date the new plant would open.
Clerk’s Office
Gall had several items for the council, many having to do with closing out the year. The council approved ordinance 2026-1, creating a fund to administer the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute grant. She said the county used to administer the grant, but now they have to do it. In a related matter, the council approved an amendment to the salary ordinance, which states those working on the ICJI grant be paid double time.
The council also approved ordinance 2026-4, year-end transfers between funds. They also authorized transfers between the same category but different budgets that the clerk can do without approval, she just needs to notify them. They also approved town council transfers.
The council approved purchasing a new printer for the clerk’s office, which will be better able to handle the amount of copying and printing her office does at a cost of $2,579.98.
Gall also received approval to have Jim Higgins, of LWG, the town’s financial advisor, do a financial analysis on the impact of the property tax changes and local income tax changes at a cost not to exceed $7,280. She said she wanted the council to have real data because they “may have to make some hard decisions and I don’t want you to have to guess.”
Ruch praised Gall, saying the town was “very blessed to have someone of such financial stature on staff.”
The council also approved a resolution listing what the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) and Local Income Tax (LIT) was spent on.
In other business, the council:
• Swore in reserve police officer Robert Belden.
• Approved the police chief applying for a KCODE grant in the amount of $1,250 for drug testing kits.
• Paid a Morton Salt invoice for $2,162.49.
• Approved Spring Clean-Up Days for April 23-25.
• Approved pre-ordering mosquito spray for $6,754.74.
• Approved paying workmen’s compensation insurance invoice for $13,837.
• Approved for Gall to attend the Indiana League of Municipal Clerk-Treasurers conference.
• Approved renewing the Reach Alert agreement for $1,661.
