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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Major Upgrades At WCSC See Page 5
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Plan commission gives thumbs up on all requests %\ '(% 3$77(5621 (GLWRU ,Q &KLHI
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Sewer project behind schedule %\ '(% 3$77(5621 (GLWRU ,Q &KLHI The Tippecanoe & Chapman Regional Sewer project is approximately three months behind in its projected schedule, according to reports Monday, May 9, at the board’s monthly meeting. Jim Anderson, a future customer, questioned when the bids would be going out. Steve Henschen, Jones Petrie Rafinski engineer, reported the letting of bids for the project is being delayed due to the number of signed easements required by the funding agencies — State Revolving Fund and USDA Rural Development. While Henschen did not state the percentage needed, he indicated 90 percent of the agreements have been received for both lakes. However, there are several easements in negotiations, including along the mainline. Once the percentage is reached, advertising for bids can begin. Jeff Thornburgh, board member,
questioned when that would be. Henschen indicated bid advertising could be in June and opened in mid-July. It will then be 60 days later when the project could start, bringing it to September. Steve Snyder, representing Patona Bay, questioned when the definitions of units for the rate ordinance will be discussed or if he needed to appear at each monthly meeting. Snyder had presented the board with suggested definitions in February for such areas as campgrounds, mobile homes and campers not designed for year-round occupancy. It was stated the rate ordinance could not be created until construction bids are in hand. It was noted public notice will be given on the rates and a public hearing will be held. A more definitive time was requested by board member Brian Davison. “We’re probably looking at August,” said Henschen. Chris Nusbaum with Carson LLP law firm, confirmed the defi-
nitions would be set up in the rate ordinance. These definitions would determine the number of Equivalent Dwelling Units per definition. Additionally, he stated these definitions have been litigated before and the Indiana Administrative Code provides suggestions for the definitions. During other business the board heard a report from the finance committee regarding billing and administrative services, operations and maintenance. One quote has been received and two additional quotes are being sought. A recommendation will be presented to the full board in June. The board also accepted the recommendation from the engineering committee to accept two requests to be included in the project and deny one request to be excluded from the project. The one denial has an alternative course of action to be excluded from the project, for which steps have been taken. A waiver, due to an extenuat-
ing circumstance, was given to one property owner regarding filing for a request for a connection exemption from the sewer. The property owner plans to file an exemption due to her septic system being installed in 2016. Henschen provided a project update. He reported on the status of permits, with all being received except three permits from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, regarding construction in a floodway/lake crossing. Those permits will be issued in the near future. A resolution and an interlocal agreement with the city of Warsaw were approved and will go before Warsaw’s City Council for approval. Board members decided to discontinue the office hours of the JPR staff after May 13. Future office hours will be considered if a need arises. Telephone and email options will remain available for customers having questions. The next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 13.
New Schrock ballpark continues to strive towards completion Progress is being made at the new Schrock Ball Park, but Syracuse Park Board members were disappointed to learn it won’t be ready for use until next spring. They received an update during their regular meeting Monday night, May 9. Chad Jonsson, park superin-
tendent, reported drywall and RFP, a plastic covering for the walls, are being completed within the buildings at the new ballpark. Conduit for the light poles and outside power has also been run. If Mother Nature cooperates and the area doesn’t receive any rain for a while the contractor will start prepping for concrete work for the concession stand and paving the walking trail.
New board member Jaime Beer asked for a target completion date. Jonsson said he hoped the work would be complete by August so the grass could get a good start in the fall before winter. Playing football at the park this year is highly doubtful. The park department celebrated Arbor Day Friday, April 29, with Syracuse Elementary third graders. They helped plant three
trees at Laudeman Park. Jonsson said it was a nice introduction of the park to some adults who hadn’t been there before. On Saturday, April 30, with the help from some Wawasee football players and soccer players, the remaining 47 trees were planted. The 50 trees were part of a grant from ReLeaf of Michigan. There were 25 trees planted at LaudeContinued on page 2
Women’s recovery home proposed in Milford %\ '$9,' +$=/(',1( 6WDII :ULWHU At the Monday, May 9, meeting of Milford Town Council, representatives of the Milford Methodist Meeting House, formerly Milford Methodist Church, located at the corner of Catherine and West streets, were on hand to inform the council of efforts to convert the property’s parsonage building into a recovery home for up to five women in the Living in Transition Effectively program. During public input, the council first heard from Pastor Mike
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Beezley, who was appointed by United Methodist Church North District of Indiana to oversee use of the building after the church was shuttered in June 2021 due to declining attendance. Beezley explained being approached by Milford Redevelopment Commission President Dan Brown and Van Buren Township Trustee Becky Alles, both former MMC members, who believed a need still existed for “services beneficial to the town and community.” In particular, there was a lack of resources for those with substance abuse issues, the near-
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est being in Warsaw or Goshen. Beezley and others have since organized outdoor movie nights, Christian music events, weekly Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Brightpoint health insurance navigation programs, weekly Bible study and more. “The target is broad,” he said. “It’s not just for people in recovery … the family needs support.” LITE Program Director Tammy Cotton described her work with incarcerated addicts trying to reenter society, including her Continued on page 2
FFA Honors Members And Others See Page 8 See Public Notices On Page 11
Rezonings, a preliminary plat approval and final plat approvals were all unanimously approved or will have recommendations sent to the county commissioners following the monthly meeting of the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission, Wednesday, May 4. The final plat approval request by the Gloria Shipley Trust for a residential development on the south side of Old Shoe Lake Road, north of Brandywine Lane in Tippecanoe Township, received a unanimous approval. Steve Snyder appeared on behalf of the trust noting that Old Shoe Lake Road had been vacated and a portion of the roadway has been dedicated as a public right-of-way. He also noted he has modified the covenant to cover any future sale of portions of Lot 7 to neighboring property owners. The request by Michael Cox to rezone 8.83 acres of the former Wawasee Airport property from public use to commercial will go before the county commissioners at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, for final approval. Cox’s request was continued from the April meeting to work out an agreement with neighbors opposing the rezoning. While he admitted he did not speak with the previous remonstrators, he did present a revised plan where only a portion of the property needed to be re-
zoned. The former runway area will remain zoned as public use. This will include the dissolving of the Wawasee Condo Association, of which there are three lots. Owners of these lots are in agreement. During his presentation Cox stated he ultimately could see the rezoning of the runway area as commercial for a better resale value. Lloyd Turner and Moussa Ward, while both in favor of the new rezoning request, spoke against any future rezoning of the former landing strip from public use to commercial. Both men reiterated why they had moved to that area and did not want commercial buildings in their backyards. It was noted that a school, church, government building, park or golf course could still be built on that property under the public use designation. Also going before the county commissioners in May will be: The petition by Ernest and Dora Hochstetler to rezone 20.03 acres from agricultural to agricultural II. Ernest Hochstetler stated he recently purchased the property and wants to sell half the acreage to his son. Eventually there will be two homes built. The property is located on CR 750W, north of CR 1300N, in Jefferson Township The request by Ronald and Betsy Spiegel to rezone their property on CR 400N, east of Terry Drive in Tippecanoe Continued on page 2
Milford Council preps for Milford Fest and People’s Convoy 7H[W DQG 3KRWRV %\ '$9,' +$=/(',1( 6WDII :ULWHU Among the items addressed by Milford Town Council at its monthly public meeting Monday, May 9 were additional changes to the Milford Family Fun Fest street closure schedule and a visit from The People’s Convoy, which will be driving through on Friday, May 13. The council approved the closure of the east half of the Community Building parking lot to facilitate Milford Family Fun Fest preparations, leaving the half open to the alley available for parking. The closure is effective from 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 29. Street Superintendent Steven Marquart clarified Main Street closures as they relate to the Saturday, May 28, car show and cruise-
in. The stretch of Main Street from Catherine to Fourth streets will only be closed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 28. Council President Doug Ruch asked whether businesses affected by the closures were informed. Marquart said he was unaware if Beer and Jessop Amusement’s Tom Beer had done so, and he suggested they be given flyers. Town Clerk Tricia Gall said the deadline for getting added to the Milford Fest communitywide garage sale map is 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 24. The cost is $3. The maps will be available on Wednesday, May 25. All garage sale fees are waived on Saturday, May 28. Gall said she received a call from a representative of The People’s Convoy, informing her the two- to three-mile-long convoy would be coming through Milford, heading Continued on page 2
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