$1.50
Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Being On A Teen Court Jury
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Page 5 One Nation Under God themail-journal.com
Milford Council closes out 2022 %\ '$9,' +$=/(',1( 6WDII :ULWHU
9,5*,1,$ &$=,(5 6<5$&86( &/(5. 75($685(5
&,1'< .$,6(5 6<5$&86( ',675,&7
/$55< 0$57,1'$/( 6<5$&86( ',675,&7
%,// 0866(5 6<5$&86( ',675,&7
/(,*+ $11( -(6623 1257+ :(%67(5 &/(5. 75($685(5
'$1 7+<67583 1257+ :(%67(5 72:1 &281&,/
'$9( :$/,&=(. 1257+ :(%67(5 72:1 &281&,/
/,6$ 67520%(&. 1257+ :(%67(5 72:1 &281&,/
Filing begins Jan. 4 for North Webster, Syracuse town elections Election filing will begin Wednesday, Jan. 4, for candidates seeking positions in Syracuse and North Webster. The office of clerk-treasurer and town council districts 3, 4 and 5 will be up for election in Syracuse. All seats, including the office of clerktreasurer, are up for election in North Webster. Candidate filings for the primary election for positions in Syracuse will begin Jan. 4 and end at noon Friday, Feb. 3. This is for Republican and Democrat candidates only. Should there be no contested filings for open positions, there will not be a primary. Filings will also begin Jan. 4 for North Webster town elections for Republican, Democrat and Libertarian candidates. Filing will end at noon Tuesday, Aug. 1. In Syracuse All current officeholders in Syracuse are planning to seek reelection or seek a first term. Virginia Cazier, clerk-treasurer, will
be seeking her first term. She was appointed to the position following the resignation of Paula Kehr-Wicker just over three years ago. Also seeking a first term is current council board president, Cindy Kaiser, who represents District 3. She was appointed by caucus to replace Tom Hoover in October after he moved out of the district. Both Larry Martindale, District 4, and Bill Musser, District 5, will seek reelection. Martindale is seeking his third term in office, while Musser is seeking his 10th term on the council. Should no one file against the current officeholders for the May primary, there will not be a primary or general election held. In North Webster Lisa Strombeck, council member who has served since 2007, is the only officeholder in North Webster undecided about seeking reelection. Leigh Anne Jessop, who was appoint-
ed in November, will seek her first term as clerk-treasurer. Councilmen Dave Waliczek and Dan Thystrup will each seek reelection. Waliczek was first elected in 2015. Thystrup, initially chosen by caucus in 2018 to fill a vacancy, was elected to his first full term in 2019. Ann Torpy, county clerk, explained for North Webster and other small town elections, a town convention may be held if more than one candidate files within a political party, for a clerk-treasurer’s position or town council seat. The party will make a candidate selection from those candidates. Should there then be a contested race between the parties within a town — for example, three council seats available with three from one party, and one or more from the other parties — an election will be held in November. However, if there are only enough candidates who file for those seats available, no election will be held.
North Webster Town Council claims successful 2022 The North Webster Town Council wrapped up its 2022 year by welcoming new leadership into its town hall. Leigh Anne Jessop was officially sworn in as the town’s new clerk-treasurer during the council’s final meeting Tuesday, Dec. 20. Jessop was chosen by the Kosciusko County Democrat Party to replace longtime clerk Betsy Luce, who announced her
planned resignation earlier in the year. Luce had served in the role for 19 years. The council, consisting of President Dan Thystrup, Lisa Strombeck and Dave Waliczek, addressed numerous issues throughout 2022. Thystrup pointed to three major accomplishments as the highlights of the year. “We are continuing to progress with our bike trail and sidewalk project that will connect North Webster to Wawasee Middle
School,” he said. The project is estimated to cost $2.5 million. The town would be responsible for paying for 25% of the cost, while the state would pay the balance. Last summer, the town received a $200,000 K21 Health Foundation grant toward the cost. The council continues to work on additional grants to fund the remainder of the town’s financial contribution to the project. Another major accomplishment for the council was the receipt of a $545,109.60 Community Cross-
ings matching grant, a component of the Governor’s Next Level Roads program. Similar grants were issued across the Hoosier state for the modernization and improvement of transportation infrastructure. The town intends to use its money to fund the repavement and improvement of several streets. Thystrup noted the third major success of the 2022 council was the replacement of a few major pieces of equipment and infraContinued on page 2
County redevelopment commission discusses next steps for proposed TIF %\ &$/(,*+ %<5(5 6WDII :ULWHU The Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission discussed their current standing on and next steps for the South Shore residential TIF and proposed Etna Green residential TIF at their Tuesday, Jan. 3, meeting. TIF or tax increment financing districts allow tax revenues to be captured and used for a specific
5IF .BJM +PVSOBM
purpose. As Etna Green does not have their own redevelopment commission, the proposed Etna Green TIF is the responsibility of the county commission to oversee. The Etna Green project is a roughly 20- to 30-acre project, adjacent to Heritage Park, that has already received approval from the Triton School Board. Redevelopment Commission Attorney Adam Turner stated that the next steps for both proj-
Inside
%\ .(,7+ .1(33 6WDII :ULWHU
ects will be on a tight timeline as the area plan commission meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 4, and the APC will receive a copy of the declaratory resolution, the residential development plan and create a resolution of their own to decide if the proposed Etna Green TIF will proceed. The resolutions will appear back in front of the redevelopment commission at the ThursContinued on page 2
Adjusting To Life As A Hoosier
See Page 9 See Public Notices On Page 8 & 9
On Thursday, Dec. 29, Milford Town Council held an end-of-the-year meeting to tie up loose ends from 2022, including encumbering funds over to 2023. The council also approved the 2023 schedule for monthly public meetings: 7 p.m. every second Monday of the month in the Milford Community Building, 111 S. Main St. The council discussed at length whether or not to enter into an agreement with Paymentus Online Portal, which would allow Milford utilities users a wider range of payment options and to elect to have bills emailed. The town would also receive payment the next day rather than waiting two or three days. The fee for electronic transactions would be $2.25 per transaction. The council voted to pursue a contract with Paymentus; however, final approval will hinge on integration fees to be paid to Boyce Systems, Milford’s payment software provider, which have yet to be determined. The council decided not to voice objections in the matter of a large garage with alley access at 403 W. Catherine St., Milford, set to come before the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Following the discussion, President Doug Ruch said he may have found a candidate to represent Milford on the BZA and hopes to confirm the agreement before the Jan. 9 council meeting. The council is also seeking someone to replace Charlotte Siegfried on the Milford Redevelopment Commission. A utility credit of $92 was granted in the case of a home where roughly 3,000 gallons was used in one day when the owners were not home. The average monthly amount is roughly 1,500 gallons. Clerk/Treasurer Tricia Gall will instead average the monthly charge over the last six months. The following motions were also approved on Dec. 29: • Full-time Milford employees will receive a 4% raise as part of the 2023 salary ordinance. • Funds will be encumbered for payments previously approved to USI Consultants, Beer and Slabaugh and Foyle Plumbing. • The CEDIT Resolution 2022-7 approved the use of CEDIT funds for new pagers for fire and police, fencing around the wastewater plant, wastewater plant pond closure, new water pipes in the Milford Fire Station and improvements to Lutheran EMS quarters in the Milford Community Building.
-$&.621 +($'6 &2817< &200,66,21(56 ³ %UDG -DFNVRQ ZDV QDPHG SUHVLGHQW RI WKH .RVFLXVNR &RXQW\ &RPPLVVLRQHUV IRU DW WKH FRPPLVVLRQHUV PHHWLQJ 7XHVGD\ -DQ 6KRZQ IURP OHIW DUH -DFN VRQ DQG .RVFLXVNR &RXQW\ &RPPLVVLRQHU &DU\ *URQLQJHU 3KRWR E\ /HDK 6DQGHU
Brad Jackson to serve as commissioners’ president %\ /($+ 6$1'(5 6WDII :ULWHU Brad Jackson will serve as Kosciusko County Commissioners’ president for 2023. The commissioners reorganized for the year in its first meeting of 2023 on Tuesday, Jan. 3, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom. They also opted to make Bob Conley vice president. In other business at a very brief meeting, commissioners: Approved an encroachment agreement for Dr. Rick Davis’ property on Lot 5 in Warren Subdivision on Diamond Lake. The address is 5307 W. Warren Ave., Silver Lake.
Approved a $25,216 quoted emergency replacement of a control console on a generator for the Kosciusko County Justice Building and courthouse. Approved a letter of support for North Webster regarding the town’s desire to connect a trail north to Syracuse. North Webster is still working on planning the trail. Heard from new Kosciusko County Auditor Rhonda Helser during her regular report time she was “glad to be here and work with ... all of you for the next four years.” The commissioners’ next meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the Old Courtroom.
<RXU 3ULQW
VROXWLRQ • Full Color Circulars/Inserts • Newsletters • Postcards • Booklets/Catalogs • Full Color Brochures • InkJet/Bulk Mailing Service • Saddle-Stitch Bindery • Newspapers • Magazines • Perfect Bind
Rodger Salinas Ext. 2432 rsalinas@the-papers.com
1-800-733-4111 206 S. Main St., Milford • themail-journal.com