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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
MHS Alumni Gather
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Page 7 One Nation Under God themail-journal.com
Construction starting at Main and Railroad in Syracuse %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU Road construction in Syracuse is expected to start this week at Main Street and Railroad Avenue. Phend and Brown will be working on widening and reconfiguring the intersection. The project is expected to run through mid-August.
Milford moves forward with HELP grant %\ '$9,' +$=/(',1( 6WDII :ULWHU The Milford Town Council’s monthly public meeting on Monday, June 12, was attended by Amy Roe, Kosciusko County Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program coordinator, and Donny Ritsema, Michiana Area Council of Governments development planner, who informed members the town will be receiving a larger slice of the HELP community development block grant thanks to recent votes by the Kosciusko County commissioners and council. According to Roe, the county voted to split 100% of the $1 million community development block grant with the participating communities of Milford, Mentone and Pierceton. Milford previously committed $106,401, 30% of its total American Relief Plan Act funds, to take part in HELP, which is overseen by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The return on the town’s investment will now be substantially larger. However, as Roe explained, the final amount depends on an income study in the towns of Mentone and Pierceton. Census data showed Milford to be automatically eligible, with 51% of its population being above the income threshold; however, Mentone and Pierceton must now undergo an income study, and if one or both of the towns do not qualify, the county will have another meeting in August to determine how to proceed. “There still are a few pieces to work out, but the beautiful part about that is that, basically, more money is coming to Milford than was expected,” said Roe. In 2022, committees of Milford residents met to propose ways of implementing the grant. The council voted to replace the town’s water meters and develop a downtown master plan. Roe acknowledged the drawn-out HELP funding process has been “concerning” for Milford due to the rising costs of water meters, which must be pre-ordered. But she added Continued on page 2
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Temporary traffic signals, alternating traffic on SR 15 The Indiana Department of Transportation announces single line traffic on SR 15 in Milford between Syracuse Street and North Street. Starting on or after June 19, crews will be relocating utilities
along SR 15 as part of the ongoing Local Trax project taking place on CR 1300N. For approximately a month, traffic will alternate using a single lane regulated by temporary traffic signals. All work is weather-dependent and
schedules are subject to change. INDOT encourages drivers to consider worker safety by slowing down, using extra caution and driving distraction-free when travelling in and around all work zones.
Dual lake level for Wawasee off the table %\ '(% 3$77(5621 (GLWRU ,Q &KLHI While requesting the courts to establish a dual lake level for Wawasee was an initial thought, that idea has been pushed aside. During a public informational meeting Tuesday, June 13, Bill Pipp, president of the Turkey Creek Dam and Dike Conservancy, stated he does not agree with the dual lake level idea. “Dropping the level of the lake is not the right way to go,” he said. “There is no way to put the water back in.” The proposal the conservancy is making to the town is to install flow meters at the three inlets into Wawasee, along with at the Main Channel, railroad bridge, front street bridge and bridge at SR 13 to “understand how much water is coming in, flowing through the channel and put a formula together for how long it takes water to flow through when we open the gate.” He noted Webster Lake has the dual lake level — where the water level is lowered in the fall
and then allowed to raise back up in the spring. However, he spoke with Department of Natural Resource officials, particularly Ken Smith with the division of water. “Crazy things happen when new rules were set, in a bad way. The better way I think is how to manage the level,” he stated. Pipp explained how for the past year the conservancy has worked with Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation and Dr. Jerry Sweeten at EcoSystems Connections Institute in its Wawasee Inlets Nutrients Study to obtain lake level readings on the three buoys being used for the study. While a year’s worth of data has been received “10 years would be better,” stated Pipp. That data is being used daily by Chad Jonsson, who operates the water control device gates. “We know what the real level is at, at those points,” said Pipp. Those points are at inlets to Wawasee at Leeland Channel, Turkey Creek and Dillon Creek. During Pipp’s explanation of the flow meters, he noted while a rain event could be predicted,
and the gates are open two weeks ahead of that, it doesn’t mean that rain will happen. The information gathered will provide sound data for when such an event occurs. “A low lake is a lot worse than a high lake,” he said. “We want everyone to recognize that it will take a while (to get the data). We need to talk with each other,” he said referring to the operator of the dam at Papakeechiee, and Allen Lake at TriCounty Fish and Wildlife area. It may take five, seven or 10 years to get data that is sound. “Nobody will be perfect.” The attendees included people associated with marinas, pier companies, Syracuse Lake Association, WACF, WPOA, Papakeechie Lake, Jonsson, Syracuse Town Manager David Wilkinson and a few lake residents. A time for open discussion concluded the meeting. John Heckaman, Jonsson, Doug Anderson, Robert Studebaker and Dan Mikolajczak were among those providing additional information Continued on page 3
Wawasee School Board announces 2023-2024 school start times %\ 0$5,66$ 6:($7/$1' 6WDII :ULWHU New school start times for 20232024 school year was announced by Dr. Steve Troyer, superintendent, during the Tuesday, June 13 Wawasee School Board meeting. Elementary school students will start at 8:30 a.m. and release at 3 p.m. Elementary school teachers’ start time will begin at 7:20 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m.
Wawasee Middle School will begin at 8:30 a.m. and release at 3:15 p.m. Middle school teachers’ start times will begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 3:25 p.m. Wawasee High School will begin at 8:15 a.m. and end at 3:05 p.m. High school teachers’ start times will begin at 7:15 a.m. and
end at 3:10 p.m. This new time schedule will eliminate later arrivals on Wednesday for students. Previously Wednesday start times were 60 minutes later. Troyer mentioned, “This has been a collective effort of honing Continued on page 2
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WAKEBOARDS WATER SKIS LIFE JACKETS INFLATABLES SUP & KAYAKS BOAT ACCESSORIES