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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
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Wednesday, July 12, 2023
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Bart’s Watersports seeking buyer for business
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%\ .(,7+ .1(33 6WDII :ULWHU After 51 years selling everything needed for boating and having fun on the lake, Bart Culver is looking for someone to take over the North Webster business, Bart’s Watersports. Opened in 1972 as a small retail shop, Culver, a lifelong water sports fan, saw his business grow into a far-reaching mail order and online water sports equipment and apparel business. According to store manager Mike Wilson, the business and buildings are available for outright purchase until Friday, Aug. 4. If a buyer is not identified by that time, it will be sold by auction on Tuesday, Sept. 5. “We’re hopeful that the right buyer comes along that will keep operating Bart’s as it has been for 51 years,” said Wilson. Bart’s Watersports is located at 7581 E 800N, North Webster.
Wawasee school board hears $75M construction proposal %\ 0$5,66$ 6:($7/$1' 6WDII :ULWHU Wawasee School Board heard from Dr. Brandon Penrod, interim Director of Finance,Tuesday, July 11 during its regular board meeting. Penrod explained a proposed $75 million dollar project concerning rebuilding or extensive remodeling to Milford School and a new performing arts center. Penrod stressed during his presentation the debt service will not be affected. Wawasee School Corporation’s total tax rate was $.5399 in 2022 and 2023, and that is where it will stay. Penrod reported to the board Wawasee School Corporation has one of the lowest tax rate in Indiana, and secures $10 million in bonds. There will be a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1. No
location has been set yet. The board passed and addendum to Superintendent Steve Troyer’s contract. Most notably, the terms of employment and pay. In the contract, Troyer agrees to be employed by Wawasee Community School Corporation as superintendent for a period beginning July 1, 2023 and concluding on June 30, 2026. Unless either part notifies the other party by Jan. 1, 2024, the contract and addendum shall be automatically extended to June 30, 2027. Thereafter, the contract and addendum will be automatically extended an additional year unless the superintendent or Wawasee Community School Corporation notifies the other part to the contrary by Jan. 1 of each calendar year. Additionally, an annual salary of $142,000 through June 30,
2024 was approved. Each year, if the superintendent receives a rating of effective or highly effective on the board’s evaluation, the salary will automatically increase effective July 1, 2024 and annually thereafter by an amount of two-and-a-half percent. Student-Led Art Gallery The board also heard from Christi Ziebarth, a passionate Wawasee art teacher, who is, along with Jon Everingham, proposing a student-led art gallery. Ziebarth mentioned “the gap between education and experience” and “the greatest recognition is having your art displayed out into the world.” Her art students have already completed a few professional art commissions, including a mosaic piece for the Miller Sunset Pa-
vilion in Winona Lake. Her students are collaborating with the Parkview Hospital Warsaw to create a few pieces of art to be displayed in its new wing. The gallery is slotted to be held in an unused board room in the Wawasee School Corporate Office, however, Ziebarth imagines her students art will quickly outgrow the space. The gallery will also serve as a opportunity where students can sell their artwork. In good news, Troyer announced the Knights of Columbus had made two donations. The Knights of Columbus donated $1,000 to the marching band and $1,500 to the cheerleading team. Additionally, the board approved an overnight trip for the cross country teams to Pokagon State Park. The trip will take place from Monday, July 24 to
Milford to update tornado siren system %\ '$9,' +$=/(',1( 6WDII :ULWHU The town of Milford will soon have an updated tornado siren system, replacing a decades-old system, which has grown increasingly undependable in recent years. At the Monday, July 10, meeting of the Milford Town Council, Milford Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Haines apprised the council of efforts to ensure two approved locations, at Waubee Lake Park and a lift station on the north side of town, could be served with electricity by Middlebury Electric at a total cost of approximately $4,500. Haines then recommended the town accept a quote from
J & K Electric to install two sirens at a cost of $63,542. According to Haines, J & K is also currently working with countywide communications efforts and has access to central dispatch. For an additional $225, the sirens will also be fitted with a VHF radio controller, so they can be set off from the station. Clerk/Treasurer Tricia Gall said the bill could be paid using American Rescue Plan Act or a cumulative capital development funding. The council voted to approve the new sirens, with President Doug Ruch, a volunteer firefighter, recusing himself. The sirens are expected to be operational in the next six months. Haines added one old siren will be “kept in the loop” as a noon whistle and manually operated fire alert. Haines also reported the department, which went on 10 runs in June, is up to 33 volunteer firefighters, including six trainees. “We’re pretty fortunate,” he said. Most volunteer fire stations are seeing drastic shortages, and many are having to switch to professional manpower, which is costly. Haines then reported the fire station bay area received new grates, which were cut and delivered at no cost by Lippert Components plant 45. During public input, Milford resident Dan Buell expressed his objection to the minimum charge for water, as stipulated
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in the town’s water ordinance. Contrasting his own charge as a single occupant with that of a neighboring home with several occupants, he noted his bill was $47 with 1,800 gallons used, while the neighbor paid $102 for 5,800 gallons. “How is that fair?” asked Buell, who added he intended to contact the Indiana Regulatory Commission. Councilman Ken Long explained the cost of water includes infrastructure necessary to deliver the service. “It costs a minimum to get it to your house,” he said. Secondly, he added the bill is calculated by volume, so the overall cost goes down with increased usage. Gall said the last water study, which calculated billing, was done about two years ago. Ruch said the matter would be “taken under advisement.” Water service came up later in the meeting when Street, Water and Parks Superintendent Steven Marquart reported a leak was repaired on East Emeline Street between East and James streets, an area that has seen multiple leaks in recent years due to “old galvanized line. … Its days are over.” A quote to replace the line, which serves about five houses, was around $50,000; however, that was “a few years
ago,” said Marquart, who plans to have an updated quote to the council at the August meeting. Marquart also sought council approval to hire a contractor for repainting street lines, reasoning the higher quality of paint would last longer. The quote for work was $6,919. However, Milford resident Jay Urbin expressed his objection to hiring outside contractors. “We’ve got to stop the bloat,” he said, suggesting town employees should do the work. “I don’t think you understand the work load they have,” Long responded, adding the town would still have to pay wages and buy paint. Ruch acknowledged in the past the town did the striping, but with the reduction of its work force, he said, “we don’t have the people power to dedicate to that.” Councilman Bob Cockburn, however, suggested the town should do the work, and the matter was tabled until August. During police reports, Town Marshal Derek Kreider said his department has made progress filling four spots left vacant in the last year. The new hires are Jason Price, Ally Sloan and Brandon Kidd, all of whom will be full time, and Joshua Snyder, Continued on page 2
Indiana’s Largest Marina
Wednesday, 26. While there, the teams will partake in team building and bonding exercises, while also using some of the park’s trails and terrains to train for their upcoming season. Minor adjustments have been made to handbooks for the elementary, middle, and high school,
administrative, certified and transportation. In the elementary handbook, the disciplinary matrix was updated. The middle school handbook saw an update to the academic calendar and minor verbiage. Continued on page 2
Public information meeting on CR 1300N extension, July 19 The Indiana Department of Transportation and Kosciusko County will host a public information meeting on the extension of CR 1300N from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, at the Milford Community Building, 111 S. Main St. The doors will be open from 3-5 p.m. to give participants time to talk to project representatives. An informal presentation will be held at 4 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to offer all interested persons
an opportunity to hear a project overview and ask questions about the schedule, construction and maintenance of traffic for the grade separation that extends CR 1300N over Norfolk Southern Railroad to connect to SR 15, north of Milford. The purpose of the project is to improve local and regional mobility by providing a connection between the communities of Milford, Syracuse, Goshen and Warsaw. The project involves the conContinued on page 2
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