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Wednesday, September 7, 2022
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Milford approves annexation and moves ahead with HELP projects %\ '$9,' +$=/(',1( 6WDII :ULWHU Milford Town Council held a lengthy special meeting Wednesday, Aug. 31, which will likely have a lasting impact on the town’s future. First, members voted to annex the remainder of North Park subdivision property into the town limits. Second, a consultant was hired to commence plans for a trail connecting Milford with Waubee Lake. Third, members chose to direct roughly $210,000 in American
Rescue Plan Act funds toward the replacement of water meters and a study on the improvement of streets, sidewalks and public facilities in the downtown area. The annexation includes phase 3 of North Park subdivision and a tract of undeveloped land known as the Zimmerman property into the Milford corporate limits. Doug and Ann Strycker, who own property just to the east of the annexation area, asked if their easement would be affected. Doug also asked if the area would be zoned for housing or industry. Town Attorney Jay Rigdon said
annexation would not change the easement. Council President Doug Ruch responded there was a “growing sense” the area may see residential development. ClerkTreasurer Tricia Gall added that annexation does not give the town ownership, and such decisions would be primarily up to the landowner. The council then voted to enter into an agreement with USI Consultants to oversee the effort to connect downtown Milford with Waubee Lake Park via a bike/ walking trail for a fee of $275,000. This will cover preliminary engi-
neering and right of way plans. The remainder of the meeting was spent hearing presentations from local representatives of four committees and Amy Roe, Kosciusko County community coordinator, charged with overseeing the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program grants associated with American Rescue Plan Act funds. The amount, including the town of Milford’s match, is roughly $210,000. Milford, which is one of five Kosciusko County towns taking part in HELP, must have a prioritized list ready for Next Level funding Continued on page 2
Chautauqua’s annual local history series another success
Next trail project announced, $3.1 million price tag %\ '(% 3$77(5621 (GLWRU ,Q &KLHI A trail along SR 13, from Grandview Drive, Syracuse, to Wawasee Middle School, is the next project for the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails committee. The cost is estimated at $3.1 million. The trail will be approximately 2.5 miles in length. The announcement was made during the committee’s second annual fundraiser, “Life Is Better On The Trail,” held Thursday evening, Sept. 1, at Blue Barn Berry Farm, Syracuse. “The committee made a final decision,” stated Erlene Yentes, executive director, after giving a history of the committee and the feasibility study process. That study, which took six months to complete, looked at 12-plus miles of expansion connecting the community to schools, neighborhoods, parks and around the lakes. Named Wawasee South, the project will be one leg connecting Syracuse to North Webster. A group of individuals, led by Dan Thystrup, North Webster town councilman,
has already begun its fundraising efforts to develop a trail from North Webster to Wawasee Middle School. “It was a tough decision,” Yentes said. “We felt it was a good move to continue to Wawasee Middle School … only school not connected (by the trails).” She stated the committee has not forgotten about the lake area and conversations with the county highway department are being held. Such areas as additional striping along the roadways are being considered. “We will still look at the side section. Once we get into the design phase with more specific information we will have community involvement meetings,” Yentes said. Estimated project costs were presented. Estimated construction costs are over $2.6 million, as it is expected the project will not start until 2026. The cost included estimated inflation costs of $50,000 and a 25% contingency at $500,000. An additional $500,000 was added for design costs. Yentes spoke about various grants and what costs would not Continued on page 2
Public hearing Monday for proposed sewer rates
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Syracuse Public Library’s ‘community roots’ project receives local support “Community roots,” the public’s chosen name for the lot behind Syracuse Public Library, has received donations. SPL raised $2,113 from the online basket auction and cash donations. These funds, paired with a $16,000 federal grant, are helping the library purchase a shed, a pavilion, three adults picnic benches, two children’s picnic benches and a portable projector. Currently, SPL is working closely with Arkos Design, Misha-
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waka, to get the project rolling with the necessary permits and other nuts and bolts steps. “We are getting close to getting the permits,” said Kim Blaha, library director. “We have to get a state permit for the pavilion, since it is public use.” Once the permitting stage is complete, SPL hopes to hit the ground running to get “community roots” ready for the community’s enjoyment and future programming.
Inside
Chautauqua-Wawasee and Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum joined together to offer three programs exploring local history for the period from the 1750s to the 1850s. The programs were in support of Archaeology Month. All programs were free to attend. The first program, held Thursday, Sept. 1, evening at the Syracuse Community Center, featured Kosciusko County Surveyor, Mike Kissinger, who shared his knowledge and history of how Thomas Jefferson initiated the public land survey system in 1780, and how Indiana land was mapped and surveyed northward from the Ohio River. Surveyors reached the Wabash River by the mid-1820s with Indian land remaining north of there. The 1826 Treaty of Mississinewa resulted in the Miami and Potawatomi Tribes ceding land north of the Wabash River to the United States. The treaty also established several Indian reservations, Continued on page 2
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The project started in January when a house was demolished behind the library. The public named the project by voting online. This project is also made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Indiana State Library. “We are so grateful to you and our community for coming alongside the library as we move forward with this project,” Continued on page 2
Soccer TTeam Rallies See Page 5 See Public Notices On Pages 8 & 9
The Tippecanoe & Chapman Regional Sewer District will hold two public meetings Monday, Sept. 12. The regular monthly meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a public hearing on the proposed rates. Both meetings will be held in the Celebration Room of the North Webster Community Center.
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