The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 16, Milford, Kosciusko County, 16 April 1986 — Page 1

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Phones: Milford 658-4111 & Syracuse 457-3666

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NEW TECHNOLOGY — Workers for Hinkles-McCoy, York, Pa., make measurements for a new fiber optic cable to be installed for AT&T. The workers, who were digging a 42-inch base for the cable last Thursday, April 10, at the First Street railroad crossing in Milford, started the operation in Mishawaka and will extend the route to Indianapolis where it will hook into a line running to Louisville, Ky. • The new type of telephone cable, made of glass fibers which carry voice patterns, replaces a larger co-axial cable previously used by the company. According to Mike Black, chief inspector for the firm in charge of the installation, thousands of miles of cable has already been replaced, with AT&T utilizing the new fiber throughout the state. The company expects to hook the new system into the existing system in Indianapolis by October. Another Pennsylvania company, Michael Baker Corp, of Beaver, is responsible for the engineering of the project, which follows the route of railroad tracks to insure its safety from outside interference.

Eye grant for sewer plant upgrading —

See parking at Syracuse parks as source of additional revenue

By GLEN LONG Staff Writer The Syracuse Town Board last night approved a Syracuse parks parking lot program presented by four park board members, with Charles Haffner as spokesman. Under the program the town will collect a $2 parking fee from nonTurkey Creek Township residents for use of the parks. Initial revenues from the program will be used to improve the parking lot of Henry Ward Park as well as to provide daily cleanup in the parking areas and have supervision present during busy times. Town Attorney Bob Reed clarified the need for board action so the money collected can be appropriated back into the park board budget. Improvements at Henry Ward Park are expected to help solve the parking problem when the bass clubs come to town for their fishing tourneys. Board member Myrick reminded that the Indiana BASS chapter has met with the board and has pledged to help solve this problem this summer. Haffner also mentioned the problem of a vacant building on railroad property by Henry Ward

County rural numbering meeting set at Syracuse

The Kosciusko County rural numbering system steering committee will conduct a public meeting on Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. in the Syracuse Town Hall to bring the proposed system to the public’s attention, to answer questions, and encourage support of the plan. A public meeting will be conducted on Tuesday, Residents of northern Kosciusko County are encouraged to attend this meeting to learn more about this project. Additional Meetings Additional meetings will be conducted in Silver Lake Lions Building, Wednesday, April 23, and the Justice Building, Warsaw, on Thursday, April 24. Both

Park which is accessible to trespass and dangerous due to a large hole in the floor. Other Business A public open house at the new Syracuse Town Hall will be held on Sunday, June 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. Residents are encouraged to attend for refreshments and to see this quality facility which their taxes helped provide. Residents are asked to begin preparing for Syracuse Spring i Clean-up Day which is scheduled for May 1. Myrick will contact Stuckman’s Tri-Lakes Sanitation to arrange for that day’s volume pickup. Representatives of TenEch Engineering, Inc. presented two resolutions on the town’s waste water treatment facilities for the town board to sign. Fifteen assurances on the resolutions have been checked and found appropriate by Reed. Copies of the waste water facilities plan are available at the town clerk’s office for review by the public. A public meeting will be held on this subject on May 6. Ron Bonar, Bonar and Associates, explained the possibility the town has to receive an Indiana Department of Commerce community improvement grant of up to $400,000 if a high quality application is completed.

will begin at 7 p.m. Committee members are finalizing plans to meet with the Kosciusko County Commissioners on May 1 to request the funding enabling the system to be implemented. Steering committee members are currently meeting with business and industry leaders to inform them about the project and answer any questions. The general chairman of the steering committee is Don Frantz and Sue Creighton is chairwoman of public relations. They have been speaking to area civic groups about the project’s progress. To arrange for a speaker for a group contact Don Frantz at 267-7801.

Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 1907)

He reviewed the grant received by the town of Milford last year and said he believes Syracuse has the ingredients to put together a good application. Robert ■ Westfall said the Chamber of Commerce will assist with the necessary door-to-door survey which will be needed next weekend in a selected target area of town. He said citizens interested in helping with this project which could lead to funding help for Syracuse should call 457-5637. A large survey crew is needed. To get this grant procedure started, the town board unanimously approved a necessary resolution. The board unanimously approved the signing of ‘Substantial Completion’ forms so the bulk of remaining bills can be paid to town hall building contractors. A few minor repair problems are yet to be completed, mainly striping on the parking lot. A total of $3,000 is being withheld until these items are completed. Joe Dock, utilities superintendent, was directed to work with the clerk-treasurer to draft a letter to local restaurant owners concerning the problem of sewer lines being plugged with grease. A town ordinance does exist which requires adequate grease traps. Robert Ziller, town marshal, was given approval to purchase the additional squad car he had discussed at the March meeting. The vehicle can Ve bought, less radio, for $10,679.30 through the state police volume buying procedure. Ziller hopes to have the car active before the summer season. Approval was given for Ziller to send Robert Houser Jr. to the police academy at an appropriate time this year. The marshal also received clearance to take a week’s vacation (without pay) soon as he requested. The board voted to make a Ziller proposal to allow three weeks vacation after ten years of service on the force effective January 1, 1987. This procedure for other town departments will be discussed prior to that date. A request by Ziller to allow accumulated sick pay by officers from one year to the next up to maximum of 30 days was discussed and continued until the May

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1986

Cites private business interests —

Bill Knowles resigns as Milford utilities superintendent

By MARK HUFFMAN Staff Writer Milford Utilities Superintendent Bill Knowles ended what town board president Jean Treesh termed a “good (working) relationship” when he announced his resignation at a monthly meeting of the town board Monday night. Citing private business interests that will take a “total commitment” as the reason for leaving a post he’s held since November. 1982, Knowles forfeits his duties effective April 30. "I appreciate the 3'2 years of serving both the community and officials of Milford.” Knowles said in his letter of resignation, which was accepted, with regret, by the town board. A search for a new superintendent will begin immediately, with advertisements to be placed in various publications. In other matters Monday night, it was decided that the park department would be allowed use of a 12-year-old lawn mower, previously used in conjunction with the street department, while the latter department would be purchasing a newer model with $4,500 it had appropriated earlier in the year.

meeting. Maximum sick day leave is now seven days per year.

The board studied information Lewis had pertaining to letters for the outside of the town hall and directory signs for the halls and offices in the building. Members Morganthaler and Butt will study the outside letters further and proceed to order. President Hughes will contact James and Associates, Architects for possible leads on a plaque and the letters. Lewis will check further on office signs and canvas board members for approvals. The clerk-treasurer was given approval to re-invest funds as she outlined for the town board.

Wawasee School Board discusses summer projects

By DAVE STRAUB Staff Writer After hiring a new architectural firm two months ago, the Wawasee School Board plans to give it a full slate of summer construction projects. These were discussed Tuesday night at the administrative building. Wawasee High School, along with the North Webster and Syracuse schools, will undergo minor construction amounting to $581,258. The money will eventually come from the cumulative building fund. But a cumulative building fund application has to be filed. Then a public hearing will be held May 6, concerning the addition of these funds to the budget. “This year, we can increase the cumulative building fund,’’ said Schools Superintendent Dr. Kenneth E. Webster, “This enables us to bring our buildings up to standard.’’ Webster added that up $660,000 can be generated for the projects. Details Os Projects Barton-Coe Associates of Fort Wayne, the corporation’s new architect, will have its hands full for the summer. Described by Webster as “a challenging list of projects,” three buildings will

The board suggested that the park department take on the responsibility of maintaining the older model, while also finding a place to store it. Bill Stath, Milford Park Board president, agreed to the concessions, which he was to present before the park board. He also announced that $1,500 had been allocated for new trees and shrubs, which will be planted soon after delivery. / Street, Sewer Progress I Mike Fitch, vice president of transportation from Bonar and Associate. Fort Wayne, which is spearheading the town’s stormsewer and Syracuse Street projects, presented board members with an explanation of the company’s progress thus far. According to Fitch, the engineering firm discovered that railroad crossing signals at Syracuse Street would have to be moved in order to accommodate street construction. “One signal is one foot too close while the other is two feet too close (to the > ’ll < f Ml "» i ■ .*»■ M/v - i i BILL KNOWLES Alumni association committee meets The executive committee of the Syracuse Alumni Association met Tuesday evening, April 8, at the home of Susie Tytler. Alumni announcements were completed and readied for mailing. Final plans were discussed for the upcoming banquet to be held May 24 in the old Syracuse High School gymnasium. For more information, call Mrs. R. C. Tytler, 457-3357.

benefit from minor construction. Work at Wawasee includes the remodeling of the food and sewing labs; the converting of the sewing lab into the biology room; the refurbishing of the main gym floor bleachers; the adding of a kiln exhaust system to the art room; the replacing of the electrical conduit in the swimming pool equipment room; the painting of several rooms and halls and the matching of the energy grant and audit. Cost for this work should total $161,300. North Webster will have the most work done since the gym needs remodeling. In addition, the food and sewing labs need remodeling as well as the gym lobby and corridor. Also in the works are the expansion of the faculty room; the addition of a classroom; the remodeling of two classrooms and the painting of several rooms and halls. In all, costs should amount to $349,358. Two boilers have to be rebuilt at Syracuse, amounting to $54,000. Other work includes refinishing the gym floor, painting several rooms and halls and matching the energy grant. This project is estimated at $70,600. “While we are looking into a feasability study for the renovation of Syracuse (which is projected at $2.8 million), we realize

railroad tracks),” Fitch said, adding that federal funding may be applied for to accommodate the relocating. Agreements with various state departments were also signed by board members, as the town takes steps to clear approval for the projects. After presenting the board with a draft agreement to be sent to the state department of highways, it was agreed that a special meeting be called for Monday, April 21, at 4:30 p.m., to allow town attorney Bill Leemon time to review the agreement before board members concede. A special meeting is also scheduled for April 29 at 4 p.m. to discuss liability insurance. Fitch concluded that work toward the storm-sewer project could begin as early as this fall, while the Syracuse Street project would be started in the spring of 1987 In a related matter, Monica Bice, clerk-treasurer, pointed out that the town had received a letter from the Kosciusko County Drainage Board, granting the town use of a -75-foot easement along Turkey Creek for its stormsewer project, located 550 feet east of SR 15. Noting his discontent over loose dogs and unlicensed cars in the town, board member Darrell Orn asked that his concern be made a matter of record, with the board jointly warning residents that junk cars would be towed while unlicensed automobiles would also be noted. Treesh pointed out a town ordinance which states that pets must be confined to the respective owners property. After minimal discussion, the board agreed to decree the month of May as “Dress up the town” month in the honor of Milford’s sesquicentennial to be celebrated June 1-7. The board urged citizens to “clean property, put in plants, and (generally to) make the town look good for the sesquicentennial.” Deputy .Marshal Commended Aaron Rovenstine, deputy marshal, gave a summary of activities for the Milford Police Department for the period of March 10 through April 14; after the town board recognized him for his recent (March 28) graduation from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield. Treesh congratulated Rovenstine for his efforts during (Continued on page 2)

that some things need immediate attention,” said Webster. Another $445,000 worth of projects for these three buildings are 'targeted for 1987. Work at Wawasee includes redecorating the gym; remodeling the auditorium projection room and reworking entrance to health room restroom. Asphalt paving will be done at North Webster, including the parking lot and playground. Carpet will be added to several classrooms and windows will be replaced. Several rooms and halls will be painted at Syracuse. Personnel Recommendation The board approved the resignation of Carol Fehnel, who is on leave of absence for one year. She decided not to return to work. Fehnel was an elementary teacher at Syracuse for 19 years. Computer Purchase Following a report by Instructional Services Director Dr. Howard Hull, the board affirmed the application for a $40,000 loan to buy computer equipment. According to Hull, the Syracuse, North Webster and Milford schools will benefit from updated hardware and software. He added that the loan will be repaid out of the debt-service fund, without affecting the tax rate.

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Chiddister to speak at ’mayors' banquet

Goshen Mayor Max Chiddister will be the featured guest speaker Saturday,-April 26, at the Milford Sesquicentennial Mayor’s Banquet. The banquet, scheduled for the community building at 7 p.m., will reveal Milford’s honorary mayor for a year, as well as three town council members. Chiddister, who has been a mayor since 1980, entered the political arena in 1972 as a city councilman — serving in that capacity until 1975. Having been a member of several committees, the versatile Goshen resident chaired Congressman John Hiler’s Governmental Advisory Group and was appointed by Governor Robert Orr to serve on the Executive Committees of State Hazardous Waste Siting Authority and the State Enterprise Zone Board. Chiddister has also served as a member, second vice president, first vice president, and presiMayoral candidate to entertain Richard Miller, mayoral candidate for Milford’s Sesquicentennial, will be hold a musical entertainment session Saturday, April 19, at 7 p.m. in the Milford Community Building. Entertainment will be provided by Miller and Rocky Stone Refreshments will be served and all donations will go toward Miller’s mayoral campaign. Vacant home destroyed by fire Sunday Syracuse Fire Department responded to two fire calls during the past week. No damage amounts were reported and there were no injuries. ' - A vacant home on Syra-Web Road, just south of Wawasee High School, was destroyed by fire on Sunday, April 13. The fire department was called by the owner, Tom Mark, who resides in New York city, at 5:53 p.m. Fire officials report the cause of the blaze was of suspicious origin as the fire had been set in two different places in the home. No damage amount was available and investigation into the matter is continuing. A grass fire at the end of Pickwick Road was called in to fire officials at 4:03 p.m. Thursday, April 10. The grass fire had spread next to a building and was extinguished before there was any damage to the building.

MAX CHIDDISTER

dent of the board of directors of the Indiana Republican Mayors’ Association. A statistician for the Goshen High School football team, broadcaster for a local radio station for the school’s basketball games, and a basketball official (for the past 25 years), Chiddister is recognized throughout the community for his personal involvement with its residents. Asrnayor, he also was afforded the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia in May, 1985, to visit and distribute food, clothing, and blankets to feeding camps. A member of the First Presbyterian Church, Goshen, and the city ’s Rotary Club, he enjoys golf, racquetball, running, and reading. Chiddister lives at 901 Lynwood Dr. with his wife, Margies. The couple has two children; Wade, 23, who is in the navy, and Lori, 26, who is married and lives in Los Angeles. Mayor Callander Milford Kiwanis Club speaker The booming economy of neighboring Nappanee was extolled by Robert Callander, mayor of that city, at the Friday morning meeting of the Milford Kiwanis Club. Callander has been mayor since 1979, a period when the city has had unusual growth. “Our population grew 13 percent from 1970 to 1980,” he noted. Nappanee’s population stood at 4,722 in 1980, and is about 5,000 today. The Town became a city — the smallest in Indiana — in 1926. Today it ranks 91st in size among Indiana’s 115 cities. He said there are 5,200 jobs in Nappanee — actually more jobs than there are people. Nappanee draws heavily on the Amish population and workers from outlying communities to fill its labor market. The city is undertaking a $5,656,655 expansion at the present time, $4,156,025 coming from EPA funds and $151,630 from a state grant, and the rest from local revenue sources. The city has an option on the Derksen 156-acre farm situated up against the city’s east side, which the city plans to expand into a recreational area, including an additional nine-hole golf course. Three housing projects are now underway in Nappanee which should push the population up another 750 people. The local tax rate in 1982 was $2.02 per SIOO taxable valuation, and is down to $1.90 in 1986, plus a 10-cent cumulative levy. Mayor Callander’s work force figures do not include the 450 jobs at the new NIA plant at the city’s The speaker was a former insurance company owner in Nappanee.

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