The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 13, Milford, Kosciusko County, 13 May 1987 — Page 12

12

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., May 13,1987

On-going dilemas viewed as 'obvious problems' at Milford

By MARK HUFFMAN Staff Writer

Two on-going dilemmas again found themselves featured at the Milford Town Hall Monday night, May 11, with three area residents drilling the town board on its effectiveness in dealing with what the citizens view as “obvious problems ’’ While the board claimed it was making an effort to correct the problems, the trio of remonstrators stood outside town hall doors after the meeting, making a counterclaim of a board that “spins its wheels.” Much of the controversy surrounds a house standing at 112 E. Fourth St., which had formerly been slated for demolition, according to the residents. The structure, owned by Goshen resident Ronald Davidhizar, was given partial clearance by Building Inspector Harry Doty as being safe for residency. However, Doty noted that Davidhizar would not be allowed to house occupants in the structure until a sewage system is reconnected and the soffit is repaired.

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An order issued on a second Davidhizar home, 105 N. Maple St., was lifted after Doty found repairs had been made before his April 18 inspection. Noting that the town cannot condemn a building if it is structurally sound, Doty agreed that Milford could use an unsafe building ordinance “with some teeth in it.” , Milford resident Maxine Pifer cited a case in Warsaw where a building was being removed that is “in better shape than the Fourth Street home.” “Other towns 4E4Jchart, Goshen, Nappanee, Warsaw) have ordinances that give residents protection from slumhousing, why can’t we?” Pifer asked. Dallas Winchester, utilities superintendent, stated, “We’re dealing with a town and not a city, we don’t have full-time people like the cities have. I think we need to be safe to keep away from a lawsuit.” After further discussion, board member Charles Bird stated, “It sounds like it may be worth our while to investigate other towns’ and cities’ ordinances.” Town attorney Bill Leemon, who noted that the town currentlv employs an ordinance that adopts state requirements, was vin-

structed by the board to view ad'ditional city ordinances and report back. - In another contested subject, Della Baumgartner asked Winchester why a sidewalk had not been designated on the south side of Catherine Street, near the Sharp Hardware entrance. She noted that newspaper accounts of former town board meetings had stated that lines would be drawn to denote a walking area. Winchester ruffled at the questioning, saying he had gotten nine telephone calls from residents concerned with the parking spaces that would be lost. “If we paint the lines it would ‘do away’ with four parking spaces,” he said. Pifer, however, expressed concern that elderly citizens residing at Leisure Living Apartments, located on the same street, had no sidewalk on the south side to accommodate them while walking into town. After discussion, the board agreed to have Winchester designate a sidewalk on the south side of the street equal in width to a north sidewalk. A photograph of an employee’s (of The Paper Incorporated) car extended onto a city sidewalk located on the north side of the Main Street building was also

given to Baumgartner by the utilities superintendent after the Sharp Hardware “walk talk.’ Baumgartner questioned Winchester’s intent. “Dallas, you know that we’ve always cooperated when there is a problem. All you had to do was come and point it out to me,” commented the co-publisher of the firm involved. Parked Vehicle Poses Problem Turning to a less controversial part of the meeting, Town Marshal David Hobbs gave the police report for April 13 to May 7, with 183 complaints being fielded in Milford and four traffic accidents being investigated. The department logged 1,814 miles during the active month, which also saw six junk cars removed from town streets. Hobbs noted that the department is also averaging two complaints a week about a vehicle parked on Catherine Street that presents an obstacle to school buses and people returning from work in the afternoon. The car’s owner isn’t in violation of any law, according to the marshal, with no parking limit posted in the area. Jean Treesh, town board president, agreed to talk to the car owner about parking in an alternatesite. In a final matter, Hobbs reminded the board that the Memorial Day Parade, May 25, would follow the same route as last year, with entrants assembling at 9 a.m. for the 10 a.m. start. Giving his sixth department head report, Winchester updated board members on streets that will be patched in the near future, while he agreed to meet with Dan Brown, of Phend & Brown Inc., and board members Bird and Dennis Wuthrich to determine what streets will be paved. Other projects include the pain-

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ting of street curbs and parking lines, painting trim and tarring the roof of the town hall, flushing hydrants Monday, May 18, and reiding water meters Tuesday, May 19. Winchester is also working to' correct an iron problem, with the re-connecting and flushing of lines scheduled throughout the summer. “We hope to provide clean water to 80 percent of the town residents by early September,” he said. The street department dump will also be cleaned later this spring when a contractor is determined, while the city of Wabash will lend its equipment, at a cost of SSOO, to clean sewer lines throughout Milford. Two citations for trash and uncut grass will also be issued by the department. After closing his monthly report, the superintendent submitted a six-month report to the board, pointing out the accomplishments of the department over the past half-year. Afterwards, the board agreed to meet in executive session at 7 p.m,. Tuesday, May 26, concerninga possible wage increase for the department head. Mosquito Control Sidelined In other business the following was concluded: — Winchester will check the State Board of Health concerning proper chemicals and application to use for mosquito control. — Ordinance 87-7, allowing town employees to live within twd miles of town limits, was formally approved retroactive to May 1. — Town employee health insurance has risen a total of $56 per month (five employees). — Two residents will be checked for violation of Board Os Zoning Appeals ordinances. After nearly two hours of deliberations, the board signed

the register of claims and noted that a public meeting would be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, to address the matter of additional appropriations to be set by

W ■Bk Wil 1 I J UM J CLEANUP CAMPAIGN — Syracuse Town Board member William Hess and Ron Conley, foreman of the street and water department, were out daily checking on the extensive cleanup campaign in Syracuse during the past week. An estimated 260 yards of garbage (refrigerators, stoves, couches, etc.) were disposed of and picked up by the street department. The cleariup week was very successful and it is hoped the program will be continued next year. Standing off The truck are street department workers Mark CUrry and Paul Hoffman.

Zoning approved for warehouses

Staff.n’riter

The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) at its Meeting on Tuesday, May 12, approved the petition of John Lehman for a zoning exception for the purpose of building warehouse units in a commercial district. Lehman, who serves on the BZA and owns Lehman’s Laundromat and Car Wash in Milford, recently had a house removed just west r of the laundromat on Fourth Street. Lehman plans to build two mini-warehouse buildings to contain 20 U-lock-it units each on the property this year and add two more buildings later. Other Cases Robert and Debra Pilcher were granted a zoning exception for the purpose of the change of a

the town. A 7 p.m. meeting, Tuesday, May 19, in the community building will also be held to update the public on the town’s

nonconforming use (cabins to rent or bed and breakfast units, transient-daily or weekly) in a commercial district. Their property is located on the west side of SR 13 and 1250 feet northwest of CR 550 N in Tippecanoe Township. The approval is contingent on receipt of a proper health department permit. Jerry Daniels was granted an exception for the purpose of adding a warehouse unit onto an existing warehouse in a commercial district. His property is in Marineland Gardens and located on the east side of SR 8 and 217 feet south Os McClintic Road in Turkey Creek Township. The stipulation was included that semi unloading be done parallel to the building to avoid the necessity of backing in from the county road.

storm-sewer and Syracuse Street projects. _ The town’s next ,regular scheduled meeting will be Monday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m.

Mark D. Botts was granted an exception to construct an accessory building on a lot without a principal structure and make the size 1020 square feet in a residential district (576 sq. ft. is normal maximum allowed by ordinance). The property is located on the south side of Warner Road and 220 feet east of CR 650E in Turkey Creek Township. It was stipulated that his lots be tied together by common deed. The>petition of Fahl Luxury Homes fbcan exception for the purpose ofbuilding a residential structure in a residential district was tabled because legal notice was not printed soon enough. The property is located on the north side of Charles Bird Lane and 750 feet west of Old SR 15 in Milford. Exception is required because the property is governed by the county flood control ordinance adopted in Febrjiarv.