The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 35, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 October 1987 — Page 1

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\’«D Milford 658-4111 & Syracuse 457-3666

i VOLUME 26

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BARN DESTROYED — This large horse barn and riding siabies, located about one-mile west of Milford on Orn Road, was destroyed by a blaze that was reported to the Milford Fire Department at 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11. Leesburg and Syracuse fire departments assisted Milford in battling the blaze. The buildings are owned by Lowell Rassi, r 2, Milford. Two pole buildings were attached to the main 70 by 200 ft. structure. All were destroyed. No horses were in the barn at the time of the fire, but a travel trailer, boat trailer and boat being stored in the arena area At Milford —

Storm-sewer project to begin on Monday

tßy MARK HUFFMAN Staff Writer Project engineer Greg Smith of Bonar and Associates provided a funding breakdown for Syracuse Street improvements to the Milford Town Board at its monthly meeting Monday night, Oct. 12, in the town hall. “We got some excellent bids on things,” Smith said, noting that matching grant money from the Department of Commerce remained as a result. Options discussed for using the excess funds included running more lateral lines to the sewage system or resurfacing all of Syracuse and Henry streets instead of only the parts being broken up for sewer improvements. “We need to do something about Milford’s distribution system, now would be a good time to start,” suggested Utilities Superintendent Dallas Winchester, noting that grant money could also be matched by the

'Enhance 911' —

Plan to update Storm Warning System

(By DEB PATTERSON Staff Writer Updates on the storm warning system and 911 emergency number along with “Enhance 911” were the topics for last Wednesday’s Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Syracuse Police Chief Robert Ziller, Wawasee Property Owners Association President Wiley (“Bill”) Spurgeon and Kosciusko County Sheriff Ron Robinson were present to give updates and answer questions. Chief Ziller, working on the storm warning system, presented a map of the Town of Syracuse and suggested sirens to adequately warn those in the town limits of a storm. The idea of a new system came when concerns were voiced of not everyone hearing the present warning device (the fire siren blowing 12 consecutive times). He was ap- >

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town for that purpose. After further discussion it was agreed that additional monies would be targeted toward replacing service taps and resurfacihg all of Syracuse and Henry streets, although a final decision will not be made until a definite cost is known. Smith also noted that work on the town's storm-sewer project is expected to begin Monday, Oct. 19, with the pipe near Turkey Creek slated to be laid first. Smith assured the board that the storm-sewer project calls for only two blocks to be worked on at a time. The Syracuse Street work will begin in the spring. Winchester and ClerkTreasurer Monica Bice were also authorized by the board to sign change order forms for work on the project, designed to process minor changes more quickly. Reporting for the police department, Town Marshal David Hobbs cited a traffic problem at Syracuse Street and SR 15, with added congestion resulting between factory shifts at ChoreTime and Brock. Smith suggested that the criteria for a traffic signal is not met due to the limited hours the congestion oc-

proached by Robert Westfall and Robert Knudsen to look into a new system. The police chief has proposed two-single tone directional Thunderßeam sirens covering 4,800 feet with a rotating sound deflector and one Omnidirectional single-tone siren covering 2,400 feet in each direction. The Omni-directional siren has 12 ports to project the sound waves. “These will completely take in all of Syracuse Lake, the town and area surrounding,” commented Chief Ziller. He added the fact that these are the bjjst made. A quote of $23,347 was received from Hoosier Fire Equipment, Inc., Valparaiso, on the sirens, motor starter controls, control mounting kits, radio receiver and timer for siren activation and whip antenna. The quote does not include installation or battery packs for back up power. The storm warning devices would be located at the end of Medusa Street, by the post office, and at the south end of town near Palm Drive. The sirens would tie

Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (E5t.1907) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14,1987

iosi with the buildings. , jTiii tfiisden, Milford's assistant fire chief, said a large supply of plastic fence material stored in one building was saved, but some was burned. “The fire was pretty well through the roof when we got there.” he said. "We had to be careful of fumes because burning plastic gives off gases that can be dangerous.” The cause the fire is still under investigation by the state fire marshal's office and members of the Kosciusko County Squad 70 fire investigation team. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

Trick-Or-Treat Oct b 31 gL. / The Milford Town Board set tamWl ».m. to» ] »».m.SayL y throe ch town

curs. The police department logged 2,365 miles between September 11 and Friday, Oct. 9, according to Hobbs, with 172 complaints being fielded and two traffic accidents investigated. In another report, Winchester stated that the utilities department would be flushing town hydrants tomorrow, Oct. 15, to help alleviate rust problems. The superintendent also asked the board for a meeting with the public to discuss a master plan he has developed to end the town’s ongoing rust problems. “I want to give the public a choice,” Winchester said, noting that the improvements would involve a rate

into the telephone lines and be activated by a button at the fire station. The next step will be to present the project to the Syracuse Town Board. 911 And Enhance 911 The county police department is looking at the year 1990 for implementing the 911 system. This is when all telephones in the county will be <bn the new digital system. Spurgeon commented the WPOA wants to look at 1987, 1988, 1989 and has underwritten the cost of a consultant looking into costs and the feasibility of having 911 for Syracuse and the areas served by the Syracuse Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Service Departments. A look into direct lease lines for 911 for the Cromwell telephone exchange and residents in Benton Township, more telephone lines as well as away to transfer a call to the county with a touch of a button will all need to be done. “We are looking at keeping the concept of the local dispatching,” commented Spurgeon, adding, "we’re never going to have a 4

increase in water bills. Two possible solutions include a filtration system, which would cost approximately $250,000, and the elimination of dead-end water lines, which would denote a SBO,OOO to $90,000 price tag. “The first plan would be a definite, while the second is not an absolute solution,” Winchester stated. The board asked that Winchester wait until after January to schedule a public meeting, barring it from becoming a political issue. The board did agree to allow Winchester to explore the possibility of feeding polyphosphate into water lines to keep iron in suspension. A chemist will be consulted to assure proper state levels of the chemical. The superintendent, who recently completed American Water Works Association School, stated, “I learned a lot about our water system and hope to use that knowledge in the future.” Continuing his report, Winchester noted that inclement weather has hampered street paving this fall, although Phend (Continued on page 2)

situation where you go to the police department or fire department and no one is there. You can’t have a sign that says dial 911. The first Sunday there is drinking in May the telephone will be dismantled and taken away. Keep the concept of local dispatching until something better comes along then try to adapt it.” Spurgeon commented no cost estimates are available yet from the consultants on having two to three emergency lines within the 911 line. Robert Westfall commented the biggest opportunity is the Town of Syracuse and Turkey Creek Township share the cost of the project. “We get everybody working together, no one will get the raw end of the deal on the cost of the telephone.” Sheriff Robinson explained the Enhanced 911 system is a system that when a call is received the dispatcher is given what EMS to call, back-up EMS and a map with the caller’s location. There is also a safety where if the line goes dead, the map remains. Information as to what agencies to

To replace 'Citizen of the Year' banquet —

MAD to have recognition banquet

| By DEB PATTERSON I Staff Writer Milford Community Recognition Banquet was k recommended as a replacement for the Citizen of the Year Banquet and accepted by members of the Milford Area Development Inc., Council Saturday morning. The committee is being formulated with representatives from each organization in the community The goal of the banquet is to foster a feeling of community pride and provide an opportunity for people in the community to show appreciation to members of an organization for their contribution to their community. The banquet recommendation came from five individuals who recently made contributions to MAD in the recent membership drive. Donn Kesler, MAD president, met with Dick Roose, Marilyn Brown. Karl Keiper, Janet Bowser and Carlton (“Cap") Beer They were asked for ideas to replace the “Citizen of the Year” banquet which has been discontinued Their recommendation for a community recognition banquet was based on a feeling for a need to honor or recognize a community organization for what it has done. The group to be honored ’■ ould not be secretive, as the "Citizen of the Year” was, with , the honored group being publicise, ed in conjunction with that banquet. The program for the evening would be for the family and could include information about each member of that organization or local talent. The five people also recommended to Kesler the committee be formed of members from organizations and services Hubs to select the award recipients, with another committee to plan and organize the banquet. Kesler commented the success of the first banquet would determine how often a recognition banquet would be held. He also noted it would be possible to honor an individual that same evening for outstanding service, along with the organization. It was even mentioned there could be specific areas of, recognition such as, church recognition year, service club recognition year. Excellent Idea! Those present at the meeting felt the recommendation was an excellent idea and would have the community support. Comments were made that the community building would not be large enough to hold the banquet if the community got behind it. “I believe there will be more interest,” commented Don Arnold, treasurer, who added there will have to be advance ticket sales to determine how much food and space will be needed.

contact are programmed into the computer based on what is wanted. He also stated he has heard there is a system where a button can be installed in the central dispatching office to transfer the call to the proper areas, i.e. a call is received for Syracuse Police through 911, the dispatcher presses a button to have the call transferred to Syracuse Police without telling the caller to dial another number. Need Rural Numbering System Sheriff Robinson commented the biggest hold up in the county going to a 911 system is the rural numbering system, which has been fought about for up to 20 years. “We finally are on the right foot and have county office holders, businesses, and individuals involved, and we got off the ground last week after 20 years.” The sheriff commented the problem which develops in the rural numbering system is the zero base system currently used in the county. (Zero base is where numbers are started at (Continued on page 2)

A list of organizations and service clubs was made by those present at the meeting Saturday and included: Waubee Lake Association, Dewart Lake Association, Milford Lions, Milford Kiwanis, Milford Ministerial Association, Columbia Reading Circle, Milford Senior Citizens, Milford Fire Department, Milford-Van Buren Township Emergency Medical Service and MAD. Kesler and Betty Hall, secretary, will be contacting these groups for one representative to be selected and a meeting called in November.

Six top priorities head school board wish list

j By CARLA GAFF Staff Writer Christmas wish lists may be flitting across the minds of many people at this time of the year, but for Wawasee School Board members, the number one list on their minds Tuesday evening was a corporation priorities list. The new corporation list has six top priorities in no given order, and the remainder of the original list will be kept as a continuance of work Already started. “Some of these are not really goals which we have to strive for," commented board president Bill Little, “but are simply things to keep working on.” The priorities chosen are as follows. Establish a long range plan for facilities and develop a long range scheduled plan for equipment replacement; develop and complete an evaluation process for the board, and superintendent, plus establish a Management By Objective type of evaluation for board and administrators; staff schools with full-time counselors with a focus on the personal needs of students, and use student consulting and all other means to enhance studentteacher relationships and thereby reduce student drop-out potential; review board policy apd accomplish necessary revisions, deletions and additions; continue the positive relationship with teachers and staff in negotiations and other endeavors; provide for a smooth transition into the middle school. The board will start work on the list of priorities immediately, however, exact plans have not yet been stipulated. In other business, Superintendent Roger Thornton announced that due to some changes in Prime Time funding the corporation will not be showing a high

»v & ■ MWibV IIHi > Ki § I SI wlf I f ■ f HEAR ABOUT STORM WARNING AND sll — Members of the Syracaie-Wawasee Chamber el j Commerce who attended the chamber luncheon last Wednesday heard updates about the new storm ] warning system and 911 from three guest speakers. Both areas are of Internet tn theehamhge —d its i membership. Presenting the program were Syracuse Police Chief Robert Ziller, Keartoaba County s Sheriff Ron Robinson and Wawasee Property Owners Association President Wiley ("IW") f Spurgeon. 3 Shown In the photo looking at the map prepared by Chief Ziller on the locations of the three oterm 1 warning devices are: Chief Ziller; Sheriff Robinson; Jeanne Gardiner, chamber preoMeut; and Spurgeon. (Photo by Deb Patterson) I *

Kesler asked that if a group was omitted and would like to have a representative on the committee contact should be made with him or Mrs. Hall. Other Business Kesler announced there would be seven individuals appreciating MAD underwriting their EMS training according to Cheryl Brunjes, president of the EMS. The cost would be $155 per person with MAD receiving $75 per person back after training is completed andlhe remaining $75 per person jjfter one year of service.

balance at the end of the year, as it has in the past. He explained that he did not expect to see the corporation working in the red but estimated a $50,000-80,000 balance. Prime Time funds will be received by the corporation on a monthly basis and not in a lump sum as the funds did in the past. Therefore an appropriation of nearly SIOO,OOO was needed for the certified salary account. “If we hadn’t added Prime Time aides this fall, we’d have only came to you at this time for an additional $66,000, ’ explained Thornton. Appropriations for the cumulative building fund and the general fund were also made, with SIO,OOO from the general fund going toward the purchase of new band uniforms. It was estimated that 150 uniforms will be purchased with an expected cost of $36,000, and the school is allowed by state statutes to pay up to 50 percent of the total bill. The band boosters will then pick up the remaining amount. Thornton stated that the corporation will probably ask for an additional SB,OOO in January. Also during the meeting, business manager Roger Kryder stated the corporation will be advertising for four new 66-passenger school busses. He said a change of methods for updating the fleet is going to be made and that the corporation will be changing up to 10 percent of its busses each year. Presently the corporation has 34 regular busses — 8 reserve busses and two mini busses. “I’ve heard nothing but positive comments about the diesel busses we purchased last year,” stated Kryder, who went on to say diesel engines will again be requested. Additionally, the board acted on or discussed the following: • A change in substitute teacher pay from $35 a day to $42,

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MAD had approved underwriting the EMS training of any person needing assistance several months ago. Carol Speicher reported the carpets had been cleaned and had a list of four items needing repaired in the building. She also noted Maple Leaf Farms had rented the building for the next six Thursdays for management training. Kesler stated the next meeting would be Saturday, Nov. 14, at 9 a.m., unless members were con- • tacted otherwise.

with an annual pay update as needed. • Parent-teacher conferences were changed from two full days, to two afternoon and evening days. This change was made in order to meet requirements of House Bill 1360. • It was noted that 23 paraprofessionals for the Syracuse, Milford and North Webster Elementary Schools, who were hired last month, are now in their respective positions. This year’s newly hired para-professionals are: At Syracuse — Vicki Shreve, Carol Nicolai, Sue Ganshorn, Sherry Hissong, Vicki Hoover, Shirley Yoder and Shari Lambert At Milford — Diane Olson, Don* na Hollar, Teresa Henderson, Debra Hollar, Diane Busz and Patsy Boggs. At North Webster — Margaret Meyer, Patricia Rawlings, Karen Fouts, Barbara Newcomb, Eldonna Warren, Debbie Moorman, Joyce Moore, Marlene Andrews, Debra Neer and Nancy Vanator. • Hull announced the 1987-88 official student enrollment shows the corporation having 95 more students this year than last year, with a total of 3,383 students. • A report and demonstration was given to the board by the Industrial Technology classes from the various middle schools. It was noted this new program has four major cluster areas which are communication, construction, manufacturing and transportation. • Thornton stated that because of overcrowding at Syracuse an additional staff person may be needed as well as an extra classroom. • The board agreed to grant GED certificates to Jeffery Croy, Tricia Shepler, Niki Phillippe, Timothy Shear and Beaulah Shear. The board will be meeting again on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. in the administration office.