The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 26, Milford, Kosciusko County, 10 August 1988 — Page 2

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., August 10,1988

BZA 54 YS 'no' to u-store 'yes' to day care center

By GLEN LONG Staff Writer

The petition of D.F.M. Enterprises for an exception for the purpose of building a mini-u-store warehouse in a commercial/agricultural district was denied by the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) at its Aug. 9 meeting. Noel John Perry, Loving Caire Center Inc., was granted an exception for tfie purpose of the expansion and additional use (day care center)Cfor a granted exception in an agricultural residential district. Attorney Rich Helm presented Perry’s petition for the expansion on his property on the north end of Elm Street in Milford. After the approval, Perry said construction begins on Aug. 10 on the project which is scheduled for completion on Dec. 8. The day care center is planned to accommodate a total of 60 children. Several members of the large audience at the Justice Building in Warsaw were present to express their opposition to the planned mini-u-store being located on the west side of SR 13 and north of CR 1000 N in Turkey Creek Township. Attorney Steve Snyder represented the petitioner in the

Fishing area open

£ (Continued from page 1) his comments. “We think this is an excellent ramp. If we can pull out a boat, anyone can.” Other projects performed by the DNR include the installation of eight picnic tables, a 22-slot parking lot, aftd the public restrooms. Millar thought the projects were overdue and should ma|f@ this side of the lake more enjoyable. “We have started slowly, but now we can go from here,” added Millar. “This is the largest

f Community Relations Team (The Name Says A Lot) / 1 f W '.; v v ": * The latest project for United Telephone's Nappanee/Syracuse Community Relations Team is a golf tournament on Aug. 27 to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. Planning the tourney are, from left, Randy Rodgerson, Dan Darr, Chuck Ritter, Ray Worden, Jeanne Hollar, Phil Angle and Bob Chokey. The team sold barbecued chicken in Syracuse as a fund-raiser for the Ronald McDonald House, and has conducted children's finger-printing and cleanup activities in the communities. Working As A Team... To United Telephone employees, our communities are special. That's why many UTS employees and retirees volunteer their time to a community relations team (CRT). Statewide, there are 13 United Telephone CRTs. Their projects are wide ranging. But whether they're cleaning parks or helping with Special Olympics, the community relations teams have a common goal: give something back to .their communities. Now, our community relations teams have united efforts for a statewide project. They are raising funds to assist with the expansion of the Ronald McDonald-House in Indianapolis. The house is a home-away-from home for families of patients at the Riley Hospital for Children. It offers emotional support as well as lodging for families of children with serious health problems. We think it's a great project , undertaken by a great group of people. ■United isszr / United Telephone of Indlajne

case which was continued from last month. He claimed that the Firestone Construction Company, operating in the present building, is a personal service operation in a commercial district and therefore has no prohibition on outside storage. Dan Richard, APC director, pointed out that equipment stored behind the building includes old school buses, which are not normally considered construction equipment. Snyder stated frequently that outside storage has no bearing on the petition for the warehouse exception. “Is the petitioner in violation of any section of the ordinance?” he asked. “If so — what? If there’s a violation we want to correct it.” Deb Pilcher, who said she had sold the property in question to D.F.M. initially, said their junk is partially stored on her next door property. She said she has asked that it be moved, but it is still, there. She added that she had paid D.F.M. SSOO to help gravel the jointly used driveway and that D.F.M. still drives around the Pilcher building on their property with big trucks and equipment. Pilcher said the use planned for the property when it was sold was stated as an auto sales and service business and Firestone Construction was not mentioned. This she considers to be deception on the part of D.F.M.

natural lake in Indiana and this should have been done a long time ago. This is a tremendous improvement.” Playground equipment will be added to the family area within a couple of weeks, according to Millar. Long term projects include the addition of picnic shelters and moving the conservation headquarters from Warsaw to the family area. No dates were released for the future projects. The new facility will offer visitors picnicking, sightseeing,

Mary Lou Dixon, who owns property across SR 13, stated the area is growing rapidly with a new church and junior high school. She expressed concern about increased traffic in the area and commented, “The site looks terrible and I object to their junk.” s Mary Jane Deardorff, also a neighbor, pointed out that no one had defined the height of SR 13 over the planned warehouse area. Snyder, in his rebuttal comments, said that the u-store would be 35 feet west of the SR 13 right-of-way, not the road surface. “There is no visibility problem if drivers will just look,” he stated. The denial was based on points in the county zoning ordinance concerning conditions that may be dangerous, injurious, or noxious to any other property or persons ; total visual impression and environment consistent with the neighborhood; and the need for vehicular access and parking to minimize traffic congestion in the neighborhood. It included the statement that Firestone Construction should store only equipment actually used in its business and remove other equipment. Other Cases Priscilla Rhode, Syracuse, was granted a petition for a variance which will permit construction of an attached garage on an east property line. Her property is located on the north side of North Shore and 3 4 mile east of W.E.

fishing and boating. The area will be open daily, and an attendant will be on duty during the highuse periods. To ensure an enjoyable visit, the DNR requests that groups of more than 20 obtain a special permit. Special event permits are available from the DNR’s Division of Fish and Wildlife Properties Section, 607 State Office Building, Indianapolis, Ind., 46204. Additional parking for large groups is available at nearby Tri-County Fish and Wildlife area. 1

Long Drive in Turkey Creek Township. Loren Hershberger dropped his petition for an exception for the purpose of a home occupation (fabrication of portable storage sheds) in a residential district. His property is located near Dewart Lake on the west side of Kokomo Drive and 240 ft. south of CR 1000 N in Van Buren Township. Douglas Schmahl was granted an exception for the purpose of construction of an oversized accessory building 40x60 ft. in size on a lot with no principal structure in a residential district. The building is to be located 10 ft. from a road right-of-way. and at least five feet from a side property line. The property is located on the south side of a 20 ft. road and east of Catherine Street in Turkey Creek Township. Many of those in the large audience in remonstrance to the petitions of David W. Whitesell for an exception for a planned unit development in a residential district. The board voted to affirm the findings of the Area Plan Commission, which had denied Whitesell a recommendation for a manufactured housing subdivision. It then, after presentations by Whitesell and several remonstrators, voted unanimously to deny the exception for a planned unit development (PUD) in a residential district based on the opinion that the PUD would not be compatible with neighboring properties. In his presentation, Whitesell said “I’m attempting to use the land to its highest and best use.” He said in his opinion the area is proper for moderate income housing. Cheryl Swanson, who lives in near-by Hickory Estates, said she and her neighbors do not oppose a residential addition, but the smaller size lots planned in the PUD will adversely affect their property values. Voting registration Any residents of Tippecanoe Township wishing to register to vote in the fall election may do,so, e at the Tippecanoe Townshjb Assessor’s Office. The office is( located at the corner, of Washington and Morton Streets in North Webster, just two blocks west of the stoplight. The assessor’s office is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone wanting to register after office hours may phone the office at 834-4402 to set up an appointment. Anyone confined to their home that would like to register may also call the office for an appointment in the home.

Dick Elliott & Assoc. Jvm Box 8 Logansport,lN 46947-0008 A. HAPPY CUSTOMER Sez "You'll be seeing me soon — Dick Elliott is my Buddy; and if you listen to him, you too can become A REAL HAPPY CUSTOMER."

LEAGUE PROGRAMS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY Day Type Os League Time No. Os Bowlers Monday Men's 6:30 P.M. 5 Ladies' 9:00 P.M. 5 Tuesday Ladies' * 9:15 A.M. 3 Men's 6:30 P.M. 5 Ladies' 9:00 P.M. 4 Wednesday Ladies' * 9:15 A.M. 3 Ladies' 1:00 P.M. 4 Men's 6:30 P.M. 5 Men's 9:00 P.M. 5 Thursday Ladies’, * 9:15 A.M. 3 Welcome Wagon Ladies' * 1:00 P.M. 4 Ladies' 6:30 P.M. 5 Men's 9:00 P.M. 5 Friday Ladies', * 9:15A.M- 3 Church League Mixed Couples 6:30 P.M. 4 Couples 9:00 P.M. 4 Saturday Mixed Couples, CHURCH LEAGUE Church League Sunday " Mixed Couples 6:00 P.M. 4 Mixed Couples 8:00 P.M. 4 YOU MAY SIGN UP INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A COUPLE, OR TEAM * Denotes Leagues That Have Baby Sitting Service Available APPROXIMATE LEAGUE STARTIKG TIMES, END OF AUGUST GILLIAM LANES - State Road 15 North - WARSAW Phone:267-8313

* 1® «|gfif si - H 4 f |J jA f jr v *&- ;>,-t i vj^ $ €p' r V vHHHHHHHHHP CABINET MEETING AT MILFORD — Lions from a sevencounty area in North Central Indiana met in the Milford Community building on Sunday for the first cabinet meeting of the 1988-89 club year. District Governor Ray Enfield of Elkhart, left, presided; Zone Chairman Kent Doty of Milford, right, was in charge of arrangements for the day. The women visited Smith's Flower shop where owner Connie Smith demonstrated how to make both fresh and silk Slower arrangements. The women then toured The Papers Incorporated and learned the step by step operations of printing The Hoosier Lion, the state Lions newspaper which is printed in Milford.

APC refers Wawasee zoning request to BZA

By GLEN LONG Staff Writer The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission (APC) voted at its Aug. 3 meeting in the Justice Building in Warsaw to refer to the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) the request of Star Builders, Ft. Wayne, for a variance for a home occupation (construction office building) between SR 13 and Warner Road near the South Shore Golf Club south of Syracuse. Steve Snyder, attorney representing the company, said it has been doing work in the lakes area and needs a local office location. He said his clients plans to build a new 1,000 sq. ft. building and will employ more than one non-family member so the petition does not fit the home occupation zoning category. Thus the zoning variance from the BZA will be required. The board voted to recommend approval to the county commissioners of the petition of David L. and Diana J. Welker to rezone ground by Little Barbee Lake from a residential to a commercial district. The Welker property, known as Barbee Landing, is a restaurant, bar and lounge business located on the west side of Durbin St. (Barbee Lakes Road) on J;he north side of the Barbee bridge in Tippecanoe Township. Rich Helm, who represented the Welkers, said his clients have owned the property since 1985 and want the commercial zoning to facilitate future changes they may want to make in the business operation. He said the current pjan is to “chop out” the hill and expand the parking area. Two petitions signed by area residents in-favor of the zoning change and interior and exterior pictures of the building were presented in evidence by Helm. Members noted that the county

commissioners had overridden a negative recommendation by the APC several months ago and approved commercial zoning for the Jot-em-down store near the Welker property. The board also voted to approve the preliminary plat for a planned unit development (PUD) multi-family residential plat on a 8.57 acre tract of ground as asked for by Raymond and Rose Harroff, Stonehenge Golf Club Inc. The property is part of the Stonehenge Golf Course project which has been underway for many months on the Pierceton Road east of Winona Lake. Rich Helm, the attorney representing the Harroffs, said the plat is designed on the condominium concept, but each of the 34 unit£ will be built separately and individually. He said the IV 2 and 2-story cape cod style units will be in the $120,000 to $160,000 price range. The agenda of the meeting was completed quickly as two petitions were withdrawn by the petitioner and three were tabled to give petitioners time to notify adjacent property owners and submit plat drawings. ijMtt IIMHBP A * GOING TO COLLEGE IN MISSOURI — Michael Ray VanDiepenbos, son of Richard and Kathy VanDiepenbos, Syracuse, has been accepted and enrolled as a fulltime student at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. Missouri Valley College is a private, four-year liberal arts college, founded in 1889, and affiliated with the United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. Bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degrees are offered in 23 fields of study. VanDiepenbos was a 1988 graduate of Wawasee High School and is planning on majoring in business. He received a baseball scholarship and will be residing at 311 Moorland, 500 E. College Ave., Marshall, Mo., 65340. /

NEW BEGINNINGS * RECOVERY CENTER 301 N. Lake St., Suite No. 1 * WARSAW, INDIANA Counseling For Alcoholism; Chemical Dependency, Co-Dependency, Marriage, General, Recovery Counseling Confidentiality 'or Clients Call For Appointments — Outpatient Only Phone: 219-269-5665 Dr. Richard W. Anderson, 8.A., M. Div., S.T.D. American Association OS Christian Counselors

Milford's Watergate

(Continued from page 1) notified. Board members Robert Phillips and Dennis Wuthrich said that they thought Lehman was familiar with the matter, while Hobbs stated, “I thought it was ttie clerk-treasurer’s job to report such matters to the board, and I assumed that she had done that.” However, Bice responded, “I feel the police should notify the board when it is a matter concerning them.” Hobbs agreed to report matters affecting the board and his department directly to town board members in the future. The $950 allocation was eventually approved 2-1, with Lehman opposing the measure due to the way it was initially handled. Reporting for his department, Hobbs noted that a theft at the Della Baumgartner home in Milford had been cleared up, while a child abuse case is being handled in conjunction with the county and a child molest case is also being investigated. Seven traffic accidents were investigated between July 8 and Friday, Aug. 5, while six traffic arrests, four misdemeanor arrests, and one juvenile arrest were made. The department logged 2,397 miles during the month at a cost of $193.29 for gasoline and oil (13 mpg). Booklets from the National Child Safety Council have also been received and will be distributed to Milford School. “We will be giving classes on safety and drugs towards the end of September,” Hobbs said, referring to a successful program conducted last year that will be continued. After noting that Andy Fox would again serve as crossing guard, Wuthrich asked whether something could be done to restrict school crossing to the stoplight on SR 15. “A lot of people have expressed concern about children crossing at locations north of that site,” he said. While Hobbs stated that nothing could be done, legally, to require the children to cross at the Emeline Street intersection, he said that they would be askejl to comply with such requests. Motorists Cautioned Reporting for the utilities department, Utilities Commissioner Dallas Winchester II Stated that 10 sidewalks had been completed as part of the town’s sidewalk program, with two jobs remaining. “We should be able to complete the program this .week if we don’t get any rain,” he stated, noting that the department was also trading some sidewalk forms for curve’ forms, which will allow the town to pour new curbing next year. Signs, reminding motorists to drive with extra caution due to school being in session, will be installed later this month, while the department will be reading water meters next Monday, Aug. 15, through August 19. “We will need to come into the house to read the meters, while no call-ins will be allowed,” Winchester stated. The commissioner will also attempt to get the town’s name on a waiting list for a state grant that provides funding for street signs and he will be allowed S3OO for an Indiana Water-Pollution Control Association (IWPCA) meeting next Monday through August 18. After being briefed about a problem with Conrail covering one of the town’s catch basins, on Epieline Street, Leemon was instructed to write a letter to the railroad company, asking it to correct the problem. New System Developed Reporting for the building department for the first time, newly named Building Commissioner Bill Durbin noted that he, Building Inspector Harry Doty, and Leemon held an organizational meeting July 13, examining methods to make the department effective. The trio developed a system where specific complaints would be recorded and the complainant would provide sufficient information. “It’s possible that such complaints may have to be used in court and we want to be sure that they are valid,” Durbin said, referring to the system that supplies citizens with complaint

forms that are available in the town hall. The forms will request the complainant to supply specifics that go against the town’s unsafe housing ordinance. “This will eliminate some of the problems we have with people complaining about aesthetics,” Durbin explained. Bice also has complaint forms that have been provided by the county health department. “I wish people would take into consideration that some of these older structures are an asset to our town and not a liability. There are some beautiful historical structures and I hope people will offer some encouragement (for them) rather than discouragement,” he added, asking that the citizens, town board, building department, and area newspapers work “hand in hand.” Encouraging some of that cooperation, Durbin reported that Hobbs had delivered a letter to Tim Levernier, calling for demolition of his former business located on South James Street. According to the commissioner, three days later Levernier notified Building Inspector Harry Doty that he would demolish the building himself. “We gave him 60 days and he has started the demolition process, which we will monitor,” Durbin said. Another structure deemed as being unsafe, located at 212 E. Fourth St., is under order not to be occupied until the appropriate repairs are made. “Doty will talk to Ron Davidhizar (the structure’s owner) about securing the garage and front door of the house,” the commissioner said. “I feel the citizenry of the town may be responsible for much of that eyesore,” he added, referring to vandalism done to the home. In a related matter, letters will be sent regarding excessive weeds in the property bordering the rear of the Milford Farm Bureau Co-op, while John Perry and Orvil Kilmer, the developers of residential property between CR 1250 N and Fourth Street, will also be contacted regarding overgrown weeds. Ordinance 88-9, which amends Section 4-2-3 of the Municipal Code of Milford Junction was also approved unanimously. The ordinance makes it “unlawful for any person to park any motor vehicle in the first two parking spaces going west from Main Street to Catherine Street on the south side of Catherine Street, for more than 15 minute intervals.” The board will again meet in regular session at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, in the town hall.

1 1 Milford sets $2.25 tax levy The Milford Town Board agreed to advertise its budget as presented at the board’s regular meeting Monday night, Aug. 8. The proposal calls for a 1989 budget of $335,381 (a net tax levy of $2.24). . The budget would entail a $10,335 increase over the budget proposed last year and was figured on the 1987, payable 1988 assessed valuation of $8,710,860. Os the $335,381, $221,744 would be raised by the tax levy of $2.24 per SIOO assessed valuation. A finpl budget won’t be formally accepted by the board until a final meeting August 29. The public will have the opportunity to voice its opinion at a public budget meeting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. “We still have time to move money around from one appropriation to another,” Clerktreasurer Monica Bice told the board.

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