The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 49, Milford, Kosciusko County, 18 January 1989 — Page 1

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VOLUME 27

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SUCCESSFUL ACADEMIC TEAM — Members of the 1988-89 Wawasee High School Academic Decathlon team surround the trophy that they captured for placing second in regional competition held at Northridge High School last Saturday. The nine member team, along with their four coaches, are now preparing to compete against 19 other teams in the state academic decathlon finals to be held on Ff-b. 10-11 in Indianapolis.

On to state — Wawasee academic team places second

“It was a tremendous accomplishment by the kids,’’ commented Beth Hursh, one of the the coaches of the Wawasee High School Academic Decathlon team that placed second in regional competition held at Northridge High School last Saturday. The nine-member team is now preparing to compete against 19 other teams in Indianapolis on Feb. 10-11 for the state title. o The nine members of the team totaled 36,575 points to finish behind only Fort Wayne Snider during last Saturday’s competition. The other 11 schools participating in the regional were: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, South Bend Clay, Heritage Sr., Fort Wayne Homestead. John Glenn, South Bend LaSalle,

10-day deadline set on easements

Property owners who have not yet executed the tank easements to Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District were given a deadline for granting those easements. The TCRSD • board passed a resolution at Monday evening’s meeting approving the by-passing of certain properties if the easement is not executed within 10 days after its receipt by the property owner. The resolution w r as the result of Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District Attorney Richard Green's advice that in the immediate future the sewer district will have to certify to the Indiana Department of Environmental

Replogle to remain at helm of MAD

By SCOTT DAVIDSON Staff Writer

Election of officers for 198a and the passing of the proposed budget for this year were“lhe two main items of business that were taken care of during the January meeting of the Milford Area Development Council. Inc conducted this past Saturday morn ing in the Milford Community Building. MAD officers/board members who will serve the organization in 1989 are as follows; John Replogle (President), Donn Kesler (Vice President). Don Arnold (Treasurer), Bob Hall (Secretary), Elmer Sorenson and Fred Weisser (Build'ing Maintenance), and Carol Speicher (Custodian/Building Caretaker). Also, Dennis Replogle (EMS). John Lehman

Mishawaka, New Haven, Northridge, South Bend Washington and Fort Wayne Wayne, One hundred and one teams all over Indiana competed in regional competition and now there are 20 left who wiH,participate in the state fmafs to be contested at Indianapolis University on Friday and Saturday. Feb. 10-11. The Wawasee team, consisting of seniors Shea Metcalf, Brian Tallon, Susan Hapner, Holly Jodry, Cathy Barker, Ray Barker and Melissa Naugler and juniors Jeremy Beer and Shawn Kiser, is coached by Wawasee teachers Hursh, Ron Corson, Karen Parr and Chris Kline. The team received silver medals for their second place regional finish

Management that either all tank easements have been obtained, or that certain owners have not granted the easement and will be by-passed during construction of the sewer. This will be one of the final steps prior to advertising for bids on the project. During Green's status report on the easements, it was learned 770 of the 825 tank easements needed have been obtained. Green explained the remaining easements will be handled in one of two ways. One way, he explained is through the execution of tank easements. The other way will be that those property owners who either procrastinate or refuse to execute the tank easements will not be connected to the sewer when it is

(Town Board) and Paul Tinkel (Ministerial Association) were chosen to represent their various organizations during the monthly meetings of MAD in 1989. Additionally, Gary Hurd will work with MAD"7Ts a helper/assistant treasurer while Dick Smith will also lend his assistance in the area of building maintenance Arnold, MAD's treasurer, reported in the group's annual report on Saturday that MAD bad a beginning balance of-$6,100.73 on Jan. 1, 1988 and an ending balance of $7,137.04 on Dec. 31. 1988 He reported that MAD had total receipts of $11.245.78 during 1988 and total expenses of $10,209.47 during the past year Arnold proposed a budget of--59,100 for 1989 which was approved by the MAD council on Saturday. The breakdown of the proposed budget was as follows: Heat and Electricity ($2,900). Telephone <s4so). Custodial Ser

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

Seated in front from left are; Ned Speicher (Wawasee High School Principal), coach Beth Hursh, Shawn Kiser, Melissa Naugler and Jeremy Beer. Standing from left in the back are coach Ron Corson, Shea Metcalf, Susan Hapner, Brian Tallon. coach Chris Kline, Ray Barker, Cathy Barker and coach Karen Parr. Holly Jodry, not pictured, is also a member of the team. (Photo by Scott Davidson)

-I as well as a beautiful trophy for ihe school. As a team on Saturday, Wawasee scored the following points in each of the 10 areas that the decathletes are tested in: 2,380 (math), 2,380 (science), 3,800 (economics), 3,260 (social science), 3,300 (grammar/literature), 3,740 (fine arts), 4,875 (essay), 5,120 (interview), 3,400 (super quiz) and 4,320 (speech). Not only did the overall team fare well in the regional competition but all of the team members received individual awards for their performances. Kiser placed second in super quiz and fine arts while also recording a third in math. Ray Barker placed second

constructed. He noted a “Y” will be placed in the sewer line in front of the non-signing property owner’s property. Those property owners who have given easements for the tank will have the tank and its installation paid -for by the district. Once the system goes into operation, those properties where no tank easements have been granted will be required to connect to the system at specifications established by the district. The expense for the tank and installation will be at the nonsigning property owner's expense. State law and a Kosciusko County Ordinance mandates the property owners connect to the sewer line, the district will also

vice ($1,600), Cleaning Supplies ($200), Maintenance ($500), Postal/Mading expenses ($250), Insurance ($900), Equipment ($200), Community Service Projects ($2,000) and Miscellaneous ($100). In other business during the MAD meeting, a certificate of appreciation was presented to Betty Hall for her work as MAD secretary in the past. Hall, who resigned from t\er post in December, was not able to be at Saturday's meeting and her certificate was accepted by her husband, Bob, the current MAD secretary. Replogle noted during Saturday’s meeting that he believed that MAD should continue to be involved with attending meetings of the Kosciusko County Visitor and Convention Bureau which are held each week in Warsaw Replogle added that himself. Ar-

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18,1989

in overall competition in addition to finishing second in super quiz and third in economics and fine arts. Additionally for Wa'wasee, Beer placed third in overall competition in addition to placing first in essay, and second in language/literature and super quiz. Tallon registered a second place in essay and super quiz while Metcalf, Cathy Barker, Jodry, Naugler and Hapner all placed second in the super quiz. “I’m very happy with the way that the students performed last weekend and now we’re hoping to finish in the top 10 when we compete for the state title in Indianapolis next month,” concluded Hursh.

be passing a Use Ordinance, with the same requirements "Therefore, the result of not granting a tank easement will be that the expense of a tank and its installation will fall on the property owner,” stated Green, adding "which would not be the case if an easement is granted.” Ray Kocher, project engineer, spoke on the other final step to be taken before bids can be advertised. He gave a status report on the sewer design and indicated the .final design plans had been submitted to IDEM with approval of these plans expected very soon. In other business,' the board established a personnel committee to interview and hire a certified treatment plant operator. This person will operate the

nold and Lehman would continue to attend the meetings in order to try and find out how the town of Milford could use the bureau to obtain some publicity. Arnold noted that mailers for the 1989 year for MAD would be sent out to ,Milford businesses near the end of January and that a general mailing to Milford area residents would occur around the first of February. He added that the mailers would ask for a $25 donation from businesses and a $lO (individual) or a S2O (family) donation from residents to help support MAD during the next year Replogle stated that MAD would not conduct a meeting in February and that the next meeting, to be held on Saturday, March 11,\ at 9 am., would involve setting the date for the MAD recognition night for 1989 which will honor the Milford Firemen

At Syracuse — Equipment plan changed

ByGLEN LONG Staff Writer

Syracuse Town Board President Jim Hughes made a public statement on the town’s proposed acquisition of equipment at the town board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Stating that the acquisition plan will not happen as planned, Hughes said. “There were too many assumptions made. Too many word of mouth statements.” He was referring to the town’s stated plan to receive a sewer vacuum machine and backhoe from Dana Corp, as partial payment on a payment of $230,000 agreed to by Dana as funding to help pay for facilities to handle its waste water treatment. Hughes told the board that he has been informed by Bud Sawyer, local Dana Corp, plant manager, that Dana prefers to fulfill the commitment it had made and let the town then purchase its own equipment. The president added that he still feels the town needs the two pieces of equipment and "cannot get this good a price without using this money (referring to the Dana payment).” He stated his recommendation is that the town should plan to buy the equipment. As the discussion continued, member Carl Myrick, who as a - Dana employee had abstained from voting on the equipment plan, asked attorney Bob Reed, "What do we have to do to get this funding payment from Dana?" Reed responded that a Dana representative told him all the town must do is write the company a letter requesting that payment be made. Syracuse resident Betty Dust, a former Syracuse clerk-treasurer, asked if the waste water, street and water departments would share use and cost of the machines. "I assume they would be used also for storm sewer work,” she said.

sewage treatment plant for the district. Several persons, it was noted, have shown interest in the job.

b i 1 WINTER CARNIVAL SUPPER — Samaritans-On-Standby (S.O.S) will be hosting a chili supper in conjunction with the 10th annual Syracuse-Waw asee W inter Carnival. According to Priscilla Rhode, committee member of S.O.S. this will be the second attempt at a fund raising event by the group since a garage sale was held last July. "The money (from the supper) will go toward a building acquisition fund and a bus service for senior citizens." _ • . S Rhode says the will takaplace only if other winter carnival activities remain scheduled. If weather discourages the events, the chili supper will be cancelled. St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, in Syracuse, will be the site of the supper. It will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Jan. 28. and will remain open throughout the day until all the chili is sold out. Besides chili, peanut butter sandwiches, cookies or brownies and coffee and lemonade will be served. Prices will \ary according to selections. S.O.S. members Norma Rush and Edith Brice will he preparing the chili which is estimated to serve 200 people. Mary Presscott. right, and Pauline Firestone are trying to think of ideas for posters which will be displayed throughout Syracuse, to publicize the supper.

Dust reminded the board that according to ordinance, a percentage of funds received must go to depreciation, maintenance repairs and other budget categories, not just to equipment. She added, "I don’t want to be charged on my sewer bill for something that should be charged someplace else.” Hughes reported that in 1988 the town paid almost $19,000 to private septic handlers to pump out sewer fluids. He said the public should be aware that the town has 15 miles of sewer lines and that to hire someone to clean them all would cost $73,000. He added that to clean them with the town’s manpower and equipment costs about $20,000. The president pointed out that the sewer "Vac-All” he wants the town to buy would efficiently clean sewer lines, lift stations, catch basins, storm sewers and critical parts of the sewage treatment plant. He said it would save each sewer system user 48 cents per month if the $230,000 was all used toward the department’s debt. Carl Myrick asked if this machine needs to be bought this year and was told by Hughes that his goal is to have a new sewer cleaner by the time the new sewage plant is in operation io proper cleaning of lines, pumps and other parts can be done. Myrick said he doesn't think it’s fair to buy a vacuum cleaner all from sewer funds and suggested the board should consider putting the Dana funds into a certificate of deposit or other loca-

Milford-Van Buren Twp. — Seek mutual fire contract

By B. R. MORRIS Staff Writer

A special meeting was convened last night (Jan. 17) between the Milford Fire Department, the Van Buren Township Board and

The next scheduled meeting of the board will be on Monday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m., in the Syracuse Town Hall.

tion so it can generate interest toward the equipment purchase. After all discussion, the board agreed to decide at the planned 5 p.m. special meeting on January 24 how it will proceed. Other Business The board adopted ordinance 89-1 to allow Clerk-Treasurer Mark Tatman to pay routine recurring charges such as taxes, utilities When they come due. In response to Myrick’s comment that the board should get a periodic roster of all town employees, the members were asked to inform the departments they meet with of the need. TenEch Engineering Inc. project manager Randy Lindley told the board that work on the treatment plant is 50 percent complete and collection system work is 30 percent complete. He said some equipment for the treatment has been delivered and the building is now being started. The board voted to accept and sign an engineering change order for five changes in the amount of $9,251,94. The changes include items of additional reinforcing steel at the treatment plant. The board passed a resolution to extend the completion target date on the Community Improvement Project (CIP) to June 1, 1989, since the first date expired on December 26, 1988. Claim one on the CIP was also approved for payment to Dye Plumbing and Heating, LaPorte, in the amount of $10,073.80. It was noted that this all comes from the approved state CIP grant so the payment is

the Milford Town Board to discuss contracts between the three parties. Harry Doty, president of the Van Buren Township Board, called attention to the fact that there are, in effect, three different contracts right now; one between the town and township, one between the township and fire department and one between the town and fire department. Doty mentioned the possibility of having one contract between the three departments or three separate contracts which are worded the same. During discussion, Van Buren Township Trustee Marcia Baumgartner suggested Milford Town Attorney Jay Rigdon look at the three current contracts and incorporate them into one if possible or to write three separate contracts with like wording. "We share the responsibility of the fire department,” commented Monica Bice, Milford’s clerk-treasurer, "because it is essential for mutual aid purposes.” The sticky point about having a mutual contract would be how much monev the town and township gives to the fire department. Each year, the formula that has been. used takes the assessed valuation of the town and township, and multiplies it by the fire department contract Then the fine department receives a percentage of what the figure is, out of the formula. Bice noted that the town can only give a five percent increase each year to the fire department due to Indiana law. She also added that for the first year, the formula was a good base to start with; however, as the assessed valuation changes between the town and township, the amount given to the fire department changes, resulting in uneven percentages that the town and township can give. “It’s like a yoyo every year." Baumgartner remarked about the assessed valuation. The five percent figure has the fire department worried since thev have no control over expenses such as insurance costs, electric bills and hidden expenses that rise out of new laws. These have to be considered when making the budget It was agreed to have Rigdon work on the contracts.

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NUMBER 49

subject to approval from the State of Indiana. The board voted to appoint Donald Cowan to the Syracuse Park Board to replace Linda Neff for the 1989 to 1992 term. Carol Koble, park board liaison member, reported that local con tractors have been contacted to submit bids on the new gazebo planned at Lakeside Park. Approval was given by the board to send six emergency medical system workers to emergency medical technician school at a cost of S2OO each. The rezoning to commercial district request on the James R. Bostic property north of town will come to a vote at the special January 24 meeting at 5 p.m. at the town hall. Betty Dust asked, “Why don’t we have a regular billing period on our water bills?” Ron Conley, water department superintendent, said the bills are for the period since the previous bill was printed and not the dses pertaining to use. He suggested she compare her bill from the week of the 17th one month to the week of the 17th the next month. He explained that initially the variations were due to the changes in procedure to process all the bills at the same time of the month. Member Barb Carwile asked if anything can be done to smooth the street at the intersection of Main and Brooklyn Streets, where she said it is very rough since the sewer excavation. Conley said he will contact the contractor to improve the situation.

In a separate meeting between the fire department and town, the topic of the cost of new doors for the fire department was discussed. A $6,000 spending limit was set for the door with the bill being turned over to the town. The door will be installed on the east side of the building in the meeting room area. 1989 SNOWQL'EEN — Shelly Moser, 18, r 2 box 678, Leesburg, was crowned the 1989 Snow Queen last Saturday evening, Jan. 14, prior to the North Webster Winter Carnival Dance. Miss Moser was one of three girls vying for the title, which was awarded to the girl receiving the most money collected in canisters placed in businesses in North Webster. The Snow queen is the daughter of Gerry and Jan Moser, and is a student at Wawasee High School. She has beeiunvolved in Students Against Drunk Driving for three years and is now a leader. She visits the nursing home when possible and has worked on the school yearbook for two years. Moser is planning to attend Purdue University and study for a master's degree in biology. She enjoys free-style dancing, singing. skating, swimming, skiing, surfing, scuba diving and snow mobiling. She has a sister. Angie, and a brother, Rob. Proceeds she earned through the penny a vote contest will go to the Athletic Association of Wawasee High School. Other contestants included Jennifer Corn. 16. r 1, Leesburg; and Sheryl Niccum, Warsaw.