The Mail-Journal, Volume 28, Number 12, Milford, Kosciusko County, 3 May 1989 — Page 1

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Milford 658-4111 & Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 28

The State Bank of Syracuse will be affected by Ameritrust centralization

I By KATE WOLFORD Staff Writer With the centralization of data processing operations soon to be in the Elkhart main office, northern Indiana banks owned by Ameritrust, including The State Bank of Syracuse, will be affected. Just which State Bank of Syracuse employees, which offices, and to what degree they will be affected is, as yet, not completely known. However, after a May 2 annual Ameritrust stockholders' meeting, held in Elkhart, Edwin Finn, President of Ameritrust Indiana, did say that those facing a job change would likely have the opportunity to either move to a position at the Elkhart operation or train or ‘realign’’ for a new position at Syracuse. “We put a great deal of stock in our people. ” he asserted. State Bank of Syracuse President James Caskey said, “We ll still be a community bank.”' He also indicated that the bank personnel that customers are used to dealing with will likely still be

Renumbering update prese to Syracuse-Wawasee C of

I By DEB PATTERSON Staff Writer An update on the renumbering and renaming of streets in Syracuse was presented by Jerry Rumple, during this morning’s SyracuseWawasee Chamber of Commerce board meeting. Rumple noted a field team needs to be formulated to go out and walk each street verifying the location of homes, current addresses and distributing the new addresses. A list of possible names, based on types of trees, has been submitted for streets. The Syracuse Town Board indicated its desire to name the streets after, trees. Rumple pointed out several areas possibly needing renamed because they would not fit the new numbering system. He stated the best way to handle the renumbering is to divide the town up into six to eight sections. Support help from service clubs, the fire and emergency medical service departments to do the field work will be sought.

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GROUND BROKEN EOK NEW SCHOOL — The ground was officially broken for the construction of the new middle school for the Wawasee Community School Corporation, Monday, May 1. Members of the corporation's administration. Patron Advisory Committee for the new middle school, financial advisors, architects and contractors were on hand for the official ceremony. Dr. Roger Thornton, superintendent, spoke briefly before the official act noting appreciation to the board for the confidence and trust placed in the project. Curtis .lordan, board president, spoke about all involved in making a “great road to travel on" with the work leading up to the groundbreaking. Shown in front are Tom Tones. Syracuse Assistant Principal; Carolyn Anderson. PAC member; Roy Stiffler, corporation director of building maintenance and grounds; Dave Clark and Dave Towner, Carl .1. Reinke and Sons, general contractors; Richard Barton, project architect with Barton Coe Vilamaa;.Jordan; Carol Swartzendruber,

there after the change. The centralization process could be complete by the early fall for the Syracuse banks. The hoped-for result of this effort is high-tech, big city services provided with the small-town touch. At the meeting, Tom Dusthimer. Chairman of Ameritrust Indiana, said that the company wants to “have our cake and eat it too. " According to one source, locally, the number of employees whose jobs could be negatively affected by the change could be relatively small. Currently, the State Bank of Syracuse has a main office in Syracuse and four branches. In the Lakeland area, 37 people are employed by the State Bank of Syracuse. Caskey indicated that no mass-firing of employees is expected. Ameritrust has owned the bank since 1986. The local bank is in for more changes as well, including, a new name. Later this year, it will be named Ameritrust National Bank. The motive for that change, which is part of a process that began several years ago, includes advantages in marketing, advertising and economics.

Sally Cotton, board president, passed around a letter she received from Clinton Venable, Indiana State Highway Department, Division of Traffic Chief concerning the traffic light at SR 13 and Chicago Street. VCnable noted a study was made during a 12-hour period in which traffic was counted, delays observed, review of recorded accidents, physical details, sight, distances and vehicle speeds were all noted. This information was compared to '•standards’' used throughout the state to help determine if proper traffic controls are needed He stated that based on comparisons, the state has determined a traffic signal would be beneficial at that location. The installation of the light has been placed on the 1990 fiscal year project list. Other Business In other business. Mrs. Cotton briefly reported on the beautification presentation made by Ball State University, Muncie, students last week to several members of the board. Slides and mock ups will be received for presentation »to the general public.

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

v Sr I Ml A M E R 1 T R fS T' E X - ECL'TIVE — Edwin Finn, president of Ameritrust Indiana, was on hand at Ameritrust’s annual stockholders' meeting, held in Elkhart. Ameritrust owns the State Bank of Syracuse. Changes on the local level were discussed at the May 2 gathering.

It was suggested this be presented at the annual meeting in June, if the information is received in time. Bob Troutman announced the annual dinner will be June 21. in the Maxwelton Restaurant. The study into a community development manager was reported on by Jim Caskey, task force member. Caskey noted that a job description had been developed with the idea of easing into the program with the position being subsidized by the chamber, town and area development corporation. However, upon talking to Jim Hughes, town board president, his feeling is*it is time the town had a full time ty manager. Hughes was not receptive to the idea of the manager handling the development. coordination and implementation of a plan of action for controlled growth in Syracuse, along with town responsibilities. Caskey recommended the chamber look into a volunteer, on a part-time basis, with minimal pay to handle this position. Contacts will be made with the local ministerial association for possiblecandidates.

Syracuse is not the only bank in the chain to be affected by this change. For example, the northern Indiana anchor bank, the First National Bank in Elkhart, will also undergo a name conversion. State Bank of Syracuse customers will be getting mail on the change in the next few months. According to Howard Glassroth, a vice president with Ameritrust, it is hoped that the name change will be “as painless as possible" for the customer. , Customers who have old State Bank of Syracuse checks will likely be able to use them after

Renumbering underway in Milford

I By MARY JANE LORTON Staff Writer The first working meeting to discuss the renumbering project for the town of Milford was held on Monday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m., in the town hall. Numbering is considered essential to the implementation of the enhanced 911. .' After previous discussions with Steve Maenhout, who is directing the rural numbering project, Monica Bice, clerk-treasurer, showed the group plat maps of the town and demonstrated exactly what they must do to renumber. She said that as directed by the county, individual lots are marked off every 50 feet, and each block is set at 400 feet. She pointed out that although these numbers are not always accurate when measuring current lots and town blocks, these figures "are the basis the town is measured on. " It was decided that in order to make marking off lots easier, a grid would be made with the appropriate lot divisions. This would eliminate having to measure each lot individually with a ruler. Bice also pointed out that some street names may have to be changed in the town. She reported that each street should have only one name, and this is not the case with some streets in Milford. For example, the Syracuse-Milford Road is also CR 1250 N west of SR 15. The project is going to take some time to complete, but Bice said that she was happy with the

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Bill Troup and Dave Carey, board members; Judy Wagner. PAC member; Susie Johnson. PAC member; and Rev. Steven Eouts. PAC member. Standing in back are John Naab. Syracuse Principal; Arlene Berkey. PAI member; Ned Speicher. Wawasee Principal: Myron Dickerson (partially hiddenl. Wawasee Dean of Student; Russ Mikel (partialis hidden). Milford Principal; Roger Kryder (partially hidden), business manager; Richard Long. North Webster Principal; Cindy Kiser. Milford Assistant Principal; Marion Acton. North Webster Assistant Principal; Henry Smith (partially hidden) assistant superintendent for instruction: Tom Sommers, financial consultant with Sommers and Company: Dr. Thornton; Phil Gutman, financial consultant with Sommers and Company; Donn Kesler. Wawasee Assistant Principal; Jim Stucky. PAC member; Courtney Blue. PAI member; Marion “Bud" Lantz. PAC niember; ( and Dirk Kuhn. PAC member. (Photo In Deb Patterson)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1989

the name change, until they need to order new checks. The new checks would then be Ameritrust checks. With the changes in the banking corporation, customers will be able to take advantage of a statewide network of banks. For instance, a Syracuse resident could use his or her ATM or Automatic Teller Machine card to make a transaction in Indianapolis. Services the bank provides will be marketed on a statewide basis. Ameritrust, which is based in Ohio, also has facilities in the Kokomo and Indianapolis area.

meeting because they "accomplished a lot." Although originally. Maenhout had proposed a June 1 deadline for the county and town renumbering, it is evident that that deadline will not be met. Although town board members were informed of the working meeting, they were not in attendance. Priesent at the meeting were Monica Bice. Leon Newman and Chuck Bird. Management plan available for inspection Wawasee Community School Corporation now has available, for public inspection the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act management plan The public availability of the plan is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A complete updated copy of the management plan, which includes each school in the corporation, is available for public inspection in the WCSC Central Administration Office. Syracuse, during normal business hours. Each school also maintains a complete and updated copy of the management plan for that school, in the principal's office. This is also available for inspection, within five days after a request is made. A reasonable fee for copies of the plan may be charged.

X-X J’ - J. • -■Ww • MILFORD TOWN HALL — Located on Main St., the Milford Town Hall is said to be a visitor’s "first impression of the town of Milford.” Inside this 20-foot by 20-foot building are the offices of the clerk-treasurer, police department and the utilities commissioner. Town board meetings are also conducted in the clerk-treasurer’s office.

First impression — Milford Town Hall offers togetherness

Text and Photos By DEB PATTERSON and I MARY JANE LORTON Staff Writers Many residents have visited the Milford Town Hall. These people are witnesses to the smallness of the building and its offices. The building is approximately 20-foot by 20-foot with two levels. The upper level houses the office of the clerk-treasurer, which is also used for board meetings, and the police department office. Both of these offices are approximately eight-foot by 12-foot. The lower level, which formerly hous ed public restrooms, has beer converted into an office for the utilities commissioner on one side and what remains of the restrooms on the other. While Town Marshal Dave Hobbs. Utility Commissioner Dallas Winchester 111 and Clerk Treasurer Monica Bice feel their space is adequate, they each expressed concern about some aspect of the present structure. To enter the building, people have to walk up six steep stairs. Steps are also found at the back of the building. If someone is unable to climb stairs, there is no other way in the building. Once inside, to the left is the door' to the clerk-treh’surer's office; to the right is the door leading to the police department. A small hallway leads to the rear door. Outside on the south side of the building is the door leading to the basement office of the utilities commissioner. Clerk-Treasurer's Office Furniture in Clerk-Treasurer Monica Bice's office includes: her desk, a table, several wooden chairs, several folding chairs, •two file cabinets, a cart with the copy machine on top of it. and a, shelving unit that is at a right angle behind Bice s desk Milford's clerk-treasurer for almost six years, Bice described the town hall as a visitor's "first impression of the town of Milford." Basically, according to Bice, when people have questionsabout Milford, where things are located for example, they go to the town hall, and more specifically, to her office. "In year's past the building wasn t opened all day. they didn't do that much business." she said, "but now it is." Concerned about the inside of the building, one of the first things that Bice did after her swearing in. in 1983. was to redecorate her office According to an article in The Mail Journal "approval was given tor Richard Smith to build "shelves and cabinets for the office and for Doll's Decorating to install wallpaper, mini blinds and carpeting in the room " Bice said. "It looks a lot better now than it did " But. redecorating doesn't add space. Open Monday through Friday thorn 9 am to 5 p.m.. the clerk-

treasurer’s office is where Milford residents pay their utility bills. "The majority of people come in to pay their bills.” remarked Bice, “and all of the other town business is done here.” This makes for some occasional crowded moments in the office. Although most town halls have two rooms for the clerktreasurer, one for records and one to conduct public business, Bice works entirely out of one eight-foot by 12-foot room. "I suppose we could use more room,” Bice said,, "but we’ve survived.” Although the ledger books should be kept in a safe, according to Bice, she has to store them in her office. The only real storage space in the office, besides the two filing cabinets and her shelves, are two large cupboards on the right side of her office. Although the cupboards are relatively deep, they are completely full. Bice is in the process of petitioning the countycourt to destroy some old records that are no longer of any use to the town in order to free up more storage space. ’ With respect to temperature,, windows covering the length of two walls, the office gets cold in the winter. Although there is a window air conditioning unit. Bice noted that in peak summer months "it’s very hot in here.” Besides the business conducted in the clerk-treasurer’s office, town board meetings are also held in this location. Regular town board meetings usually involve nine to 12 people. However, when Milford residents attend the meetings.,’ or when a special meeting il called, the meeting is often moved to the Community Building im'.an effort to accommodate people. At other times, people must wait in the police department across the hall until it's their turn or until someone else leaves the meeting. Bice said that they have never really had any conflicts as far as scheduling meetings in the Community Building, but when meetings are held there, she has to carry all of the necessaryrecords and ledgers out of her office to the Community Building. Police Department The police department is across the hall. In here one will find two desks, three filing cabinets. L-shape shelving under the two front windows, several folding chairs and a window air conditioner This office has also been redecorated with new wallpaper and blinds. Marshal David Hobbs feels the police department can get by the working space currently being used However, he sees the need for more confined storage, area to dean cars, and an area to interrogate persons. He noted some evidence needing to go to court is not kept at the police department, but in a confined area under lock and key. Nonvaluable evidence, such as alcohol and items recovered are kept in the police department Records are kept in the office

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such as case reports, arrests, traffic tickets, and offense records. “The only thing we have a problem with is interrogating more than one person,” commented Marshal Hobbs, noting if more than one person is being interrogated at the same time, there is a need to keep them separate. In most cases this cannot be done. “We could use a new facility, not as far as the police department, but overall,” mentioned the marshal. He stated that for the size of police department Milford has, two full time and three reserve officers, space is not a problem. Restroom To Office The public restrooms were open in 1953 when the building was built and used until around 1978. In the spring of 1981 they were cleaned and reopened during specific hours. However, a few years later a decision was made to close them permanently. “One of the reasons they were closed was due to the vandalism,” reported Dallas Winchester 11, utilities commissioner. Currently there is no public restroom in the town hall. A small restroom is located in the building for town employees only. One year ago part of the area that housed the public restrooms was converted into an office for the utilities commissioner. Prior to that time, Winchester, used a small office area in the street department building on the north edge of town. “There was not enough room for all three departments (street, water and sewer). Now that building is strictly for maintenance. His office consists of a filing cabinet, one desk, a table, and several folding chairs. “Yes. 1 have enough room,” commented Winchester adding he does feel there needs to be changes made in the building, for the handicapped entering the building. He also commented on the fact the town hall “does get tight during a meeting.” Winchester feels the changes to the town hall is a question to be answered by the taxpayers. He did note that something does need, to be done with the access into the building if it is kept. But there is a problem in renovating the building. The existing walls are stabilization walls and cannot be removed. History The land on which the town hall stands was donated to the town by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sparklin on October 18, 1935. But no town hall was built on the site until late 1951. The building was occupied in 1953. The warranty deed to the property states it is lot 14 in block six in the original plat of the village of Milford, now the incorporated town of Milford Junction. “This convenience is made expressly subject to the condition that said real estate shall be used (Continued on page 2)