The Mail-Journal, Volume 28, Number 37, Milford, Kosciusko County, 25 October 1989 — Page 1

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Milford 658-4111 & Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 28

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FIREMEN HONORED — The Milford firemen were honored at a banquet Saturday. Oct. 21. in the Milford School. As a special honor to the Milford Volunteer Fire Department. Fire Chief Jim Amsden accepted a monetary donation of S7OO for the department and a plaque.

At Milford —

Firemen honored at banquet

By STACEY LESCH Staff Writer

The Milford community honored its volunteer firemen, both past and present, at the Firemen's Honor Banquet last weekend. Held Saturday. Oct 21. at the Milford School, over 50 firefighters were recognized at the banquet, including two families of three generations. The Price family is now into its third generation of firemen with brothers Lee and Mitch Price serving as volunteers. The brothers attended the banquet with their grandfather Glenn Price, and father. Stan Price, both of whom have served with the Milford Fire Department The second family, also in its third generation of firemen, is the Bray family. Now serving as a volunteer is the youngest. Rodney Also attending the banquet was Rodney's brother. Gary Bray, the boys' uncle Larry Bray, and Larry's father. Ray E. Bray, all former volunteer firemen. The program, a 55-minute video presentation of Milford residents and workers offering their words of gratitude to the firemen, also featured present — as well as several past —

Red Ribbon in this week's spotlight The Red Ribbon is in this week’s spotlight with today being Red Ribbon Day. The entire program has been well received in the Lakeland area with red ribbons on display everywhere. Committee chairwoman Chris Smith has announced a Red Ribbon meeting will be held in the Lakeland Youth Center, SR 13, Syracuse, at 7 p m. on Monday, Nov. 13, with those present scheduled to hold a discussion on the success of this year’s campaign and give input on how to make next year’s event even bigger and better. Persons with questions should contact Mrs. Smith at 457-3639 during the day or Sandy Cobbum at 457-2249 in the evening.

volunteer firemen and their families. At the end of the program. all the firemen recognized at the banquet were presented a copy of the video. Committee members offered their sincere apologies for any past firemen they may have missed Milford Fire Chief Jim

Commissioners, council discuss personnel policy

I By KATE WOLFORD Stuff Writer

How to handle overtime for county employees was a major point of discussion at a personnel policy meeting held on October 24. Kosciusko County Council members and the commissioners attended. Currently, the overtime policy is vague. Compensatory time is allowed for. as is overtime pay. However, as no money is currently budgeted for. overtime pay. employees are taking the timerather than the money. A number of suggestions on how to handle, the overtime dilemma surfaced at the meeting However, nothing was definitely decided Some officials seemed to be leaning toward pay ing employees for a base work week of 37 hours, paying them additionally I at the same base rate > for a work week of 37 to 40 hours and paying employees overtime pay time and a half) for any time put in over 40 hours Commissioner Eddie Creighton strongly lobbied for paying workers for the fime they actually work He said, "If someone works more, they get paid more " The average county employee This does not include the highway and sheriff's depart ments They are not in the policy discussion focus i work week rum on an 8 a m to 4pm day with an hour for lunch The cour thouse is open on F riday evenings to 6p m However, most depart ments run on a skeleton crew and not all employees work the extra

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

Presenting Amsden with the check is Don Arnold while John Replogle, far right, presents the fire chief with the plaque. (Photo by Ron Baumgartner)

Amsden. accepted a plaque and a monetary donation in the amount of S7OO on behalf of the entire fife department The plaque.-as well as the S7OO. were made possible by ticket sales President of the Milford Area Development council and head of the banquet com mittee. John Replogle, stated

two hours, which round out the 37-hour week. It is likely that employees work the Friday hours on a rotating basis and as a result, are putting in a 37-hour week at least some of the time Some years back, when the courthouse went from staying open Saturday mornings to staying open two extra hours on Fridays, all workers were supposed to stay on to work the extended hours However, over the years, the practice of keeping on the skeleton crew has evolved Some officials at the meeting objected to paying the employees by the hour on the grounds that if an employee has been working a 35-hour week, the new method w ould deal them a cut in pay Another option was raising the work week to 40 hours; Commissioner Maurice Beer strongly objected to that solution, on the grounds that employees have hired on with the understanding that a work week w ith the county is 37 hours • \nother Key Issue An additional point of contention in the issue of employee hours and overtime is just how the length of the work week is viewed by county officials In the current stated county policy, overtime is defined as. 'any time worked beyond the prescribed usual work week The trouble is. that w hile a full time employee is defined, in policy', as someone w orking 37 or more hours per week, the county council views the work week as a 4o hour one Again, at issue is when to start overtime pay at 37 or 40 hours' E — Other Personnel Matters Overtime pay was the main focus of the personnel meeting but the group did discuss other matters For example, they

WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 25. 1989

that additional money could have been awarded to the fire department if it had been known only 390 persons would attend the banquet for which 530 tickets were sold Those volunteer firenun cur (Continued on page 2>

reviewed personnel policies from several other counties, including Lake. Hendricks. Howard and Cass counties Councilman George Klinger noted that the Kosciusko County policy was ■ brief" in comparison to the w eightier Cass County document A variety of issues need to be addressed in a revised and ex panded Kosciusko policy Some mentioned at the meeting includ

Trick-or-treat on Tuesday p.m. Ghosts, goblins and other characters may be seen traversing the streets of Milford, Syracuse and North Webster next Tuesday, Oct. 31, as Halloween is observed in each community. Trick-or-treat hours are set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in each town and parents are asked to escort small children. Those wishing to distribute treats should leave a porch light on while children are encouraged to limit their trick-or-treating to the homes of people they know. Motorists are also reminded to take extra caution. As a precautionary measure, Kosciusko Community Hospital's radiology department will be X-raying candy that parents suspect of being tampered with Xraying hours are 6:30-9:30 p.m. Halloween night and from 6-8 p.m. the following evening. Children should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

S4O per month —

Sewer district approves capital charge for TCRSD

By MARYJANE LORTON Staff Writer

In the first of a series of special meetings, the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District unanimously approved the concept of a capital charge for the sewer project As motioned, users can either pay a charge of S4O per month per unit for 24 months (estimated time of construe-

Happy the Hobo coming to Milford Halloween party

The Milford Lions Club w-jjl again sponsor a Halloween party for all interested ghosts and goblins of all ages Saturday evening. Oct 28. at the Milford School gymnasium The Milford American Legion Auxiliary will assist with the event which includes a visit from Fort Wayne Channel 55 clown. Happy the Hobo Happy will emcee the evening's activities, which are expected to conclude at 6:30 pm Doors open at 4p m . with judging of costumes commencing at ■» pm. Prizes will be given in )he following categories: cartoon characters, clowns, hobos, storybook characters, movie characters, animals, witches, goblins and ghosts, devils and a miscellaneous category Two grand prizes for the most original costumes will also be awarded, while each participant will receive a candy bar Serving as judges for the contest are John Lehman. Mary Duncan and Margaret Ostendorf

ed the keeping of inventory devising an employee classification system, discipline and the documentation needed to ter minate employment It is likely that ideas and methods front other, county personnel policies will be incorporated into the

Big Brothers/Big Sisters looking to lakes area

I By M \RK 111 FEM \N Staff Writer

Attempting to expand its services to the Milford-Syracuse-North Webster area. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kosciusko County will be "Bowling for kids' sake" Sunday . Oct 29. at Wawasee Bow l in Syracuse "Were hoping the howling event will open up some other avenues," says Mary Gerard, director of the county organization Alley Rally Day. designed to in volve the community in helping make a direct contribution to Big Brothers Big Sisters, will be from 1 p.m to 4 p m Teams of four w ill help raise money by tak ing pledges, with certain monetary amounts pledged per pin All participants will -receive a free bowling towel while various prizes w ill be awarded Having been dormant for two years, the bowling event was reprised to help earn money for the expansion o f Bi g Brothers Big Sisters into the lakes area "We re hoping to ob tain office space, in Syracuse and establish hours for one day a

tion > or pay a lump sum discounted at seven percent The lump sum is estimated at $893. This action took place on Monday. Oct. 23. at 7:30 p.m at the Syracuse Tow n Hall John Julien, representative from H J Imbaugh and Associates who are rate consultants for the sewer project, brought four schedules detailing capital charges and final sewer rates based on different

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HALLOWEEN GUEST — Happy the Hobo, a Fort Wayne Channel 55 comedian, is expected to entertain guests and emcee the Milford Lions' Annual Halloween Partv Saturday. Oct. 28.

Kosciusko County document The group did seem settled on tw o points — the need for asset inventory and the establishment of payroll record cards They are scheduled to meet again on N<n ember 21

week after the first of the year." Gerard says, hoping that such office space is donated by an area business or organization With one-fourth of the children on the waiting list for matches being from the lakes area. Gerard recognizes a need for an expansion of senices "A local office will make it easier for those interested in volunteering or those parents wanting to. get their children into the program." she says Currently there are three Big Brother Big Sister matches in the lakes area "There is a potential for a lot more volunteers and I think we could get them if we were more accessible in the area." Gerard states Ten to 11 boys and one girl from the Mi I ford-Syracuse-North Webster area are on a waiting list tor matches, with a focus on the Warsaw communityoften detracting from other areas "We need to focus on the whole county." Gerard confirms noting that a part time caseworker is included in a preliminary budget for 1990 "This will allow me to work more in the outlaying areas of Kosciusko County." she says i Continued on page 2 1

scenarios of what could happen with the grant amendment The key issue in each of these scenarios as presented by Julien is the use of a capital charge. S4O per month per unit, earned out over a period of 24 months This time period "goes along with the construction period" according to Julien. In each of the four schedules this capital charge remains constant while the sewer rate after construction is adjusted to make up for possible adjustments in the grant amendment In Julien's outline, if too percent of the grant amendment is approved, then the rate after construction is estimated at $37 per month per unit If 90 percent is awarded, then the rate would be about S4O per month per unit If the district is granted 80 percent, the rate would be $42 per month per unit. If the district is only granted 50 percent of the amount requested, then the rate would approximately be ssl per month per unit In a previous meeting of the district. Kocher informed the board that a section of IDEM. Indiana Department of Environmental Management, sent a letter stating they had reviewed the grant amendment application In addition, they said they anticipated certifying to EPA a grant increase of about $34,000 more than what the district had applied for The district is currently waiting for an answer from EPA Julien was asked if this capital charge would also apply to those on the Enchanted Hills system and he replied that it would Ray Kocher, engineer with Howard Needles Tammen and Bergendoff. Indianapolis, told the board "there is very little we re able to use at the plant — everything is all worn out." adding, "a lot of the equipment is shot " "What it essentially boils down to." said Dick Green, attorney, is

H ALLOWEEN MADNESS — Don't miss the spooktacular sales in Syracuse on October 26. Halloween Madness will take hold on October 25 beginning with a Halloween Carnival at the Syracuse School. That special event will include a haunted house, an appearance by Wanda the Witch, costume judging for children and adults and a middle school dance. Syracuse merchants will be pitching in on these events in addition to providing special bargains for their customers on the 26th Ml kinds of bargains will be brewing in Syracuse stores once the sales begin. Retailers and their employees will be dressed in costumes for the big event. (Photo by Dale Tobias)

NUMBER 37

that the people on the Enchanted Hills system will be paying the district what they-would have had to eventually pay the owners to improve the system if the district had not become involved. Dr V. Logan Love, secretary, noted for the benefit of the public that the district was essentially mandated by the state to work the Enchanted Hills plant into the district 's plans Concern was expressed as to the amount of the capital charge as it is higher than what was discussed in past meetings One member of the public. Bill Angert. asked why the monthly rate has gone up while the cost of construction has appeared to remain the same. Kocher answered saying, “We've always said we're looking at a fee between $35 and S4O" In addition, he noted the fees the engineers came up with on IDEM items do not take into account the total operation of the utility. Julien added there have been some refinements, and changes are occurring all of the time Another member of the public. John Wohlhueter. asked how the board intends to communicate to property owners about the capital charge and other happenings of the district. Green answered he has been waiting until things have ‘ crystallized'' so as to be able to relate more specifics to the public. Perhaps after next Monday's meeting, a letter will be drafted detailing what is happening with the TCRSD Following the approval of the concept of the capital charge only. Green noted the next meeting of the district will be on Thursday. Oct 26. at 7:30 p.m. in the Syracuse Town Hail This meeting will be held to discuss the bond ordinance The board will meet again on Monday. Oct. 30. at the same time and place to discuss a rate ordinance