The Mail-Journal, Volume 28, Number 47, Milford, Kosciusko County, 3 January 1990 — Page 1

Tbe"Ma£l I r ■- Cm f

Milford 658-4111 & Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 28

EPA regulations, high costs cause

area stations to stop

IBy MARY JANE LORTON Staff Writer According to a publication from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there are several million underground storage tanks (UST) in the United States that contain petroleum or other hazardous material%-Mflreover, the report states “Tens of thousands of these USTs, including their piping , are currently leaking. Manymore are expected to leak in the future." Fires, explosions, or ground water contamination are three potential dangers created by leaky USTs. In an effort to respond to this problem of possible leaky USTs. Congress mandated (in 1984) that EPA “develop regulations to protect human health and the environment from leaking USTs." As a result, the EPA developed regulations in order to meet the following goals: “to prevent leaks and spills; to find leaks and spills; to correct the problems created by leaks and spills; to make sure owners and operators of USTs can pay for correcting the problems created if their USTs leak; and to make sure each state has a regulatory program for USTs that is as strict or stricter than the federal regulations." Although the goals of the regulations for USTs are laudable, the requirements established as a'result of these Milford soldier in Panama Sergeant Rick Pena, son of Oscar and Dora Pena of Milford, has been involved in the current U.S. military effort in Panama. The MailJournal files indicate that Pena is a 1983 graduate of Wawasee High School. Pena’s wife, Karen, is the daughter of Garry and Gloria Eyer of Syracuse. However, neither Pena’s parents or inlaws could be reached for comment as of this morning.

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1989 UTILIMASTER — The 16-foot fire rescue step van that the Milford Eire Department has been waiting for arrived late Friday afternoon, Dec. 29. The 1989 vehicle with a 1990 chassis will be used to haul all of the equipment of the firefighters. The $56,000 price tag on the van was picked up by the town of Milford, Van Buren Township, and the fire department. The fire department contributed is 000. which represents moncv earned at the department’s chicken barbecue and the pork chop dinner.

goals are having an ill effect on area service stations. Existing UST systems, those installed before December 1988. must meet certain requirements for corrosion protection, spill and overfill prevention, and leak detection. In order to meet these requirements, existing systems must either be replaced with new USTs. upgraded, or closed down. Some stations are opting for the latter because of the exorbitant costs of installing a new system or upgrading an existing one. Evon Foyle of Dewart Lake ’Marina said “it would cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to do it (replace the old tanks)." Last Friday. Dec. 29. Dewart Lake Marina had its USTs removed and it will no longer be offering petroleum for cars. The problem with the older tanks, as Foyle explains it. is they are made of all steel. When unprotected steel is buried in the ground, corrosion can occur. New

Rovenstine resigns;

study to be completed in 6

| By MARY JANELORTtIN I Staff Writer The Milford Town Council accepted the resignation of Aaron Rovenstine as the deputy marshal for the town of Milford at a special session of the council on Wednesday. Dec. 27. In a letter written by Rovenstine. he explained he will be leaving the town to continue his pursuit of a career in law enforcement at the county sheriff's department In his letter. Rovenstine thanked the town of Milford for its sup port' over the last five years. In addition, he noted his appreciation of the town council and Town Marshal Dave Hobbs Town Council President Bob Phillips said he “would like to turn right around and thank Aaron " While Phillips said he will hate to see Rovenstine leave Milford, he added. "I hate to stand in the way of that oppor tunity (at the sheriff's depart ment)."

In a related matter, although

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

tanks are made of a cathodically protected steel or from fiberglass and they are virtually free from the dangers of corrosion. Foyle reported the cost of the cathodically protected steel tank to carry a price tag of S9OO. The fiberglass tank runs $3,000. Closing the system down jsjiot a cheap prospect either. The cost of removing six tanks from Dewart Lake Marina, which included testing for contamination at the site, was $3,000. The cost could have been higher had contaminants been found at the site.« Another cost added to the service station as a result of these regulations is that “you have to have financial responsibility or underground liability" insurance said Doug Ruch of Ruch Service in Milford. The minimum coverage, said Ruch, is $1,000,000. He added he has heard the cost for this insurance runs anywhere from $5,000 to SIO,OOO per year. The owner of the UST

council members recognized having received several applications to fill’this recent vacancy, they tabled the discussion until the next regular meeting inJanuary Town Hall Study Town council members approved the proposal as submitted by Stevens-Lobsiger and Associates to do a study for the feasibility of a new town halL-The cost of the project is $1,575 and is due upon completion of the study and its presentation to the town council As proposed, the study will include: an analysis of projected needs, an analysis of existing facility, building requirements, evaluation of various approaches and cost analysis. The Huntington firm will begin the study right away and it will take approximately six weeks to complete it. Utilities Department Town council" members acknowledged the swift response to the waler main break on Tues .day. Dec. 26. by the Miltord Street and Water Department.

Assembled at Utilimaster in Wakarusa, the van was purchased from St. Ives. Inc., of Toledo, Ohio. Shown, left to right, are Denny Newcomer, assistant chief: Fritz Grossman. distributor from St. Ives. Inc.; Sam Baumgartner; Marcia Baumgartner. Van Buren Township assessor and trustee; Jim Amsden. fire chief; Doug Ruch, treasurer; and Keith Hunsberger, assistant chief. <Photo by Mary Jane Lorton)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3,1990

selling

has to pay insurance in the event contamination 4s found, he explained. USTs at Ruch Service were removed December 1. While Ruch maintained the problem of leaky tanks needs to be addressed because ground water contamination is an important issue, he added, “the end result .will be that there will be less and less outlets of gasoline.” Bruce Hunsberger of Bruce's Marathon in Milford concurs with Ruch. He said a representative from Marathon reported the company will be closing 400 locations in a five-state marketing area, within the next year and a half. With a decline in the number of outlets, there will be less competition and the consumer could pay a higher price at the pumps, said Ruch While service stations have not been officially notified of these EPA regulations, owners and operators are finding out about

Town hall

Members commended their im .mediate efforts to fix the break and restore water to the town in spite of the record low temperatures 4 In another matter, the council approved a bid of $10,390 to buy a model 1500 leaf loader from Brown Equipment Company in Fort Wayne In addition, they appropriated $5,839 in encumbered funds for street work. This work will include chipping and sealing Charles Bird Lane, from SR 15 to Main Street Other action at the evening session included: • The council tabled the discussion of how to proceed with the 212 E. Fourth Street property owned by Ron Davidhizar. Members noted having received

Purchases approved at Syracuse

The Syracuse Town Council approved three purchases by two separate departments in a final meeting for 1989 last Thursday.

gas

them by word of mouth, said Foyle. With a fine of SI,OOO per day for those who neglect to comply by the deadline, it seems some owners and operators are motivated to find out more about the new rules. Deadlines for compliance vary depending on when the USTs were initially installed. New tanks and piping must comply at installation with requirements for leak detection, corrosion protection and spill/overfill prevention. Existing systems have until December 1998 to comply with corrosion protection and spill/overfill prevention. Compliance with rules for leak detection for existing systems are as follows: installed before 1965, December 1989; installed between 1965 and 1969, December 1990; installed between 1970 and 1974, December 1991; installed between 1975 and 1979, December 1992; and between 1980 and December 1988; December 1993.

weeks

an estimate of $362.98 for repairs to the house. The single quote came from Huff Construction of Nappanee. The matter will be placed on the agenda for the first regular session of the council in January. • Council rnembers accepted for the transfer and enCumberanee of funds. • Discussion of Ordinance 89-14. appointments of the town of Milford for 1990, was also tabled. Milford Fire Chief Jim Amsden brought the council an invoice for airpacks purchased from the Wakarusa Fire Department Total cost of the packs was $2,175. • The next regular meeting of the Milford Town Council is January 8. at 6:30 p.m . at the Milford Town Hall.

The fire department was granted permission to purchase 8,00 feet of Vh-inch fire hose and a radio at a cost of $2,707 while the park department will spend S7OO on signs instructing the public not to feed the ducks on park property Fire Chief Jerry Byrd originally requested an additional purchase of 500 feet of five-inch fire hose for approximately $4,400. The hose would’ve been advantageous for streets with small water mains or fire hydrants that aren't nearby. However, council member Carl Myrick questioned whether purchasing larger hose was the answer. “I have often questioned why we have areas where we don't have proper mains or fire hydrants. I don't know why we don't put in mains where we don’t have them," he said, adding. “Let's get somebody in here who knows what we need and get them — it 's been 15 years that we've talked about this" After the motion for the large hose was defeated, with Myrick opposing. Byrd agreed to talk with street and water superinten dent Ron Conley about the installation of mains. Two ordinances, the clerk-treasurer to. pay standard monthly bills in 1990 and calling for the internal transfer of funds, were adopted unanimously The council alsq accepted the sewer department budget as presented for 1990 and the final claims for 1989 were paid • Syracuse residents Michael Brower and Gus Luyben were named to vacant seats on the CnHntv Board of Zoning Appeals while Myrick announced that the town's garbage for the week of January 5 would be picked up on Thursday due to the New Year’s holiday. The council will meet again in regulS? session at 7:30 p m. Tuesday,

- - * ' ... ' ■ - ja — - ~ "x / f u wL W * 1 . | M| SCENE OF BANK ROBBERY — The Ameritrust Bank branch located in North Webster was robbed of reportedly more than $2,500 shortly after noon last Thursday by a lone gunman described by police as a white male, about 5 feet seven inches tall, 180 pounds with a full beard. Shown above outside of the bank location are area law enforcement officers shortly after the robbery had been reported to police officials just after noon. The suspect in the robbery still retrains at large. (Photoby Scott Davidson) ■

Police continue search for Ameritrust robber

Police are in the process of interviewing persons from their extensive list of names of suspects in connection with the strong armed robbery of ROBBERY SUSPECT Ameritrust Bank, North Webster Branch, last Thursday. Response of possible suspects has been “terrific” from the public after the suspect’s photo was released.

In Lakeland area

Gas prices are on the rise

| By MARY JANE LORTON Staff Writer Following the trend of rising prices on heating oil. gas prices have also been on an upward swing within the last couple of weeks of December In a press release from the Indiana Department of Transportation, it was noted that fuel prices on the Indiana toll road have risen within the last week INDOT reported the following increases: regular lead-free, one cent; lead-free silver, two cents; premium, three cents; car-diesel, eight cents; and truck diesel, eight cents. Like the stations on the toll road, service stations in the Lakeland area have also been experiencing gasoline price increases. According to Denny Emmert, of D&E Automotive in Syracuse, prices at his station went up six cents this past Wednesday, Dec, 27. and an additional dime Tuesday morning. Jan. 2. Emmert noted he raises prices on a penny for penny basis, depending on what his supplier charges him for the fuel. Therefore, the price increases on the pumps simply illustrate the higher price service stations are paying for gasoline from their suppliers. Emmert does not Wjow price for fuel is on the rise, but he did point out that aiesei. Kerosene and home heating oil have all gone up and the price for gas tends to follow that trend. Bruce Hunsberger, of Bruce s Marathon in Milford, also noted a price increase. While Hunsberger said he is paying he said the

Kosciusko County Detective Sergeant Tom Kitch noted that numerous calls have been received from persons as far away as South Bend. Fort Wayne, and Rochester, with possible identification of the robber. Approximately $2,500 was taken in the robbery. Police report at approximately 12:01 p.m., Thursday, a man entered the bank and handed a note to cashier Terri Reiff, demanding money. She cooperated with the robber by taking the money from the cash drawer and placing it on the counter top. The robber, who kept his right hand in the pocket of his coat the entire time, grabbed the money with his left hand and fled on foot. It was unknown if he was armed. There was a second teller in the bank at that time, but she was unaware of the robbery, until after he had left the bank. Both tellers saw the robber walking rapidly west of the bank in the

station is absorbing four cents of this raise. Moreover, he added he is not certain how long the station can continue to absorb this cost. Although Gene Henschen. owner of Lakeland Standard Auto Service of Syracuse, agreed there has been an increase in gasoline prices, he stressed “that is not where the big increase has been." Instead, the large jump has been on the heating oil and diesel fuel end of it. He attributed the higher prices of heating oil to the colder temperatures. Keeping a record of temperatures over the past 12 years. Henschen noted, "we’re 20 percent colder right now than we've been in the last 12 years." He explained that suppliers, anticipating a normal winter, did not have enough fuel to meet the, increased demand the colder temperatures brought on. “That

Parent meetings begin Thursday Don’t forget the dates of fifth grade students will be parent meetings for students Thursday, Jan. 4. in grades five, six and seven in Parents of sixth grade the Wawasee Community students will meet Thursday, School Corporation. These Jan. 11, meetings have been establish- Parents of seventh grade ed to assist parents in making students will meet Tuesday, a decision which middle Jan. 1«. school their student or AU parents of students in students will attend for the these grades should attend. 1990-1991 school year: School officiate have noted Milford Middle School an a fected grade level is not I All meetings will be at t:W may be attended. p.m.. in the Wawasee High A ti me for q sei - School Auditorium. tions/answen and dtocumten The meeting for parents of will be a part of each meeting. . , _ < ..

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NUMBER 47

vicinity of The Pub. Police received information from persons in the area that a red 1979 pick-up truck was seen parked, with its engine running, on the west side of the bank. Since that time police have received information that a two-door white 1982 Buick or Oldsmobile was seen parked on the west side of The Pub. This vehicle was also seen leaving in a hurry. The robber is described as being 32-38 years of age, five feet, seven inches to five feet, nine inches tall, weighing 150-175 pounds. He had a neatly trimmed reddish brown beard with some gray. He was wearing blue jeans, a navy blue or black hooded sweatshirt with a tan colored vest, baseball cap and sunglasses. Person with information should contact the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police or North Webster Police Department.

shortage raises prices on it,” concluded Henschen. Henschen also made reference to the recent explosion of one of the larger heating oil plants in the nation as a further reason for the price increases. It is uncertain when prices will decline, especially since the price hike was unforeseen in the first place. According to a report by AAA-Chicago Motor Club, dated December?, "Wholesalegasoline is expected to continue its seasonal pattern of stable to lower prices, especially in view of. OPEC’s recently increased production levels.” In spite of this prediction of stability, drivers can expect to pay more for gas this winter, at a time, when one service station representative noted, he has never seen gas prices go up..