Hears complaints of unkempt property
Milan Town Board agrees to add stop signs
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Milan residents with a variety of causes filled the boardroom of Milan Town Hall on Monday, May 10, as town board members Paul Hildebrand, Matt Huffman, and Jason Hughes ended a utility board meeting at 7:10 p.m. and began their monthly meeting 15 minutes late.

With audible encouragement from several Milan patrons, the board voted unanimously to add stop signs on Ellis Street where it intersects with Josephine and Catherine streets.

Those pushing the issue argued the three-way stops will discourage speeding in those areas although Police Chief Tom Holt said the accident records didn't warrant a need for the stop signs. He also promised more patrolling from his department in the Ellis Street area.

Other public concerns had to do with unkempt properties, especially those rentals not properly maintained by the owners; drainage issues; the finishing work to be done by Holman's Excavating; a street light not working on Locust Street; and a sewer issue on a street that does not belong to the town. "We have no dog in that fight," explained Attorney
Larry Eaton.

When asked what the town could do about the condition of some of the Milan properties, Attorney Eaton explained the solution depends on the problem. There are town ordinances that can be enforced.

It was agreed that a list would be made, letters would be sent to the property owners giving them a month to correct the problem, and then the town would enforce the ordinance.

Concerning the Sesquicentennial Celebration over the Fourth of July weekend, Committee Member Richard Hooker asked the town to make the committee an official group of the
town so that the town's liability insurance would cover the events.

With Attorney Eaton's recommendation, Clerk-Treasurer Gladys Moody will contact the town's insurance carrier to explain the scope of the event. Board President Hildebrand moved and Huffman seconded a motion that the committee be given official status with the approval of the insurance company. Hughes joined to make the vote 3-0.

According to Daren Baker, the Milan Beautification Committee will sponsor another cleanup day this Saturday, May 15. They have purchased 70 flowerpots and will be filling those at a later time and placing them in strategic areas of the town prior to the celebration.

Town Board members through a motion by Huffman and a second by Hildebrand volunteered to pay up to $5,000 for a special fireworks display for the Sesquicentennial Celebration on July 4. Baker expressed the appreciation of the committee for this gesture.

President Hildebrand explained that the extra revenue is from riverboat funding that is over and above what the town usually gets and carries no stipulations governing its use.

PATH Coordinator Geralyn Litzinger reported that the Community Building Project Committee had made four on-site visits, but had not met to discuss the next steps. Funding is still a major issue as is the need for an environmental study of the proposed location.

Board Member Hughes, a member of the committee, said they would meet and report at the next town board meeting.

In his report, Town Manager John Ingram said the sidewalk project is about 90% completed; the water
tower is in the process of being painted; the Division A of the sewer project should be completed by Wednesday; the road in the Milan Community Park will be worked on next week; pot hole patching has begun and will continue throughout the town.

Police Chief Tom Holt reported 67 calls for service; 53 traffic stops; 34 assists to other agencies; 6 dog complaints; and 30 other items of activity. A letter sent by Chief Holt to the Department of Transportation concerning the need for a light at the Milan Middle School crossing has resulted in a study of traffic in that area.

Park Board President Linda Baurley expressed the park board's appreciation of the donation of $1,174.00 from the recent gospel music concert at Milan High School. All proceeds from a free-will offering went to the Milan Community Park.

She updated the board on repairs to the shelter house, playground mulch purchased for the front and back playgrounds, an upcoming softball tourney on July 3, and a discussion with representatives from the local softball league concerning a $50.00 fee for weekend games.