Milan town board finalizes building purchase
Votes to set up website
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

With Board President Paul Hildebrand, Robert Branigan, and Matt Huffman in their places on Monday, November 8, the big news concerned the final stage of the purchase of the Hummel-Steinmetz building on Carr Street for the relocation of Milan Town Hall.

During Monday's meeting the board set Monday, November 29, for an executive meeting to discuss plans for the renovation as well as other issues facing the town.

Board members Hildebrand and Branigan also accepted Huffman's offer to set up a website for the Town of Milan. In his explanation, Huffman volunteered to put the website together and maintain it. He hopes to have plans complete by the December meeting of the board.

Other new business included a presentation by Ellen Davis of the LifeTime Housing Group concerning
the opportunity to apply for a grant for rehabilitating several houses for those in the community who meet the criteria.

She noted that Roselyn McKittrick had contacted her with information that several in the town would be interested in this project.

The total amount of the grant is $300,000, according to Davis, who said a maximum of $15,000 could be spent on each house. The town's obligation would be a 10% matching of the total grant.

Davis presented information to the board, who agreed to consider
the grant application and discuss it at their executive session and at the December board meeting.

Town Manager John Ingram reported the town has collected leaves every day; have paved Washington and Beatrice streets, East Ellis Street, and the road to the sewer plant.

The sewer plant construction has only a few items left on the punch list before it can be considered completed. Ingram hopes to announce the completion at the December board meeting. Board members are considering an open house and tour of the facility in the spring.

As a top priority, the town will begin patching potholes when the final leaf collections have been made.

Officer Gary Skaggs reported for Police Chief Tom Holt concerning
October activity. Among the 236 items listed, the Milan Police Department had 105 calls for service; 85 traffic stops; and 12 traffic crashes involving property damage.

Park Board President Linda Baurley said the board had decided to light the walking path from 4:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. from November through March.

The park board is checking on prices for new fencing for the ball fields as well as blow dryers for the restrooms. Presently the restrooms have been winterized and closed until next spring. However, the back bathroom will be open for the Milan Beautification Committee's Christmas Walk on December 11.

Baurley will be applying for a Rising Sun Regional Foundation Grant to assist in the re-designing of the building for the new Winegard complex.

In other business, board members agreed to:

* Spend $2,145 on the purchase of a trailer equipped to generate power for lift stations should a power failure take place;

* Transfer funds for Clerk-Treasurer Gladys Moody;
* Make pothole patching a top priority for town workers.

* Check with the trash carrier concerning a schedule that would not conflict with school bus traffic;

* Talk to owners of unkempt properties throughout the town concerning conformity to the town's ordinance.

Monday's meeting concluded at 8:30 p.m.