Milan Town Council awards bids for lift station, insurance
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

In regular session on Monday, September 12, Milan Town Council members awarded bids for upcoming projects, for the town's insurance, and passed the budget for 2006.

Council President Paul Hildebrand, along with member Robert Branigan, agreed that Holman Excavating, the lowest bidder at $177,785.50, would be contracted for the lift station project. Hometown Engineer Ethel Morgan, who reviewed the bids opened at the August meeting, recommended the Holman firm. Council member Matt Huffman chose to abstain when the vote was taken.

From the three insurance bids opened at a special meeting on August 29, the council members chose Hummel-Steinmetz Agency in Milan to provide the town's insurance and workman's compensation.

Council members moved to adopt the 2006 budget, which included a disaster recovery plan. Clerk-Treasurer Gladys Moody will submit the budget to the state for review.

After second readings of both the wastewater ordinance and the parking/speed limit ordinance, town council members voted their acceptance and discussed means of treating ordinance violations.

Town Attorney Larry Eaton suggested preparing complaint forms having to do with the recently passed nuisance ordinance as well as those approved at the September meeting. "We really need to develop a procedure to enforce," said Eaton, who noted that the county has done three inspections of property.

It was agreed the council would hire a qualified inspector to handle complaints concerning unkempt properties, and the town would prepare a letter to be signed by Council President Hildebrand to send to those in violation of town ordinances.

Town Manager John Ingram reported there is now electricity at the new town hall site and that 75 manhole covers have been repaired or replaced throughout the town. Several left in the golf course area will be taken care of by town employees.

Council members unanimously approved a request from John McKittrick to provide water and sewer to five lots he is developing. According to Ingram, the request had been made several months ago before IDEM removed the sewer ban.

Police Chief Tom Holt's report for August included 84 traffic stops, 82 calls for service, 31 assists to other agencies, 12 VIN checks, and 61 other police activities. This number included a semi parking violation and the removal of two abandoned vehicles, problems that had been reported by residents during the August meeting.

Other problem areas noted at the September meeting during concerns from the public were: dumped garbage, street lights out, dogs running loose, and more abandoned vehicles.

Reporting for the park board, Chair Linda Baurley said the board had discussed delinquent fees from the youth leagues and the use of the new ball fields. At present the boys' leagues will use the new fields, and the girls' leagues will continue to use the established fields.

Baurley noted the park board has applied for a grant from the Ripley County Community Foundation to be used for bathrooms in the Milton Winegard Sports Complex. She also said the farmers market has gone well during the summer months.

A rezoning request from Residential #1 to Local Business, which had been approved by the BZA for Mary McKittrick, also received unanimous approval from the Milan council.

Council member Huffman announced a music festival in the Community Park on October 8 beginning at noon. Admission is two cans of food and one dollar. Proceeds will go to the Milan Food Bank and to a special fund. Musical groups in the area will provide the entertainment, according to Huffman.

The meeting ended at 7:50 p.m