At its July 5 meeting, the Milford City Council:
• heard from resident Jim Eberly and others in the community regarding property damage and other questions related to K2 Construction’s work on the water main replacement project. Representatives from K2 said a restoration crew will follow the main construction crew to fix any problems as the project is completed in segments. Citizens may bring issues to the attention of city personnel or K2 personnel. The project is planned to be finished in November.
• denied a request from the Milford Chamber of Commerce to limit hours for splash pad use in the city park during Milford Fun Days. The chamber expressed concerns about older kids bullying younger kids at the splash pad without adult supervision and that mud would be tracked from the splash pad to the inflatables, among other safety concerns. Mayor Patrick Kelley said Fun Days is an optimal time to show off the newly completed splash pad and allow people to cool down in the heat.
• hired Mystique Lauer as senior center manager at $18 per hour with a 50-center per hour increase after six months, pending a background check.
• hired Caleb Faulkner as a full-time maintenance employee at $17 per hour with a 50-cent per hour raise after six months, pending a background check.
• approved a recommendation from the Citizen Advisory Review Committee to award $70,000 in LB 840 (local option sales tax) funds to Kathi and Kylie Schildt for the Milford Childhood Learning Center and tabled a funding request to the Community Betterment Committee for the same project. The betterment committee may revisit the request once the center’s nonprofit status is solidified.
• passed two resolutions and two ordinances related to setting up a keno lottery within the City of Milford as approved by voters in May.
• tabled a request from Wesley Burgess regarding licensing his Mahindra Roxor vehicle. The vehicle is titled for off-road use but does not adhere to the city’s UTV requirements, nor does it fit the county’s vehicle licensing requirements, and it is over the weight limit listed in state statutes for UTVs. The council will allow time for legal counsel to review options and take up the matter if needed at a future meeting.
• denied a request from city employee Susie Huber for health insurance reimbursement for a health plan other than the one offered through the city.
• approved a five-year contract with NextLink for internet service.
• approved the use of up to $30,000 in Street Department funds to help pay for sidewalks, sod and sprinklers as part of new landscaping in the uptown city park.
• held a public hearing on the Citizen Advisory Review Committee’s semi-annual report. No one from the public spoke.
• authorized an additional 1% increase in restricted funds limit for the 2023-24 budget.
• approved an interlocal agreement for prosecution services for city ordinance violations with the county board of commissioners. The action essentially renewed a prior agreement for the same.
