Construction to begin on CR 1300N extension

Phend & Brown, Milford., has been awarded the contract for extending CR 1300N, known as the Milford-Syracuse Road, to SR 15. The project includes a bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad and North Main St.

Signage appeared Monday, Feb. 20, on CR 1300N and Milford Main Street, indicating the road will be closed on or after March 6. The detour route around the project will be Syracuse Street/ CR 1250N and CR 100E. Depending upon the weather construction, will start sometime after March 6. Utility relocations by NIPSCO, Century Link and other utility companies, will be a part of the early construction work.

According to Kosciusko County Highway Assistant Superintendent Troy Kintzel, the project will be done in two phases, with opening of the extension and overpass slated for Sept. 29.

The estimated $10 million project is 80% funded by a grant from the Local TRAX Rail Overpass Program. As part of that program, the two rail crossings in Milford Junction and Fourth Street will eventually be closed. The First Street crossing in Milford, will receive an upgrade of crossing signals and cross arms.

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Council takes no action on Pearl Street encroachment

Gordon and Laurie Lord approached the Syracuse Town Council during its regular meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 22, regarding a retaining wall encroaching into the town’s right of way.

The Lords are renovating a property on Lake Street, including repairing a retaining wall that encroaches into the town’s right of way. Gordon Lord explained the wall has been encroaching into the right of way since it was built in the 1960s.

After some discussion the council told the Lords it would take no action against them as they repair and reenforce the wall.

Jeremy Hardy of Commonwealth Engineers Inc., the town’s engineering firm, brought a recommendation of hiring F.A. Wilhelm for the Lakeside water main loop and Oakwood lift station projects.

Hardy explained the agreement with F.A. Wilhelm would be nonbinding until a contract is signed. The company would also allow and encourage street and water department crews to perform some of the work in-house, saving the town money in the end. The council accepted the recommendation.

Town attorney Jay Rigdon was asked to give an update regard- ing the legality of the town donating land to the library board for a new library. Rigdon reported the town may donate land; he just needed a legal description. If he can get the legal description soon he can have the deed approved by the council at its March meeting.

Dave Wilkinson, town manager, has contacted an engineering firm about updating and enhancing two municipal parking lots. A public meeting allowing for community input will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, in the council chambers of Syracuse Town Hall, 310 N. Huntington St., Syracuse. The council approved, 3-1, spending $85,000 to build a climate controlled building to store permanent records for the clerktreasurer’s office and the Syracuse Police Department. Currently those records are stored in the mezzanine of a public works building. Because the building is not climate controlled, the records are starting to deteriorate.

Councilman Nathan Scherer voted against the proposed building after asking about digital storage of the records. Both Virginia Cazier, clerk-treasurer, and Mark Aurich, public works superintendent, told the council that during state audits, auditors want to review the physical documents, not computer records.

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Milford farm to start construction of digesters in spring

The Beer Dairy Farm, 9194 N. Orn Road, southwest of Milford, is working with Ohio companies Dairy BC and IGDB in a $4.5 million project.

The project was approved by the county Thursday, Feb. 9, for the first steps of receiving a 5-year tax abatement and to schedule a confirmatory resolution hearing for March 9.

tured and used as a fuel source. Digesters can have a positive impact on the environment and can be financially lucrative. Reg Beer works in the family business at the farm.

“Typically you’re going to have to have more, almost in the 5,000cow range, in order to sustain it,” said Beer.

This is where IGDB comes in.