The majority of Milton’s two-hour Oct. 13 council meeting focused on tackling current and future water projects.
Guest Mike Kleinpeter, president of Kleinpeter Consulting Group and a certified Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant administrator, provided an update on the water line replacement project contracted with Lykens.
Project delays due to payment submission issues and an initial contract pricing error were addressed, with Kleinpeter and Clerk-Treasurer Amy Smith assured late applications were being processed that week. Council corrected the error with the project’s engineer at the Sept. 8 meeting. Council member Jeanette Hensley asked to review these submissions prior to approval. Smith will provide the information each Thursday before a regular meeting.
Kleinpeter authorizes pay disbursements to Lykens through State Revolving Fund loans. He reported all paperwork as of Oct. 3 was compliant and requested amending a contract extension as the project has gone longer than expected. Rather than 48 weeks, he will continue assessing compliance for 74 weeks with a payment of $3,900 via the SRF loans, which council approved.
Council addressed a second water line issue for residents living outside of town limits. The older drainage system near Wagner Road cannot support the current water capacity, resulting in monthly water main breaks. The town can either add a surcharge to residents’ water bills to supplement extra repairs or residents can build their own wells. Town attorney Chris Armour will review further for a solution next month.
New Business
Smith reported FEMA and state representatives inspected the well house and confirmed flood assistance for repairs totaling more than $285,000, including a damaged propane tank, generator and surrounding fence. Another meeting will take place to finalize next steps. Smith also reported progress on the park project included cement for the fountain bowl, new lights for the basketball court, sewer line repair for the unisex restroom, new fencing and three donated picnic tables. She reiterated no overnight parking is allowed at the park.
Public comment
Union County Sheriff Jeff Adams petitioned to purchase the town’s unused police cruisers. Council will review figures for Adams soon. Resident Nicole Robinson’s request to block Canal Street and State Road 1 for the Oct. 30 Halloween Block Party was approved. Council will contribute hot dogs and Adams will donate wood for the fire pit. Robinson is expecting over 30 vendors and 200 attendees.
Resident Barbie Moistner said a property owner is violating the residential burning ordinance, potentially causing a health nuisance as she lives with COPD. The ordinance clarifies only natural wood or brush can be burned in a contained structure and must be extinguished by sundown. Moistner was advised to involve law enforcement if the issue persists.
Other business
- Jerry Dunaway was introduced as the new building commissioner
- Building inspection ordinance was updated to reflect $30 inspection fee and $50 final inspection fee, if necessary
- The chicken ordinance was approved
- The fire department had 17 calls for September, 207 year to date and was not approved for the AFG grant
- Smith encouraged attendance at Wayne County’s 6 p.m. Oct. 21 Municipal Unit Strategic Taskforce meeting to address Indiana’s SEA1 legislation
- Smith and May met with drainage commission on Oct. 14 to solve drain issues west of town
- The 2027 budget is still in process
- Hensley requested debris removal from Connersville Street storm drains and corrections to her payroll retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026
The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10 at 6 p.m., 101 N. Central Ave. The public may attend.
A version of this article appeared in the October 21 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
