MILFORD - The Milford village board of trustees agreed on the planning firm Thoma Development Consultants, from Cortland, to help create the village's strategic plan and is in the process of finding seven community members to serve on a steering committee.

"We'll get started as soon as possible," said Kevin Stevens, former trustee who has been acting as facilitator for the project.

The village board requested proposals last month after being approved for a $12,600 Strategic Plan Technical Assistance grant from the state to help the village board determine future projects to improve it's appearance.

The board received five proposals and spent approximately three hours hearing presentations from two firms on Wednesday evening, said Stevens.

"They were both very, very good," he said. "We're very excited."

Although the more significant meetings will begin in September, the steering committee will schedule their first meeting shortly, Stevens said. They hope to complete the plan in early spring of next year.

Ideas for beautifying the village may include improving the sidewalks, mayor Sabine Curry said earlier.

In other news, Curry notified the board that they are currently waiting to renew a contract with Lamont Engineering to drill a well, which would be the village's second water source, in Wilber Park, near the tennis courts

"You know we have to go forward with this," said Curry. "It will cost us more if we wait."

The board has been searching for a site for a second water source since high nitrate levels were discovered in the village's water in 2002.

They've been researching potential grant money to fund the project, however, have been unsuccessful because the village no longer meets grant specifications. For many grants, Curry said, municipalities could be funded when they have a median income rate of $35,000. According to the 1990 census, the village of Milford's median income was $32,000. Curry said current grants are using the 2000 census which would eliminate the village of Milford since it's median income has increased to $47,000.

To fund the project, the board has secured a $1.2 million interest free loan through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, said Curry.

Since they hope to drill a second water source in the village owned park, the cost of outside site testing and cost of land are no longer an issue.

"We might not need the whole $1.2 million," said Curry. "We've saved a little bit."

She said they have done tests in the park where there currently is a smaller well.

"We don't think we're going to get better," she said. If everything goes as planned, the village will then be in compliance with the state, she said.