Mentone Asks Residents to Apply for Home Improvement Funds
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Kathy Cone-
At its meeting Monday night, council members made official the $250,000 grant it is receiving from Housing Opportunities of Warsaw for home aid. WHO Director Pam Kennedy explained that this was the last step in the long road to receiving the funds.
A couple of years ago the town began the process, hoping to receive money from the Indiana Housing and Development Authority to spend on home improvements and repairs. Keeping older residents in their homes is another aspect of the program.
“Aging in Place” is a program, she continued, “that will help Mentone’s elderly stay safely in their homes.” Contractors will replace faulty handrails, plumbing or anything that might make living difficult.
“These people want to stay in their homes,” she said, “rather than move to senior housing in Warsaw.”
They also will be looking to replace outdated electrical service.
Kennedy told the council that the grant was for $250,000, but the actual budget would be a little higher, closer to $277,575, because of a matching program. Ten percent will be put aside, collecting some interest, for payments at the end of the program.
Council President Tim Croy said he wanted to thank all the people who made this program possible.
“Many people wrote letters of support,” he said, directly thanking the Mentone Fire Department, the Methodist, Baptist and Cornerstone churches and Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation.
The council and Kennedy now ask that residents apply for the home improvements. Applications are available at the town clerk’s office, and at the Milford office of HOW.
There was no discussion of the budget as nobody showed up during the public hearing on the issue.
The council approved the hiring of a reserve officer. Town Marshal Jim Eads suggested that they bring back Ed DeWeese, who had worked with the police a couple of years ago before moving to Fort Wayne. DeWeese is a former Marine and an electrical engineer by trade. Now that he is back in the area, DeWeese is available, and a good choice, according to Eads, and because of his earlier service, he will not have to go to the academy.
Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd was granted $1,600 to purchase three new truck radios and antennae from Emergency Radio Service, Indianapolis.
Shepherd also informed the council of upcoming events. Work on the storm water drain on Morgan Street will start today, and work at the south end of that street will cause the viaduct to be closed from Thursday until Wednesday of next week.
The garden show at the park will take place Sept. 20-21; hydrants will be flushed during the night Sept. 29 until morning Sept. 30; cemetery cleanup is scheduled for Oct. 1. Councilwoman Jill Gross suggested the town request volunteers from the prosecutor’s office, since there are reliable people who need to perform some community service.
In other business, the council discussed how to remove a vacant garage it owns. The structure, at 123 E. Main St., is dilapidated, causes flooding and attracts cats.[[In-content Ad]]
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At its meeting Monday night, council members made official the $250,000 grant it is receiving from Housing Opportunities of Warsaw for home aid. WHO Director Pam Kennedy explained that this was the last step in the long road to receiving the funds.
A couple of years ago the town began the process, hoping to receive money from the Indiana Housing and Development Authority to spend on home improvements and repairs. Keeping older residents in their homes is another aspect of the program.
“Aging in Place” is a program, she continued, “that will help Mentone’s elderly stay safely in their homes.” Contractors will replace faulty handrails, plumbing or anything that might make living difficult.
“These people want to stay in their homes,” she said, “rather than move to senior housing in Warsaw.”
They also will be looking to replace outdated electrical service.
Kennedy told the council that the grant was for $250,000, but the actual budget would be a little higher, closer to $277,575, because of a matching program. Ten percent will be put aside, collecting some interest, for payments at the end of the program.
Council President Tim Croy said he wanted to thank all the people who made this program possible.
“Many people wrote letters of support,” he said, directly thanking the Mentone Fire Department, the Methodist, Baptist and Cornerstone churches and Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation.
The council and Kennedy now ask that residents apply for the home improvements. Applications are available at the town clerk’s office, and at the Milford office of HOW.
There was no discussion of the budget as nobody showed up during the public hearing on the issue.
The council approved the hiring of a reserve officer. Town Marshal Jim Eads suggested that they bring back Ed DeWeese, who had worked with the police a couple of years ago before moving to Fort Wayne. DeWeese is a former Marine and an electrical engineer by trade. Now that he is back in the area, DeWeese is available, and a good choice, according to Eads, and because of his earlier service, he will not have to go to the academy.
Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd was granted $1,600 to purchase three new truck radios and antennae from Emergency Radio Service, Indianapolis.
Shepherd also informed the council of upcoming events. Work on the storm water drain on Morgan Street will start today, and work at the south end of that street will cause the viaduct to be closed from Thursday until Wednesday of next week.
The garden show at the park will take place Sept. 20-21; hydrants will be flushed during the night Sept. 29 until morning Sept. 30; cemetery cleanup is scheduled for Oct. 1. Councilwoman Jill Gross suggested the town request volunteers from the prosecutor’s office, since there are reliable people who need to perform some community service.
In other business, the council discussed how to remove a vacant garage it owns. The structure, at 123 E. Main St., is dilapidated, causes flooding and attracts cats.[[In-content Ad]]
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