Rita Price, president of the Mentone Chamber of Commerce, is collecting egg money.

At a Tuesday night meeting Price and the Mentone chamber decided to be the collection point for private funds for the proposed egg-shaped water tower.

"We've got a lot of people who want to donate money to this," said Price. "There is tremendous financial support behind this."

Price said the chamber is waiting to announce its financial goal until substantial donors reveal their donations to the fund drive. The egg could cost $25,000-$50,000 more than a plain tower.

"We have the opportunity to do something to set (Mentone) apart and it's not going to cost taxpayers anything," said Price.

She refused to name any potential donors, and said she believes the largest potential donor may never wish to reveal his identity.

Price said the chamber would collect donations for the egg from private donors and then pay the difference between a standard tank and the novelty.

The chamber will soon determine the ceiling it is willing to spend for the egg. The town council must spell out the dollar amount it will spend prior to opening bids at 1 p.m. Feb. 20.

Price said State Department of Commerce representatives said the private funding of the egg would not affect future grants.

The egg could be a plus for the community in the eyes of the DOC, said Mentone Council member Forrest Kantner. He is still obtaining a letter from the DOC ensuring the egg will not endanger future grants.

In all her enthusiasm for the project, Price doesn't fail to see the humor in the odd tower.

"It's not a sacred cow, it's a big egg, and that's funny. We're laughing all the way to getting things on TV and in USA Today.

"I know there were negative comments, but I suppose that there were negative comments when the original egg was placed on the street," she said.

Mentone's $1.4 million water project is slated to begin construction early this summer. [[In-content Ad]]