Mentone Continues With Waste Treatment Plans
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MENTONE - Completion of an income study shows that Mentone qualifies for grant funding and allows the town to move forward on a wastewater project.
Shannon McLeod of Priority Project Resources, Indianapolis, told Mentone Town Council members during Monday's regular meeting that this is the first hurdle required toward application for an Indiana Department of Commerce planning grant.
According to the results of the income survey performed by Ball State University, 53.2 percent of Mentone residents are considered to be low- to moderate-income households.
The next step in the project - deciding whether to move forward - was approved by the council, which signed a letter to contract McLeod's services for preparing the information and submitting the grant application.
The proposed wastewater project will allow the town to take care of its sewage "in-house." Currently, the septic tanks used in the town's sewage system are pumped by an outside hauler and land-applied. However, in anticipation of changes in federal laws regarding land application, the town is looking at this project as a necessary alternative. As a part of the planning grant, the town also will look at the feasibility of building a facility large enough to accept sewage from other sources, making it a possible source of income for the town.
McLeod told council members that the maximum amount available for a planning grant is $50,000, but she expects that Mentone will need only between $30,000 and $35,000. The grant requires a 10 percent local match. The application will be submitted to the IDOC in June.
In other business, the council agreed to discuss the future of Mentone Four-Way Ambulance Service as to whether it will continue to be housed at the current fire station building once the fire department moves to its new location.
The Mentone Tri-Township Fire Control Board recently purchased 1.8 acres of land comprising eight town lots at the southwest intersection of Ind. 19 and Walnut Street.
Harrison Township Trustee/Assessor Jim Moyer, who also is a member of the fire control board and the ambulance board, said when discussion of a new fire station came up four years ago, town council members at that time said the ambulance service could stay.
Moyer said he came to Monday's meeting to get a better idea where the ambulance service stands and to find out what costs, if any, the service will incur by remaining in its current location.
Council president Ed Rock said he hasn't given the matter much thought, but the council will discuss it in the future.
An immediate decision is not needed, Moyer said, because the fire control board hasn't received any funding for a new fire station and construction is "years down the road."
In a related matter, the council agreed members of the Mentone Tri-Township Fire Control Board and Mentone Fire Department have permission to use town equipment to maintain and upgrade the new fire station site.
In other business, the council:
• Instructed town attorney Larry Beeson to send a letter to the property owners of a West Monroe Street residence requesting them to clean up their property and remove a pile of dirt from the sidewalk on town right of way. The property must be cleaned up by May 18.
• Announced the town received a $2,050 snow emergency reimbursement from the state.
• Approved up to $400 for town marshal Jim Eads to attend a conference, "Mastering Performance Management: Supervision and Leadership Skills," and $50 for clerk-treasurer Jim Tibbetts to attend a one-day State Board of Accounts school this month at South Bend.
• Learned the town was the successful bidder for a backhoe purchased from the town of Milford. The town paid $8,001 for the equipment.
• Decided to continue having town employees mow the park and cemetery rather than hire an outside contractor.
• Agreed to accept a $1,000 payment from Mid-West Spring Mfg. Co. through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy payback plan. The company did owe the town about $2,200 for utilities costs.
The Mentone Town Council meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month in the town hall. Council members are Ed Rock, Ed Lamar and Mike Diemer. [[In-content Ad]]
MENTONE - Completion of an income study shows that Mentone qualifies for grant funding and allows the town to move forward on a wastewater project.
Shannon McLeod of Priority Project Resources, Indianapolis, told Mentone Town Council members during Monday's regular meeting that this is the first hurdle required toward application for an Indiana Department of Commerce planning grant.
According to the results of the income survey performed by Ball State University, 53.2 percent of Mentone residents are considered to be low- to moderate-income households.
The next step in the project - deciding whether to move forward - was approved by the council, which signed a letter to contract McLeod's services for preparing the information and submitting the grant application.
The proposed wastewater project will allow the town to take care of its sewage "in-house." Currently, the septic tanks used in the town's sewage system are pumped by an outside hauler and land-applied. However, in anticipation of changes in federal laws regarding land application, the town is looking at this project as a necessary alternative. As a part of the planning grant, the town also will look at the feasibility of building a facility large enough to accept sewage from other sources, making it a possible source of income for the town.
McLeod told council members that the maximum amount available for a planning grant is $50,000, but she expects that Mentone will need only between $30,000 and $35,000. The grant requires a 10 percent local match. The application will be submitted to the IDOC in June.
In other business, the council agreed to discuss the future of Mentone Four-Way Ambulance Service as to whether it will continue to be housed at the current fire station building once the fire department moves to its new location.
The Mentone Tri-Township Fire Control Board recently purchased 1.8 acres of land comprising eight town lots at the southwest intersection of Ind. 19 and Walnut Street.
Harrison Township Trustee/Assessor Jim Moyer, who also is a member of the fire control board and the ambulance board, said when discussion of a new fire station came up four years ago, town council members at that time said the ambulance service could stay.
Moyer said he came to Monday's meeting to get a better idea where the ambulance service stands and to find out what costs, if any, the service will incur by remaining in its current location.
Council president Ed Rock said he hasn't given the matter much thought, but the council will discuss it in the future.
An immediate decision is not needed, Moyer said, because the fire control board hasn't received any funding for a new fire station and construction is "years down the road."
In a related matter, the council agreed members of the Mentone Tri-Township Fire Control Board and Mentone Fire Department have permission to use town equipment to maintain and upgrade the new fire station site.
In other business, the council:
• Instructed town attorney Larry Beeson to send a letter to the property owners of a West Monroe Street residence requesting them to clean up their property and remove a pile of dirt from the sidewalk on town right of way. The property must be cleaned up by May 18.
• Announced the town received a $2,050 snow emergency reimbursement from the state.
• Approved up to $400 for town marshal Jim Eads to attend a conference, "Mastering Performance Management: Supervision and Leadership Skills," and $50 for clerk-treasurer Jim Tibbetts to attend a one-day State Board of Accounts school this month at South Bend.
• Learned the town was the successful bidder for a backhoe purchased from the town of Milford. The town paid $8,001 for the equipment.
• Decided to continue having town employees mow the park and cemetery rather than hire an outside contractor.
• Agreed to accept a $1,000 payment from Mid-West Spring Mfg. Co. through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy payback plan. The company did owe the town about $2,200 for utilities costs.
The Mentone Town Council meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month in the town hall. Council members are Ed Rock, Ed Lamar and Mike Diemer. [[In-content Ad]]