MENTONE - Network Computer Services Inc. wants to bring high-speed broadband Internet services to Mentone.

At Monday's town council meeting, Mark Marley, with the Internet company, said the company is looking to possibly expand to Mentone, but they need tower space. He was at the meeting inquiring about renting space on the town's water tower. There are businesses in the Mentone area which could benefit from it, he said. The company also would be willing to offer the town departments free high-speed Internet access.

To mount the equipment on the water tower, he said, they hire professional climbers. The town and the company would need to negotiate a rental cost. Network Computer Solutions provides the needed insurance and there is no liability to the town whatsoever, he said.

In addition to service in Mentone, he said, they also are negotiating for space with Etna Green and Silver Lake today.

The reason Network Computer Services is looking to expand now, when they haven't expanded for several years, he said, is because there is a need for it.

"All we need is an elevation high enough to get (the signal) back to Warsaw," he said.

Brian Reed, utilities superintendent, said there wouldn't be much equipment on the water tower. It's a more feasible idea than other options the council had previously, Reed said.

The typical rental fee Network pays is $100 a month, or about $1 per foot, Marley said. But it's negotiated.

The town council told Marley to get a contract to their town attorney, Larry Beeson, and by the April 4 meeting, the council could approve it if Beeson does.

In other business, the council:

• Approved letting a resident delinquent on their water bill pay two-thirds of their existing bill by June 1 and then the rest will be forgiven. If the resident doesn't pay, legal action will be sought.

The council also approved taking legal action on the past due water bill of Bob Conley, who already was offered the two-thirds settlement but allegedly refused.

On Aug. 23, Conley asked the town council for some relief from his approximate $1,372 water bill as his average monthly bill is about $64. He said he had his building inspected twice and no leaks could be found. The council took Conley's request under advisement.

Conley offered to pay for 13 months for the year instead of 12.

At the Sept. 13 meeting, the Mentone Town Council unanimously approved a motion that Conley would have to pay the bill in full, but could set up a payment plan with the town to pay it off.

Hughes said he did some research and came to the conclusion Conley had a water leak. There's been a history of water leaks in the area that don't surface for a while and the town does not give breaks on water bills for water leaks.

In February, Simpson said the town made Conley a "fair offer" and Conley didn't counter with anything other than what he proposed previously.

Beeson said the town made an offer, Conley rejected it and the town tried to reach a compromise. If the town's offer is rejected again, Beeson said, the council should be prepared to go for the full amount owed. In this situation, he said, it could wind up in small claims court.

Hughes said the council agreed to send Conley one more letter to accept the offer. By the March meeting, Hughes said, they will take the final step to collect the money owed.

Monday, they voted to take that next step.

• Approved for the street department to expand Tucker Street north 150 to 200 feet for a cost of $2,500 to $3,383.50.

• Approved clerk-treasurer Barbara Ross to purchase a new copier for her office. No price limit was given, but Ross was considering purchasing a Canon copier for about $499.

• Heard people were dumping trash and old appliances at the wastewater treatment plant. Dumping is illegal. "We ended up with a sink, mattress and all kinds of things we have to get rid of," Reed said. "If they get caught (dumping), they're in trouble."

• Heard the street department has a new sand spreader. The old one was sold for $1,200.

Mentone Town Council members are president Mark Hughes, Tim Croy and Jack Simpson. They meet at 7 p.m. in the town hall on the first Monday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]