MENTONE - Frank Banghart, Mentone Police Department deputy, has resigned effective Jan. 30 for personal reasons.

Town marshal Jim Eads told the Mentone Town Council Monday that Banghart is not leaving because of last week's shooting. Banghart's decision was made prior to that incident.

Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads shot Danny L. Hale, 51, of Mentone, while responding to a call Wednesday night in Mentone.

Hale reportedly was leaving the scene of a domestic disturbance when he refused to obey Eads' commands and then pointed a shotgun at the officer.

Eads has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. The information gathered in the investigation is expected to be forwarded to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office for review by the end of this week.

Hale was upgraded to fair condition over the weekend at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Councilman Mark Hughes thanked Banghart Monday for his years of service and said, "We hate to see you go."

Banghart started with the Mentone Police as a reserve officer in January 1995. He then became part-time and finally full-time in April 2003, according to Eads.

In other business, the town council:

• Heard from Hughes that Dick Webb has no desire to continue to serve as the town's building inspector, having resigned effective Dec. 31. Webb said he has other avenues he wants to pursue. If anyone is interested in serving as the town's building inspector and has building experience, Hughes said, they should contact clerk-treasurer Barbara Ross.

Eads recommended the board contact Marv Wiggins about possibly serving in the role.

• Tabled Roy Swartz' request to reconsider the denial of a tax abatement for duplexes he wants to build on Morgan and High streets. In December, the town council denied the request because Indiana code only allows abatements for residential uses for multi-family facilities with at least 20 percent of the units being used by low and moderate income families. Also, Mentone town code considers a multi-family dwelling as three or more families while Swartz' duplexes would house only two. Town attorney Larry Beeson will gather more information on the matter and bring it to the town council at a future meeting.

• Heard from Harrison Township trustee Jim Moyer that at the last fire control board meeting, a financial board was formed for the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building, which is to be built this year. Donations toward the building will be taken and Moyer is the contact person for building questions. The groundbreaking for the new facilities is expected in March or April.

• Approved utilities superintendent Brian Reed and Darrel Miller, street department, to attend the American Waterworks Association conference Feb. 22-24. Cost is $80 apiece for registration and $123 per night for a two-night hotel stay plus expenses.

Mentone Town councilmen 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]]