Mentone Eyes Sewer Grant
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
Mike Strang, from Bonar Group, and Donna Anderson, from a consulting firm hired to help Mentone apply for the grant, addressed the board.
Anderson said the amount of the grant has increased from $500,000 to $600,000.
The process will extend until April 15 when the town finds out whether they will receive the grant or not.[[In-content Ad]]Anderson told the board that letters of support from the community would be one of many factors that could help the town secure a grant.
Strang told the board that a rate increase would be needed, and that without the grant the increase per resident could be somewhere around $16 more a month.
If the town secures a grant, the rate increase would be a couple of dollars less.
Strang told the board that the budget for the project has increased because Bonar Group is looking at a system out of Canada that would be the first of its kind in Indiana. Utilities Superintendent Eric Carlin told the board that the system is really effective in winter.
Strang said the rate increases are necessary, and had the board increased rates by 2 or 3 percent yearly, resident probably wouldn't bristle at rate increases as much.
Carlin expressed frustration that these improvements are mandated.
"Our whole problem is that there are these stipulations from IDEM and people don't see that," said Carlin. "They just see their rates going up."
Before leaving, Anderson once again urged the board to get public comment regarding the sewer situation.
While the topic of the sewer upgrades won't be on the agenda for February's meeting, board president Tim Croy said members of the community were welcome to make public comments.
A public hearing on the matter is expected in March.
In other business, the board once again discussed properties in town that have fallen into disrepair. The board gave town attorney Larry Beeson the go-ahead to pursue all legal avenues to start with the demolition of those buildings.
Town Marshal Jim Eads told the board that both he and officer Terry Engstrand are in need of new laptops. The board approved the purchase of two new laptops and the sale of an existing laptop.
Eads showed the board the annual police department report. The department responded to 516 incidents and started 281 cases in 2008.
Carlin told the board that he and another town employee wanted to attend a conference in Indianapolis Feb. 17-19. The board approved that request.
Minutes and claims were also approved by the board.
Mike Strang, from Bonar Group, and Donna Anderson, from a consulting firm hired to help Mentone apply for the grant, addressed the board.
Anderson said the amount of the grant has increased from $500,000 to $600,000.
The process will extend until April 15 when the town finds out whether they will receive the grant or not.[[In-content Ad]]Anderson told the board that letters of support from the community would be one of many factors that could help the town secure a grant.
Strang told the board that a rate increase would be needed, and that without the grant the increase per resident could be somewhere around $16 more a month.
If the town secures a grant, the rate increase would be a couple of dollars less.
Strang told the board that the budget for the project has increased because Bonar Group is looking at a system out of Canada that would be the first of its kind in Indiana. Utilities Superintendent Eric Carlin told the board that the system is really effective in winter.
Strang said the rate increases are necessary, and had the board increased rates by 2 or 3 percent yearly, resident probably wouldn't bristle at rate increases as much.
Carlin expressed frustration that these improvements are mandated.
"Our whole problem is that there are these stipulations from IDEM and people don't see that," said Carlin. "They just see their rates going up."
Before leaving, Anderson once again urged the board to get public comment regarding the sewer situation.
While the topic of the sewer upgrades won't be on the agenda for February's meeting, board president Tim Croy said members of the community were welcome to make public comments.
A public hearing on the matter is expected in March.
In other business, the board once again discussed properties in town that have fallen into disrepair. The board gave town attorney Larry Beeson the go-ahead to pursue all legal avenues to start with the demolition of those buildings.
Town Marshal Jim Eads told the board that both he and officer Terry Engstrand are in need of new laptops. The board approved the purchase of two new laptops and the sale of an existing laptop.
Eads showed the board the annual police department report. The department responded to 516 incidents and started 281 cases in 2008.
Carlin told the board that he and another town employee wanted to attend a conference in Indianapolis Feb. 17-19. The board approved that request.
Minutes and claims were also approved by the board.
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