MENTONE - Larry Beeson, Mentone's town attorney, will look into acquiring the old Sinclair gas station on Ind. 25 across from the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building for the town.

If the town can acquire the property, which has back taxes allegedly owed on it, the town then will seek a grant to make the property into a parking lot.

Jack Simpson, town council member, presented the idea to the other members Monday night. He said he wants to go for the grant, clean up the property and blacktop it.

Beeson said when you take ownership of a property, you also take ownership of the environmental problems, too. Simpson said he was told the town would not be liable. He also said the Indiana Department of Environmental Management doesn't have the property listed as a gas station.

"It has been," said Brian Reed, utilities superintendent. But at one point, it was probably listed in the wrong location. Reed said he didn't know if all the buried tanks were removed.

Simpson made the motion for Beeson to look into acquiring the property and to see what the next steps are to apply for the grant. The motion unanimously was approved.

A report on the Mentone Police Department's July activities also was given.

There were 34 incidents, with 29 cases resulting from them. Nine adults and four juveniles were arrested in July.

Ten traffic-related tickets were given out, one ordinance violation ticket and 14 tickets for other offenses. Twenty-three traffic-related warnings also were handed out in July, according to Mentone deputy marshal Matt Owens.

Three "major" cases were reported for the month. There was an auto theft recovery from the Burket area involving a juvenile who was arrested. At 205 N. Tucker St., Mentone, a search warrant for drugs was served and there were multiple arrests made. On a traffic stop, an arrest was made for possession of a controlled substance, Owens said.

"Good job on your major cases," Tim Croy, council president, said. "I'm sure the town appreciates that."

In other business:

• Reed told the board he received the preliminary bid information from Dixon Engineering for the water tower maintenance bidding. Dixon Engineering wants to "get this rolling so they can have bid opening Aug. 25 at 2 p.m." in the town hall, he said. Only clerk treasurer Barbara Ross and Reed have to be present to open the bids. If anyone else shows up, which Reed said was unlikely, they have to read the bids aloud.

After the bids are open, they will mail the bids to Dixon Engineering, who wants the council to approve a bid at their Sept. 5 meeting.

When asked if that was enough turnaround time, Reed said he thought so.

At the July meeting, the town board agreed to pay Dixon Engineering $2,500 to compile the bidding requirements and make a recommendation.

• Street superintendent Darrel Miller said the town has taken delivery on the new Bobcat and the grapple bucket and backhoe attachments for an estimated cost of $32,937.54.

• Reed also reported Eric Carlin, who works in the water and waste water department, wants more "schooling" on the water side of the industry. Using the town water department as a source, Reed said Carlin thinks he can just buy some books and manuals to learn more and save the town on the cost of sending him to classes in Fort Wayne. The town board was OK with Carlin going ahead and doing that.

The board also didn't see a problem with Reed and his two employees attending the "Operators Boot Camp" at Grissom Air Force Base, Peru, for $50 per employee. If it doesn't work out in their schedule, Reed said they wouldn't attend as it is a full-day session that provides hands-on experience for routine stuff in the water industry.

Mentone Town Council members are President Tim Croy, Roger Long and Jack Simpson. Their next meeting is Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Emergency Services Building. [[In-content Ad]]