MENTONE - Mentone's water project may be facing some cuts because of a competitive construction market.

This was the message an Indianapolis engineer brought to the council at its meeting Monday.

The council must decide whether to cut the tank from the originally estimated $1.4 million water project. But they were advised Monday to wait to decide.

"The Department of Commerce would prefer the board not take any action until the bids are back on the table," said Mark Downey Jr., of Commonwealth Engineers.

Downey added that current competition among contractors has driven some bids up as much as 15 percent.

The town will accept new bids on portions of the project after changes are made to the specifications. Downey said the DOC wants to keep the project affordable rather than building a project residents can't afford.

Since the grant was applied for partially based on a low to moderate income in the town, the project should not raise rates too much, Downey added.

"If you had someone come to town and you didn't have the water supply they needed it could hinder expansion," said Downey. He also said the tank would never be any cheaper than it is now.

In other business, a representative from Bell Memorial Public Library brought a letter of intent to send to the IDOC to apply for a grant for a new facility. Madeleine Fisher, library director, said the department is going to update a feasibility study done eight years ago.

The library board is considering remodeling an existing structure in town for the library. But one council member had an objection. "I have an objection to using tax money to clean up someone else's problem," said Forrest Kantner.

Fisher said the low cost of the site should offset any cleanup costs. [[In-content Ad]]