Mentone Officer Tenders Resignation
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MENTONE - Discussion of a personnel issue ended almost as abruptly as it started near the end of Monday's Mentone Town Council meeting.
This morning, it was learned that Jason Westafer is no longer a member of the Mentone Police Department, effective Monday.
An executive session was held prior to the start of the regular meeting, which normally begins at 7 p.m. Because the executive matter took longer than expected, the regular session began nearly one-half hour late.
Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads said today that Westafer's resignation came at the request of the town council and himself. He declined to elaborate as to the reason for Westafer's termination of employment.
During the meeting, the council accepted the resignation of its president, Ed Lamar, who is planning to retire and move to Tennessee. Lamar will serve on the council until June 15. At that time, a replacement will be appointed by the Kosciusko County Republican Party chairman.
In other business, the council opted not to act on information presented by Bell Memorial Library Director Lorna Klein.
Klein told council members that the library board met with grant administrator Bob Murphy April 22 and opened bids for the proposed library project.
The recommendations for the project were noted on a facsimile received from Murphy during the meeting, after the issue was tabled.
Council members were concerned that, since the bids were opened by the library board, it could affect the awarding of the grant, of which the town is the recipient.
"I'm not going to act on anything that we didn't advertise," Lamar said.
Klein said she was simply doing what Murphy told her to do.
The information must be submitted for consideration to the Indiana Department of Commerce July 1.
The library project has been under way for several years and includes purchasing and renovating the former Frank Manufacturing building.
The council also tabled making any changes to the drainage tile running between Mentzer Park and the Richard Dickerhoff property. The tile currently is running, according to town officials and Dickerhoff.
Once the spring rains end, park board president Matt Cohagan said, he will survey the area and act on whatever recommendation the council chooses. Cohagan doesn't expect any work to take place prior to July.
In other matters, the council:
• Heard a complaint from Gerald Romine about windows being broken on a building he owns in town. The windows face a field and are not easily seen from the road, but Romine said the problem is found every spring when he returns from his winter home. The council isn't sure what can be done to rectify the matter.
• Agreed to allow a recycling promotion to be held in town by Valley Sanitation. A representative of the trash hauler said a prize would be awarded to a resident who recycles the most.
• Announced street sweeping will take place May 15 and 16. Residents should not park on the north and east sides of town roads on the 15th and should refrain from parking on the south and west sides of roads on the 16th.
The council meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month in the town hall. Council members are Ed Lamar, Ed Rock and Mike Diemer. [[In-content Ad]]
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MENTONE - Discussion of a personnel issue ended almost as abruptly as it started near the end of Monday's Mentone Town Council meeting.
This morning, it was learned that Jason Westafer is no longer a member of the Mentone Police Department, effective Monday.
An executive session was held prior to the start of the regular meeting, which normally begins at 7 p.m. Because the executive matter took longer than expected, the regular session began nearly one-half hour late.
Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads said today that Westafer's resignation came at the request of the town council and himself. He declined to elaborate as to the reason for Westafer's termination of employment.
During the meeting, the council accepted the resignation of its president, Ed Lamar, who is planning to retire and move to Tennessee. Lamar will serve on the council until June 15. At that time, a replacement will be appointed by the Kosciusko County Republican Party chairman.
In other business, the council opted not to act on information presented by Bell Memorial Library Director Lorna Klein.
Klein told council members that the library board met with grant administrator Bob Murphy April 22 and opened bids for the proposed library project.
The recommendations for the project were noted on a facsimile received from Murphy during the meeting, after the issue was tabled.
Council members were concerned that, since the bids were opened by the library board, it could affect the awarding of the grant, of which the town is the recipient.
"I'm not going to act on anything that we didn't advertise," Lamar said.
Klein said she was simply doing what Murphy told her to do.
The information must be submitted for consideration to the Indiana Department of Commerce July 1.
The library project has been under way for several years and includes purchasing and renovating the former Frank Manufacturing building.
The council also tabled making any changes to the drainage tile running between Mentzer Park and the Richard Dickerhoff property. The tile currently is running, according to town officials and Dickerhoff.
Once the spring rains end, park board president Matt Cohagan said, he will survey the area and act on whatever recommendation the council chooses. Cohagan doesn't expect any work to take place prior to July.
In other matters, the council:
• Heard a complaint from Gerald Romine about windows being broken on a building he owns in town. The windows face a field and are not easily seen from the road, but Romine said the problem is found every spring when he returns from his winter home. The council isn't sure what can be done to rectify the matter.
• Agreed to allow a recycling promotion to be held in town by Valley Sanitation. A representative of the trash hauler said a prize would be awarded to a resident who recycles the most.
• Announced street sweeping will take place May 15 and 16. Residents should not park on the north and east sides of town roads on the 15th and should refrain from parking on the south and west sides of roads on the 16th.
The council meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month in the town hall. Council members are Ed Lamar, Ed Rock and Mike Diemer. [[In-content Ad]]