Mentone Reconsiders Request For Abatement, Still Votes No
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MENTONE - Two issues the Mentone Town Council made decisions on previously, the board revisited Monday.
First, by a vote of 2 to 1, the council voted to deny Roy Swartz's request for a tax abatement for duplexes he plans to build at the corner of North Morgan and High streets, and not to allow any abatements for residential areas in the town limits. Councilman Tim Croy made the motion, with Mark Hughes seconding it. Jack Simpson voted against the motion.
On Dec. 6, Swartz made his initial request for an abatement. At that meeting, the council approved the abatement for five years on the condition that the abatement was legally possible.
On Dec. 27, Hughes said Swartz "does not qualify" for a tax abatement under state law and under the town's ordinances.
At the Jan. 10 meeting, Swartz asked the council to reconsider their decision denying the abatement. Swartz and Madeline Fisher said it was possible for the town to approve a residential abatement for the property. Croy made a motion to table the matter so town attorney Larry Beeson could look into residential tax abatements.
At Monday's meeting, Beeson began by saying residential areas in Mentone can become economic development revitalization areas. Swartz's property wouldn't be on the tax rolls until March 2006. However, if Gov. Mitch Daniels gets his way, Beeson said, county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell told him tax abatements as they are now won't exist, depending also on the General Assembly.
The maximum number of years the abatement could be given for residential property is five years.
Asked if Swartz's proposed duplexes would qualify, Beeson said, "With what they're trying to do, they would qualify."
Swartz said he wanted the abatement to get the project going. Without the abatement, he said, it wouldn't be profitable for him.
"I'm dead set against it," said Croy. "I say we leave it like it is."
Croy said the town isn't landlocked and there is development and growth occurring in town. He said he is against providing tax abatements for residential homes.
Simpson made a motion to incorporate the whole town into an economic revitalization area for manufacturing and residential. There was no second to his motion.
The second issue the council revisited was regarding the water bill for Bob Conley's barbershop.
On Aug. 23, Bob Conley asked the town council for some relief from his approximate $1,372 water bill as his average monthly bill is about $64. He said he had his building inspected twice and no leaks could be found. The council took Conley's request under advisement.
Conley offered to pay for 13 months for the year instead of 12.
At the Sept. 13 meeting, the Mentone Town Council unanimously approved a motion that Conley would have to pay the bill in full, but could set up a payment plan with the town to pay it off. Conley was not happy.
Hughes said he did some research and came to the conclusion Conley had a water leak. There's been a history of water leaks in the area that don't surface for a while and the town does not have a history of giving breaks on water bills for water leaks.
Monday, Simpson said the town made Conley a "fair offer" and Conley didn't counter with anything other than he proposed previously.
"I'm tired of dragging this out," said Hughes. "We've been dragging this out way too long."
Beeson said the town made an offer, Conley rejected it and the town tried to reach a compromise. If the town's offer is rejected again, he said, the council should be prepared to go for the full amount owed. In this situation, he said, it could wind up in small claims court.
Hughes said the council was in agreement to send Conley one more letter to accept the offer. By the March meeting, Hughes said, they will take the final step to collect the money owed.
In other business, the town:
• Approved Marvin Wickens as the building inspector.
• Heard the park board needs one more member.
• Reviewed the proposed three-year contract for Mentone police officers. Town Marshal Jim Eads said Feb. 18 is the deadline for applications and 10-11 applications have been given out.
• Approved the purchase of a salt and sand spreader from Northern Equipment for approximately $3,636.
• Heard the town's health insurance is due to be renewed March 14 and rates will go up approximately $538 a month.
The council tentatively approved a meeting Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. with the insurance agent.
• Approved to fix a tile by the town hall with money from the Economic Development Income Tax for a cost not to exceed $20,000.
Members of the Mentone Town Council are president Mark Hughes, Tim Croy and Jack Simpson. Their regular meetings are at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of every month in the town hall. [[In-content Ad]]
MENTONE - Two issues the Mentone Town Council made decisions on previously, the board revisited Monday.
First, by a vote of 2 to 1, the council voted to deny Roy Swartz's request for a tax abatement for duplexes he plans to build at the corner of North Morgan and High streets, and not to allow any abatements for residential areas in the town limits. Councilman Tim Croy made the motion, with Mark Hughes seconding it. Jack Simpson voted against the motion.
On Dec. 6, Swartz made his initial request for an abatement. At that meeting, the council approved the abatement for five years on the condition that the abatement was legally possible.
On Dec. 27, Hughes said Swartz "does not qualify" for a tax abatement under state law and under the town's ordinances.
At the Jan. 10 meeting, Swartz asked the council to reconsider their decision denying the abatement. Swartz and Madeline Fisher said it was possible for the town to approve a residential abatement for the property. Croy made a motion to table the matter so town attorney Larry Beeson could look into residential tax abatements.
At Monday's meeting, Beeson began by saying residential areas in Mentone can become economic development revitalization areas. Swartz's property wouldn't be on the tax rolls until March 2006. However, if Gov. Mitch Daniels gets his way, Beeson said, county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell told him tax abatements as they are now won't exist, depending also on the General Assembly.
The maximum number of years the abatement could be given for residential property is five years.
Asked if Swartz's proposed duplexes would qualify, Beeson said, "With what they're trying to do, they would qualify."
Swartz said he wanted the abatement to get the project going. Without the abatement, he said, it wouldn't be profitable for him.
"I'm dead set against it," said Croy. "I say we leave it like it is."
Croy said the town isn't landlocked and there is development and growth occurring in town. He said he is against providing tax abatements for residential homes.
Simpson made a motion to incorporate the whole town into an economic revitalization area for manufacturing and residential. There was no second to his motion.
The second issue the council revisited was regarding the water bill for Bob Conley's barbershop.
On Aug. 23, Bob Conley asked the town council for some relief from his approximate $1,372 water bill as his average monthly bill is about $64. He said he had his building inspected twice and no leaks could be found. The council took Conley's request under advisement.
Conley offered to pay for 13 months for the year instead of 12.
At the Sept. 13 meeting, the Mentone Town Council unanimously approved a motion that Conley would have to pay the bill in full, but could set up a payment plan with the town to pay it off. Conley was not happy.
Hughes said he did some research and came to the conclusion Conley had a water leak. There's been a history of water leaks in the area that don't surface for a while and the town does not have a history of giving breaks on water bills for water leaks.
Monday, Simpson said the town made Conley a "fair offer" and Conley didn't counter with anything other than he proposed previously.
"I'm tired of dragging this out," said Hughes. "We've been dragging this out way too long."
Beeson said the town made an offer, Conley rejected it and the town tried to reach a compromise. If the town's offer is rejected again, he said, the council should be prepared to go for the full amount owed. In this situation, he said, it could wind up in small claims court.
Hughes said the council was in agreement to send Conley one more letter to accept the offer. By the March meeting, Hughes said, they will take the final step to collect the money owed.
In other business, the town:
• Approved Marvin Wickens as the building inspector.
• Heard the park board needs one more member.
• Reviewed the proposed three-year contract for Mentone police officers. Town Marshal Jim Eads said Feb. 18 is the deadline for applications and 10-11 applications have been given out.
• Approved the purchase of a salt and sand spreader from Northern Equipment for approximately $3,636.
• Heard the town's health insurance is due to be renewed March 14 and rates will go up approximately $538 a month.
The council tentatively approved a meeting Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. with the insurance agent.
• Approved to fix a tile by the town hall with money from the Economic Development Income Tax for a cost not to exceed $20,000.
Members of the Mentone Town Council are president Mark Hughes, Tim Croy and Jack Simpson. Their regular meetings are at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of every month in the town hall. [[In-content Ad]]