Mentone Residents Hope To Solve Problems In Town
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MENTONE - Hoping to increase the level of pride for their community, a group of concerned citizens came before the town council Monday with a list of "problems in Mentone we request to be addressed."
Rita Simpson, spokesman for the unnamed committee, presented a list of 15 items the group of about a dozen residents consider to be of greatest concern.
"We hope to address this in a positive way, not in a negative way, to help people clean up some of these problems," Simpson said. She pointed out that many of the concerns are issues covered by town ordinances, while others may need to be addressed in other ways.
"There are people willing to do some legwork to get these things done," Simpson said. "We want to help." She added it would be possible to organize volunteer groups to help with the cleanup of properties belonging to elderly or disabled homeowners who are unable to do the work themselves.
One of the problems alleged is the "perpetuation of rats running freely in the neighborhood from bad housing conditions."
Simpson said that she hasn't personally seen this, but some people have observed rats in town.
Among the other problems cited are:
• "A swimming pool, undrained for years, to the point of having a swampy appearance, with dead animals floating in it."
• Curfew violations - teen-agers running around town at night.
• Dogs running loose in town, and barking dogs.
• Junk cars and unlicensed vehicles both on public streets and on private property.
• Unsightly houses, partially re-sided, remaining in that condition for years.
• Condemned houses with nothing being done about them.
• Overcrowded houses.
• Unmowed lawns, replete with weeds.
• Business buildings downtown abandoned, with junk seen clearly through front windows.
"This was not to come in and complain," Simpson reiterated. "We want to get things done."
After discussing the problems with the council, it was decided that the next step should be that the committee draft a letter to be mailed to residents. The letter will be reviewed at next month's council meeting before being sent.
Council members thanked the group for appearing in an organized format to present their issues.
In other business, the council approved approximately $18,000 be spent paving the roads in the new section of the cemetery, and up to $24,500 for resurfacing the roads designated in need by street superintendent Darrel Miller. The work will by done by Phend & Brown.
Residents who want to take part in the 50-50 sidewalk and curbing project should notify clerk-treasurer Cheryl Phillips by Aug. 27 and a list will be compiled.
Also, any contractors interested in doing the work should submit bids for a per-square-foot cost based on the specifications available at the clerk's office. The work is to be done in September.
The next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 in the town hall. [[In-content Ad]]
MENTONE - Hoping to increase the level of pride for their community, a group of concerned citizens came before the town council Monday with a list of "problems in Mentone we request to be addressed."
Rita Simpson, spokesman for the unnamed committee, presented a list of 15 items the group of about a dozen residents consider to be of greatest concern.
"We hope to address this in a positive way, not in a negative way, to help people clean up some of these problems," Simpson said. She pointed out that many of the concerns are issues covered by town ordinances, while others may need to be addressed in other ways.
"There are people willing to do some legwork to get these things done," Simpson said. "We want to help." She added it would be possible to organize volunteer groups to help with the cleanup of properties belonging to elderly or disabled homeowners who are unable to do the work themselves.
One of the problems alleged is the "perpetuation of rats running freely in the neighborhood from bad housing conditions."
Simpson said that she hasn't personally seen this, but some people have observed rats in town.
Among the other problems cited are:
• "A swimming pool, undrained for years, to the point of having a swampy appearance, with dead animals floating in it."
• Curfew violations - teen-agers running around town at night.
• Dogs running loose in town, and barking dogs.
• Junk cars and unlicensed vehicles both on public streets and on private property.
• Unsightly houses, partially re-sided, remaining in that condition for years.
• Condemned houses with nothing being done about them.
• Overcrowded houses.
• Unmowed lawns, replete with weeds.
• Business buildings downtown abandoned, with junk seen clearly through front windows.
"This was not to come in and complain," Simpson reiterated. "We want to get things done."
After discussing the problems with the council, it was decided that the next step should be that the committee draft a letter to be mailed to residents. The letter will be reviewed at next month's council meeting before being sent.
Council members thanked the group for appearing in an organized format to present their issues.
In other business, the council approved approximately $18,000 be spent paving the roads in the new section of the cemetery, and up to $24,500 for resurfacing the roads designated in need by street superintendent Darrel Miller. The work will by done by Phend & Brown.
Residents who want to take part in the 50-50 sidewalk and curbing project should notify clerk-treasurer Cheryl Phillips by Aug. 27 and a list will be compiled.
Also, any contractors interested in doing the work should submit bids for a per-square-foot cost based on the specifications available at the clerk's office. The work is to be done in September.
The next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 in the town hall. [[In-content Ad]]