Mentone Talks About Unkempt Property, Annexation Possibilities
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MENTONE - In the new year, the Mentone Town Council wants to crack down on deteriorating properties.
"I think we have landlords turning into slumlords and we need to put a stop to that," Tim Croy, town councilman, said at the council's regular meeting Monday.
Clerk-Treasurer Barbara Ross agreed. "It's a good project for the start of the first of the year." She also pointed out that "Surface guy is still not doing anything with that dentist office."
"We have houses and businesses in desperate need of repairs," said Croy. With so many new houses coming into town, Croy said they need to try to fix the town up.
As part of the town's growth, Croy also asked town attorney Larry Beeson about how to annex property into the town. Two large property owners north of Tucker and Franklin streets want their properties annexed into the town. Beeson said he'd have to look into the annexation procedure.
Jack Simpson, councilman, said the property developers need to put in curbs, streets and gutters before the town annexes them so the town won't have to pay for it.
Mentone, Croy said, has been "so landlocked" for years, but now there is someone willing to be annexed into the town and help their tax base.
In the past, the town helped pay for sidewalk repairs for property owners who requested it. However, the town did not budget money for the sidewalk assistance program for 2005 or 2006.
At Monday's meeting, Ross said the Church of Christ recently presented her with a sidewalk repair bill and told Ross the town was to pay it.
"We have nothing in the budget so I don't know how I can pay it," said Ross. There's no money in next year's budget to pay for it either. Ross said before the work was done, the church should have asked the town about it first to get it approved.
"Is that something we can just not worry about?" asked Croy. He said he didn't want to make anyone mad, even though the church should have asked first before they had the sidewalk fixed.
"This is the first time anyone's wanted to do that in a number of years," said Jim Eads, town marshall. He suggested the sidewalk program may be something the town council eventually may want to put back into its budget.
Ross said there'd be no problem putting the program funds back into the budget in the future, but there's still no money for it this year or next.
Simpson said some of the sidewalks do need fixed. "Some of them are nearly impassable," he said.
When Ross asked the council what they wanted to do about the church's request, Croy said, "This year there's nothing we can do about it really."
In other business, the town council:
• Approved to pay $880 for Indiana Association of Cities and Towns dues.
• Approved to continue membership with Sam's Club.
• Set the last meeting of the year for Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. and set the first meeting of 2006 for Jan. 9 at 6 p.m.
Town council members present at Monday's meeting included Croy and Simpson. Mark Hughes was absent. [[In-content Ad]]
MENTONE - In the new year, the Mentone Town Council wants to crack down on deteriorating properties.
"I think we have landlords turning into slumlords and we need to put a stop to that," Tim Croy, town councilman, said at the council's regular meeting Monday.
Clerk-Treasurer Barbara Ross agreed. "It's a good project for the start of the first of the year." She also pointed out that "Surface guy is still not doing anything with that dentist office."
"We have houses and businesses in desperate need of repairs," said Croy. With so many new houses coming into town, Croy said they need to try to fix the town up.
As part of the town's growth, Croy also asked town attorney Larry Beeson about how to annex property into the town. Two large property owners north of Tucker and Franklin streets want their properties annexed into the town. Beeson said he'd have to look into the annexation procedure.
Jack Simpson, councilman, said the property developers need to put in curbs, streets and gutters before the town annexes them so the town won't have to pay for it.
Mentone, Croy said, has been "so landlocked" for years, but now there is someone willing to be annexed into the town and help their tax base.
In the past, the town helped pay for sidewalk repairs for property owners who requested it. However, the town did not budget money for the sidewalk assistance program for 2005 or 2006.
At Monday's meeting, Ross said the Church of Christ recently presented her with a sidewalk repair bill and told Ross the town was to pay it.
"We have nothing in the budget so I don't know how I can pay it," said Ross. There's no money in next year's budget to pay for it either. Ross said before the work was done, the church should have asked the town about it first to get it approved.
"Is that something we can just not worry about?" asked Croy. He said he didn't want to make anyone mad, even though the church should have asked first before they had the sidewalk fixed.
"This is the first time anyone's wanted to do that in a number of years," said Jim Eads, town marshall. He suggested the sidewalk program may be something the town council eventually may want to put back into its budget.
Ross said there'd be no problem putting the program funds back into the budget in the future, but there's still no money for it this year or next.
Simpson said some of the sidewalks do need fixed. "Some of them are nearly impassable," he said.
When Ross asked the council what they wanted to do about the church's request, Croy said, "This year there's nothing we can do about it really."
In other business, the town council:
• Approved to pay $880 for Indiana Association of Cities and Towns dues.
• Approved to continue membership with Sam's Club.
• Set the last meeting of the year for Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. and set the first meeting of 2006 for Jan. 9 at 6 p.m.
Town council members present at Monday's meeting included Croy and Simpson. Mark Hughes was absent. [[In-content Ad]]